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21 Orbits of Participation Project planners should also keep in mind the concept of orbits of participation, a model developed by Lorenz Aggens of INVOLVE in Wilmette, Illinois. This concept recognizes that public participation does not require everybody to participate. This is unrealistic, given resource constraints and the lack of desire on the part of many stakeholders to be actively involved. Despite your best efforts to involve citizens, some will chose not to participate. Others will participate at different levels depending upon their level of interest, concern or availability. These different levels of participation can be thought of as planning process, a person my move between different levels of participation. The close a person moves to the project or issue, the greater the investment of time, resources and energy will be. Unsurprised Apathetics are those who choose not to participate. They may be too busy at work or very active in some other aspect of community life, but have made efforts to provide them with information so that they are unsurprised or uninterested when a decision is made. What distinguishes them from people they have made the choice not to participate. Interested Observers are people who read newspaper articles or public informational documents about the process. Unless they become very concerned with what they see going on, you will not hear from them. They are nonetheless an important part of public opinion. If they grow concerned about the direction that things are going or if the project loses its transparency, they may choose to become active participants. Commenters and Reviewers are very interested in the issue but also have to deal with all the other things going on in their lives. They might comment by www.cityofroseville.com