March 14, 2007
Dear Voter,
Congratulations! You may be a participant in the next Port Townsend Wisdom Council!
We are pleased to inform you that you’ve been chosen as one of a group from which 12 people will be selected to participate in the next Port Townsend Wisdom Council. This means you may have an important opportunity to join with other citizens to talk about the issues facing us today and how we should address them.
You’ve been randomly selected. You are one of 500 people whose name was randomly generated from a list of over 6,000 active registered voters in Port Townsend. Please fill out the enclosed card and return it by March 24th to enter yourself in the final random drawing of names to determine which twelve of you will serve in the April 2007 Wisdom Council. Random selection ensures a true, symbolic microcosm of “We the People” of Port Townsend.
WHAT IS THE PORT TOWNSEND WISDOM COUNCIL?
A Wisdom Council is a small group of randomly selected people who symbolically represent “We the People” of Port Townsend. You will come together to share thoughts and feelings about the things that matter to them, to seek creative win/win solutions, and to reach consensus on a set of shared concerns. There is no pre-determined agenda or topic.Council members choose the issues to discuss. A facilitator makes sure that each participant’s contributions are valued. The unanimous Statements resulting from the Council will be presented to the community at a Community Gathering on April 14th to which you and all town residents are invited. You can learn more about the Wisdom Council online at www.wisedemocracy.org.
WHO ARE WE?
We are students with the alternative high school programs, known as ICE and PI, in Port Townsend and Chimacum and are currently enrolled in the Contemporary World Problems class. As part of our civics class, we have pledged to organize three Wisdom Councils over the course of the school year. A new panel of citizens will be selected for each new session. The November 2006 and February 2007 Port Townsend Wisdom Councils were very successful!
WHAT”S IN THE WISDOM COUNCIL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?
It’s a good experience. People find these sessions engaging and rewarding. Past participants in Wisdom Councils have often found their voices as citizens connected with the wisdom in their community, and felt empowered to act on solutions that hadn’t been “on the table” before.
This process helps our existing institutions and us. Wisdom Councils are not meant to replace our existing institutions, such as city councils, boards of commissioners, legislators, etc. Instead, Wisdom Councils make those institutions more effective by giving a clear voice to the thoughts and needs and values of local citizens. As student organizers of this process, we are getting the opportunity to work with adults in the community to engage in reflective, thoughtful, and impactful civic engagement that will make our community a better place to live for all of us. We are getting invaluable community organizing experience, earning high school credit, enhancing our skills, and developing positive, lasting relationships with adults.
April 13th and 14th Port Townsend Wisdom Council Schedule
Friday, April 13th / 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wisdom Council members meet in the music room of the Grant Street School.
Saturday, April 14th / 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wisdom Council members meet at the music room of the Grant Street School. Lunch provided.
Saturday, April 14th / 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend Wisdom Council Community Gathering will be held in the gym at Grant Street School. Wisdom Council members will share their experiences and their Statements with the public. Community members who attend will have a chance to participate. Invite family and friends!
NEXT STEPS?
Return the enclosed postcard by March 24th if you care about Port Townsend and want your voice to be heard! Please make sure that you can commit to the schedule above by participating fully on both days. On March 28th there will be a drawing of 12 postcards to determine who will serve on the Wisdom Council. If your name is drawn, you will be notified by a phone call and by mail. The remaining names will be placed on the alternate list in the order that they are drawn.
If you have any questions about this process or need more information, do not hesitate to call Scarlett Rogers at 796-4172 or email Scarlett at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for volunteering your time and energy to be on the April 2007 Port Townsend Wisdom Council!
Warm regards from the Wisdom Council Student Conveners,
Lily Cael, Devon Carney, Nick Carroll, Hannah Harvey, Lonnie Hoeppner, Ryan King, Jaren Martin, Gloria Miles, Jamie Rondeau, Allison Slater, Ellie Spitzbart, Lacey Wahl and Chris Wakefield
Our Project Leader and Teacher: Marci Van Cleve
Our Lead Mentor: Scarlett Rogers
March 14, 2007
Dear Voter,
Congratulations! You may be a participant in the next Port Townsend Wisdom Council!
