Liberal Democrat Federal Party Conference takes place Saturday 17 - Wednesday 21 September 2011, in Birmingham. All Party members can attend, more details on registration are available from the main party website here.
Come and visit us in the Exhibition Hall - we're at Stand 104 in the main Hall 4. Staff and volunteers will be on hand from Saturday through to Wednesday to help with advice, information, membership information and technical queries.
Thanks to Jonathan Swift for kindly giving permission to use this photo.
ALDC Fringe Programme
Saturday 17 September 2011, 8.15pm, ICC 10B
ALDC Annual General Meeting and Campaigner Awards 2011
Party President Tim Farron MP presents the 2011 Campaigner Awards. £500 for the top prize sponsored by RISO and Midshires. Submit your campaign materials for an award here.
Sunday 18 September 2011, 1.00pm, ICC 8A
ALDC Members Reception (Members Only)
Join Nick Clegg MP and Andrew Stunell MP at our annual members reception in partnership with the Co-operative.
Sunday 18 September 2011, 8.00pm Jury's Inn 112
Local Campaigning on National Issues
How do we campaign as a party in the new political environment? What are the best ways we can deliver our Autumn party campaign locally and nationally - “Save money, Stay Warm, Go Green”. Speakers include: Andrew Stunnel MP, Shaun Roberts.
Monday 19 September 2011, 6.15pm ICC 8A
Community politics for 2011 and beyond
Come and hear how we can use community politics in 2011 to shape both our local communities and our distinctive identity as a party. Speakers include Paddy Ashdown, Tim Farron MP, Hilary Stephenson and others
Monday 19 September 2011, 8.00pm Jury's Inn 106
Localism & the Green Deal
Turning the Green Deal into a Great Deal for Councils Cllr Keith House, Liz Hutchins (FoE), Ben Earl (B and Q) Chris Davies MEP
ALDC Training Programme
ALDC have 22 training session and six workshops at this Autumn’s conference in Birmingham.
Winning Ways
We are running a set of six ‘Winning Ways’ training sessions, these sessions will be run twice once in the morning and once in the afternoon:
Winning Ways 1:
Campaigning in your Community
In communities across the country there are improvements just waiting for a successful campaign to bring them about. If you are a candidate, campaigner, councillor or Member of Parliament this is your chance to update your knowledge and skills needed to work with people to bring about change.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 9-15 to 10-45 and Tuesday 2-30 to 3-45
Cllr Jeanette Sunderland ALDC - Shaun Roberts Campaigns Department
Winning Ways 2:
In Touch All Year Round
It's never been more important to communicate effectively with the residents in your ward. Get an overview of the different techniques ranging from Focus to social networking, via direct mail and the local media. Find out more about the advantages of each approach and how to choose the best technique for your different messages.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 11-00 to 12-30 and Monday 2-30 to 3-45
Cllr Anders Hanson ALDC – Cllr Adam Williams
Winning Ways 3:
A Record of Action – Delivering on Community Politics
This session looks at how we use Community Politics to get the best for our residents and our area. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 2-30 to 3-45 and Monday 9-15 to 10-45
Cllr Howard Sykes – Isobel McCall ALDC
Winning Ways 4:
The Best Person for the Job
How can we build and sell the profile of our candidates, make the electorate see that our candidate is the best person for the job, and how you can do this between now and polling day. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 4-00 to 5-30 and Monday 11-00 to 12-30
Cllr Tim Pickstone - Cllr Claire Hudson ALDC
Winning Ways 5:
Voter ID
Most pre-2010 historic voter ID data is now less reliable and many canvassers in May found it harder to get accurate information from voters. This course will go over the basics of voter ID and look at how to approach it in the new environment.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Monday 4-00 to 5-30 and Monday 9-15 to 10-45
Cllr John Bridges ALDC - Ian Horner
Winning Ways 6:
Targeting Voters
You have lots of data you have collected about your electorate; this session will give you ways to use that data to target your voters throughout the year. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers"
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Monday 2-30 to 3-45 and Tuesday 11-00 to 12-30
Cllr Mark Alcock ALDC – Tim Pollard Campaigns Department
CONNECT for councillors
See the party’s new campaign database system CONNECT ( VAN) in action. Focus on how CONNECT can empower Councillors to campaign more effectively in your community.
