Here are ten simple rules on how NOT to have a “informational” Town Hall meeting on the implications of a total ban on smoking in all workplaces in Marion County.

1. Don’t have everyone on your “information” panel be associated with the anti-smoking group.
2. Don’t have your moderator be affiliated with the anti-smoking group.
3. Don’t have the banner of the anti-smoking group prominently displayed in the front of the room.
4. Don’t have the banner of the anti-smoking group prominently displayed at the entrance to the meeting.
5. Don’t have the anti-smoking group label T-shirts with their supporters names on them to hand out at the meetings.
6. Don’t have 40-percent of the audience be affiliated with the anti-smoking group.
7. Don’t forget to tell the audience at the start of the town hall meeting that the second town hall meeting will present an alternative point of view.
8. Don’t spend the first 40 minutes of your two-hour “informational” town hall meeting talking about how the city needs a smoking ban.
9. Don’t ever say the reason your anti-smoking message isn’t getting out is because of a “restriction of the flow of information.”
10. Don’t forget, if the city does pass a full smoking ban, someone is going to get rich finding the loopholes. Hint! Hint! 

Posted: 02|17|09 at 7:35 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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