Juvenile delinquency (1955)

JXrVENILE DELINQUENCY 59> Makes decision on scope of attendance, how public is to be informed at the meeting, and who is to receive invitations. Agrees on the use to be made of, and the time to be allotted to, the opening session, discussion meetings for smaller groups, and the closing session. Con- siders use to be made of consultants (individually or in panels) at discusion meetings. Determines the number of section meetings or discussion groups, what the sub- ject matter for discussion will be in each group, the size to which groups will be limited, and the method to be used for assigning participants to a specific section. Develops a program in detail: Time general sessions and section meetings are to be held. Determines need for, and responsibilities of, discussion leaders, recorders for section and general session meetings, section coordinators, and any other necessary meeting personnel. Section coordinators and discussion leaders should be selected as early as possible and invited to susbequent planning committee meetings. Decides on topic for general session spealier, if one is to be used. Considers such matters as welcoming remarks, invocation, color ceremony, national anthem, introduction of special guests, and announcements for the opening session. Determines whether luncheon or dinner meetings are to be held. Agrees on method and technique to be used in obtaining reports from the individual sections, in reporting findings and recommendations of individual sections to the general meeting at the closing session, and in preparing an overall report or proceedings of the meeting for submission to the board of supervisors, the mayor, and the governor. Authorizes subcommittees to be appointed by a planning committee chairman. These might include: Arrangements: Responsible for obtaining meeting rooms for general ses- sions and section meetings, seeing that they are properly set up for the meet- ings, that necessary equipment and other facilities are available, et cetera. Editorial: Responsible for getting program mimeographed and preparing^ final report or proceedings. Publicity: Ivespoiisible for press, radio, and television publicity before, during, and after the town meeting. Registration: Responsible for planning and carrying out pre-meeting reg- istration and meeting registration, or otherwise obtaining a list of those attending, their aflSliations, and addresses. (This may be assigned to a local civic group.) Discn^ssion leader Helps group to define and select the problems that it wishes to discuss, to see that all points of view are given a chance to be aired, and to keep the discussion directed toward the problems under consideration. Clarifies and summarizes the progress of the group from time to time and tries to maintain an atmosphere in which the maximum number of people can par- ticipate in the discussion. Sometimes this requires limiting opinions or state- ments to two minutes. Assists recorder in the preparation of a summary of group discussion for pre- sentation at the closing session and in preparing a final written report of the section for the proceedings. Recorder Functions of the recorder are to put down on paper the major points devel- oped by group thinking. One convenient way to do this is to develop an outline such as: Main issues or problems brought out. Main differences of opinion among gi-oup members. General conclusions agreed upon. Specific final recommendations made and to whom they were directed. Other information. Develops significant highlights of the group discussion for use by newspaper reporters or publicity chairman. Works with the discussion leader to prepare section report for the editorial committee or those responsible for preparing the final report.