Election Campaign School for Women

Are you a woman considering either running for elected office, or working in a key position in a future election campaign? If so, then the annual Canadian Women Voters Congress Womens Campaign School is for you.

The Canadian Women Voters Congress is a nonpartisan, grass roots organization, dedicated to encouraging Canadian women to become strong, effective voices at all levels of government. Women constitute 51% of the population, yet the number of women in elected positions across Canada remains less than 25%. The Congress is working to balance the scales of political representation and to hold all parties accountable for including women in the decision-making process.

BC will hold its next municipal elections in November 2008, and its next provincial election in May 2009. A federal election may be called at any time. Women seeking a nomination that is likely to be contested need to plan and implement their campaigns well in advance of an election. The Congress offers the Women's Campaign School only once a year, so now is the time to take advantage of everything the school offers to potential candidates and to those who plan to play a key role in upcoming elections.

The Women's Campaign School explores the political skills, strategies and tactics required to win nomination and election campaigns. The intensive and interactive program is non-partisan and non-issue-based. Over the course of 3 full days, participants will:

• Examine their motivation for running
• Identify the resulting changes in lifestyle
• Find out how to secure a nomination to run for office
• Learn how to manage the nuts and bolts of fundraising, budgeting and campaign financing
• Discuss campaign ethics
• Strategize a successful campaign
• Discuss how to deal with local and regional issues
• Learn how to work effectively with the media
• Discuss international politics

HSA will provide financial support for a limited number of applicants to attend the campaign school, in accordance with HSAs financial policies governing member education. An application for financial support is attached, and is also available on HSAs website. Applications should be sent to Pattie McCormack at the HSA office as soon as possible, and no later than Friday May 9, 2008.

Members receiving financial support from HSA will be given the necessary forms to complete their application to the Womens Campaign School.
Further information about the Womens Campaign School is available www.womenscampaignschool.org, or by contacting the school organizers at @email.

For further information on HSA support to attend the Womens Campaign School, contact Carol Riviere at the HSA office.