"Reason & Respect: Let's Take Action": Action Plans

[Ken Egan]

On Friday, May 29, 28 citizens of the Bitterroot Valley came together to craft specific action plans to encourage civil discourse and civic engagement. Here are those action plans in summary form. Feel free to post responses and clarifications.

1. Idea for Action: Create an entity to model, facilitate, and shepherd civil discourse in perpetuity in Ravalli County

Convener: Victoria Clark Participants: John Lavey, Dane Schultz, Gene Williams, Win Smith, Carol Smith

Steps:
a. Work with ministerial association to create "Civil Sunday"
b. Model honest, civil dialogue via media
c. Develop a vision to make this steering committee a permanent entity
d. Serve as clearing house for good meeting ideas--be proactive
e. Take show on the road--spread message through Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.

2. Idea for Action: Civil Letters to the Editor

Convener: Lisa Thompson Participants: All of us in the Bitterroot; Dayle and Barb Anderson

Steps:
a. State your own views and beliefs rather than attacking others and using name-calling
b. State the facts and resources to back up your views
c. Ask papers to set a policy of civil discourse in letters submitted to the editor
d. Disagree without being disagreeable


3. Idea for Action: Bring people together around common values to demonstrate that there is a better way to "get along" in the Valley.

Convener: Carolyn Weisbecker Participants: Stewart Branberg, Robin Holcomb, Gene Williams, Betty McBride

Steps:
a. Identify a core group to bring a single issue to public awareness
b. Identify the issue
c. Form working groups to proceed on that issue
d. Invite all stakeholders and interested parties to participate
e. Encourage spin-off groups
f. At a planned time, spend enough time to hear how groups view the issue and try to find common goals related to the issue


4. Idea for Action: Convening a Civil Discourse Conference in Public Schools

Convener: Carol Smith Participants: Danica Loucks, Suzy Foss, Betty McBride

Steps:
a. Danica will form a Planning Committee of students to develop a proposal to take to the principal of Hamilton High School--initial conference will focus on sophomores and juniors
b. Hold conference during coming school year
c. Train students as facilitators so that they can conduct sessions in middle and grade schools
d. Take idea to other schools: Suzy--Darby; Betty--Florence; Robin H.--Stevensville; Chris Love--Corvallis


5. Idea for Action: Coffee Conversations

Convener: Kathy Driscoll Participants: Rob Johnson, Dave Campbell, Laurie Riley, Kathie Raubik

Steps:
a. Select location and begin Coffee Cup gatherings
b. Establish routine--begin with "soft" topics
c. Go to groups to recruit participants and bring ideas from groups
d. Develop lesson plans
e. Schedule: Self-training until September; begin meeting in the fall


6. Idea for Action: Reflect--Understanding the "Other"

Convener: Chris Love Participants: Roger Williams, Dayle and Barb Anderson

Steps:
a. Contact churches and Council on Aging
b. Determine appropriate times for Reflect sessions
c. Begin mid-September and go forward
d. Might also approach County Commissioners about hosting a series of Reflect sessions