(Words this issue:926Reading time:3 minutes)1. Thanks for your help.2. Guest Author3. Recommended resources4. Article:  Ideas for Better Public Conversations

A great way to spread the word about "Better Conversations" ezineis to include excerpts of any newsletter in your ownmessages or publications.Also, when you invite new subscribers, they will get a new bonus of my "Small Talk Success Tips" booklet.  As always, my list is private, never sold or traded, only used for this ezine.

My old friend and professional colleague Peter Adler is a national expert on conflict resolution.  The founder of the Neighborhood Justice Center in Honolulu many years ago,Peter is now CEO of the famed "Keystone Center" in Coloradowhere he sponsors meetings and training programs to dealwith some of the most important yet thorny and complicatedissues of our time.  I am honored that he was willing tocontribute this article with ideas for how to hold betterpublic conversations.Please take a few minutes to read his article.  You'll be glad you did.

Eye of the Storm Leadership:  150 Ideas, Stories, QuotesandExercises on the Art and Politics of Managing Human Conflicts, by Peter Adler, Ph.D. (RIS, Inc., 2008.)   This book can be ordered athttp://www.mediate.com/EyeofStormPurchase/.Also check this website atwww.eyeofthestormleadership.comfor additional resources, including a DVD.

4.  Ideas for Better Public Conversations

In 1943, one of America's most iconic artists, Norman Rockwell, did a series of oil paintings called "The Four Freedoms." The most famous of these is his "Freedom of Speech" which was eventually made into a U.S. Government poster for war bonds.Rockwell's model was a neighbor and fellow Vermonter named Jim Edgerton. Edgerton stood up at a local town meeting in lone dissent of a proposed new school construction project. Edgerton was given the floor as a matter of courtesy and protocol. The motion passed.Look carefully at the painting.[1]Notice the faces of Edgerton's neighbors and the way they are listening as he makes his remarks. Rockwell captured a uniquely American ideal, the idea of ordinary citizens in their neighborhoods and communities standing up to speak their minds and being afforded the time and respect of a dissenting view.Now compare this with the growing incivility of many public gatherings, most notably, the harsh and angry discussions over health care convened last summer by Congressional legislators.  What happened is part of a growing "hyper-polarization" phenomenon in which poorly managed public conversations descend into shouting matches by a few dominators on either side of the issue.We have all been to such gatherings and they are frustrating. People who come for information don't get it. Those who want to make a comment never get a chance to speak. Issues are neither clarified nor discussed. Good debate and deliberation is absent and the meeting either ends in chaos or goes on interminably.It need not be like this. Public conversations take place all the time and are an important aspect of our culture and politics. Issues vary. It may be over road widening, sewer upgrades, signage, taxes, or consolidation of school districts. They may be convened by an elected or appointed official, hosted by a minister, held in a home, sponsored by several organizations, or officially noticed in the public record.If you are responsible for convening, sponsoring, moderating or facilitating a public conversation, here are a few simple guidelines that could make the difference between success and failure.Organize the Room.Choose a time and place appropriate to the topic. Set up the room in advance. If it is a big meeting, you may need theater style seating. For smaller meetings it might be tables in an open horseshoe, chairs in a circle, or a set of restaurant like tables of eight or ten.Purposes.Be clear on the intent of the gathering and make sure it is announced at the start of the meeting. Sometimes it is useful to frame the purpose as a question, for example, "How can we find adequate funding to clean and repair our park?"Protocols.Announce a clear set of ground rules or assumptions on meeting behavior. These might include: "Everyone gets a chance to share their opinion before someone speaks a second or third time." "Speak only to the topic at hand." "Do not interrupt others even if you disagree with them." Fashion specific ground rules to the anticipated challenges you expect at the meeting.Create Good Openings.In Hawaii (where Loren and I come from), most public conversations must start with a prayer or chant said in the Hawaiian language. If that is not appropriate, it is often wise to have a credible and wise "elder" offer words of welcome and expectations for a good meeting.Presentations First.Many meetings start with a presentation on the topic at hand. Whether it is a single speaker or a panel, do not let these go on too long and limited the use of power points.Separate Questions from Comments.As the meeting moves from presentation to discussion, be sure to take questions for information or factual clarification before taking comments. It is important that people have a reasonable technical understanding before opinions start flowing.Defer Off-Topic Comments.Sometimes a member of the audience feels they have a captive audience and wants to talk about something not on the agenda. As this comment starts to unfold, stop the speaker, write the new topic on a flip chart, assure the person it will be taken up at the end of the meeting, and invite everyone else to stay around for the discussion.Bring Positive Closure.No matter how easy or challenging, it is important to summarize what has happened at the meeting, clarify any next steps, and thank people profusely for their participation._____________________Peter S. Adler, PhD is President and CEO of The Keystone Center which helps organizations, agencies and corporations organize effective conversations on challenging topics. More information is available atwww.keystone.org.[1]  Photo courtesy of U.S. Government Archives,www.archives.gov/.../save_freedom_speech.html.but . . ." to any point you make.