Objectives:

• Give implementing agency opportunity to take lead (ownership) to ensure follow through.
• Engage elected champion on a personal level (ownership).
• Project organization's power
• Bring attention to issue.
• Get commitments from all those present.
• Win over/disarm critics

Invites:

1. 15-20 people.
2. Reporters (no press release).
3. Electeds or their offices.
4. Critics (to be won over).

Beforehand:

1. Scout it out.
2. Consider the length (distance and time).
3. Tell people to wear comfortable shoes and meet at designated point.
4. Get a helper to take notes, pictures (of participants and conditions), gofer.
5. Prepare short briefing with agenda pictures, maps and talking points of issue.

At the site:

1. Establish start and finish.
2. Introductions: Name and agency.
3. Ownership: take it or give it to someone you want on your side (champion) that was briefed before.
4. Handouts: agenda, maps, etc.
5. Establish why the site visit is taking place and a goal.
6. State that this is a forum to ask questions.
7. Make stops: call on people to present details (can be briefed before).
8. Have water and food (at finish).

Follow up:

1. At finish get commitments, establish next step.
2. Send thank yous detailing the commitments, conclusion, consensus, etc of the participants of the walk through. Including snapshots of participants from tour is a good technique to foster ownership, collegiality.

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