March Update for D&D Leaders from www.Thataway.org

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Update from T H A T A W A Y. O R G - Home of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
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Hi, folks! I?’d like to bring your attention to three things this month:

1. The wonderful resource that is our new Community Happenings blog
2. An online survey to find out what you want to see at NCDD?’s 2004 conference this October
3. An update to the collaborative, self-organizing Let?’s Talk America project

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1. Our Community Happenings Blog ?– at www.thataway.org/news/index.html

I am thrilled with this new feature, which not only allows me to very easily add two or three announcements each day in no time BUT ALSO allows you to easily find what you?’re most interested in. Are you looking for funding? Are you interested in new resources? Interested in seeing what kinds of D&D-related conferences are coming up in your region? Interested in D&D on college campuses? In research? Our categories are meant to make things easy for you. I encourage you to get in the habit of checking out what's happening in the D&D community on a very regular basis!

Here are some of the newest headings on the Happenings blog:

- Resource Binder Available from ADI's National Exchange
- Report Emphasizes Need for Public Involvement in World's Water Problems
- New Network of Scholars Interested in Collaborative Policy
- CIRCLE Releases Indicators of Civic Engagement
- Grants for K-12 Teachers who Emphasize Cultural Connections
- Fulbright Scholar Grants Available in 47 Disciplines
- New Teaching and Learning for Peace Foundation
- New Monograph on Public Art
- CIRCLE Awards 30 Research Grants
- ARNOVA Conference to Address Advocacy, Deliberation & Governance
- New York Gathering of People Involved in Transformative Practices
- Glenna Gerard to Lead Workshop on Peacemaking through Sacred Conversation
- Citizen Engagement Summit Scheduled for November in Canada
- ICMA to Hold Webcast on Collaborative Problem Solving
- Invitation to a Do-Gooders Exchange in DC


2. Needs Assessment for NCDD?’s 2004 Conference Awaits Your Visit - www.thataway.org/conference/2004/needs.html

NCDD's 2004 conference will take place in Denver, Colorado, October 23 through 25, with post-conference trainings on the 26th. Like the first National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation, the 2004 conference will be planned as collaboratively and creatively as possible (there are already 59 of us working together to make this conference happen!), and your involvement and ideas are important to us. If you think you may attend this year's conference, please take a few minutes to complete our online needs assessment. You can also go to www.thataway.org/conference/index.html to read more about the groundbreaking 2002 conference.


3. Update on Let?’s Talk America

Let?’s Talk America is off to a great start. Be sure to visit the website www.letstalkamerica.org, which is growing as you read. By the end of this week, the meeting tool will be live so hosts can post a meeting, and participants can find a meeting?… and soon the feedback questionnaire will be up to post results.. We hope you will consider hosting conversations and involving your networks. Telephone training in the Conversation Café process for LTA hosts will be offered April 1 and again April 13, 5:30 to 7:00 PST.

Also plan to join the LTA/Democracy in America Convention coming up May 20-22 in Springfield, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous speech, ?“A nation divided can not stand.?” Endorsements and partnerships with individuals and organizations from across the country are expanding, including ACLU, League of Rural Voters, Working Assets and United Muslims of America. Join this experiment in living democracy and national dialogue.

Let?’s Talk America is a joint project of NCDD, the Utne Institute, Conversation Cafe and the World Cafe. If you subscribe to Utne Magazine, take a look at the current March/April issue: There is a very cool 2-page ad (p. 48-49) that encourages people to participate in this "new nationwide movement to revitalize our democracy." And on pages 60-61, a great article by Leif Utne provides background and info on how to get involved. Everyone in the dialogue & deliberation community is encouraged to participate in this election-year initiative!


I hope this month has been treating you well. Good luck with all you do!

Warm regards,
Sandy

Sandy Heierbacher
Convenor, The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD)
www.thataway.org
802-254-7341



NCDD connects and informs leaders in the dialogue and deliberation community. Dialogue and deliberation help people bridge gaps, make better decisions, take collective action and become more active citizens. Dialogues are powerful personal experiences that often lead to careful deliberation and collaborative action or policy recommendations.

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