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t ! <br /> Types of Involvement <br /> • Community Workshops: put the public to work: get answers, generate alternatives, choose priorities, <br /> brainstorm solutions, etc. Small group discussions to answer key questions fit this format well. <br /> • Information Forums or Fairs: the public comes to learn about your group, a planning project of process, <br /> local resources, regional trends; cultural, recreation, or economic development opportunities; etc. <br /> • Open Houses: a relaxed, informal way to exchange information and accommodate varied schedules. A series <br /> of stations or "listening posts," are often used as a way of circulating participants and focusing on specific <br /> topics. <br /> • Public Displays: placing posters, display boards, surveys, and brochures in key public places around the <br /> community (empty store fronts, post office, library, schools, etc.) can be effective in reaching a large <br /> number of people over a period of time. <br /> • Site Visits or Site Work: acquaint public with the local resources. Festivals, work parties, guided tours, <br /> demonstration projects, school field trips, etc., are ways to bring people to the resources to experience <br /> them first hand. <br /> • Advisory Committees: technical /resource /policy /citizen groups established to advise planning groups <br /> • Special Interest Committees: expertise for specific resources and needs such as cultural /historic <br /> interpretation; recreation; stewardship; publicity, etc., usually created to carry out specific project goals, <br /> or specific components of a plan <br /> Location and Timing <br /> Where and when you do public outreach and involvement is also important. Will you get higher participation from a <br /> survey if you mail it to all postal boxholders, place it around the community, email it to key community <br /> organizations, or put it in the local newspaper? Is one method sufficient, or do you have the resources to use <br /> several of these strategies? Similarly, you might need to decide if one big community open house is better for <br /> achieving your desired outcomes than several neighborhood open houses. Will you get a better turnout if you hold a <br /> forum two days in a row, or twice in a month? Should you hold your public events during the work day, in the <br /> evenings, or on weekends? The answers to these questions depend largely on the unique dynamics of your <br /> community. <br /> Time and resources will likely be limiting factors on how you conduct public outreach for your project. Irregardless <br /> of what you do, your Public Outreach Plan should be an integral part of your planning process and your annual work <br /> plan. <br /> 3 <br /> Prepared 6/12/06 for Eugene Ridgeline Area Partnership Team, Eugene, OR <br /> National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program <br /> Phone 206 - 220 -4116 email sue abbott(@nps.gov www.nps.qov /ccso /rtca <br />