E-Democracy.Org & the Story of Local Issues Forums Place Matters 06 Oct. 19, 2006 Denver, Colorado Presented by: Tim Erickson

E-Democracy.Org in not a technology organization. We’re an organization of people using technology to strengthen & enhance democracy.

Expanded participation and stronger democracies and communities through the power of information and communication technologies and strategies. Our Mission

E-Democracy.Org began in 1994 as a volunteer driven initiative to collect and share election related information on the “internet” Bit Bucket Brigade - Volunteers worked on election eve at the Secretary of States office to manually enter election returns onto a web site, where the public would be able to access the data. History

In 1994 E-Democracy.Org hosted a statewide listserve, where people could discuss the election. After the election, people kept on talking and we responded by creating the “Minnesota Politics” forum. History (continued)

Minneapolis Issues Forum A few year years later, a local reporter who covered local issues suggested that forums like MPD could have a much stronger impact at a local level. He launched the Minneapolis Issues Forum and volunteered to be the Forum Manager.

What is a Local Issues Forum? Online town hall meeting Open to anyone Participants set the agenda Includes (4 Legged Stool): –The Public –Local Media –Decision Makers –Bureaucracy

Why a Local Issues Forum? Citizen Participation –Flexible and convenient (anytime & anywhere) –Bring the meeting to citizens Access to Information –Poor coverage of local issues/events –Direct access to people with information Government Accountability Media Accountability

What Does it Look Like (Technology)?

Public Issues Forum Close-up The Forum as multiplier, best content forwarded Mayor’s Office “Secondary Networks” City Department Personal Networks Local Media Political Activist Reporter Citizen #1 City Staff Citizen #2 Candidate Researcher Council Member Neighborhood Leader Student List Manager Citizen #500 Crazy Person Cit ize ns Issues Forum group server sends posts direct to people and web archive Send- Receive Public Sphere You subscribe once Commitment made May post via Everyone is a citizen!

What’s Different? 1.Its (or Web) - It Comes to You 2.Our Volunteer Forum Managers 3.Our Rules 4.It Matters - Participants from all Four Legs of the Stool

Rules : 1.Only 2 Posts Per Day 2.Be Nice - Be Civil 3.Sign Every Post With Your Full Name, and Neighborhood/Location

Forum Manager(s): 1.Enforce rules 2.Encourage discussion 3.Model good participation 4.Seed discussion 5.Act as community organizers

E-Democracy.Org now has (or will soon have) volunteer lead local Issues Forums in: Minneapolis, Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Winona, Minnesota Roseville, Minnesota Newham, UK Brighton & Hove, UK Knowle West, Bristol, UK (Neighborhood) Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts (Regional)

How to set up a local Issues Forum? 1.Download our FREE guidebook? Amost everything we know about how to do it, is included there (URL is coming). 2.You can do this on your own. 3.Or, you can work with E-Democracy.Org  Technical support  Training / coaching  Peer to peer networks

A local Issues Forum in 10 simple steps? 1.Pick Your Democracy (Location) 2.Recruit Steering Committee & Forum Manager 3.Create Mission, Establish Rules, and Set Goals 4.Select Technology 5.Recruit - Recruit - Recruit

A local Issues Forum in 10 simple steps? 6.Involve the Community 7.Launch Publicity - Get the Word Out! 8.Facilitate and Manage 9. Be Patient and Persevere 10.Celebrate

What else……? 1.Rondo Library Outreach Effort 2.Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan (Regional Issues Forum) 3.Knowle West Neighbourhood Forum 4.Newham Youth Initiative (Possible Partnership)

Rondo Library Community Outreach Basic Internet Skills Podcasting Workshops Tabling

Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan

Knowle West Neighbourhood Forum

Newham Young People Online

Issues Forum Guidebook More Resources (opensource) Software we Recommend: