Citizens For Democracy Temecula Valley

"We are a pro-democracy group, as opposed to a 'one point of view advocating group,'" said Jerry Ewig, co-founder of Citizens for Democracy, Temecula Valley.

"We get a number of people together who normally may not talk to each other, and give them an opportunity to listen to one another, everybody having a voice."

The group meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month at the Mary Phillips Senior Center, 41845 Sixth St. in Temecula. Its motto is "creating public spaces for public conversations," and members enthusiastically ignore strictures on talking politics, or even religion, if it relates to politics ---- although not without some ground rules.

"It is the conversation that is important. We can't have democracy without a conversation," said Bill Van Every, the moderator for the last meeting. "There are two components to a discussion: one is stating your opinion, and the other is listening to others state their opinion. Each opinion is of equal value."

The discussion is stimulating, said Ann Weston.

"It is such a good program. It enriches you," she said. "Citizens for Democracy makes you want to get involved."

With moderators trained through funding from the Kettering Foundation, the group has been holding public conversations for about two years now.

My mother-in-law, Irene Riley, called me last week after seeing the group's meeting announcement, and we went together to the May discussion on President Barack Obama's First 100 Days.

"I wanted to go because I really wanted to see another side rather than what was on the news," Riley said. "I wanted to see what people around me thought, and if it coincided with what I thought."

Although she didn't like all the opinions that were expressed, she said she liked it overall, because both sides were represented.

"I was really inspired by it," she said.

With a group of more than 20 people, divided almost evenly male and female, although heavily weighted on the older-than-50 crowd, a free-flowing discussion ensued, with passionate opinions expressed.

"This discussion tonight is so important to have," Maxine Ewig said. "That's the process we want to have happen in this room tonight."

Jerry and Maxine Ewig are retired public school teachers. Jerry Ewig said they see the group as a continuation of their lives in public service, working to create what every teacher tries to create in a classroom, an environment where all can be heard and where every opinion is valued.

"We detected early on that the health of our commonwealth is contingent on many opinions," he said. "Citizens need to be decision-makers in a democracy. We encourage people to make decisions, but not to tell or endorse what decision is to be made. We have no votes, no members. We have participants. The idea is to be inclusive."

Visit www.citizensfordemocracytv.com.

Shari Crall is a Temecula resident. E-mail her at scrall@roadrunner.com with your good-news stories or ideas for people worth writing about.

CRALL: All views important at this meeting