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National Grassroots Conference
January 25-28, 2011 -
Casa Marina Resort - Key West, Fla.
2011 AGENDA
Tuesday, January 25
2:45 p.m.
Hands On Social Media
By now you're familiar with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. You're also probably well aware of the statistics about how much reach social media have. But maybe you'd like just a little more hands-on training to really understand what it's all about, how to use it, and how it can play a role in grassroots. This pre-conference session will ensure that you understand all the basics and get you started down the road of leveraging it for your program.
4:30 p.m.
Meet Your Mentor
Is this your first National Grassroots Conference? Sign up to receive a mentor who can help you make the most of the conference
AND your career.
5:00 p.m.
Welcome to Key West! Beachfront Networking Reception
This perennial favorite is the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow attendees in a relaxed and casual environment. Following the reception, explore Key West on your own or with the new contacts you've made.
Wednesday, January 26
7:30 a.m.
Registration/Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
General Session
Making Headlines: Congressional Management Foundation Releases Newest Findings on Communicating with Congress
Since 2005, the Congressional Management Foundation has been the leading provider of research on how Congress is coping with ever-increasing civic engagement. Conference participants will be the first to see the new data on what modern advocacy strategies are most effective and how congressional staff view constituent communications. New topics will also be addressed, including the growth of social media for constituent communications.
9:30 a.m. Break
9:45 a.m. Concurrent Workshops A
A1: The Courage to Open Up: Transparency in Grassroots (new)
As the public becomes increasingly interested in the political affairs of businesses, transparency is frequently embraced as a "must do" not a "nice to do." See how these companies are opening up about their public policy positions, employee engagement and access to information.
A2: So You Want to Kick-Start a Grassroots Program
Have issues of the day compelled you to start or reinvigorate a grassroots program? From program structure to calls to action, learn from those who've been exactly where you are and how they built a successful program.
A3: Listen Up! Monitoring the Dialog (new)
It's easy to charge ahead with a plan but are you sure it will work? Gathering information by listening to your employees, members, blogosphere and other media outlets can be your best guide BEFORE you develop a strategy. Stop, look and listen first.
11:00 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. Concurrent Workshops B
B1: Standing Strong: Grassroots in a Crisis (new)
Who hasn't been touched by a public policy or reputational crisis in the past year? When it happened, were you able to successfully engage your grassroots program to help address the issue? Talk with others about the challenges they faced and how they responded.
B2: The Power of the Purse: Building a Budget (new)
If advocates are the lifeblood of your program, then a well-executed budget is the backbone. Learn how to build a budget that plans for necessities and contingencies alike, including the human resources of staff, consultants and vendors as well as the technical resources of websites, social media and other communication tools.
B3: In the Driver's Seat of Media Engagement (new)
Many have spent the year playing defense with the media. From integrated video and blogs to thought leadership on controversial issues, gain strategies that can make you more proactive and better positioned when it comes to engaging traditional and new media.
12:30 p.m.
Buffet Luncheon/Industry Networking Roundtables
1:00 p.m.
Grassroots Resource Marketplace Opens
1:45 p.m. Concurrent Workshops C
C1: In the Weeds: Grassroots Legal Issues
The post-Citizens United era has increased the need to check your grassroots practices against current rules and regulations, including issues related to independent expenditures. Additionally, many companies will soon explore methods to advocate with regulators. Be sure you know the legal ins and outs related to these new opportunities.
C2: The Powers That Be: Engaging Executives
Your CEO is a vital and powerful voice not only to your employees and members but also elected officials. Get practical advice on how to manage the involvement of your CEO and other senior executives in your initiatives.
C3: Case Studies in Social Media Advocacy (new)
See how these organizations have successfully executed a grassroots campaign through social media. Beyond the basics, this session will show you how organizations have embraced and integrated these platforms into their grassroots advocacy and made an impact on their issue.
2:45 p.m. Networking Break
3:15 p.m.
