How to Enjoy a Town Hall Meeting
By Pat Boyd, Executive Director, South Dakotans for the Arts

 

    How to Enjoy a Town Hall Meeting

The Town Hall Meeting is an American tradition that deepens citizen participation in the democratic process. In South Dakota, they may be called Cracker Barrels or Meet & Greets, but these informal open meetings provide forums for public discussion before the private decisions of the voting booth and the eventual decisions of elected officials. Town Hall Meetings can influence public dialogue, policy and practice. They present shining opportunities for our voices to be heard in support of arts education, in the form of leading questions. In a candidates’ forum, we only have to ask the questions and listen to the answers, no speech required from the advocates!

But no one said democracy would be easy, and making yourself heard in the same room with people who are worried about their jobs and homes, fuel and food costs, health care, wars, and the list goes on, requires savvy on your part.

Start with what you know. You know that without significant arts education, our country will not be equipped to conquer any of those other looming issues. You know that we have no solutions without using considerably more innovation, imagination and empathy than we currently employ, and that’s what arts education is about. You know that because arts education has been buried in the budgets, our children are not being adequately prepared for the jobs and responsibilities of the 21st Century. Prepare to lead with a question, and listen for the direction your advocacy should take this fall.

Since your topic is education, better do your homework. You have given yourself two assignments:

1) Attending the meeting: Tackle the meeting logistics first; it is the easier assignment and builds confidence. Assume nothing. Consider the date, time and place of the Town Hall Meeting carefully. Contact the event organizer and ask a few questions – What is the meeting format? How much timewill there be for questions? Is it possible, or required, to submit a question in writing before the meeting? Will follow-up questions be allowed? Thank the organizer for putting the meeting together and for answering your questions. If another question occurs to you later, call back and ask it. For example, if you decide to have a shy student ask the question at the meeting, you will want to know if there will be a microphone. On meeting night, bring along influential friends and supporters to sit with you and nod approvingly. Consider the kind of media coverage you might expect and hope to be a highlight.

 

2) Presenting the question takes you back to what you know, and leads to what you need to find out. Make sure you understand your own question. Start by stating it clearly in 25 words or less, no frills. “How will we expand access to quality arts education so that every child in our schools can benefit from a complete education?” is a general question – there will be more specific questions in a local forum. Once you have the question formed, you will need to introduce it and put it in context. A good introduction is a pertinent quote from a knowledgeable source.

 

Best case: you have conducted a Candidates’ Survey on Arts Education beforehand, and can quote the candidate herself! Find a guide for conducting a local survey at www.sdarts.org. Follow the quote with a local statistic, and then, “My question is this….”

Take your turn and ask your question. Don’t be afraid to go first! It may be your best chance, and if you are well prepared you can set the standard for the rest of the meeting. Listen carefully to the answer, and unless you have a follow-up question prepared, thank the candidate and sit down. This is not a debate, and you have your answer. You will have time to work with it later, as you chart your strategies for effective advocacy for arts education. Enjoy!