Successful Public Meetings, 2nd ed.: A Practical Guide

Public meetings can be unpredictable, messy, hostile--or satisfying and successful. Good public meetings, the author explains, are the result of proper planning and execution by a staff trained in all the important details. In this book, Elaine Cogan, an experienced meeting designer and facilitator, spells out the key elements of successful public meetings: defining the purpose, selecting the best format and venue, publicizing the meeting, setting up the room, making presentations, dealing with potentially difficult or disruptive people, and conducting an evaluation process. With checklists for meeting planners and clear explanations of a number of innovative techniques, the author shows how public agencies, even those with the most limited resources, can have successful public meetings.

Elaine Cogan, a partner in the Portland, Oregon, planning and communications firm of Cogan Owens Cogan, is a nationally recognized designer and facilitator of public meetings. The citizen involvement program she developed for Future focus, a strategic planning project for the City of Portland, received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. She is the recipient of Distinguished Service honors from the League of Women Voters of Oregon. Ms. Cogan has been an editorial columnist for the Oregon Journal and the Oregonian newspapers, producer/moderator of a radio talk show, and a television commentator on public issues. She is the coauthor of You Can Talk to (Almost) Anyone About (Almost) Anything: A Speaking Guide for Business and Professional People.