What you will learn in this workshop: (1) You will get samples of effective commission and board by-laws, and also learn what they should minimally contain. Participants will learn appropriate rules of procedures, how to keep a meeting flowing and well-organized in a way that gives your meeting that “stamp of professionalism;” (2) You will learn some practical and proven means to manage meetings, how to defuse unruly or disruptive attendees, and how to best manage large crowds. You will also learn how to deal with the media on politically charges issues; (3) You will learn more about, and practice some of the latest techniques to resolve conflict amicably; (4) You will learn some simple and proven mediation techniques for dealing with contentious disputes – with developers and others.