DFA Academy - Bloomington, Indiana - May 12-13, 2007

We are pleased to announce the DFA Training Academy on the weekend of May 12-13 of this year. This special training symposium, arranged and presented by Democracy for America, will be held at the Indiana Memorial Union, in the Oak Room. There will also be a social meet-and-greet event on Friday evening, and an informal party Saturday evening.

At the DFA Training Academy, experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and building a sustainable grassroots movement. We design the program so you can go out and use the skills you learn right away. Then, we follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need to organize your community.

It is important to RSVP for the event at www.dfalink.com/rsvp_event.php?id=17121 as soon as you know you will be attending. This helps us greatly in knowing how well attendance is building.

More...

The cost for this two-day training seminar is $60 for those who register in advance, $70 at the door. We are also offering a $30 tuition for low-income and student attendees. (Don't be shy, if you need the cut rate, ask for it!) Comparable training events, such as Camp Wellstone, are going for $100 or more. The tuition goes to DFA, who in turn are paying for the entire event. DFMC and the DWC pay nothing, and collect none of the tuition. We are simply the local hosts. You can pay be credit card online when you sign up. Those who wish to pay by check should simply RSVP, and then download and print this form to mail to DFA with your check. (Write "for Indiana Training" somewhere on the form.)

Do you know someone who would like to attend but can't even afford the $30 tuition? Perhaps a College Democrat? Or even a high school senior? DFA now has a way for you to sponsor another training attendee. This is a great way to get a young person involved and excited about participating in the political process.

We are hoping that people from all over Indiana and neighboring areas will take advantage of this training event, hosted by Indiana Progressives, DFMC and the Democratic Women's Caucus of Monroe County, and presented by Democracy for America.

You can get more information about the Academy at the DFA website, and also take a look at the potential curriculum.

We will continue to post more details as soon as we know them.

What You Will Learn

DFA offers a core curriculum of training for all attendees, including Field and Electoral Work, Finance, and Communications, to be presented all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. Breakout sessions on Sunday afternoon will involve elective training subjects, among which attendees can choose as they see fit. All training is very active, with worksheets, exercises, and interactive breakout groups. The goal is to prepare students for the work of building a long-term infrastructure, and provide all knowledge needed to effectively manage or work on a campaign.

Here is a draft agenda for the training, with the various courses and subjects listed.

Read more about the curriculum on the DFA-Link wabsite.

Who You Will Learn It From

Jennifer S. Coken

Executive Director, Main Street Colorado (an Education Fund in Colorado); prior to that she served as the Political Director for Congresswoman Diana DeGette leading her re-election campaign with an historic win of 73%. Before moving to the state of Colorado in 2004, Coken was a field associate with FieldWorks, coordinating 28 state house and senate canvass operations for the democratic caucuses in the state of Virginia. Jennifer also served as the National Campaign Director for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), leading a coalition of nearly 400 organizations to influence Congress to recommend the largest budget increase in National Park Service history. Jennifer founded Coken Consulting Company in 1997, a Washington, DC firm providing campaign management services and strategic guidance for national and community-based organizations.

Jennifer grew up in Cleveland and received her MA in Political Campaign Management from Kent State University.

Dorie Clark

Principal, Clark Strategic Communications. Dorie is a media consultant with extensive campaign and non-profit experience at the national, state, and local levels. Clark served as the New Hampshire Communications Director for Howard Dean's presidential campaign, developing and executing his media strategy in the state and managing relations with local and national press. Previously, she was the Press Secretary for former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich's campaign for Massachusetts governor. Clark also ran the successful re-election campaign for Massachusetts State Representative Jarrett Barrios (now a State Senator), and has served as a media consultant on a wide variety of races. Prior to her work as a campaign communications specialist, Clark was a staff writer for the Boston Phoenix, covering local politics and policy and winning two New England Press Association awards. She was also a regular contributor to the Boston Globe and Commonwealth magazine. She also co-founded a political action committee, OutSomerville, and won an award for GLBT advocacy from the Young Democrats of Massachusetts. Clark has taught campaign management at Emerson College and media studies at Tufts University.

She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Smith College and Harvard Divinity School. She lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Tom Hughes

Executive Director, Democracy for America. Active in Democratic politics since 1988, Tom has worked on most divisions of a modern campaign including: management, field, fundraising, communications, political outreach, scheduling and advance. Executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party in 1998, Tom helped elect a state house and senate that went on to pass historic Civil Unions legislation. In 2003-04, Tom directed the Dean for America field operation in New Hampshire. He has been with Democracy for America since April 2004.

Matt Blizek

Deputy Training Director, Democracy for America. Matt originally became involved in politics through student and community organizing while a student at the University of Iowa. After graduating in 2003 he moved to Madison, WI and worked as a director for a fundraising canvas for the DNC and as a field organizer for MoveOn.org. Between the '04 and '06 cycles he worked as a corporate trainer for Verizon Business. Last fall he worked on the Jon Tester Senate campaign in Montana as part of Senator Russ Feingold's Patriot Corps program. Matt joined Democracy for America as the Deputy Director of Training in January 2007.

Parking information here.

Suggested Lodging
(Prices listed are not guaranteed.)

Featured Accommodation:
Biddle Hotel, inside the Indiana Memorial Union – $95 single, $115 double
900 E. Seventh St., Bloomington, IN 47405 – Toll-free reservations: (800) 209-8145
(For every person who uses a room at the Biddle, this helps DFA save on the cost of the venue!)

Super 8 Motel $63 - 90
1000 W State Rd 46, Bloomington
800-800-8000 / 812-3323-8000

University Plaza Hotel
1710 N Kinser Pk, Bloomington
812-334-3252

Days Inn $44.96 - 150.95
200 E Matlock Rd, Bloomington
800-329-7666 / 812-336-0905

Econo Lodge $42.00 - 60.00
2601 N Walnut St, Bloomington
877-424-6423 / 812-332-9453

Travel Lodge $65 - 75
2615 E 3rd Street, Bloomington
800-578-7878 / 812-339-6191

A Summerhouse Inn $67.00 - 87.00
4501 E 3rd St, Bloomington
812-332-2141

Country Hearth Inn $39.95 - 49.95
1722 N Walnut St, Bloomington
888-443-2784 / 812-339-1919

Quality Inn $60.00 - 71.00
1100 Rappel Dr, Bloomington
800-228-5151 / 812-323-2222