Community Visioning is a group decision-making process. In order to achieve popular support for the CD Plan, everyone who will be affected by it (the "stakeholders") should be invited to participate in the Visioning process. A hired or designated facilitator is essential to efficiently guide the process and keep it from bogging down.

• Municipal officials (e.g. Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Selectmen, Mayor).
• Residents across the full spectrum of age and income levels.
• Advocates in housing, the environment, economic development, and transportation.
• Members of civic organizations.
• Religious community.
• Local businesses.
• Developers and builders.
• Human and social service providers Community Development Corporations (CDCs), realtors, municipal employees (public safety, teachers, highway department, etc.).
• Seasonal residents.

• Remain neutral in the discussion.
• Elicit participation from all members of the group.
• Guide the group through a series of questions.
• Manage the way information is presented.
• Periodically summarize what has been said.
• Keep the discussion focused
• Listen for and help resolve what is unclear.
• Help the group draw inferences and conclusions from the ideas generated by the group.

The first step in the Visioning process is developing a method for sharing information and ideas within the group. Such methods include brainstorming and charrettes.

Whatever process is selected, it should not be used as a forum for political debate, placing blame for past actions, individual posturing, or procrastinating. Rather it should be regarded as a first step toward collaboration, balance, progress and action for the coming years.

In Visioning, every idea offered by the stakeholders is worthy of consideration because all members are equally entitled to influence group outcomes. This process is most valuable when participants come with an open mind, a willingness to participate wholeheartedly, and a desire to contribute their time and energy to making this step in the planning process a success.