A new half-day training program, “Managing Public Meetings” teaches companies, institutions and public authorities how to plan and prepare for public meetings while avoiding the most dangerous pitfalls.

Public meetings or open hearings present a serious challenge for any company seeking approval for a proposed development, construction or expansion project. While failure to win public support is certainly an undesirable outcome, it's far worse to emerge from a governmental hearing or “Town Hall” meeting in which the participants have become enraged and energized to actively fight against your plans.

The EMA “Managing Public Meetings” workshop covers:

• The best physical setup for meeting rooms to maximize constructive input
• How to prepare your messages for maximum public understanding
• How to manage the media
• Why the most productive meetings can be boring
• Why it's critical to “Qualify Yourself”
• How to speak in public
• How to answer questions in public, especially the tough, negative ones
• Strategies and tips to minimize counterproductive disruption
• When to use PowerPoint ... and when not to
• How to “work the room” and conduct follow-up
• Ways to honestly, openly and constructively react to disruptions

Reputation Management Services has a long-established practice in managing communications for high visibility and controversial situations and proposals, including the siting of conventional and alternative energy projects, ranging from nuclear, conventional and biomass fueled power plants to hydropower and wind energy developments; factory and retail expansions; public works projects and public project bond issues.