Soprano Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel - Saturday – 2-30 to 3-45
Room 101, Jury’s Inn - Monday - 9.15 to 10.45
Austin Rathe, Elections and Skills & Cllr Anders Hanson, ALDC
MyCouncillor
MyCouncillor Basics
Now is the time to get your ward website up and running. Regardless of where you are in the country there is now an expectation that local representatives will have a website. Come here and learn how easy it is to set up and manage a free MyCouncillor website through ALDC (for ALDC members)
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Sunday 2-30 to 3-45
Laura Willoughby – Cllr Anders Hanson ALDC
MyCouncillor Advanced
This session is for users of the My Councillor websites provided free to ALDC members. This session will explore ways of making the most of your website and look at the latest technological developments.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Tuesday 2-30 to 3-45
Cllr Tim Pickstone ALDC
Council Candidates
Finding Council Candidates
More than ever finding the right candidate to WIN elections is critical. Use this programme to identify new and different potential candidates including from people who may not even yet be Party members.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Sunday 4-00 to 5-30
Steve Hitchins ALDC – Cllr Anood Al Samerai
and once you have found your potential candidates:
Candidate Approval and Selection
Approving and selecting council candidates properly is vital in ensuring we have candidates that will represent the party well to the electorate and reducing potential for embarrassment later. This training course will tell you what you need to do as well as good practice from elsewhere.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Monday 11-00 to 12-30
Laura Willoughby – Cllr Anders Hanson ALDC
Email
Keeping in Touch – by Email!
Workshop to look how best to use email in our campaigning and communications.
Looking at the emails we send, collecting addresses and different systems we can use. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Monday 2-30 to 3-45
Cllr Tim Pickstone ALDC
Councillors and council groups
Working Smarter for Councillors
As councillors and campaigners we have very limited time, this session will help you make best use of your time. Ideal for all local election candidates and councillors"
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Monday 4-00 to 5-30
Cllr Erica Kemp
Power of the Small Group
If you are a small voice by number in your council group or in viewpoint then this session is your guide to winning the argument.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Tuesday 11-00 to 12-30
Cllr Jeanette Sunderland ALDC
Next Generation Alumni
Update training session for the participants of Lib Dem Next Generation 1-5 and Lib Dems on previous Leadership Academies.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Sunday 9-15 to 10-45
Cllr Erica Kemp
Campaign Workshops
Police & Crime Commissioner elections
The Police & Crime Commissioner elections are coming up and we need to be prepared. This session will help highlight the policies and messages that will allow us to maximise our vote.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Allegro - Saturday – 11-00 to 12-30
Hilary Stephenson Campaigns Department
Winning Elections for Beginners
This workshop is for people just starting out, it will give you the basics you will need to start campaigning in your ward, area, with practical ideas and examples to take away. Ideal for local election candidates and new campaigners.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Andante – Saturday – 2-30 to 5-30
Rhiannon Wadeson Campaigns Department - John Bridges & Cllr Mark Alcock ALDC
Why should anyone vote for me in May?
This special session workshop will work though developing your message for next year's local elections. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Allegro – Saturday – 2-30 to 5-30
Cllr Howard Sykes ALDC & Shaun Roberts Campaigns Department
Using the Localism Bill to boost your campaign
The Localism Bill offers some real campaigning opportunities for Liberal Democrats in their local community. Key tips and a chance to discuss how you can use this with Andrew Stunell MP and the LGA Lib Dem Group.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Sunday 11-00 to 12-30
Andrew Stunell MP – Rob Banks LGA
Lib Dem Council Group Researchers
An opportunity for Lib Dem Council group political assistants and researchers to get the latest briefings and to learn best practice from colleagues in other authorities.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Monday 9-15 to 10-45
Workshop on Organised Independents
This is a workshop on how other groups have worked to combat organised independent groups. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Tuesday 4-00 to 5-30
Cllr Chris White - Cllr Claire Hudson ALDC
Inspired
Winning in 2011
How we won in Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Hinckley & Bosworth and Oadby & Wigston against Labour and the Conservatives. If you are a candidate, sitting councillor or campaigner or campaign team member, you will benefit from their experience.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Tuesday 9-15 to 10-45
Cllr Keith House – Leader Eastleigh, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson Leader Portsmouth, Cllr Stuart Bray Leader Hinckley and Bosworth, Cllr John Boyce Leader Oadby and Wigston
Facing a new challenge – Defending your council seat in 2012
If you are standing for re-election in 2012 this session is a must for you
Room 113/115/117 - Sunday 9-15 to 10-45 and
Tuesday 9-15 to 10-45 - Jury’s Inn room 102
Dave McCobb, Elections and Skills & Cllr Mark Alcock, ALDC
