CDA State Conventions Guide

8/7/2019 CDA State Conventions Guide

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STATE CONVENTIONS 101

INTHISGUIDE

+ Choosing a Chair

+ Developing an Agenda

+ Supporting the Community

Dear CDA Leader,

I am thrilled to hear that you and the other CollegeDemocrats leaders in your state are thinking about hostinga convention! Conventions are a way or our members totalk to one another, meet activists and elected ocials, andbuild inrastructure that will beneft the students in yourstate or years. Tat is why Im here to help.

My name is Jeremy and I am the Events Coordinatoror the National Council. While I was Vice President o theBrown Democrats last year, we hosted the frst ever CollegeDems o Rhode Island Convention, and I co-chaired thatevent. Although our state eds may be dierent, my experi-ences should shed some light on to what programs andadvertising strategies will be most eective or you as well.

I hope that you fnd this brochure helpul. I wish youthe best o luck as you build or improve on your statesconvention, and I urge you to reach out to me in the uture.

I look orward to hearing more about your plans!

Jeremy FeigenbaumNational Council Events [email protected]: 201-723-3388


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1. Where should I host the convention?

Te college with the second largest Democrats chapter in your state is probably the ideal choice. Telargest chapter will be involved anyway, and smaller chapters might not be able to run the conerence.Be mindul o the location o that school, but it is likely best.

I, however, your state only has one highly active chapter, that chapter must host the convention.And i your state has many large chapters with the capacity to organize these programs, pick the one inthe best location. Tis is the most important decision to be made, so make it early, but it is usually the

case that a number o chapters would be phenomenal hosts.

2. When should we host the convention?

It is frst important to decide i you want to have the conventionin the all or spring. I you have one in the all, members o yourstate ed can meet early and develop relationships that will last thewhole year. Tis should also motivate students to get involved. Inthe spring, however, state and chapter leaders will have more experiencesand insights to share. You would also have the chance to begin planningearly or the next year. Finally, that would allow you to have elections atthe end o the year.

I you decide to host one in the spring semester, any weekend a monthbeore fnals period is best. For most, this means late March or early April.Tis way, you can have elections at the end o the year, but beore studentseel overwhelmed by studying. I you are not planning to have elections, youcan have the convention earlier. I would suggest the beginning o the springsemester, maybe in early February.

3. How can I afford this convention?

Te best person to answer this question is our National Development Director, Joe Day, but Ill trymy hardest or now. One possibility is to host a undraiserwhere you invite students, activists andDemocratic leaderson Friday or Saturday night. Another would be to have a registration ee, as smallas possible so as to not turn away prospective students.

CHOOSINGA CHAIR

Find a chair from the host

campus, who will work with

you from day one.

>> bottom line: Pick a location and date early, so you can get to work planning a memorable convention.

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ABOVE | The Michigan Federatof College Dems 2008 conventwas hosted by the UofM Dems aheld on their campus. BELOW|T

2007 MFCD convention was heldLansing at a Teachers Union H


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4. What types of programs are most effective?

Any eective program will be a combination o national and localtaking the best o CDAand tailoring it to your states interests. Te frst step is to invite Democratic leaders in yourstate. Tis means elected ocials (I suggest a Senator or Governor as your keynote address ipossible) and party leaders. In RI, US Senator Sheldon Whitehousekicked o our events, while our state party Chairman gaveled theconvention to a close.

But elected ocialsrom a Congressman to the AttorneyGeneralare not the only draw, though I do recommend invitingas many as possible. You should also host a ew panels (at the sametime, so students can choose) dealing with national and local issues.You should choose the issues based in part on your interests, butmore importantly by what issues are important to the students onthe campuses rom which you are trying to recruit. Exciting speak-ers include popular proessors on the host campus (a large turnoutrom the host is essential), the leaders o prominent local advocacyorganizations, and state legislators and councilpersons.

Having brainstormed speakers and panelists, you are readyor the last step: caucus events. CDA has 8 caucuses, run by JenJohns, our Director o Political Aairs, which ocus on constituencygroups. Tese 8APIA, Black, Disability, Faith, Hispanic, LGB,Veterans, and Womenhope to run programs in all 50 states. I youwould like to organize a speech or panel in conjunction with oneor more o the caucuses, please let Jen or me know. We are reallyexcited about this collaboration!

Aside rom the two or three speeches by elected ocials and

party leaders, the panels, and the caucus programs, dont orget theundraiser that I already mentioned to pay or this great weekend.Finally, be sure to leave at least an hour or campaign speeches andvoting.

DEVELOPINGAN AGENDA

Take the best of CDAs

programs and tailor them to

your states needs.

Between statewide ocials, caucus events, panels, and elections, your agenda will be packed! :bottom line

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EXAMPLE:

PACD 2009 AGENDA


Saturday

7 8:30am | Breakfast

9 10am | Young People in

Politics with Mary Topper, Dan

Gilman, Brigid Sullivan

10 11am | Auditor General

Jack Wagner

11 12pm | City Council

Roundtable

12 12:30pm | Boxed lunch

with Rep. Jason Altmire

1 2pm | Judges Roundtable

2 3pm | Fundraising Training

3:15 4pm | Caucuses

4 5pm | New Media Training /What Can PACD Do for You?

5 6pm | Chapter of the Year

Presentations / PACD Candi-

dates Meeting

Dinner on their own


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5. How can I get involved in the community?

We have already covered the scary questionswhere, when, and what programs to run. But conventions

should not and cannot exist in a bubble; it is our job as college-aged Democrats to support local communities.

So when you are not having events, running elections, or raising tons of money, get your hands dirty!

If there is an election coming up in the host town or, better yet, in the state, then help out! Be sure to let the

campaign know about the convention at least a month in advance for three reasons: they will send campaign

staff, send the candidate, and coordinate a few hours of canvassing for attendees. This helps the campaign and

makes the attendees feel that they contributed something important.

But many states have no upcoming races. Fear not, since this is a great opportunity for community service.

In any city you go to, you can help out. What the Brown Democrats do, for example, is support an organization

that connects to one of our core political issues. We work with Save the Bay, an environmental group that cleans

beaches. Other issues involve homelessness (Habitat for Humanity) or a voter registration drive.

6. Am I ready to begin?

Of course, but I still want to help! Even though this concludes State Conventions 101, our work together

does not end here. This was just a good starting point for future conversations, where we can talk about your

specic ideas for events and service projects.

So please pick up the phone and give me a call. Let me know what you are most concerned aboutmaybe

a chapter fell off your radar and you want to bring them back through this conventionand I will do my best to

help. Conventions build chapters, state feds, and CDA as a whole. I want to make yours as memorable as pos-

sible.

SUPPORTINGTHE COMMUNITY

Volunteer for a local candidate

or a service organization. The

community needs you!

>>bottom line: Please do not hesitate to call or email me. I want to do whatever I can to help plan your convention!

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FROM LEFT | RhoIsland College Democra

panel on reprodcutive h

CDAs 50 Years of Serv

Conventions service

project at the local scho

Sen. Seldon Whitehouse

speaking at the Rhode Is

College Democrats 200

Convention.

Documents

CDA State Conventions Guide