Coal Blooded Action Toolkit - Climate Access

Open the discussion by identifying someone to speak, with a question, or open the floor up forparticipants to line up to ask questions or verbalize their statements to the panel.Redirect attention from participants who begin to dominate the discussion.ooooDirect a question to other members or the panel.Gently but firmly remind participants the panel or representatives are present to listen andquestion, not to make presentations.Encourage people wishing to discuss personal needs or issues to delay until after thediscussion groups are concluded.Moderator should keep from extended discussion addressing an individual’s issue (thiscan be done during recess or by a representative from an organization present at themeeting).Meeting ConclusionThe moderator should thank everyone for participating, and ensure that all concerns are heard, encouragethose who have expressed interest, and remind participants of next steps/actions (Actions can includewriting letters, making phone calls, etc. xv )DocumentationListening to the many concerns voiced at the meeting is crucial and it will be critical that all which occursduring this important meeting is documented. Documenting the meeting will consist of several elements.Note taking, developing a report from the town hall meeting, recording/taping testimonies, seekingpermission for photographs and video and using social media will be a part of the measures taken toappropriately document the town hall meeting.Note Taking – Taking notes during a town hall meetingmay be challenging. It may be beneficial to assign certainportions of the meeting to several people. Focus oncertain questions or parts of the meeting such as, oneperson documents participants speaking for the coal plantand another taking note of participants against the coalplant.Developing a Report – as a part of documenting the townhall meeting, a report should be written on the events thattook place, listing partner organizations and majorparticipants in attendance, meeting agenda, issues addressed, and actions that will be taken following themeeting. It is important to include participant quotes to provide a snapshot of what occurred. Mostimportantly, the report should be thorough and informative.NAACP Coal Blooded Action Toolkit32 | P a g e