We are pleased to inform you that you’ve been chosen as one of a group from which 12 people will be selected to participate in the next Port Townsend Wisdom Council. This means you may have an important opportunity to join with other citizens to talk about the issues facing us today and how we should address them.
You’ve been randomly selected. You are one of 500 people whose name was randomly generated from a list of over 6,000 active registered voters in Port Townsend. Please fill out the enclosed card and return it by March 24th to enter yourself in the final random drawing of names to determine which twelve of you will serve in the April 2007 Wisdom Council. Random selection ensures a true, symbolic microcosm of “We the People” of Port Townsend.
WHAT IS THE PORT TOWNSEND WISDOM COUNCIL?
A Wisdom Council is a small group of randomly selected people who symbolically represent “We the People” of Port Townsend. You will come together to share thoughts and feelings about the things that matter to them, to seek creative win/win solutions, and to reach consensus on a set of shared concerns. There is no pre-determined agenda or topic.Council members choose the issues to discuss. A facilitator makes sure that each participant’s contributions are valued. The unanimous Statements resulting from the Council will be presented to the community at a Community Gathering on April 14th to which you and all town residents are invited. You can learn more about the Wisdom Council online at www.wisedemocracy.org.
WHO ARE WE?
We are students with the alternative high school programs, known as ICE and PI, in Port Townsend and Chimacum and are currently enrolled in the Contemporary World Problems class. As part of our civics class, we have pledged to organize three Wisdom Councils over the course of the school year. A new panel of citizens will be selected for each new session. The November 2006 and February 2007 Port Townsend Wisdom Councils were very successful!
WHAT”S IN THE WISDOM COUNCIL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?
It’s a good experience. People find these sessions engaging and rewarding. Past participants in Wisdom Councils have often found their voices as citizens connected with the wisdom in their community, and felt empowered to act on solutions that hadn’t been “on the table” before.
This process helps our existing institutions and us. Wisdom Councils are not meant to replace our existing institutions, such as city councils, boards of commissioners, legislators, etc. Instead, Wisdom Councils make those institutions more effective by giving a clear voice to the thoughts and needs and values of local citizens. As student organizers of this process, we are getting the opportunity to work with adults in the community to engage in reflective, thoughtful, and impactful civic engagement that will make our community a better place to live for all of us. We are getting invaluable community organizing experience, earning high school credit, enhancing our skills, and developing positive, lasting relationships with adults.
April 13th and 14th Port Townsend Wisdom Council Schedule
Friday, April 13th / 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wisdom Council members meet in the music room of the Grant Street School.
Saturday, April 14th / 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wisdom Council members meet at the music room of the Grant Street School. Lunch provided.
Saturday, April 14th / 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend Wisdom Council Community Gathering will be held in the gym at Grant Street School. Wisdom Council members will share their experiences and their Statements with the public. Community members who attend will have a chance to participate. Invite family and friends!
NEXT STEPS?
Return the enclosed postcard by March 24th if you care about Port Townsend and want your voice to be heard! Please make sure that you can commit to the schedule above by participating fully on both days. On March 28th there will be a drawing of 12 postcards to determine who will serve on the Wisdom Council. If your name is drawn, you will be notified by a phone call and by mail. The remaining names will be placed on the alternate list in the order that they are drawn.
If you have any questions about this process or need more information, do not hesitate to call Scarlett Rogers at 796-4172 or email Scarlett at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for volunteering your time and energy to be on the April 2007 Port Townsend Wisdom Council!
Warm regards from the Wisdom Council Student Conveners,
Lily Cael, Devon Carney, Nick Carroll, Hannah Harvey, Lonnie Hoeppner, Ryan King, Jaren Martin, Gloria Miles, Jamie Rondeau, Allison Slater, Ellie Spitzbart, Lacey Wahl and Chris Wakefield
Our Project Leader and Teacher: Marci Van Cleve
Our Lead Mentor: Scarlett Rogers