Citizens Leadership Needs A Plan
At the last meeting, we agreed our group needs to have an understanding of its core objectives, its structure, and an obvious decision on which key issues it will focus its energies.My thoughts when starting this group, with the help of Rich Hollis, is the description that describes this blog, which follows:
"Change in the status quo starts with citizens leading their officials in the right direction. We offer factual information on CH council decisions, meet to focus on key issues that matter, and develop methods to make a change for the better."
Based on this description I would like to offer my view of our core objectives and how to meet them, and then you can tell your thoughts. I will create a separate post for comments on key issues.
I view our group as one that informs the citizenry about actions, decisions, and issues that may affect them currently or in the future. This would objective I.
Objective II would be to determine how to resolve or address three to four key issues voted on by group participants.
A third objective comes from the fact that many residents are too busy or are unfamiliar with how things work to know how to address their concerns. I view our group, through its information gathering work, as a resource of information and guidance.
Objective I can be done via this web site, email lists, flyers, open meetings, forums for discussions, presentations by the group, and panels of experts on the key issues on which the group has voted.
In support of this objective group members will attend city or school-district meetings or boards, review documents, and collect communications. Members can volunteer for whichever based on their interests, time, and ability. Information gathered that will affect the citizenry or deemed important by the group can be quickly posted on the web site. Additional volunteers can start creating a searchable database that complies this information.
Objective II will require in-depth planning on how best to address or resolve the key issues. This may require not only group participation but a core group of people that will focus on how best to do this. The core’s plans will be then presented to the group in an open meeting for discussion and input.
As a democracy, we will not get 100% agreement at this point. Also, while the majority may wish to do one thing, those with experience in political action may need to carry more influence at this stage to successfully accomplish the desired outcome.
To accomplish Objective III we would use this web site to encourage people to contact us via email or via a “Complaint Box” post to ask us for assistance or describe a problem they have with the city or other local political entity.
A final point. The group’s decisions by majority vote may be in direct opposition to certain participants. We all must recognize this and face that fact - which includes me. Any difference in opinion should not be allowed to divide us in total. Keep all criticisms/critiques here in the open. We want transparancy from our leaders; we should practice it as well!
Okay, let 'er rip!