Meetings should be conducted in a way that encourages friendly discussion and allows for differing opinions. The World Cafe is a good model to follow for facilitating this type of discussion. Their website provides plenty of guidelines for planning meetings.
Here is a suggested format for Liberty Discussions meetings. This is given as a guideline and can be adapted to the needs and preferences of the group. Each group should work hard to ensure that everyone feels respected and can share their opinions in a safe environment.
1. Welcome (5 minutes). The group leader begins the meeting and announces the schedule. He or she explains the format to new members, if necessary.
2. Topic Introduction (20 minutes). An assigned speaker introduces the topic. The topic should be presented as an open question or problem. Example: “How can we deal with rising costs at our local public schools?” The speaker outlines some of the major arguments surrounding the issue and proposes possible solutions.
3. Break-out Groups (20 minutes). Groups of 4-5 people each discuss the issue in more depth. Each break-out group appoints a spokesman and a scribe. The goal of this discussion is to try to reach consensus on certain points and come up with action items.
4. Groups Report (20 minutes). The spokesman for each break-out group makes a report. Someone writes down the main points on a whiteboard or easel.
5. Conclusion (10-15 minutes). The group leader wraps up the meeting by summarizing the discussion. The group may choose to vote on certain action items at this time.
