Forming a Planning Group
Constitution Day programming should involve the entire workplace, so be sure that your organization selects a planning group that represents the diversity of people, positions, and experience within your organization.

Conversations work best with groups of no more than 20 employees, so the planning group's first item of business will be to determine how to assign members of your staff to small groups. Then make sure that available meeting spaces (conference rooms, cafeterias, etc.) are available to accommodate the groups.

For each group, you will want to identify the following:

• A discussion leader.
• The content of the conversation (a topic area or specific conversation starters).
• A communications plan to inform members of the group on the "when, where, and what" of the conversation.
• Ground rules for the conversation.

Selecting Discussion Leaders
An important job for the planning group is choosing discussion leaders for the conversation. The discussion leader is not necessarily the most knowledgeable person on the subject. Nor do they need formal training in leading a conversation, although such training may be helpful. What the leader must have, however, is the ability to remain neutral and create an atmosphere conducive to learning and the free exchange of ideas. The discussion leader also needs to be a catalyst who will spark discussion, keep it moving, and help people share and see different viewpoints.

If your staff will be divided into two or more small groups for the conversation, be sure that a discussion leader has been assigned for each of the small groups. You might also ask each small group if someone will volunteer to be an alternate discussion leader in case the assigned discussion leader is unable to attend the session.

Choosing the Conversation Topic
The planning group has several options in choosing a topic for the conversation program.

This website offers materials to explore four topics addressing key constitutional concepts and clauses. Under each topic are several conversation starters which offer brief, accessible, and provocative ways to jump start the conversation and give all group members a common starting point for the conversation.

The planning group may wish to choose one topic or group of conversation starters that all the small groups in the organization will discuss. Or, the planning group might give each small group the option of selecting the topics or conversation starters that they would be most interested in discussing.

The planning group might also decide to define its own topic for the conversation. Newspaper op-ed essays, poems, letters to the editor, stories, and political cartoons are good sources for new conversation starters. In all instances, materials provided for the conversation should be short and speak directly to the proposed conversation topic.

Although not necessary, you may wish to let participants know of the topic in advance of the scheduled conversation and encourage participants to review the conversation starters in advance of the program.

Setting Ground Rules
The planning group should also develop ground rules for the conversation and provide them in writing to the participants. Ask the discussion leaders to review and clarify them at the beginning of the session.

Here are some suggested ground rules:

• Participants will make every effort to attend scheduled sessions in a timely manner.
• Participants will be engaged listeners and contributing speakers.
• Participants will show respect for the views expressed by others.
• Although a frank exchange of conflicting views is encouraged, participants should be careful not to become argumentative or dogmatic in the expression of their point of view.
• Participants understand that their comments should be brief. No one will monopolize the conversation. The discussion leader will ensure that all who wish to speak have a chance to express their views.
• Comments will be directed to the group as a whole rather than to the discussion leader or another individual.
• Disagreements will not become personal; name-calling and shouting are not acceptable.
• Participants will not interrupt when others are expressing their views. If needed, the group can establish a mechanism (e.g., raising hands) to enable everyone to speak or respond to someone else's comments.
• Participants will commit to and take responsibility for following the ground rules.