PCM Roundtable

(The source code for Platform Meetings is still under development.)

Ground Rules

 * Open to the public, open to members of other parties
 * More ideas are better
 * If they take our ideas, good. They were good ideas.
 * The purpose of the meeting is to come up with interesting new variations on policies and hear a variety of perspectives

Supplies: Paper, Pens, Painters tape

Starting the Meeting

 * Pirate Representatives introduce themselves and welcome people for the first fifteen minutes or so to accomodate latecomers.
 * Use painter's tape to make name tags for ease of memory
 * Allow for a Brief Q&A to bring everyone up to speed.
 * Go around the circle to introduce each person and share something about themselves. Either:
 * Why they are involved in politics and what moves them.
 * Why they are involved in the Pirate Party
 * -or- you could go around the circle sharing policy proposals

Facilitation

 * With larger groups or groups with people that you don't know, it might be necissary to have a facilitator.
 * Facilitators can try to keep the discussion on topic, make sure everyone gets a chance to speak, or draw lines as to which policies can or should be considered. (eg. If a person is insistent on speaking about chemtrails it would be the moderators job to diffuse that discussion into concepts that are more reputable- we are going to attract people who distrust the government, and that means conspiracy theories will come up every now and then. That is ok. Make it about transparency.)
 * Facilitators can keep meetings moving by having an agenda ahead of time, also. (eg. asking the group to brainstorm solutions to a problem like Manufactured Obsolesence, or making an entire meeting about filesharing policy.)

Keeping Notes

 * It is ideal to have a dedicated note-taker for the duration of the meeting.
 * Everyone should be given paper and pens so they can write and/or doodle themselves. It encourages creativity.
 * People may be asked to return papers at the end of the meeting for creating Minutes

Wrapping Up

 * At the end of the meeting pass around a volunteer sheet where people can share their names, phone numbers, and e-mails to be contacted again in the future.
 * Thank everyone for attending and get feedback.
 * Go to the bar.