The LGA Liberal Democrat Group have called for nominations for the Liberal Democrat Council Group of the Year Awards 2009. 

The awards, which will be presented at Liberal Democrat Spring Conference will include: 

* Council Group of the Year
* Green Council Group of the Year
* Backbencher of the Year
* Vice-Presidents Award***
* London Councils Award - a special award supported by London Councils - separate information available elsewhere.  

***(a special award for a group of particular mention, perhaps a group that is fiesty or operating in difficult circumstances). 

How to Enter
You will need to submit a detailed note setting out what your group or member has done to qualify for each award. This should be no more than 4 sides of A4, and may be accompanied by up to three attachments, but not totalling more than 6 sides of A4. Forms must be signed by the Group Leader. 

For more information or to apply please contact libdems@lga.gov.uk or phone 020 7664 3235

There has been a brilliant response to Nick Clegg's "Million Door Challenge" for local activists to be spending more time talking to local people and to local voters. We've been hearing some excellent stories from up and down the country - and regions and counties have been setting their own local targets and competitions. 

 If you've not started yet - the materials can be downloaded from ALDC's Online Goldmine (for ALDC Gold Members) or from the Party's Extranet. 

Now the Party needs an update on how many doors you've knocked on, so we can monitor when we meet the challenge! Email your numbers - no matter how small or large to onemilliondoors@libdems.org.uk

If you have any interesting stories about how the Million Door Challenge has helped your local Party we'd be interested in hearing from you for "Campaigner" magazine. Similarly, both ALDC and the Campaigns Department are always on the look out for good local examples of campaigns, particularly at present single issue campaigns (saving or delivering on a local service or facility). Email john.bridges@aldc.org

The LGA Lib Dem Group is holding a one day conference on Environment and Transport issues on Thursday 13th November 2008.

An agenda for the day can be downloaded here, and you can book for the day by downloading this form

The Federal Conference Committee has asked us to remind local parties and groups about the change to the regulations regarding delegates to Federal Party Conferences.

Group Leaders of Liberal Democrat Groups (on principle authorities - ie NOT town and parish councils) are now entitled to attend Conference as a voting delegate. This is in addition to a local party's normal entitlement to delegates. 

Many local parties will soon be having their AGMs and its worth bearing in mind that this might "free up" a space for another person to attend Conference as a voting delegate.  

ALDC has a limited supply of the Campaign Pack for Nick Clegg's "Million Door Challenge". 

About the Million Door Challenge
More people than ever feel alienated by the political process in Britain today. To many it doesn't seem to matter who runs the country – nothing ever changes. Gordon Brown has been a disaster. There is little enthusiasm for a return to Conservative rule. Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats are the only party who can reach out to these people.

The best way to engage with people is to go and talk to them. That's why Nick Clegg is setting his party the challenge of knocking on one million doors and talking to millions of people between October 2008 and June 2009.

The campaign
The Campaigns Department has produced a campaign pack to support local parties to achieve the Leader's goal of knocking on one million doors between September 2008 and June 2009. 

The pack is available from ALDC online today by credit and debit card. The pack retails at £10, however to cover the sheer size and weight of the packs, had to make that £13, in addition to the regular 20% postage you pay orders just to cover the postage.