The core of ALDC’s Conference training this year comprises a 12-module set of ‘Essential Skills’ for local campaigners alongside a number of other training events.
ALDC’s training programme in full comprises:
Saturday 22nd September
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
Briefing for Liberal Democrat candidates/likely candidates and their campaign teams for the November 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections
Empress Room, Grand Hotel, 14:30-15:45 (pt1) & 16:00-17:30 (pt2)
John Bridges (ALDC), with Tom Brake MP, Shaun Roberts (Elections & Skills) and Rob Banks (LGA)
Sunday 23rd September
Essential Skills 1: Campaigning in your Community
How to put ‘community politics’ into practice in your local campaigning
Sandringham Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 09:15-10:45
Cllr Jeanette Sunderland
Essential Skills 2: Making the Most of Casework
Exploring how to generate councillor casework, keep on top of it, do it well, and use it to win
Sandringham Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Cllr Heather Kidd and Cllr Chris White
E-Campaigning: Using Email in your Local Campaigning
How to build up your email list, how to use it and in particular how to use MailChimp to run your local email campaigns
Cambridge Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Cllr Tim Pickstone
Essential Skills 3: Developing your Campaign Plan
What makes a winning campaign plan – and it’s not just about leaflets – and how to keep yourself and others on track
Sandringham Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 14:30-15:45
Cllr Mark Alcock (ALDC) and Cllr Dave McCobb (Elections and Skills)
Local Government Policy: Innovative Ways of Providing Local Services
When money is tight, it’s never been more important to find novel ways of providing local services and avoiding cuts – how Lib Dem councils have maintained and expanded their services
Cambridge Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 14:30-15:45
Mayor Dave Hodgson (for ALDC) and Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson (LGA Lib Dems)
Essential Skills 4: Raising the Money
Most Liberal Democrat campaigns are run on a shoestring, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Find out how to raise funds for your local campaigns
Sandringham Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 16:00-17:30
Neil Fawcett and Cllr Mark Alcock
Monday 24th September
Essential Skills 5: Producing FOCUS Leaflets
This session looks at the basics of what makes a good Focus leaflet and how to us it is “all year round and not just at election time”
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 09:15-10:45
Kevin O’Connor and Cllr Sara Bedford
Essential Skills 6: Winning the Postal Vote
Learn how to target postal voters all year round, get our supporters to apply for them and then how to get them to vote
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Cllr Mark Alcock and Kevin O’Connor
E-Campaigning: MyCouncillor Basics
MyCouncillor are the free councillor and campaigner websites available to all ALDC members. Come along to find out how to set one up and then how to use it to its full effect
Lancaster Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Craig Whittall and Laura Willoughby
Essential Skills 7: Voter ID
Techniques for canvassing on the doorstep, phone and surveying and what sort of information you should be collecting
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 14:30-15:45
Paul Trollope
Local Government Policy: Opposition Budgets
Pick up ideas on how to use the council budget-setting round to highlight our priorities whilst still getting the books to balance
Lancaster Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 14:30-15:45
Cllr Isobel McCall and Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson
Essential Skills 8: Behind Every Good Candidate is a Good Team
One-man (or woman) bands rarely win elections, but by building a good team you not oonly get more done but it’s more fun too. Here’s how to find those people who can help you out and how to get them involved
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 16:00-17:30
Ed Fordham
Tuesday 25th September
Essential Skills 9: Direct Mail
Direct mail is a vital, but often neglected, part of every winning campaign. Here’s what to say and how to do it
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 09:15-10:45
Charles Glover and Cllr Claire Hudson
Essential Skills 10: Winning in the Last Week
The last week of the campaign is essential in making sure your months, or years, of work haven’t been wasted. Here’s what you should be doing in that final week and making sure it culminates in victory
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Cllr Mike Bell and Cllr Alan Boad
E-Campaigning: Connect Casework for Councillors
Connect Casework is now available free to all ALDC members (and at a small charge for other party members). This session explains how it works and how to use it to organise your casework effectively
Lancaster Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 11:00-12:30
Cllr Anders Hanson and Austin Rathe (Elections and Skills)
Essential Skills 11: Being a Successful Lib Dem and Still Having a Life
Being a successful councillor and campaigner takes up lots of time, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up having a life. This session gives you tips and advice on how to organise yourself and allocate time for campaigning, work and a happy home life
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 14:30-15:45
Jenny Shorten
Local Government Policy: Health Reforms and Local Councillors
NHS reforms have given new powers to local government, and new opportunities for local government to shape and scrutinise health policy
Lancaster Room, Hilton Metropole, 14:30-15:45
Cllr David Rogers and Steve Hitchins (for ALDC and LGA Lib Dems)
Essential Skills 12: Interpersonal Skills
For people who are putting themselves into the limelight, Lib Dems can be a shy bunch. This session is not only about giving you more confidence but also how to get more from your interaction with the electorate, council officers and other people you come across in your daily life
Clarence Room, Hilton Metropole Hotel, 16:00-17:30
Jenny Shorten and Cllr Mark Alcock