2. Issues Forums By Steven Clift, E-Democracy.Org

5. Doug Grow, Most read newspaper columnist Quotes, Council member Carol Johnson: “They've got public officials twisted around their little fingers."

6. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Agenda Part 1 Perspective British Expedition – What they discovered How Issues Forums Work Participant Interviews Issues Forums Today Part 2 Online facilitation in-depth

7. Perspective

8. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Defining e-democracy E-democracy is: –the use information and communication technologies and strategies –by “democratic sectors” –within the political processes of local communities, states, nations and on the global stage. –What’s missing? Political Groups Private Sector Government Media and Commercial Content

9. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Defining e-democracy E-democracy … –is now, what kind is it? –is accelerating “as is” politics –will promote active citizen participation only by taking the “e- citizen” perspective –E-Democracy.Org focuses on the that perspective, reaching across the political spectrum, embracing local geography Political Groups Private Sector Government Media and Commercial Content E-Citizens

10. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Say What? “The most democratizing aspect of the Internet is the ability for people to organize and communicate in groups.” Steven Clift from Democracy is Online article in, OnTheInternet, April 1998

11. The British Expedition

12. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if UK ODPM/E-democracy Project Visit July 2004 visit by Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and UK Local E-democracy National Project Visit Met forum managers, and citizen volunteers involved with local forums in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Winona Gathered samples to “plant” back in the UK in 2005 National Project overview: –http://www.dowire.org/notes/?p=223http://www.dowire.org/notes/?p=223 Images from Northfield.org Visit

13. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if E-Democracy.Org History Launched world’s first election- oriented web site in 1994 Included citizen-to-citizen MN-POLITICS e-mail discussion forum, people kept talking after election Model localized with 1998 launch of Minneapolis Issues Forum Volunteer-based, non-profit community organization

14. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Why Issues Forums are Needed Effective citizen engagement – any time, anywhere agenda-setting Share community knowledge of public leaders and active citizens with all – civic learning Openness and accountability – accountability of citizens, the local media, and government

15. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Why Issues Forum are Needed Globally, most non-partisan “e-democracy” efforts are government-based, need cost-effective complement to e-consultations Most citizen efforts have an activist view point and advocate politically – often anti-something Many local forums are anonymous rough and tumble exchanges – “privately owned” spaces, few offer e-mail options Cost-effective starting point – provides e-citizen foundation for additional activities, priming effort

16. Blogofest Destiny? Blogs democratize media, provide accountability Compared to forums, most are highly individualistic often privately controlled spaces with some dialogue Need own blog to join the e-ristocracy As a whole, blogging, RSS, and aggregation of “what’s now” is fundamentally underappreciated

17. How Issues Forums Work

18. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Personal Networks CitizensCitizens Starting with “private” citizens moving toward public e-citizens Extensive personal e-mail networks exist – friends, family, co-workers How Issues Forums Work

19. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Local E-Democracy group creates the public “space”, defines charter (scope) Personal Networks CitizensCitizens Issues Forum GroupServer e-mails posts web view How Issues Forums Work

20. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Personal Networks CitizensCitizens Issues Forum GroupServer e-mails posts web view Subscribe once Commitment secured Recruit citizens, councillors, media, etc. with “sticky” opt-in How Issues Forums Work

21. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if How Issues Forums Work Participants agree to rules –Sign real name –Post no more than twice a day –Stay within scope of local charter –Understand that with two warnings they can be suspended for two weeks, three warnings six months, etc.. –Forum is facilitated, NOT pre-moderated, those posting content are 100% responsible for what they post

22. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Position forum in center of real power Personal Networks Political Activist Reporter Citizen #1 Mayor Citizen #2 Candidate Researcher City Council Neighborhood Leader Student Forum Manager Citizen #500 Gadfly CitizensCitizens Issues Forum GroupServer e-mails posts web view Post via e-mail/web e-publish, many-to-many How Issues Forums Work

23. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Issues Forums Agenda-setting discussions, “e-mail leaks,” facilitation and rule enforcement key Leader’s Office “Secondary Networks” e-mail forwards media agenda-setting Council Department Personal Networks Local Media Coverage Political Activist Reporter Citizen #1 Mayor Citizen #2 Candidate Researcher City Council Neighborhood Leader Student Forum Manager Citizen #500 Gadfly CitizensCitizens Issues Forum GroupServer e-mails posts web view Online discussions in the heart of local power Subscribe once Commitment secured Post via e-mail/web

