We know that many of you will have been so involved with the recent elections that you will have had little chance to do anything else for the last few weeks and months. Now that you have a bit more free time on your hands, don’t delay and book your place at the Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference on Saturday 20 June 2009 in Sheffield.   

Why not come on Friday evening for the 3rd annual Lib Dem Local Government dinner hosted by Party President Ros Scott. It's just £30 a head, and you can stay overnight at the conference hotel, the Mercure St Paul's, (you do need to pay this yourself – further details available on the website). With the dinner, the conference and the accommodation all in the same venue it should be an excellent opportunity for networking and meeting other Lib Dem Councillors and activists.

If you're planning on coming to the Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference on Saturday 20 June 2009 in Sheffield - you'd be daft to miss out on the current discount rate which ends on Sunday 31 May 2009.

Currently ALDC Gold Members can register for £35 (£40 for Silver and Party/Group Staff; £45 for others); but from the end of Sunday all prices go up by £5. Don't forget if there are four of you going it's buy three get the 4th for free!

If you're NOT planning on coming, then perhaps you should! It's a packed day that starts with Nick Clegg and Ros Scott; ends with Julia Goldsworthy and Sheffield Leader Paul Scriven with over 25 hours of training, fringe, policy and debate in between!

More information on our website here.

We know you're busy campaigning ..... but this year we're giving you the chance to win recognition AND money for your local Party with the Campaigner Awards 2009.

The awards, which are run in association and with the kind support of Midshires and Riso, are for local campaign literature.

- 1st Prize £500

- FIVE Runners Up Prizes (£100 each)
Best Campaign Innovation
Best Direct Mail
Best Focus
Best Literature by a volunteer campaigner
Best whole ward campaign

Entering is easy - we just need you to EMAIL your entries (in BOTH PDF and PagePlus format) to: anders.hanson@aldc.org.

The deadline for all submissions is 1 September 2009. The awards will be anounced at the ALDC Annual General Meeting (Saturday evening in Bournemouth) and subsequently online in Campaigner magazine.

Please don't forget to make sure you've booked your places at the Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference on Saturday 20 June 2009 in Sheffield. During the Euro/Local election campaign the registration fee rises again - so please get in early before campaigning becomes full time!

Registrations are now on the discounted rates of £45 - cut that down even further if you are an ALDC member to £40 or £35 (If you're not yet a member -why not join!). There is also a special rate for Party Staff and Group Researchers of £40. 

Registration for the conference is online - just click here to register and pay by credit or debit card. ALDC members should log on first to the website, and then your member's discount will be applied automatically.

Don't forget that if there is a group of you coming, it's "buy three, get the fourth place free" - so why not bring along the whole team? Book online here. For more information please contact Emma Hall or phone 01422 843 785

The programme for the Conference is taking shape and we have a packed schedule for you.

Why not come on Friday evening for the 3rd annual Lib Dem Local Government dinner hosted by Party President Ros Scott. It's just £30 a head, why not stay overnight at the conference hotel,the Mercure St Paul's, (you do need to pay this yourself). With the dinner, the conference and the accomodation all in the same venue it should be an excellent opportunity for networking and meeting other Lib Dem Councillors and activists.

Saturday itself kicks off with Party Leader Nick Clegg MP. Not only is Sheffield a Lib Dem run city, but it also boasts our Leader as one of its MPs. Nick will be addressing the conference in the morning. As well as Nick and Ros, other speakers include Julia Goldsworthy MP and Councillors Paul Scriven, Kath Pinnock and Richard Kemp.

Training is always an important part of the day. For campaigners (that's all of us), we kick off our Flying Start 2010 programme of sessions aimed to deliver success for Lib Dems in the forthcoming local and General elections (and the possibility of them being on the same day). For Councillors we've teamed up with the IDeA and Midas Training to bring you a busy programme of skills and practical training.

Policy sessions focus on sharing the best practice of Liberal Democrats making a difference at a local level and we've a full day exhibition with a mixture of party bodies, partner agencies and equipment suppliers.

ALDC was happy to welcome Anders Hanson to the team on Monday 20 April 2009. Anders joins us in the new post of Senior Political Officer and will be leading the team on  our campaigning and council support work.

Anders joins us from Nick Clegg's Sheffield Hallam Office, and he has previously worked for the Party in Wales and in Hampshire, and served as part of the Council Group on Derby City Council.

Contact Anders on 01422 843 785 anders.hanson@aldc.org