As some of you may know, AmericaSpeaks (www.americaspeaks.org) is convening CaliforniaSpeaks this August in California. CaliforniaSpeaks is a non-partisan discussion that will present to the public the major reforms that have been proposed by political leaders. Californians will learn about the different options and make choices about what the state should do. The product of the discussions will be presented to the Governor and legislative leadership to influence legislation that is being considered in Sacramento. For more information about CaliforniaSpeaks visit: www.californiaspeaks.org.

They are recruiting 400 – 500 volunteer facilitators for a statewide discussion on healthcare reform in California on August 11. It will be an interactive meeting for thousands of people in 8 different cities (San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside – San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland – San Francisco, and Humboldt County). These conversations will be connected together by live satellite TV with the potential to impact the critical issue of healthcare in California, the largest state in the union. It will be an exciting opportunity for people to help with such a large-scale public involvement effort.

Volunteer facilitators will work with small groups of 6-10 people to deliberate about a series of questions pertaining to health care reform proposals. Via laptop computers and keypad polling devices, individual tables will share the results of their conversations with the hundreds of participants in the room and in other cities. Facilitators will be oriented to the program and are expected to have experience with small group face-to-face deliberation, comfort with diversity and difference of opinion. The time commitment entails attendance at a two-hour orientation prior to the event, as well as all day on August 11. To register to be a volunteer facilitator visit: www.californiaspeaks.org/facilitator.