When a Town Hall goes sideways…
For those of you still reading… Merlot is still yummy!
The mere mention and your stomach turns #amiright?
We compiled 20 years of experience and tons of resources. Here are the best actions when an event erupts (click these links for specifics!):
- “Tell me more”: This gives you some personal perspective on how the attendee came to this question.
- “Are you OK?”: A great way to softly diffuse anger and promote compassion.
- If someone has a beef with a department or person that’s a personal issue without broad impact, tell them you’ll connect with them personally to work on a solution. Then do it.
The folks at SGR had great resource in their newsletter a couple weeks ago, titled “How Elected Officials Stand Tall in the Face of Political Divides”. Check it out here: https://sharp.vote/thsideways
Security:
Most public places will have some kind of security. Don’t hesitate to work with them – it’s their job to keep the peace.
- Recruit large and/or strong friends to stand nearby antagonists and be on alert.
- If you have had direct or indirect threats on social media or email, we encourage you to contact the police to monitor the event. They would rather be there and have nothing happen, than deal with the consequences of something going haywire. Plain-clothes officer is best to start.
Happy serving – awkward sign-off for this topic!