Anyone interested in becoming a school board trustee will have a chance to have their questions answered during a session set for Red Deer.
The free session is being put on by the Alberta School Boards Association and it will take place at the Capri Hotel and Conference Centre in Red Deer on June 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. and is open to anyone thinking about running as a trustee. The talk will feature a retiring school trustee who will give basic information and eligibility requirements for running.
For those who are already convinced they want to run, a campaign school is being run by the ASBA, set for the Capri Hotel at 3310 50th Ave. in Red Deer, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 9, at a cost of $99 for lunch and handouts. It is the first time the ASBA has offered a day-long campaign school.
“It gives an opportunity for anyone interested in running as a trustee to see what it is about before they make the step,” said Heather Welwood, ASBA president.
“Very often it is hard for someone to approach a local trustee who they may be running against and it gives them a chance to ask some questions, maybe a little anonymously, before they make a decision to run. Maybe it will encourage a candidate to visit their local school board and sit in on a few board meetings to see what it is like. It allows people who are looking at being involved in education to get their toes wet.”
The campaign school sessions will show how someone can run a successful trustee election campaign and review skills like networking and speech writing.
Political consultant and lobbyist Ken Chapman will outline the elements of a successful campaign, consultant Joanne Blake will talk about how to successfully work a room and communications consultant Hank Goertzen will teach the fundamentals of writing and making a proper speech. A panel of school trustees will share tips and experiences from the campaign trail.
Welwood said she expects the campaign school could attract everyone from current trustees wanting to learn more campaigning skills to new candidates who want to sharpen up their tools.
Anyone wanting more information can go to www.asba.ab.ca or to pre-register for either session, which is required, contact Noreen Pownall at npownall@asba.ab.ca or call 1-780-451-7102.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com