Over the past two months I had the opportunity to do about 20 presentations on Proposal 1. During that time I spoke to over a thousand individuals. Election Day results were not a surprise based on the group of people who attended my meetings.
Most people who attended the meetings were loaded for bear. At some meetings it was a bit difficult to maintain control. Sometimes the problem was trying to create too much control. There was extreme pushback when organizers tried to control questions by requiring everything be written on cards. In these situations, you generally get more respect if you indicate that you will answer any question, you also get brownie points if you continue answering questions in the parking lot as they are turning out the lights. On the flip side, you do spend a bit more time listening to audience lectures.
I had one person discretely record the presentation when she propped her phone up in the back of the room. One gentleman, who was adamant that heavy trucks should be banned from Michigan roads, attended multiple presentations. At another presentation, my microphone was cut off in the middle of questions and answers in front of a very large crowd (they were trying to get another microphone ready for the next part of the event).
While the vast majority of the people who attended the informational meetings opposed the plan, I think they all appreciated the ability to watch and listen to the interaction on the issue. There were a lot of arguments that stretched the truth; I always made it a point to explain the issue and the root of the argument and how perspective could create differing viewpoints. A little humor often goes a long way to keeping the meeting productive.
Probably the best part of the day comes when you are walking out of the room and the person who came to the event to make sure that the “truth” is told shakes your hand and says, “I enjoyed your presentation,” regardless of which side they were on.
Southeast Michigan Council Of Governments
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