1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 310, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-8204

Telephone: 502-573-2851 or 800-853-2851 Fax: 502-573-1412 or 800-383-1412

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/ltprc/home.htm

ltprc@mail.lrc.state.ky.us

CONTACT: Michael Childress

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY (November 7, 1997) - The Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center will take its 1997 conference out into the state for a timely exploration of the topics of citizen engagement and benchmarking for progress. The one-day conference will convene at 9:00 a.m. on November 20, 1997, in Somerset at the new state-of-the-art Center for Rural Development.

"Research continues to show clear links between broad citizen engagement and a number of positive outcomes, including good government, prosperous economies, and quality schools," observed Michael Childress, Executive Director of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center. "With this conference, we hope to raise awareness of this link and provide community leaders and activists with some of the tools, including ways of measuring progress, they will need to build citizen involvement at every level. Citizen participation may be the single most important factor in our efforts to improve quality of life throughout the Commonwealth."

Featured conference speakers will be Gov. Paul E. Patton and Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer, the founder and director of America Speaks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to participatory governance. Dr. Lukensmeyer is a former White House advisor and a Project Director for Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review, which has sought to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public service at the federal level.

The all-day conference will begin with welcoming remarks from Gov. Patton, who will present the first annual Vic Hellard, Jr., Award, in honor of the former director of the Legislative Research Commission who died in 1996. Hellard, who served on the Center's board at the time of his death, is credited with advancing the concept of this futures oriented research center. The award will recognize an individual for his or her work in the interest of the future of the Commonwealth. The recipient was selected by the Center's board from among nominations submitted by the public.

Panel discussions held throughout the day will feature some of the state's leading proponents and practitioners of broad citizen engagement, as well as members of the news media. Topics will include:

• How true community visions of progress can be shaped and advanced
• How successful state, county, municipal and citizen-based visioning efforts were designed and launched
• How and to what extent the media should become involved in community development initiatives
• Why measuring progress is key and how to choose indicators
• How much citizen participation is enough and how it can be effectively marshaled
• How to invest community initiatives with staying power

This year's conference marks the continuation of efforts by the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center to engage citizens at the local level in thinking long term about the state's future. In addition to its publications, which are free to the public, the Center has held public meetings around the state to gather citizen input and frequently makes presentations about future trends to local groups. Further, the Center plans to hold future conferences outside of the state's urban triangle every other year.

Those on hand for the conference will be given an opportunity to review and complete a statewide survey that will seek citizen opinion on the progress Kentucky is making toward realization of 26 key long-term goals that emerged from a series of 1994 public meetings around the state. Prior to the November conference, the survey will be mailed to more than 6,000 randomly selected Kentucky households in an effort to gauge public opinion about progress toward these goals, as well as their relative importance. Survey recipients will receive copies of benchmarking data compiled by the Center to use, if they choose, in making a personal assessment of progress based on their own local experiences. This year, the Center will release its first biennial benchmarking report on the long-term goals.

Those who wish to register in advance for the November conference may do so by notifying the Center by mail, fax or e-mail and providing their name, business or organizational affiliation, address, telephone number and e-mail address to:

Notice of preregistration should be followed by a check for $25 for the registration fee. However, the fee will be waived if it presents an obstacle to attendance. Registration will also be open on the day of the conference at 8:00 a.m. Lunch and refreshments will be served.

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