"Americans understand that their voices are stronger when they join with others who share the same vision. When community citizens, agency personnel and organization leaders, from the public and private sectors, all work together toward a common vision, they maximize their resources.

Community based collaboration is the process by which citizens, agencies, organizations, and businesses make formal, sustained commitments to work together to accomplish a shared vision. Community based collaboration requires a commitment to share decision-making and the allocation of human, physical and financial resources.

Taking a community based approach acknowledges that citizens are the key to the communities future.

When communities do not develop a pattern of collaboration, they diminish community development potential. Without collaboration lack of direction, win-lose behaviors, lack of commitment, and poor planning result -- all with negative effects within the community.

This is the first in a three part series to assist communities to effectively plan, develop and implement real community based collaboration..."

"Deliberative dialogue is a form of discussion aimed at finding the best course of action. Deliberative questions take the form "What should we do?" The purpose is not so much to solve a problem or resolve an issue as to explore the most promising avenues for action. Following a usage that traces back to the ancient Greeks, deliberation can be defined as the process of establishing intent and resolve, where a person or group explores different solutions before settling on a specific course of action. "We deliberate not about ends," said Aristotle, "but about the means to attain ends." Deliberation is necessary for what is uncertain, he noted, when there may be reasons for deciding on one course of action but equally compelling reasons for deciding on another."

Lori Sturdevant’s July 24 column in the Star Tribune re-capping the Bloomington Citizen Solutions Forums session.

"An Alternative to Robert's Rules of Order for Groups, Organizations and Ad Hoc Assemblies that Want to Operate By Consensus.

Let's compare what this Short Guide has to say with what Robert's Rules of Order requires. Assume that a few dozen people have gotten together, on their own, at a community center because they are upset with a new policy or program recently announced by their local officials. After several impassioned speeches, someone suggests that the group appoint a moderator to "keep order" and ensure that the conversation proceeds effectively. Someone else wants to know how the group will decide what to recommend after they are done debating. "Will they vote?" this person wants to know. At this point, everyone turns to Joe, who has had experience as a moderator. Joe moves to the front of the room and explains that he will follow Robert's Rules of Order. From that moment on, the conversation takes on a very formal tone.