DFA Training Academy in Lansing, MI

Agenda:

Saturday June 7th through Sunday June 8th

9am-6pm each day.

You have the power, now learn the skills! The Democracy for America Training Academy is coming to Lansing, MI for two days of exciting campaign training.

How many votes will it take to win in November? How do you find the perfect message and get it out to voters in your district? How will you raise enough money to pay for it all?

The DFA Training Academy will help you answer these questions and more.

At the DFA Training Academy, top campaign consultants with decades of experience give you the skills to run a winning campaign. Topics include: field planning, voter contact, fundraising, communications, volunteer recruitment and more.

Attendees will also get to hear directly from some of the most exciting 2008 candidates in their area and get a copy of the DFA Training Manual packed with over 180 pages of winning campaign info.

Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and a social event will be organized Saturday evening so you can mingle and network with other activists in your area.

The training will run from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Limited scholarships available! Contact Tom Rico at 517-282-2565 or email midmichigandfa@yahoo.com for more info.

Click here to see a video of a previous training:

Lodging Info:

Hampton Inn
525 Canal Road
Lansing, Michigan
517-627-8381

Individuals must contact the hotel to make their own reservations. The block of rooms are listed under "Mid Michigan DFA." The rate is $79 plus tax.

If you plan on attending this training and have specific questions, call our Training Department hotline at DFA at 802-651-3200 Ext. 191.

If you are a candidate running for office and plan on attending, please email us at training(at)democracyforamerica.com and let us know.

For more info on the DFA Training Academy visit: www.democracyforamerica.com/training

To send someone to attend a DFA Training please see: Support the DFA Training Academy with a Sponsorship

Weekend Training Agenda
Lansing, MI June 7th & 8th 9am-6pm each day

Saturday Morning
Introduction & Overview
Field Planning and Targeting
Volunteer Recruitment

Lunch

Saturday Afternoon
Fundraising Strategies
Voter Contact Tactics
Campaign & Event Planning
Developing Your Message

Sunday Morning
Getting Out The Vote (GOTV)
Fundraising Tactics
Working with the Media

Lunch

Sunday Afternoon (Elective Sessions choose 4)
Working with a Voter File (VAN)
Neighborhood Precinct Organizing
Volunteer Management and Development
Running Phonebanks and Canvasses
Fundraising: Call Time
Online Organizing

Training Presenters:

Matt Blizek – Field & Volunteers
A veteran of training in the political and corporate worlds, Matt Blizek began organizing in student and local politics and was elected vice president of the University of Iowa Student Body. Since then he has done field and fundraising work for numerous campaigns including the DNC, MoveOn.org, Russ Feingold, and Jon Tester. Matt joined Democracy for America in 2007.

Michael Cook – Fundraising & Finance
Michael Cook is a veteran of more than 25 political campaigns at the local, state and federal level. During his tenure as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas he helped revitalize and re-organize the state party. His work there earned him recognition by the National Journal's "Hotline" as one of Arkansas' Rising Stars in 2003, and the Arkansas Times proclaimed him the "Wizard of Voter Turnout" during the hotly contested 2004 campaign season. He is the only Arkansas Executive Director who has simultaneously served as Coordinated Campaign Director, overseeing the Democrats' most intensive field operation ever in a presidential election year. He was a member of then-Governor Clinton's campaign staff during the 1992 presidential race, serving both in New Hampshire and at the fabled Little Rock headquarters. Michael previously served as consultant with Southern Strategy Group, a political and governmental consulting firm in Little Rock. In 2006, he managed the first winning Democratic campaign for Arkansas Lt. Governor in sixteen years. Michael is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and holds a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Christy McGillivray – Field
In the fall of 2005 Christy was hired as the Lake St. Clair Community Organizer for Clean Water Action, and has been working since then to build on the grassroots support generated by the CWA canvass. As an organizer she worked on Clean Water Action’s electoral accountability work in 2006, and on Clean Water Action’s legislative campaigns to stop large scale diversions of Great Lakes waters, reform chemical policy through a collaborative environmental health perspective, and to stop the importation of out-of-state and Canadian trash into Michigan. Since the spring of 2007 she worked as Clean Water Action’s Senior Organizer in Michigan—offering support and training to other CWA staff in Michigan. In the spring of 2008 she was hired as the Michigan Campaigns Director—overseeing CWA legislative and electoral campaigns.

Dan Farough – Communications
Before coming to Progress Michigan, Mr. Farough served as Press Secretary for House Democratic Leader Dianne Byrum, the House Democratic Caucus and later House Speaker Andy Dillon. While serving in this capacity, Mr. Farough helped spearhead efforts to take back the State House on strong progressive messaging. Capitol observers credit this team for taking earned media to new levels and driving a populist progressive message in the legislature, even while in the minority. Fighting the outsourcing of Michigan jobs, ending drug company immunity, stopping Canadian trash and raising the state’s minimum wage all became hallmark issues in Michigan during this time.

Mr. Farough has previously worked as a political consultant for progressive Republicans and Democrats, and has served a variety of progressive organizations in Michigan.

Laura Packard – Online Organizing
Laura Packard is an internet consultant based in Lansing, helping Democratic/progressive campaigns and organizations do internet outreach effectively. She's taught sessions on online organizing for the Amalgamated Transit Union, Camp Wellstone, Camp Millie, CPL, America Votes/Michigan Voice and others. In 2006, she was the Internet Communications Director for Senator Stabenow's reelection campaign.