Creating Community Conversations - Gallomanor

Sleep, at last

Well, we've just about recovered here from the whirlwind two weeks of I'm a Councillor, Get me out of Here! AND the last few weeks of manic organisation before the event. Tbh, we're in a bit of a post-adrenaline lull, doing all the clear-up with markedly less enthusiasm and pep than we had during the event... OK, that may just be me - Shane says he is full of beans, but you could have fooled me...

Never mind, I shall perk up again when we start planning for 'I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here!', which the lovely Wellcome Trust have given us lots of money to develop a pilot for. It's going to be great - the format is perfect for science engagement on all sorts of levels...

Anyway, in the meantime, I wanted to share a few highlights of the last fortnight.

My fave questions

1. Do you think it would be possible to have elephants as a form of public transport in Waverley?

2. Why are school dinners so expensive but there not very nice?

3. I used to think that being a councillor would be a boring job. But through Im a councillor get me out of here i see that it isnt would you agree?

4. Why are young people like us from estates, often shown in such a negative light by some of the media? On Sandy Hill we raise money every year for charities, including a project in Gambia, we achieve lots and are often in the local newspapers for what we do, but people still don't think very highly of us.

Other highlights:-

1. Getting the 'International' section off the ground.
We had local politicians or activists from Burma, Nepal, Sweden, Jordan and USA, all telling British young people about their countries.  The American guy got asked about gun ownership and climate change, the Swedish guy got asked about Sven... And strangely, everyone got asked about what bikes they have in their country, by one (obviously bike mad) young person.

Hopefully it got young people seeing beyond the headlines, to the fact that international politics happens to real people, they just happen to be far away... If you've watched the news, it doesn't surprise you that Myo Thein was tortured in Burma. But it sticks in your mind that his favourite band is Take That.

Hopefully, next year, now we've had the practice, it'll be bigger and busier.

2. Alex Perkins in Canterbury
We don't play favourites at IAC, but the moderators couldn't help warming to Cllr Perkins. From his Hawaiian-shirted profile pic (he has three identical shirts - they are his favourite), to his random Douglas Adams quotations, Cllr Perkins was an unflaggingly cheerful and friendly presence, although he still dealt sensitively and thoughtfully with serious questions. He probably put in more hours in live chat than any other councillor in the event, and certainly told more jokes. We're still wondering if his reference to starting the morning with saxophone practice was rude or not...

3. The positive feedback from teachers, councillors and young people.
"Just used the live chat and what a success.  The pupils (all lower band year 10s) absolutely loved it."
"This is one heck of an experience...lovin it."
"ithink this was a reli gd idea i fink i mite get in2 politics a bitmore u guys r reli listenin 2 us even tho sum of us r sayin silly stuff thanks guys"

Awww, makes it all worthwhile, eh?

Now, back to that spreadsheet...
 

Cllr2.0 - how do Councillors use the internet to engage?

As part of a Ministry of Justice funded Innovations Fund project, we're involved in giving a presentation tomorrow to a group of Councillors at Norfolk County Council on the ways that are / could be used to engage with constituents via the internet.

Here's the long list I have at the moment.  Has anyone any suggestions to add?

Top t'internet ways for Cllrs to engage with constituents:
1. Blog
     a. Personal e.g. Mary Reid
     b. Group e.g. Maida Vale Conservatives
     c. Corporate (council run)  Brighton and Hove Councillors
2. Static Website - e.g Councillor.info, VOICE, bespoke build
3. Facebook e.g. Susan Gaszczak 4. email lists e.g Nick Palmer MP
5. txt lists (OK not internet but digital enough) e.g. Steve Webb MP
6. MySpace - Steve Webb again
7. Twitter - anyone using this?
8. I'm a Councillor, Get me out of here! (OK a little biased but valid)
9. LifeSwap (ditto)
10. email hotline (e.g. Ask Daniel)
11. Instant Messaging
12. ePetitions
13. Discussion Boards e.g Issues Forums, TalkSwindon
14. Webcasting

What else have I missed?  I appreciate that some of these examples may not be best of class so if you have any suggestions for what is best that would be helpful.  Please email or leave a comment.

"What's the difference between a supermarket trolley and a Councillor?

A supermarket trolley has a mind of it's own."

This little gem was provided by Cllr Richard Brodie from Dumfries and Galloway Council in a Live Chat this afternoon on www.bigvote.org.uk.  He also provided us with a couple of poems which I'm sure he won't mind being published here:

Dalbeattie, Dalbeattie is a fine old town
But something about it is getting me down
There’s little to do at weekend and night
So give us a Councillor who will put things right

and

There was a young lad from Dalbeattie
Who went round spraying graffiti
Poor old Davie Street
Was covered head to feet
And the town hall looked like Tahiti

all this and conversation with about 30 students on topics as diverse as the new smoking age, the drinking age, what to do in Dalbeattie and improving relations between the police and young people.