Liberal Democrats Training Programme Spring Conference 2010 An extensive range of training courses is being provided at spring conference in Birmingham. All training courses will take place in the Crowne Plaza Birmingham Central hotel, on Saturday 13th March. Training courses are free and for party members only – an appropriate conference photo pass or party membership card must be shown for entry. MORNING 09.15 – 12.30 Election Planning Workshop For any seats that haven’t been able to attend a regional EPW. Richard Pinnock, Andrew Reeves and Miranda Roberts (Campaigns Department). Room 8, Crowne Plaza 09.15 – 10.45 Election law – nominations and postal voting Unless you know this you won’t have a campaign. Everything you need to know to ensure your candidate is nominated. Also covers the legal issues around postal voting. Chris Keating (Agents & Organisers Association). Vista Suite 1, Crowne Plaza Campaign essentials – winning in the last week All the things you need to do in the last week to make sure you win. Mark Alcock (ALDC). Vista Suite 2, Crowne Plaza TV interview skills for candidates (Invitation only – for more info, email candidates@libdems.org.uk) David Walter (Parliamentary Candidates’ Office). Room 1, Crowne Plaza Candidates’ briefing (Invitation only) Hilary Stephenson and Victoria Marsom (Campaigns Department). Room 3, Crowne Plaza Surviving the General Election campaign – all welcome Candy Piercy and Jon Neal (Campaign for Gender Balance). Room 4, Crowne Plaza Membership data online For Data Officers and Membership Development Officers. An introduction to the ‘Membership Data Online’ application followed by a more technical discussion for more advanced users. David Nikel (Membership Department). Room 5, Crowne Plaza Campaigns essentials – finding and recruiting good and diverse council candidates Making sure your last minute candidates are up to the job. Steve Hitchins (for ALDC). Room 7, Crowne Plaza 11.00 – 12.30 Election Law Returns Part 1 – donations and bank accounts Vital for all agents who have not recently attended election law training. Covers the new rules on election expenses. Please come to ‘Election Law Returns Part 2’ as well. Chris Keating (Agents & Organisers Association). Vista Suite 1, Crowne Plaza Campaign essentials - maximising the postal vote What you need to do to make sure you win as many postal votes as possible. Anders Hanson and Claire Hudson (ALDC). Vista Suite 2, Crowne Plaza TV interview skills for candidates (Invitation only – for more info, email candidates@libdems.org.uk) David Walter (Parliamentary Candidates’ Office). Room 1, Crowne Plaza What to do with your email addresses and phone numbers in the last 4 weeks Will Howells and Austin Rathe (Campaigns Department). Room 3, Crowne Plaza Impromptu speaking practice – all welcome Simon Bucknall (on behalf of Campaign for Gender Balance). Room 4, Crowne Plaza Making the national messages local Jon Aylwin and Shaun Roberts (Campaigns Department). Room 6, Crowne Plaza Campaign essentials – inducting and mentoring new councillors All you need to do to induct your new councillors after May’s elections. Erica Kemp and Abby Bell (for ALDC). Room 7, Crowne Plaza AFTERNOON 14.30 – 15.45 Election Law Returns Part 2 – campaign expenditure Vital for all agents who have not recently attended election law training. Covers the new rules on election expenses. Please come to ‘Election Law Returns Part 1’ as well. Chris Keating (Agents & Organisers Association). Vista Suite 1, Crowne Plaza Campaign essentials – running an effective polling day How to run an effective polling day to give you as many votes as possible to make sure you win. John Bridges (ALDC). Vista Suite 2, Crowne Plaza Make your candidate a star Jon Aylwin and Dave McCobb (Campaigns Department). Room 1, Crowne Plaza Keeping it together as a candidate Top tips for staying sane during the campaign. (Parliamentary Candidates’ Office). Room 3, Crowne Plaza What to expect as a first time candidate – all welcome Candy Piercy and Ruth Bright (Campaign for Gender Balance). Room 4, Crowne Plaza Maximising your membership during a General Election campaign Aimed at local parties looking to recruit new members and engage with existing ones during the General Election campaign. David Nikel (Membership Department). Room 5, Crowne Plaza Exploiting your opponents’ weaknesses online Will Howells and Austin Rathe (Campaigns Department). Room 6, Crowne Plaza Council budgets in the new era Getting to grips with the new council finances – and how to make any cuts. Howard Sykes (IDeA and ALDC). Room 7, Crowne Plaza Don’t re-invent the wheel – what resources are available for you Stuart Bray and Shaun Roberts (Campaigns Department). Room 8, Crowne Plaza 16.00 – 17.30 Election Agents Q&A – with the Electoral Commission Your chance to get answers to any questions about election law not covered in the training sessions. Chris Keating (Agents & Organisers Association). Vista Suite 1, Crowne Plaza Campaign essentials – 8 weeks to go! Everything you need to do to win in the 2010 elections. Andrew Stunell MP (ALDC) and Hilary Stephenson (Campaigns Department). Vista Suite 2, Crowne Plaza Maximising your personal impact as a candidate Simon Bucknall (on behalf of Parliamentary Candidates’ Office). Room 3, Crowne Plaza Q&A for candidates and their teams – all welcome Candy Piercy and Lorely Burt MP (Campaign for Gender Balance) and Victoria Marsom (Campaigns Department). Room 4, Crowne Plaza Get out the student vote Jon Neal and Alex Royden (Liberal Youth). Room 5, Crowne Plaza Organisers’ briefing (Invitation only) Dave McCobb and Shaun Roberts (Campaigns Department). Room 6, Crowne Plaza Managing a coalition Looking at how you can work together and avoid the pitfalls of being in a coalition. Gerald Vernon Jackson (IDeA and ALDC). Room 7, Crowne Plaza