All ALDC members will shortly receive a FREE booklet all about how to use Connect - the party's new data management system.  The booklet will come with the next members mailing that will be arriving in the post next week.

The booklet has been written by Tim Pollard and Austin Rathe from the party's Department of Elections and Skills who have been leading on the project.  It includes:

• Ten ways Connect will help you win
• How to first start using the system
• How to search for information and use lists
• Tags, questions and scripts (or how to record different sorts of data)
• Creating reports and canvass sheets
• Entering data
• Printing letters
• Managing casework using Connect Casework (free to ALDC members early in the New Year)
• How to get more help

The booklet is designed as a simple introduction to get people going and further booklets and advice will be produced at a later.  All ALDC members will receive one free copy and further copies will be available to purchase for £4 via the ALDC shop in the New Year.

You can find out more about Connect on the ALDC website.

The ALDC Office will be open until 3.00pm on Friday 23 December 2011, and re-open at 9.30am on Tuesday 3 January 2012. 

Messages on the answerphone will be dealt with in the new year, so if there are any urgent advice queries please use the "Advice" facility on this website, which will be checked over the holiday period. 

If there are any urgent queries over the myCouncillor system, or any system problems, these should also be reported through the same link. 

Can we take the opportunity to wish all our members and friends a very Happy Christmas, and the very best for 2012. 

Anders, David, Eleanor, Emma, John, Mark and Tim!

The Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) recently held another successful Kickstart event over the weekend of 25-27^th November. 140 keen Lib Dem campaigners and candidates from across Britain, gathered in a hotel near Birmingham for a weekend of training and mentoring.  Over the many years it has been running you can trace the electoral success in a range of different places back to their decision to attend the event. With 20 different training sessions, three drop-in Q&A sessions, several hours of mentoring with an experienced campaigner and inspiring speeches, the participants came away with improved campaign plans, refreshed knowledge and loads of new ideas to try out.

One participant, Sarah McStravick from Lewes said: “It was very thought provoking, motivating and gave me plenty of ideas. I have come away, more focused, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about how to help the local community in action. I would highly recommend this training to all members of the party at all levels.”

Louise Shaw from Stockport said: “From Friday night until Sunday afternoon, our time was packed with training sessions, time with our mentor and of course socialising. It was a great event to attend and be a part of and our mentor really knew her stuff.”

The date for next year’s event is already set for 23^rd-25^th November 2012 and so put it in your diary now. Bookings will open around the time of the next Autumn Federal Conference.

The 2012 LGiU and CCLA C'llr Achievement Awards are open for entries.  Liberal Democrat councillors have done very well in these awards since they first started two years ago.  Last year, Cllr James Barber from Southwark won Online Councillor of the Year and two years ago we had three winning councillors.  They are now established as the only national ceremony that recognises and rewards the fantastic work of councillors from across the political spectrum.

In light of the ever-growing popularity of the awards, they have created some exciting new categories for 2012, including the Age UK Pride of Place Award, the Judges’ Special Award for Contribution to Local Government, and the Bruce-Lockhart Member Scholarship.

With these additions, there will be a total of 11 different awards on offer at the 2012 ceremony. The Bruce-Lockhart Member Scholarship will be of particular interest as the winning councillor will be presented with a £10,000 bursary, supported by Kent, Essex, and East Sussex councils.

It is free to enter the 2012 awards, and the closing date is set for Friday 30th December 2011. The ceremony is due to be held in late February 2012.

For further details on the different awards and the new streamlined nomination process then visit www.lgiu.org.uk/cllrawards or contact the LGiU at awards@lgiu.org.uk.

Localism the New Opportunities
A Conference for Liberal Democrats

Book Online Now

Don't miss out on the chance to spend a day with other Liberal Democrats in local government, the Deputy Prime Minister and others at our one day Lib Dem Localism conference taking place on Friday 21st October 2011 (LONDON).

9:30am - 3.30pm (lunch and refreshments provided), Smith Square, Westminster, SW1P 3HZ

This is a conference and workshop for Liberal Democrats to look at the new opportunities provided by the Localism Bill. 

Speakers:
Rt Hon Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister
Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning Point
Gordon Lishman CBE, Author of the 1970 Community Politics Resolution to the Liberal Assembly
Andrew Stunell OBE, Lib Dem Minister DCLG 
Helen Williams, Deputy Director of Neighbourhoods, National Housing Federation
Cllr Richard Kemp CBE, Deputy Leader, Liverpool Liberal Democrats
Chaired by Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Leader LGA Liberal Democrats

Who should attend?

Liberal Democrats who are: • Councillors • Community activists • Campaigners • Health Trusts and Housing Association Board members • School Governors

Register online now, more details of the programme and workshops below. 

Afternoon workshops include: 
Localism the Whole council approach
Cabinet Member for your Ward 
Housing and neighbourhoods
Integrating Town Hall and Campaigning 

The conference will be immediately followed by a discussion of the Resource Review (business rate) proposals at 3.00pm with Andrew Stunell MP and advisors to Danny Alexander MP. (this is for Group Leaders or other representatives, please email alanna.coombes@local.gov.uk if you are interested in attending.)

Book Now