Top tips for public meetings21 April 2011
Are you planning a public meeting, or thinking of doing so?
Here are our top tips to help you organise a successful meeting from the organisers of the Energy Bill public meeting in Hackney.
With a little forward planning you can hold a great event. It will not only challenge your MP to tackle climate change, but can also attract new members to your group.
And don't forget the public meeting pack which is full of great advice.
Top tips
Venue
Start looking for a venue well in advance, even before you get a date confirmed.
It can be tricky to find an affordable, well-located venue that's available on the date you need it.
Make sure to ask for a discount - as a not-for-profit group, chances are venues will be happy to offer a discount.
Planning
Follow the public meeting pack, especially the checklist (page 15) which is very useful in making sure everything is covered, and you needn't worry that you've forgotten something important.
Finding local allies to invite
Set aside a little time for finding new local allies to invite - it's time very well spent.
Check for local Oxfam, World Development Movement, and Women's Institute groups in your area. You could also invite faith groups, youth groups and other green groups in your area.
It's a great chance to make new connections and find allies for future campaigns!
Use the skills in your group
In our group we have
- a journalist who wrote a press release for local media
- a photographer who took great photos of the event
- and a graphic designer who designed an eye-catching poster and flyer for the event
Get everyone involved
Make sure everyone in your group that possibly can, gets involved in helping in some way.
The checklist in the public meeting pack (page 15) is great for helping with this. People can pick tasks from the list, making sure no one is left with too much to do.
© Scott Morrison
