Texas Forums Virtual Presentation on Democracy’s Challenge

Public Thinking about
“Democracy’s Challenge: 
Reclaiming the Public’s Role”
So what happens to all of that information that comes out of a forum?
Where does that information go?
What did people in other forums have to say about Democracy’s Challenge?
Join the researchers from Doble Research Associates for a virtual roundtable on November 15 and learn about the results of the 2005-2006 National Issues Forums

Date: November 15, 2006


Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern, 12:00 Central, 11:00 Mountain, 10:00 Pacific


Location: OPAL Auditorium (http://67.19.231.218/v4/login.asp?r=67955673&p=0 or go to: http://opal-online.org/ and click on Opal Auditorium)

Sponsored by: Texas Forums, an initiative of the LBJ Presidential Library.

Program description:
Last Spring Texas Forums joined with dozens of other colleagues across the country to conduct forums using the National Issues Forums discussion guide, “Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Role”. A forum in Austin was even filmed and used in a documentary, “Public Voice” that aired on public television stations across the country.

The results of these forums have been compiled in a report by Doble REsearch Associates commissioned by the Kettering Foundation and will be discussed at a roundtable in Washington, D.C. this fall.
On November 15, Texas Forums will host a virtual roundtable with Doble Research Associates and members of the National Issues Forums network.
John Doble, Janay Cody, and Laura Kelsky, of Doble Research Associates will discuss the findings of their interviews with moderators and forum participants, review of recorded forums, analysis of post-forum questionnaires, and observation of forums.
Members of the NIF Network who have also been invited to participate:

Bill DiMascio, Pennsylvania Prison Society

Sue Darst Tate, Oklahoma Partnership for Public Deliberation

Barbara Brown, Clemson (who conducted forums with kids whose parents are serving in the military)

Bob Walker, who works with high school students

How to attend: To attend this event, go to the OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries) Website <http://www.opal-online.org/> and enter the auditorium link on the left hand side of the page. <http://67.19.231.218/v4/login.asp?r=67955673&p=0>. You will need a computer with speakers. If you have a microphone attached to your computer, you will be able to pose questions to the panelist orally. Otherwise, you can interact via text messaging in the virtual auditorium. If you have never attended an OPAL event, check out the video introduction at: http://www.opal-online.org/OPALpromo200603b.wmv. (Windows Media Video file; playback time 2 minutes, 39 seconds)