Campaign Training for Women

March 24-25, 2015 Campaign LSU Lod Cook Alumni Center Training for 3838 West Lakeshore Drive Women Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus

OFFICERS Chair Senate Vice Chair Rep. Karen Gaudet St. Germain Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb Pierre Part, District 60 Baton Rouge, District 14

House Vice Chair Immediate Past Chair Rep. Regina Ashford Barrow Sen. Karen Carter Peterson Baton Rouge, District 29 New Orleans, District 5 Secretary Treasurer Rep. Katrina Jackson Rep. Ledricka Johnson Thierry Monroe, District 16 Opelousas, District 40

Parliamentarian Member at Large Rep. Nancy Landry Rep. Barbara M. Norton Lafayette, District 31 Shreveport, District 3

MEMBERS Sen. Sharon Weston Broome Sen. Sherri Smith Buffington President Pro Tempore Keithville, District 38 Baton Rouge, District 15 Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill Rep. Valarie Hodges Dry Creek, District 32 Denham Springs, District 64 Rep. Helena Moreno Rep. Patricia Haynes Smith New Orleans, District 93 Baton Rouge, District 67 Rep. Julie Stokes Rep. Lenar Whitney Kenner, District 79 Houma, District 53

Rep. Ebony Woodruff Harvey, District 87

STAFF

Trin Johnson Executive Director

Emmanuella Petion Caucus Assistant

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 2 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus

The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus (LLWC) comprises the women in the Louisiana Legislature, whose collective mission is to: (1) prepare the next generation of women leaders and (2) serve as the premiere voice and leading monitor of issues, legislation and policies, which impact women. Since the election of the first woman to the Louisiana Legislature in 1936, women elected to the legislature have increased dramatically in number, strength and influence.

In 1986, the women of the legislature formed an organized group to address issues concerning women. Five women of the Louisiana Legislature formed the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus, which consisted of all the women legislators in the Louisiana Legislature. The five women were former Representative Mary Landrieu (former United States Senator of Louisiana), former Representative Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (former Governor of Louisiana), former Representative Irma Muse Dixon, former Representative Diana Bajoie (former State Senator and Senate President Pro Tempore) and former Representative Naomi White Warren. The mission of the Women’s Caucus was to fight for the licensing of day care centers, creation of rape intervention programs and to secure funding for battered women’s shelters. The battle has since been expanded to fighting for breast cancer awareness and funding, pay equity, expanded child care services, domestic violence prevention, better healthcare and more economic development opportunities.

The Women’s Caucus grew from five members in 1986 to its highest total of 25 members in 2005. Currently, the Women's Caucus has seventeen (17) members, including thirteen (13) state representatives and four (4) state senators serving in the Louisiana Legislature. In 2015, Louisiana ranked 50th out of all 50 states regarding the number of women elected to state legislatures.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 3 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation

In 2005, the Women’s Caucus established the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit organization. The Foundation’s missions are: • To motivate, prepare and develop the next generation of women leaders through educational and leadership development services, activities and initiatives. • To serve as the premiere voice and leading monitor of issues, legislation and policies, which impact women. • To strengthen and promote the quality of life for Louisiana families. • To serve as positive mentors and examples for females of all ages by publicly promoting high moral standards, self-determination, self-sufficiency and good will. • To increase awareness of health issues and challenges which primarily impact women and seek to diminish their quality of life. • To forge new partnerships with individuals and entities who advocate on behalf of women and their related interests.

The Foundation focuses on four program areas to fulfill its purpose-driven mission. Those areas of services are as follows: • Education & Civic Engagement • Collaboration & Networking • Policy Development • Leadership Development & Training of Women and the Next Generation of Women Leaders

Foundation Initiatives

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation Educational Advancement Opportunity (EAO) Scholarship - $500 Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation Scholarship - $1,000

Public Service Announcements (In partnership with Cox Communications) Ready to RunTM Louisiana (New Initiative) Women’s Caucus Foundation Public Policy Leadership Retreat

Women of Excellence Awards & Scholarships Ceremony and Reception (May 26, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.) Registration is required for admittance. Women of Power Reception (New Initiative)

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 4 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Ready to RunTM Louisiana

In 1998, Ready to Run™ was created by the Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP) to address the underrepresentation of women in American politics. Ready to Run™ is a non-partisan campaign training program to encourage women to run for elective office, position them for appointive office, work on a campaign, or get involved in public life in other ways.

CAWP’s research indicated that women bring different priorities and experiences to public life. Women bring distinctive perspectives into the political decision-making process. Yet research in the field of women and politics has found that among similarly situated professionals in fields (such as law or business) that have frequently produced elected officials in the past, women are less likely than men to see themselves as qualified or very qualified to run for office. 1

In 2013, the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus through the LLWC Foundation started a public service announcement (PSA) campaign to encourage more women to run for public office at the local, state and congressional levels. The LLWC Foundation partnered with Cox Communications to help spread the word of “encouraging more women to run for public office.” As a result of the overwhelming responses from the PSAs and the declining number of women serving in the Louisiana Legislature since term limits were enacted, the women legislators through the LLWC Foundation developed Ready to Run™ Louisiana in partnership with CAWP.

In 2015, women in Louisiana comprises over 51% of the state’s population and 55% of the registered voters. Women in Louisiana continue to be significantly underrepresented in the state’s policymaking bodies. Also, women hold only 11.8% of the state’s legislative seats, no seats in the U.S. Senate from Louisiana and no seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana. These extremely low numbers indicate the problems that women face at all levels of political involvement.

