[statecom-discuss] Common Ballot 2008: Northampton Sat. March 24th. 12:15 Lunch, 1:00 Meeting, Quick Update

[Ron Francis]

Hello Green-Rainbow Folks,
   
  An update of the CLBQ2008 process is at the end of this email....
   
  This is a quick email just to remind folks about the Next Meeting (and Lunch) of the Common Local Ballot Question Initiative 2008 (CLBQ2008).  We'll be going to the part of the state which is arguably our "better side" .... that is the Pioneer Valley.  The meeting:
   
  Downtown Northampton 
  14 Masonic St
  Packard's Restaurant "Library" Private room
  Lunch 12:15
  Meeting 1:00 to 3:00
   
  Invite friends !! who are interested in a comprehensive plan to distinguish the GRP with clear distinctive politics using a multi-district common ballot question for 2008.  We need as many folks as possible to get the plan up and running.
   
  At the meeting we will continue to 
  a) iron out details about the CLBQ2008 Intitiative plans in order to converge on the best possble plan in the CLBQ framework
   
  b) continue to probe different single issues using the Questin Formulation Technique to draw out the most imprtant questions facing each possible choice of issue.  We will probably choose two issues to look at for the Northampton Meeting.  (we did one issue at the first Somerville Meeting - see notes below)
   
  Please plan to attend.  Lunch will be provided at the restaurant.
   
  Quick Minutes of last Somerville Meeting:
   
  5 of us attended and talked about the CLBQ2008 Plan fundamentals allowing people to ask questions and come up with any amendments to the basic plan.   No significant adjustments at this time.  
   
  We also had some fun as Jennifer Yanco (Medford) won the Door Prize as she was the person who was close to guessing which issues folks would prioritize for the Question Formulation Process.  As it turned out no particular issue (of the 12 possibilities) had a lot more votes than any other but still Jennifer was closest and won the dinner gift certificate.  Thanks to all who helped with the issue prioritizing by choosing three issues.  
   
  The 5 of us agreed that it is important to emphasize that we are not focusing on advocacy on any particular issue at this time, but instead using a questioning process to get out as much information on each issue before choosing the issue to put forward in 2008 as the Common Ballot Question.
   
  The group picked an issue at random to try out the Questin Formulation Technique.  The issue chosen was Reparations for Native American and African Amerccans.   I will provide the full minutes in a subsequent email.  We wound up identifying key questions to get answers to (or to resolve) if Reparations were to be our ballot question.
   
  We critiqued the Question Formulation Process at the end of the meeting and each of us thought that the process was effective and had positive comments.  The process really does bring forward a lot of questions and then prioritizes them.   Jen M. (Somerville) thought that "it was the best meeting she had been to in a while".  Thanks to Charlene (Watertwon) for doing great facilitating.   For the full details see the next email.
   
  At the Northampton meeting on the 24th of March we will have a similar meeting and hope to get two issues done using the process.  Join us.  It should be a lot of fun.
   
  Ron Francis
  617 230-2835