To help facilitate the change, CMF has undertaken a project to: identify the perceptions, expectations, and practices of both sides of congressional communications; provide information to educate and guide congressional offices, citizens, and the grassroots community; promote changes in the attitudes and practices of both sides; and facilitate collaboration and information-sharing that will result in more meaningful and manageable dialogue.

WHAT:           Highlights include:

• Discussion of the challenges citizens, Members of Congress, and grassroots advocates face which threaten the effective exchange of ideas;

• Details about the processes used to facilitate electronic communications between citizens and their representatives in Congress;

• Recommendations to each stakeholder group -- including citizens, grassroots advocates, Congress, and the vendors that provide services to each group - for changing their practices to help improve the democratic dialogue;

• Presentation of a new model for these communications which would ease administrative burden, improve communication, and help facilitate more meaningful dialogue about public policy.

WHO:             CMF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting a more effective Congress.   For more than 30 years, CMF has worked with Member offices, committees, leadership, and institutional offices in the House and Senate to foster improved management practices through training, consulting, best-practice publications, and technology research.

WHEN:           Monday, December 15, 2008 at 12 a.m.

###