MIC invites you to consider organizing a Great Decisions discussion group. Invite your neighbors, colleagues and friends. MIC has staff and volunteers available to help you get started. Please see our short manual Guidelines for Group Leaders for more information.
How do we get started with Great Decisions?
Options:
• Bring in a speaker to begin the discussion
• Use a half-hour videotape segment to frame the issue for discussion
• Organize a discussion based on reading the article in the briefing book
A Great Decisions group leader or organizer …
– Organizes the discussion meeting as to topic, date, place, time (and speaker, if appropriate)
– Distributes an announcement of the meeting (or delegates this function)
– Contacts speakers well in advance of the presentation date
– Communicates clearly about logistics, including location, parking, security and
honorarium arrangements.
– Arranges audio-video equipment, if necessary
– Ensures that someone will be available to convene the meeting and confers with the speaker on
how questions and discussion will be moderated
– Maintains meeting records, including attendance and participants, which are reported to MIC
– Follows up with speaker afterwards and sends honorarium check
– Provides feedback about program quality to MIC
The Minnesota International Center (MIC) …
– Informs Great Decisions groups in Minnesota of the annual topics chosen by the Foreign Policy
Association
– Recruits speakers for each topic and produces a directory of speakers to be called upon by
groups
– Provides orientation, training, and consultation to leaders and speakers
– Refers prospective participants to Great Decisions groups which are open to new members
– Collects data on group attendance and participation and feedback on program quality
– Provides speakers in the directory a complimentary Briefing Book
