We don't need to tell you how important the elections in May 2012 are to the Party.
 
To help ensure that as many of the hundreds of Lib Dem candidates next May WIN, we're offering HALF PRICE membership of ALDC to every Lib Dem candidate in the May 2012 local elections.
 

For as little as 79p week, all ALDC members will be able to benefit from:

• exclusive access to campaign literature templates, artwork and advice
• exclusive weekly "Campaigner" email, packed full of campaign issues, ideas, council motions and best practice
• ALDC's bi-monthly members magazine "Local Campaigner"
• a free "MyCouncillor" website
• full access to our advice line and online advice - exclusively available to ALDC members.
• Free Connect Casework for ward work, worth £36
  

It's not just councillors who join ALDC, we're also proud to have a large number of candidates, agents, local campaigners, Parliamentary and local party staff as members.
 
The 50% discount is only available for people who join us by direct debit. Join us "paperfree" online today by filling in your details here. Call us on 01422 843 785 for more information.
 
Group Members of ALDC? - why not add your candidates?
The most successful local party in the 2010 elections was the London Borough of Sutton. What did they do in advance of the elections - sign up every single candidate as a member of ALDC through their group membership scheme. With the 50% discount this is even more affordable.

Party members will probably already heard about the Party's new "online networking and campaigning" website - Act. 

Why not sign up and join our group for all Lib Dem Councillors - ALDC!

Act is a place where Lib Dem supporters can connect with one another, organise events and campaigns, share photos and videos, and talk about politics. It's open to anyone with Liberal Democrat sympathies, whether they're Party members or not.

Nick Clegg has recorded a short video explaining what we want to help people to achieve: see the video on Act.  

Once you've joined up - click on "groups" - and "join group" when you see ALDC! You can set up your own groups as soon as you are a member. 

There are no doubt many ways that Councillors and local campaigners can interact on Act - let us know if you have ideas and we can give them a go. 

Selections for council candidates are now well underway in most areas with local elections next May; and if they aren't then now is the time to start. 

Many areas have had robust approval procedures for a number of years, but this is now compulsory for all candidatess wanting to stand for the Liberal Democrats in council elections in England.  The English Liberal Democrats have also brought in new rules that require candidates in England to make a financial contribution to aid party campaigning if they get elected.  Again, this has been standard practice for a long time in many areas, but this is now a requirement in England and highly recommended in Scotland and Wales.

To help local parties implement these changes, and to improve their current procedures if they do it already, ALDC had produced guidance that is available to ALDC members via the ALDC website (don't forget you need your email address and ALDC membership number to access the website). 

Currently available on the website (for ALDC Members) is:

Approving council candidates
Councillors contributions
Setting up council co-ordinating groups

We will also be updating our guidance on selecting candidates in the near future. Please remember to log-in as an ALDC member first. 

Please note that these materials are a CONSULTATION DRAFT and we would welcome your welcome feedback on this guidance to make sure that it is as clear and as useful as possible.  Feedback should be sent to Anders Hanson at anders.hanson@aldc.org

In this busy period in the run up to the General Election and important local elections in many areas it is important to keep campaigning! Rules are important, but please don't stop campaigning. If you have any problems or issues please don't hesitate to contact the team at ALDC.