months you've had an an average of almost 45 different people posting each
month. Whether your an active reader or poster, why not invite someone to be
our 200th member!
Forward this post please.
Here is the forum's purpose:
* The Canterbury Public Issues Forum is an online forum where citizens
participate in discussions about local issues. Its purpose is to increase the
opportunity for Cantabrians to participate in the local democratic process.
To join, simply visit:
* http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues
Forum's in the E-Democracy.Org network have some special attributes that make
them very unique and worth the time it takes to participate:
1. We all agree to use our real names. People are accountable to civility rules
enforced by a volunteer forum manager.
2. No one may post more than twice in 24 hours. This increases the number of
voices heard on any one topic and prevents two people from going back and forth
all day. The helps build an influential audience which in turn strengthens the
forum's agenda-setting power.
3. We use a nifty New Zealand based tool called GroupServer as hosted by
OnlineGroups.Net - this allows people to *choose* e-mail or web participation
and still be part of the same virtual space.
This forum is one of best new launches we've had and hopefully the first of
many across New Zealand. We'll be sharing lessons from your efforts (thank you
Forum Manager Dan Randow, PlainsFM and the local steering committee) across our
forums in the UK and the US as well.
Steven Clift
Board Chair, E-Democracy.Org