1 Gender, Political Ambition, and the Initial Decision to Run for Office by Richard L. Fox (Center for American Women and Politics, 2003). Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 5 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Program Agenda

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Louisiana Women of Power Networking Reception Room: Cook

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

7:30 a.m. Registration Opens

Breakfast Session: Internet Strategies for Candidates, Campaigns and Advocates

Participants:

Opening Remarks • Hon. Karen Gaudet St. Germain, State Representative, District 60 and Chairwoman, Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus

• Anna Mitchell Mahoney, Ph.D., Newcomb College Institute, Tulane University 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Room: Abell Welcome • F. King Alexander, Ph.D., President & Chancellor, Louisiana State University

Presenter: • Stafford Wood, Covalent Logic

Session Description: This session will provide information on utilizing online and social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other online organizing and communications resources. Online and social media tools are increasingly important for disseminating campaign messages to broad audiences of potential voters and stakeholders. This session will provide an overview of best practices and offer practical tips on how to get started or enhance your online presence.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 6 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Program Tracks: Track 1: I’m Ready to Run, Now What? Track 2: I’m Not Ready to Run Yet, But…

Track 1: Launching Your Campaign

Moderator: • Hon. Regina Ashford Barrow, State Representative, District 29

Panelists:

Overview of Campaigns and Campaigning • Dawn Starns, National Federation of Independent Business

Campaign Strategies, Structures and Other Matters • Clay Young, Clay Young Enterprises 10:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Room: Shelton I Key Entities and the Information You Need to Know • Kyle Ardoin, Secretary of State’s Office • Hon. Doug Welborn, Brandon Abadie and Greg Brown, East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court • Kathleen Allen, Louisiana Board of Ethics

Session Description: This session provides an overview of the key elements of a campaign, including assessing and establishing oneself as a candidate, developing a campaign plan, structuring a campaign organization, and voter contact.

Track 2: Political Parties, Appointments, and Advocacy – Tools and Tips for Getting Started

Moderator: • Anna Mitchell Mahoney, Ph.D., Newcomb College Institute, 10:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tulane University Room: Cook Conference Panelists:

Nuts and Bolts of Government & Political Parties in Louisiana • Belinda Davis, Ph.D., LSU Department of Political Science

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 7 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Advocacy • Charmaine D. Caccioppi, United Way of Southeast Louisiana • Suchitra J. Satpathi, City of New Orleans

Boards and Commissions • Natalie LaBorde, Governor’s Office • Suchitra J. Satpathi, City of New Orleans

Session Description: This session is designed for those who are not ready to run but want to have an impact on important issues. It also offers an overview of the “nuts and bolts” of government and political parties in Louisiana. Topics covered will include positioning oneself for appointment to a public board or commission, becoming active in a political party and using effective advocacy techniques. Media Training Workshop Luncheon Sponsored by: Cox Communications

Moderator: • Hon. Karen Gaudet St. Germain

Presenters: 12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. • Jim Harris, Harris Deville & Associates Room: Abell • Brad Lambert, Harris Deville & Associates

Session Description: This interactive media training workshop will include tips for successful interviews on tough topics, how to look poised and professional on camera, staying on message and public speaking techniques. Selected participants will take part in mock interviews and on-camera practice sessions.

Track 1: Navigating Louisiana’s Political Parties As a Potential Candidate

2:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Moderator: Room: Shelton I Alisha Duhon, Adams and Reese, LLP

Panelists:

Overview of the Democratic and Republican Parties

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 8 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

• Stephen Handwerk, Louisiana Democratic Party • Suzanne Haik Terrell, Louisiana Republican Party

Facilitated Discussion • Hon. Katrina R. Jackson, State Representative, District 16 • Stephen Handwerk, Louisiana Democratic Party • Suzanne Haik Terrell, Louisiana Republican Party • Sarah Holliday-James, Capital City Republican Women

Session Description: This session will highlight the power dynamics of party organizations, building relationships with party operatives and gaining the party’s support. This session will also address how to respond when the party organization is not supportive.

Track 2: Laying the Groundwork for Public Life

Moderator: Hon. Sharon Weston Broome, Senate President Pro Tempore and State Senator, District 15

Panelists: • Shirley D. Bowler, Former State Representative, 1992 to 2008 • Hon. Barbara Norton, State Representative, District 3 • Hon. Patricia Haynes Smith, State Representative, District 6 2:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. • Hon. Julie Stokes, State Representative, District 79 Room: Cook Conference • Hon. Ledricka Thierry, State Representative, District 40

Session Description: This session offers advice from the experts – women who already serve as public leaders. Learn everything you have ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Topics covered include learning to raise one’s public profile, leveraging community leadership for political leadership, the various types of elected offices to consider, working on campaigns, and balancing the competing priorities of political and family life.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 9 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Fundraising for Success

Moderator: Shirley D. Bowler, Former State Representative, 1992 to 2008

Presenter:

Liz Mangham, Southern Strategy Group 3:50 p.m. – 5:20 p.m. Room: Abell Session Description: Fundraising is one of the most crucial aspects of a campaign. This interactive workshop covers key components of campaign fundraising, including special emphasis on understanding why people give and the in-person “ask.” The session will also address developing a strategy for your campaign, building a donor list, recruiting and motivating a finance committee and special events.

Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation 10 P.O. Box 44188, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4188 Phone: 225.342.0334 Website: www.llwcf.org

NOTE: The LLWC Foundation reserves the right to revise this agenda at any time.

Partners