Getting People to the Meeting

Getting People to the Meeting

Community members will be more likely to engage and support the outcomes of the process if there is an opportunity to share ideas for the future.  The more people are engaged in the process, the higher likelihood of long term success.
To get more people involved, consider the following:

• Schedule the meetings in advance.  Holding the conversations every other week is ideal.
• Timing.  The timing of the survey and holding the conversations should be taken into consideration.  What other events are currently going on that may conflict?  For example, consider the community sports schedules and other meetings that may conflict. If a break in the schedule needs to occur (i.e., a holiday), make plans on how tore-engage the community.
• Create a buzz about the ECAP process and encourage participation in the meetings.  Use media, flyers, organizations, employers to promote the process.
• A kick-off meeting is one way to gain interest.  Invite leaders of all organizations in the community to a kick-off event to share the process and participate in the meetings. Share Ashland as an example.
• Engage the schools in the process.  In one community, the civics teacher engaged his class in the conversations.