National Issues Forums

The Nation, the State, Norman & Cleveland County

National Issues Forums (NIF) is a series of community or town meetings addressing the serious issues facing communities and the nation. It is a project of the National Issues Forums Institute, a nationwide nonpartisan network of civic and educational organizations dedicated to solving our fundamental social and political problems.

At the national level, NIF is a network of organizations joined together by a common desire to discuss critical issues. Organizations who participate in NIF include educational institutions, leadership groups, civic groups, churches, libraries, senior centers, community groups, and youth groups. Some are independent, local forums sponsored by energetic citizens. Others are part of educational programs at colleges, schools, and extension services.

At the state level of Oklahoma, the
Oklahoma Partnership for Public Deliberation functions to coordinate NIF activity across the state.  Here in Norman and in Cleveland County, Norman & Cleveland County NIF serves the deliberative democracy needs of our citizens.

Groups in Cleveland County interested in asking Norman NIF to organize a forum, or to use NIF materials, or to adapt its participative and deliberative approach for its own organizational needs are invited to call or email for further information.


Norman & Cleveland County Planning Group

The Planning Group of Norman NIF is a partnership of volunteers and representatives of civic and service groups serving the members of the Norman community and Cleveland County, individuals representing City of Norman and Cleveland County service agencies, and individuals representing education institutions in or serving Norman and this area of the state.  These members all serve as moderators or recorders of community forums:

Susan Atkinson City of Norman susan.atkinson@normanok.gov
Becky Barker University of Oklahoma   rreed@ou.edu
Terry DeShazo * Oklahoma Home & Community Education atadmor@sbcglobal.net
Kay Ham University of Oklahoma k.ham@ou.edu
Diana Hartley * Sarkeys Foundation diana@sarkeys.org
Anne Masters * Pioneer Library System  amasters@pls.lib.ok.us
Susan Moffat * Cleveland County Oklahoma Extension Service  susan.moffat@okstate.edu
Jana Moring Pioneer Library System  jana@pls.lib.ok.us
Mike Ridgeway * Oklahoma Insurance Department michael.ridgeway@oid.ok.gov
Lisa Schmidt University of Oklahoma lschmidt@ou.edu
Bob Swisher * University of Oklahoma (retired) bswisher@ou.edu

                  * Executive Board


For more information about Norman NIF and its activities . . .  

Jana Moring
Pioneer Library System
225 W. Webster
Norman, OK  73069
phone: (405) 701-2678
email: 
 jana@pls.lib.ok.us


This page maintained by Bob Swisher: bswisher@ou.edu                                                                                       Sept, 2008