Training

Web Based Training

With the financial and technical support of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and IT-oLogy, the Institute now makes its basic campaign training available 24/7, free of charge, to all the women in South Carolina. New sessions will be launched each week this spring. Trainings are broken into sections, allowing participants to absorb training at their own speed.
Register today!

Advancing the Agenda - Spring 2012

Master Campaign Training
Following the 2012 primaries, the Institute will host at least four (4) master training schools. Each Master training class devotes a full day to a single topic. Institute and South Carolina trainers are augmented by nationally-known subject-specific experts.

Master training topics:

  • Advanced Fundraising
  • Using the Internet and Social Media in a Winning Campaign
  • Creating and Staying on Message
  • Get Out Your Vote

The schedule for these trainings will be determined late in 2011/early 2012.

Web-based Training
Subject to resources, the Institute anticipates converting each facet of basic training into an individual web-based training event that can be downloaded and viewed at the registrant's convenience.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list, or would like more information on any upcoming events, please click here.

Listed below are some of our previous campaign training schools.  

Previous Training Programs

Advancing the Agenda - Fall 2011

10/01 - Charleston School of Law, Charleston, SC
10/15 - Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
10/29 - McNair Law Firm, Columbia, SC
11/12 - Furman University, Greenville, SC

This one-day seminar provided an overview of the five key facets of every campaign and is useful for prospective candidates, new candidates, advancing candidates, campaign workers and political advocates of all kinds. A portion of this training will focus on running in a primary election where only a relatively small segment of all voters participate, offering women a clear and identified target audience. See a sample agenda 

  • Campaign Management -Your Road Map to Success: South Carolina Style. Campaign Planning, Organizing, Staffing, and Coordinating
  • Fundraising - Whether we like it not, no campaign can succeed without money. How much do you need? Where does it come from? How do you ask for it? Filing and legal requirements and more.
  • Grass Roots Organization - Where do you find the people? How do you put them to work?  How do you know what they're doing? How do you structure your team? 
  • The Internet and Social Media - Do you need a website? What goes on the site? What stays off the site? Setting up your site for donations. Using FaceBook, Twitter and other communities.
  • Creating and Managing Your Message - Defining your brand and your issue points. Writing a press release, building media relations.

Trainers:
Ruth Sherlock
Barbara Rackes
Christy Cox
JoAnn Stadtmueller
Mary Ann Jacobs
Christine Johnson


Master Your Message Workshop - April 2, 2011
Columbia, South Carolina

Some prospective leaders seem to be on message, able to answer questions with solid but timely answers. What about your message? Is it diffused? Meandering? Varying from one audience to another? Deb Sofield, an Executive Speech Coach who trains women leaders at Harvard's Women in Government Program and at the Women's Campaign School at Yale, instructed attendees how to build a message that defines their campaign. After learning what to say, attendees then tested their message in a live on-camera mock interview. Pat McNeely lead a session on writing effective biographies, press releases and speeches.

Click here for the full agenda>>

Trainers:
Deb Sofield
Pat McNeely
Special Guest: Valerie Biden Owens, sister and campaign manager to Vice President Joe Biden as well as international political consultant.

 
Are You Ready to Run? - Across SC in Spring 2011

Rock Hill, Columbia, Charleston, Greenville

The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics held four training sessions across the state for women considering a run for office. These one-day sessions were designed to put all the elements in order so potential candidates could make the decision wisely. Trainees also received an overview of what they'll need to know to be organized and effective. Sessions also included a lunch-time discussion panel featuring women who have run for office in local elections.


Trainer: Ruth Sherlock, is an experienced campaign manager and fundraiser and when she isn't working to help women of South Carolina run and win, she is president of her own consulting firm, Sherlock and Associates.



Grassroots Politics Campaign Training School - April 17, 2010
Columbia, South Carolina

The 2010 Annual Leading Women Grassroots Campaign Training School was held at SC ETV in Columbia and included guest speakers Hon. Arlene Violet, former Attorney General, Rhode Island, and Debbie Walsh, Executive Director, CAWP, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University. The training focused on building a political campaign from the ground up. See agenda>>

Trainers:
Debbie Walsh
Hon. Arlene Violet
Marilyn Hemingway
Laurin Manning
Earl Capps
Will "Sic Willie" Folks 
Barbara Rackes
Hon. Deb Sofield

 


Campaign Training Basics in Georgetown - March 27, 2010
Georgetown, South Carolina

The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics focused on Campaign Training Basics in Georgetown with a half-day session of basics.

Trainer:
Hon. Deb Sofield, executive speech coach and President of the Women's Campaign School at Yale.


Campaign Training Basics in Santee Cooper - February 20, 2010
Santee, South Carolina

The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics focused on Campaign Training Basics in Santee Cooper with a half-day session of basics. A large contingent of regional prospective candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties turned out.

Trainer:
Hon. Deb Sofield, executive speech coach and President of the Women's Campaign School at Yale.


Advanced Fundraising Campaign School - November 14, 2009
Charleston, South Carolina

This Advanced Fundraising Campaign School gave a more in-depth look at how to raise political money.

Trainer:
Nancy Bocskor, National fundraising expert.

 


Leading Women Spring Campaign Training - May 2, 2009
Columbia, South Carolina

The Institute's 2009 Annual Leading Women Campaign Training School was filled to capacity and included a series of overview workshops.

Trainers and Guest Speakers:

Dr. Lynn Ford
Barbara Rackes
Linda Ketner
Nikki Haley
Kathy Groob
Zeke Stokes
Ruth Sherlock
Heather Hoopes-Matthews
Honorable Deb Sofield


Pathways to Power Campaign Training School - September 10, 2008
Columbia, South Carolina

A special two-track Campaign Training School allowed participants to focus on media or campaign management.

Trainers included:
Heather Hoopes-Matthews
Honorable Deb Sofield
Barbara Rackes
Walter Whetsell
Ruth Sherlock
Michelle Macrina
Rep. Rita Allison
Jeanelle McCain
Skip Webb

 

Campaign Training with Ruth Ann Minner - February 8, 2008
Columbia, South Carolina

The Institute's first Campaign Training School featured former Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner, who explained the large impact that women have on politics.


Learn about upcoming schools>>