One way to describe civic virtue is having excellent behavior. Excellent civic behavior of citizens is an asset to the community that increases the quality of life, but is not to be confused with civic conversation.
When someone says they were engaged in civic conversation he means he was listening to others, discussing a topic, or attempting to reach an agreement. By keeping aware of the topic’s details, he is able to make relevant contributions to the conversation.
In contrast, when someone says he was engaged in civic behavior, this suggests he was dressed appropriately for the situation, chose his words wisely, and contained his feelings or his own needs during the conversation, unless he were asked for his input.
Making a positive contribution to one’s community in any way can be a form of civic virtue.