Turnout only big with huge subdivision proposals, controversial events, etc.
Youth, newcomers, etc. common groups that don't participate.
Typical methods like newsletters, postcard mailings may not solicit much response.
Planners should do some work on educating the public on community planning, since many people don't understand the need to come out (invitations are self-selective).
Look at tactics of opposition groups, business people.
People don't always know why we are trying to get them, in particular, or what they have to contribute.
People often participate because they are honored to be invited by a certain person.
Tap into the people who have potential for leadership, but who don't participate on their own.
Reverse relationship - go out into community and go to people instead of asking them to come to us.
Use experts from fields of marketing response, survey analysis that have huge consequences for the type of response.
Using kids makes kids more involved and makes parents more likely to participate.
Guilt works on a personal level (i.e. kids quilting parents into participating), but not on a societal level.
Do the research to find out who is not participating, why not, and where they are - then go to them.
Work with structure of schools and other systems - give kids credit for participating, joining programs.
Find the go-to people in every social institution and work with them.
Schools are one of the only places where there are representative samples.
Have important organizations ensure participation from their members.
The more exciting the meetings are, the more people will turn out for future meetings - need to build momentum.
Come out with a proposal that people will hate, which forces them to come out and speak up against it.
Ask people to come with solutions rather than problems, and come with prioritized list.
PR and marketing programs for planning and community initiatives will make people more interested and aware.
Use gimmicks - tricks like car salesmen use to get people to sales, etc. - celebrities, door prizes, good coffee and food.
Have a way to participate that doesn't require people to get a babysitter and make a huge commitment.
Create notices in a language that people understand (people may not understand what zoning even is).
Make sure people can get a basic education on the topic in question.
Document effects of processes and outreach steps so that people know what they are getting into.
Utilize boards to help with outreach (write it into their job descriptions).
Offer people babysitting, free rides to the meetings, or anything to help make it easier to participate.
Bring in key community leaders and have them nominate other people to participate - act of nomination is an honor.
Do individual stakeholder meetings with people - call the ones too busy to participate.
Identify every stakeholder interest you can and then be sure to go to all of those groups.
Go through respected leaders in sub-communities - use them to actually get the feedback from their constituents.
Personally invite people who should be participating.
More aggressive civic education for young people to convince them to participate in meetings.
Shouldn't be a meeting that we are trying to get people to come to, but get people involved digitally or in other ways.
Run a photography contest, or something fun to get people to start thinking about community.
Use Survey Monkey, or other cheap, online survey tools to help get feedback; put survey links onto utility bills, through chamber of commerce, youth organizations, school newsletters, etc.
Translate into other languages, etc. to reach all groups.
Get kids to lead the parents - if they ask parents to participate, parents more likely to get involved.
Triangulate methods - post in as many places as possible and use as many communications methods as possible.
Go to the town dump on Saturday, or wherever people most likely congregate.
Make meetings kid-friendly and then use the work of the kids at the meeting.
Use art as a way to engage people.
SCA is offering competition for next great conservation project - running competitions brings in a lot of ideas.
Be sure to have responsible and prompt follow-up, don't leave big gaps or leave things hanging.
Use humor to attract people.
Good facilitator is critical to making a meeting fun and enjoyable to sit through - or team of facilitators to help cover all bases.
Have continuity in staff, facilitators throughout to make sure there is institutional memory.
Use technology like keypad polling to capture everyone's vote and make sure the loudmouths don't take over (Turning Point Technology or Option Power).
Keep track of time, show an agenda on screen, and stick to time limits.
Provide babysitting or rides.
Intercept surveys - ask anybody who walks by a coffee ship.
Focus on the affirmative, pick low hanging fruit, and celebrate progress; focus on tangible, manageable steps.
Respect people's time and use it well.