Have you tried the new templates ALDC has produced in the last couple of months? We've commissioned a series of FOCUS and campaign material templates, these are exclusively available to members of ALDC. 

Packs 1 and 2 have included:
A3, A4, and A3 booklet style FOCUS 
Direct Mail
Squeeze Materials
Posters
Letterheads
Flying Start leaflets
Councillor's Annual Reports

Pack 3, which is out this week, includes everything you need for your election campaign: 
- election time FOCUS
- squeeze materials
- blue letters
- eve of poll & good mornings
- knock up leaflets
- "thank you" FOCUS

All the materials are produced as appropriate in three versions: black and white, two colour (for RISO) and in full colour (for external printers). All our resources are produced in PagePlus11 (these will still open in later versions of PagePlus). We've also included PDFs of all the documents for you take a look at each template. 

The templates use a standard set of fonts, which you need to install on your computer first - or the templates won't work correctly!

ALDC members can download PDF and PagePlus files of all the Pack 1 templates  from our website here and here for pack 2 Remember you need to 'log in' first as a member. 

If you're not a member of ALDC please join us! Our current Membership rates are just £1.50 a week, and we have a great special offer of HALF PRICE for all Lib Dem 2011 Local Election candidates (only available by direct debit). Join today, without any paperwork here. 

MyCouncillor, the websitge platform for Lib Dem councillors and local campaigners provided by ALDC has been getting an upgrade in the last few weeks. Since launching the system in 2006 MyCouncillor has grown to become the biggest network of Lib Dem sites in the country.

Highlights from the changes include:

New Themes for your websites: 

New features include:

"Get Involved" buttons, (shown here) which make it easier for people to contact you and interact with the Party or electoral system

an automatic Twitter feed to display your "tweets" on your site

link up to Google Analytics to monitor who looks at your site

an up to date Content Management System (using up to date Wordpress 3) which makes it easier to upload stories, pictures and files. 

a weekly ALDC 'news feed' of national Lib Dem stories, to help your site keep up to date (even if you never post to it!)

giving you the power to choose which content appears on your website using RSS feeds. 

If you'd like a site just register online here - we'll set your site up in the next few days. (Take a look at some of the many sites currently in operation - see the most recently updated sites in the left hand column).  

If you're not a member of ALDC please join us! Our current Membership rates are just £1.50 a week, and we have a great special offer of HALF PRICE for all Lib Dem 2011 Local Election candidates (only available by direct debit). Join today, without any paperwork here. 

Members' highlights include:
ALDC Members' Reception (SUNDAY LUNCHTIME) with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable.

Once again we are working with our friends at the Co-operative on our members reception which this year focuses on the theme of sustainable communities. ALDC members only.

ALDC Annual General Meeting and Campaigner Awards 2009 (SATURDAY EVENING)
Members of ALDC are invited to our Annual General Meeting which is also the announcement of the Campaigner Awards 2009.

Policy focused events include: 
Will the bus get you back to work? Transport Strategies post Credit Crunch with GMITA (SUNDAY EVENING) with Norman Baker MP and Caroline Pidgeon.
Reclaiming the Green Agenda (MONDAY EVENING) with Simon Hughes MP and Friends of the Earth.
Winning against the Far Right (TUESDAY EVENING) with Chris Davies MP, Seachlight and Cllr Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley)

Full details will be avaialble in our Local Government Directory nearer the time. Please get in touch for more details.

Back to Basics with "Campaign Essentials"
Winning elections is about getting some basics right, so as part of our 40 hours of training at Bournemouth Federal Conference we've got a programme of training every morning from Sunday - Tuesday which is all campaign essentials that all of us need to know. Whether you're new to Lib Dem campaigning, or a seasoned campaigner who needs to refresh those skills these are the sessions for you. We would particularly urge you to encourage new campaigners to attend these sessions.

The sessions will cover:
- FOCUS leaflets - why and how to
- Campaign Planning
- Postal Voters and Direct Mail
- Polling Day - all you need to know for a successful final day
- canvassing techniques
- EARS and Data - why we use collect data and what we do with it

All these sessions are free to any member (or staff member) of the Liberal Democrats. More information in the Local Government Directory to be published nearer the time.

FACT:
In the next nine months all of us face a General Election; most of England face important local elections - most likely on the same day

FACT:
In just 21 months - May 2011 -  more than half of our local councillors face election.

FACT: 
To win in these challenging circumstances your team needs the skills and information to campaign effectively. You need a campaign plan in place that can build success through 2010 and 2011. 
 
SOLUTION: 
ALDC’s Weekend Kickstart event takes place on 27-29 November 2009 and is the most important training opportunity each year for Lib Dem volunteer campaigners. It's proven to work - last year’s attendees saw net gains of 10 County Council divisions in June 2009. 
 
WHAT YOU GET:
Over 20 hours of training – both advanced and beginner.
Over six hours for your team working with an experienced mentor to develop your campaign plan. 
A weekend's accommodation at the Holiday Inn (M6 Junction 7 near Birmingham), food and training rooms.  (There's even time for both the pool and the bar...) 
 
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: 
Kickstart is great if you can bring along your campaign team. Imagine a whole weekend of campaign planning with expert help without any interference! 
Individual campaigners are also welcome - they will work together in small teams to develop plans and ideas. 
Experienced campaigners and new campaigners. It’s a great way to develop ideas and bring on new people. 
 
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST:
Kickstart is financially supported by the G8 process, so the cost is right down to the minimum we can charge. 
ALDC Gold Members who book early (before 3 October) £140 for the weekend – a bit more if you’re a Silver Member or not yet a member!
Save £60 by sharing a room – (twins and doubles available!)
We have a small number of HALF PRICE places for groups starting off (see below). 
WHY NOT ask your council group to pay or pay half of your costs – it could be the best investment they make all year? 
Some people apply to G8 for help attending Kickstart. 
 
If you're near to Birmingham we have some low-cost non-residential rates - not available to book online but contact emma.hall@aldc.org  
 
HOW DO I BOOK: 
You can book now – online at ALDC’s website – click here to go direct to the booking form. Remember you need to LOG IN as an ALDC member FIRST to receive your members discount which will then be applied automatically. 
More information from Emma Hall – 01422 843 785 emma.hall@aldc.org 
 
50% DISCOUNT
As a new initiative this year ALDC has set aside a fund to pay for a small number of half-price places available for groups who are starting off. This is only for councils where we have NO COUNCILLORS or very few Councillors (e.g. one or two wards).
 
If you are interested in taking us up on this please contact anders.hanson@aldc.org before 3 October 2009 deadline.