HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-01-2015 Item 1 - Presentation by the League of Women Voters regarding Civility and Civil DiscourseDemocracy and the League
The League of Women Voters of San Luis
Obispo County believe that Civil Discourse
makes Democracy work better, increases civic
engagement, and empowers communities to
find common ground on critical issues that
need to be solved – if San Luis Obispo County
is to survive and thrive now and in the future!
10 Best Practices of Civil Discourse
•Never comment on motivation of a speaker.
•Promote discussion on merits of issues:
evidence to support opinions and conclusions.
•Remind participants about Rules of Conduct
before public meetings begin.
•Encourage respectful speech and discourage
potentially slanderous, profane, or personal
remarks.
10 Best Practices of Civil Discourse
•Regularly review laws-update rules and codes:
Codes of Ethics.
Codes of Conduct.
Robert’s Rules of Order.
California’s Brown Act.
Ordinances, Resolutions, and Pledges.
Adopt Civil Discourse Resolution
Pledge to follow Best Practices of CD:
•Respect the right of all people to hold
different opinions.
•Avoid rhetoric intended to humiliate, malign,
or question the motivation of those whose
opinions are different from yours.
•Strive to understand differing perspectives.
Adopt Civil Discourse Resolution
Pledge to follow Best Practices of CD:
•Choose words carefully.
•Speak truthfully without accusation, and avoid
distortion.
•Speak out against violence, prejudice, and
incivility in all their forms whenever and
wherever they occur.
Why does Civil Discourse Matter?
•Civil Discourse promotes informed discussion
of public issues essential for government
bodies and citizens to make good decisions.
Why does Civil Discourse Matter?
•Citizens and elected officials have a right to
express their free speech, but in an
environment that makes everyone feel safe
and respected.
Why does Civil Discourse Matter?
•We need to be the change we want to see if
we are to increase civic engagement in
government and attract more young people to
government service.
Raise Awareness-Build Support
for Civil Discourse …
•Observer Corps: attend-observe public meetings.
•Ambassador Corps: speak at Public Comment.
•1/2 Day Civil Discourse Training Workshop.
•Parliamentary Procedures’ Workshop.
•Civil Discourse Presentations by Request.
•Civil Discourse Speaker’s Bureau.
•Civil Discourse Brochures, buttons, stickers.
•Civil Discourse curriculum for the schools.