The way a meeting is facilitated can make all the difference between a resounding success and a train wreck. In a town hall meeting, the Senator/Representative is the star of the show. She doesn't have to be a master orator, a comedian, a wonk, or anything in particular, but does need to be authentic. The event should be structured around the Member's strengths as a speaker and host and also take into account what constituents need and expect. Every meeting planner and facilitator also knows that you should be prepared for the unexpected. In the end, the most important goal of any town hall meeting is for constituents to feel respected and heard.
Why You Should Do This
After participating in a telephone town hall meeting with their Representative, constituents were more likely to have a positive opinion of the Member. They viewed the Member as significantly more accessible and compassionate, and they were more likely to feel he understood people like them. They were also more likely to describe the Member as fair, qualified, and knowledgeable and less likely to describe him as dishonest or weak.
What We Learned
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Make it interactive. Whether it's in-person, on the phone, or online, there are many options for making a town hall meeting more interactive without losing control of the event. Ask questions via poll or show of hands to help understand the sense of the room. Stream live video and invite questions via Facebook or Twitter. Q & A isn't the only—or the most engaging—way to facilitate a telephone town hall meeting
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Think legislator, not candidate. In the current political environment it's hard not to be partisan, but telephone town hall meetings should be venues for all constituents, even if they disagree with the Member. Dissenting voices are important to hear, but they will not speak—or attend—if they do not feel welcome and their questions don't get answered. We also found that people who support the Member also preferred neutral, more inclusive events, as well.
