1. Ipswich Town Meeting PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines
Prepared by
Tom Murphy, Town Moderator
Rev: April 11, 2015 1

2. BASIC TEXT GUIDELINES Less is more 5 bullets per slide maximum
8 lines of text maximum
1 level of sub-bullets maximum
i.e, don’t go to third level 2

3. YOU WANT IT EASY TO FOLLOW
Keep your font size large
Avoid serif fonts or Arial font
Choose a font and stick to it
Calibri or Verdana preferred 3

4. COLORS & EMPHASIS White or yellow on blue is best
Black on white is second best
Red on blue is hard to read— DON’T USE IT!
Use bold for emphasis
Do not use underlining
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS
(they will think you are SHOUTING at them!!!!)

5. ALIGNMENT If you use figures $525,326
Line them on the same tab $372,880
So decimals line up $ 74,863
They are much easier to read $ 5,829

6. PICTURES ARE GOOD Photos & graphics are good
Explain --- do not read to people
Photos with no text is best
Like the following …

7. THIS IS A BAD CHART
Slide 7 of 7

9. THIS IS A BAD CHART – HARD TO READ
Slide 7 of 7

10. THIS A GOOD CHART – SIMPLE TO FOLLOW
Modifications made to this slide to make it more effective for Town Meeting:
Vertical axis labeled with units as $000 leaves more room to use a larger font.
Vertical axis uses unlabeled minor grid lines.
Horizontal axis only labels every other value. These are years, and so the missing values are obvious. Leaves slide uncluttered, and more room to make font larger.
Data lines use differing, dark, and high-contrast colors, along with different patterns.
Data lines weight increased to 2.75 points.
Each data line labeled next to the line, rather than confined to a key box off to the side. Viewers don’t need to move eyes back and forth to read the lines. 10

11. TOO MUCH DETAIL - POOR COLOR SCHEME
ANOTHER BAD CHART
TOO MUCH DETAIL - POOR COLOR SCHEME
APPLICATION OF LOT WIDTH DEFINITION
Current definition:
LOT WIDTH: The distance between lot lines measured parallel to the front property line at the front of the principal building.
Proposed Definition:
LOT WIDTH: The distance between lot lines measured parallel to the font property line at the corner of the principal building closet in distance to the front property line.
Lot #1
Lot #2
FRONTAGE STREET
Applying the current definition of lot width is clear for Lot #1 but not so clear for Lot #2. Applying the proposed definition is clear for both Lot #1 and Lot #2.

12. Width is clear for Lot 1 - but not for Lot 2
IN THIS CASE - START WITH CURRENT DEFINITION
Current definition:
LOT WIDTH: The distance between lot lines measured parallel to the front property line at the front of the principal building.
Lot #1
Lot #2
STREET
Width is clear for Lot 1 - but not for Lot 2

13. With this definition – width is clear for both Lots
THEN GIVE NEW DEFINITION
Proposed Definition:
LOT WIDTH: The distance between lot lines measured parallel to the font property line at the corner of the principal building closest in distance to the front property line.
Lot #1
Lot #2
FRONTAGE STREET
With this definition – width is clear for both Lots

14. PEOPLE DO NOT READ IF TOO MUCH DETAIL
The Recall Petition is a preventative measure, not to be used as a threat or punishment.
Grounds for Recall are specific & measureable.
No additional costs to the town; the recall will be held at the annual town election. No special election.
Balances the effort and timeline of the recall process, the individual being recalled, the Town Clerk’s office, and the group initiating the recall.
Includes sanctions for being recalled.
Slide 2 of 7

15. THEY GET ½ WAY THROUGH AND STOP!
Ten (10) registered voters file a Notice of Intent identifying the person and the specific reason for the recall.
The Town Clerk certifies the ten (10) voters and provides petition blanks for the fifteen hundred (1500) registered voters including at least registered voters from each Precinct for the recall petition.
The signed petitions forms must be turned into the Town Clerk within 60 days.
The Registrar of Voters have fifteen (15) business days following submission to certify the petition forms.
Slide 5 of 7

16. THIS IS A GOOD SLIDE – PLAIN & SIMPLE
Recall preventative measure – not punishment
Grounds must be specific & measureable
No cost recall at next scheduled election
Equitable balances effort of all parties
Effective carries sanctions
Slide 2 of 7

17. NOT LIKE THIS Recall Election
Following the 1500 registered voter certification, the petition for recall is submitted to the Board of Selectmen which:
notifies the subject of the recall petition following its next scheduled meeting offering the subject five (5) business days to resign; and
if there is no resignation, Selectmen call for a recall election at the next annual election.
Slide 6 of 7

18. BUT LIKE THIS Recall Certified petition submitted to BOS who then
notifies the subject offering chance to resign; and
if none calls for a recall at next election
Slide 6 of 7

19. PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Use Microsoft PowerPoint (preferable), Keynote, or Adobe Acrobat
Submit copy to the Moderator one week in advance
When approved submit final to Town Manager
3 business days before start of Town Meeting

20. PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Be ready to speak without your slides
- in case technology fails
Do not rely on slides too much

21. MOST IMPORTANTLY
Have fun!