24. E-Democracy Experience http://e-democracy.org/experience

25. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Dori from St. Paul Active citizens and “average” citizens raise their voices Ten minute “GSE” (Gopher State Ethanol) video at –http://e-democracy.org/experiencehttp://e-democracy.org/experience Dori Ullman raises her voice about the stench

26. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Jamal from Minneapolis Large Somali community in Minneapolis Their “voice” was missing despite past outreach Bus strike provided motivation and real world reason to join and post to forum Contacted by Mayor, media after forum posts

27. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Mayor Rybak from Minneapolis In 2001, RT Rybak announced mayoral candidacy on forum before press conference Mayor continues to post ~monthly Video clips –The Seven O'clock MeetingThe Seven O'clock Meeting –Budget Issues - InformingBudget Issues - Informing –Let’s Ski - Gathering IdeasLet’s Ski - Gathering Ideas –Two-way Won’t Kill YouTwo-way Won’t Kill You

28. Issues Forums Today

29. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Local Issues Forums Today Minneapolis – 694 membersMinneapolis St. Paul – 423 membersSt. Paul Roseville – 134 members, opened July 06Roseville Winona – 197 membersWinona Brighton and Hove – 242 membersBrighton and Hove Newham – 155 membersNewham KW Nhood, Bristol - 79 mbrs, opened Oct 11KW Nhood, Bristol Other communities are expressing interest, forming steering committees.

30. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Brighton & Hove Today

31. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if GroupServer – E-mail/web Easy to find –By geography E-mail or web - your choice Technology enhancements –Share through open source –Leveraging blogging standards, RSS (web feeds) –More: http://e-democracy.org/groupserverhttp://e-democracy.org/groupserver

32. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Sample Forum – Web View Entering reply here

33. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Sample Forum – E-mail View

34. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if GroupServer Open Source Tool – Value beyond E-Democracy.Org Details and Web Movie –http://e-democracy.org/groupserverhttp://e-democracy.org/groupserver Download and Official Home in NZ –http://groupserver.orghttp://groupserver.org Building user base and development community –http://OnlineGroups.Net – Hosting optionhttp://OnlineGroups.Net

35. How to Start One

36. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if How to Start One Watch “Experience” –http://e-democracy.org/experiencehttp://e-democracy.org/experience Read 60 Page Guidebook –http://e-democracy.org/ifhttp://e-democracy.org/if Join “Liftoff” –http://forums.e-democracy.orghttp://forums.e-democracy.org Contact E-Democracy.Org – Join “Class of 2007” Volunteer-based model that requires at least 4 citizens on your local steering committee

37. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if How to Start One Quick steps –Steering committee –Charter and rules –Forum manager –Recruitment –Launch and facilitation Recruitment phase essential – if you can attract funding for an accelerated start-up, this is the a key area to dedicate resources for inclusivity Forum manager volunteer role crucial – avoid professionalizing core Issues Forum efforts to keep model extremely low cost Add-on special events and consultations may require funding with stipends or compensation E-Democracy.Org hosts shared GroupServer platform, building “Rotary Club” like chapter model

39. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Steven Clift posted humorously about the “public health risks of a large squirrel population” in the Minneapolis forum’s early days. From Southwest Journal newspaper by Martiga Lohn Most days, mpls-issues is a substantive discussion of important public policy issues… However … here are a few excerpts from this burning issue … > Go to hardware store…buy trap…set track…kill squirrel. End of public policy question. > Grab a trap and KILL the squirrel????????? Why must we destroy a living thing as a solution? > Rocky and his friends are out of control. … If you want evidence, try to eat a sandwich on a bench in Loring Park. > Quit telling people to move their nasty attack squirrels to wooded areas (i.e., Minneapolis parks) — we already have our fair share. > I ran on an anti-squirrel platform for Student Legislature at Syracuse University in my freshman year in college. I promised to eradicate the nuisance squirrel population. It was my first election loss. Squirrel Story

40. Conclusion – Part 1

41. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Conclusion – Part 1 This model is about your local democracy – it must be authentically local. Together we can build a global model for local democracy in the information age. Everything: –http://e-democracy.org/ifhttp://e-democracy.org/if

42. Part 2 Online Facilitation Lessons – In-Depth

43. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Additional Models E-Debates – Candidates (parties) on the virtual stage for two weeks –Four major themes debated, rebuttals required –Ten short answer questions –http://e- democracy.org/e- debateshttp://e- democracy.org/e- debates

44. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Additional Models Voter Voices response to e- debate and more - Video, pictures, blog posts tagged “mnpolitics” –http://e-democracy.org/voiceshttp://e-democracy.org/voices E-Democracy.Org’s Wiki –Election links directory –Community links –Citizens Guide to St. Paul

45. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Additional Models Online Communities of Practice –http://groups.dowire.orghttp://groups.dowire.org –Also uses GroupServer – includes e-participation “Consult” forum, group on Research etc. Online events – time- limited (often 2 to 4 weeks) e-consultations, online conferences –http://www.publicus.net/a rticles/consult.htmlhttp://www.publicus.net/a rticles/consult.html

46. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Additional Models Community Blogosphere –Northfield.Org –Citizen Media “blog” with neutral point of view –Aggregator of local civic blogs

47. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Small Groups Come up with a rule and a technology feature that would: –1. Increase the diversity of opinions –2. Increase participation by women/youth/older citizens – diversity of participants –3. Make posting by elected officials more likely –4. Increase respect for those with differing opinions, increase trust or civility among members –5. Help readers/posters find value more quickly –6. Move participants toward consensus or allow group to agree on what they disagree about –7. Avoid alienating political minorities while allowing majority positions to become known –8. Hold forum managers/hosts more accountable to their responsibilities –9. Troll group – List strategies for destroying an online community, technologies you prefer

48. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Your Questions/Challenges What do you need to know? What are you concerned about? Have you had a different experience you’d like to share? There are 5 right ways and 95 wrong paths. How do you choose which is better?

49. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Report Back Small groups – Write down: –One rule –Best tech idea Questions: –Top question –Best advice/example

50. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Recruitment Recruit before you open X weeks Virtual door knocking Appendix D in Issues Forum Guide Appropriate tech: Paper Social inclusion requires real outreach Most efforts fail at recruitment stage Online events need an e-newsletter

51. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Who makes a good Forum Manager? Sincere belief in value of dialogue Respect for diverse ideologies Patience Thick skin, can handle public criticism People skills – easier to teach tech skills Not intimidated by technology Common sense approach to facilitation, ability to ask questions, guide diplomatically, act quickly when required Time available, committed

52. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Forum Management Tasks - 1 Keeping the space “safe” or civil for all participants Encouraging/enforcing compliance with forum rules Keeping discussions on topic (within scope or purpose of forum)

53. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Rules Rules summary - http://e-democracy.org/ruleshttp://e-democracy.org/rules –1. Sign Posts - Use your real name. –2. Limits on Posting - Two per member per day in most forum charters. –3. Keep Topics within Forum Purpose - Local issues on a local forum, for example. –4. Be Civil - This is a public forum with real people. Respect among citizens with differing views is our cornerstone. –5. No Attacks or Threats - This keeps the forums safe. If content is illegal it will be forwarded to the proper legal authorities. –6. Private Stays Private - Don't forward private replies without permission. –7. Avoid False Rumors - Asking for clarification of what you've heard in the community can be appropriate if issues-based. You alone are responsible for what you post. –8. Right to Post and Reply - Sharing your knowledge and opinions with your fellow citizens is a democratic right. –9. Items Not Allowed in Forums - No attachments, etc. –10. Public Content and Use - You are sharing your content, but you retain your copyright. –11. Warnings - You may receive informal or official warnings from the Forum Manager. –12. Suspension - With your second official warning in one year, you are suspended for two weeks. It goes up from there. –13. Appeals Process - You can appeal a warning(s) once you receive a third warning and six-month removal. About one in 1,500 forum members each year have appealed a six-month removal in past years.

54. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Forum Management Tasks - 2 Welcoming new members Managing message volume –in both unmoderated and moderated forums Introducing new topics –Sharing media/website links –Asking a question Encouraging alternative viewpoints –Moving discussion along

55. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Forum Management Tasks - 3 Supporting and encouraging good behavior Responding to participant questions or complaints –Waiting for complaints versus public/private action Ongoing recruitment Tasks can be distributed/shared

56. Issues Forums – e-democracy.org/if Technology Using what you get for free versus serving your democratic needs with adapted tech –Inserting name and link into e-version of posts –Technically limiting to 2 posts in 24 hours –Other ideas? GroupServer and Open Source – Also Drupal, Plone, PHPBB Wikis, Blogs, Tagging - Services like YouTube, Upcoming, Flickr, Technorati

57. Final Questions

58. Done