Sharpening Tools: Communications Roundtables
Join a facilitator-led, interactive discussion evaluating the key communications pieces of every grassroots program. We'll have materials for you to evaluate, or you can bring your own. You'll learn what makes good communications stand out.
- Calls to Action
- Websites
- Social Media Outlets
4:15 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops D
D1: Be Bold: Engaging Not-So-Typical Stakeholders (new)
If you'd like to be FOR something and not just AGAINST everything, it's worthwhile to actively engage a-typical stakeholder groups. The endeavor requires open, honest and frequent dialog but the result can often lead to greater trust and understanding between disparate groups in addition to actually solving real problems.
D2: Explore New Opportunities: Regulatory Advocacy 101 (Part I - new)
Many recent legislative issues will soon make their way through the regulatory process. Before you seek to turn your advocates loose on regulators, learn the ins and outs of how, when and where your grassroots can have the greatest impact.
D3: Privacy Please! Tips for Managing Social Media Settings (new)
The rules for managing personal privacy in social media change constantly. We also know it's a challenge to maintain a line between personal and professional lives in this online world. To help, this session will walk you through all those things you probably should know (but may not) about how to manage privacy settings in social media channels.
5:30 p.m.
Resource Marketplace & Networking Reception
The only annual event where you can meet the industry's leading providers of technology and grassroots management services. Discover the latest, greatest advances that could boost your program's performance.
Thursday, January 27
7:45 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:15 a.m.
General Session
Empowering Innovation: 2010 Grassroots Innovation Award Winners
Who will win this year's prestigious awards and be crowned industry leaders in Corporate Grassroots, Association Grassroots and Social Media Grassroots? Award winners will be invited to share the strategies, challenges and future plans behind their innovative programs.
9:45 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Concurrent Workshops E
Insights from Peers: Grassroots Best Practices by Budget Size (new)
Choose a group based on your current annual grassroots budget (excluding salaries). If you don't have a separate grassroots budget, simply estimate where you think your program would fit. Participants will exchange insights on the benefits and challenges of managing programs with the resources available.
E1: $0-$50,000
E2: $50,000-$100,000
E3: $100,000 +
11:00 a.m.
Networking Break
11:30 a.m. Concurrent Workshops F
F1: Strategies for Grassroots in the Regulatory Process (Part II - new)
Now that you've gained a better understanding of the regulatory process and how grassroots can play a role, hear how these organizations developed and executed a strategy in this unique arena.
F2: Building Blocks: How to Measure Your Grassroots Program
Learn specific measurement tools that can evaluate the reach of your grassroots program. Also, learn how to translate the numbers you generate into a story that demonstrates the impact of your efforts.
F3: Telling Your Side of the Story (repeats)
Storytelling remains a key strategy for conveying what can sometimes be your technical and business-focused policy position. Gain insights for how you can become an effective storyteller and get your audience to see issues in a new way.
12:45 p.m.
Boxed Lunch/Mentor Meet Up
Check in with your mentor to discuss new ideas, choose sessions to attend tomorrow and schedule a time to meet at the evening reception.
5:30 p.m.
Beachfront Networking Reception
Reconvene with your colleagues for a beachfront networking reception before enjoying a free night to explore Key West.
Friday, January 28
8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
9:00 a.m.
General Session
The 2011 Power Dynamic: What the Election Results Mean for Business
Election day 2010 sets the stage for a whole new power dynamic for the coming year. Take a look at what the election results are revealing and what's in store for business when it comes to public policy.
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Concurrent Workshops G
G1: Stockpiling Ideas: Creative Corporate Engagement Roundtables
G2: Stockpiling Ideas: Creative Association Engagement Roundtables
Show your creative side! Join your peers for a fast-paced, round-robin exchange of all the innovative ways you've gotten advocates to respond to a call to action, attend an event, register to vote, visit a legislator, tweet or do just about anything else you asked them to.
G3: Telling Your Side of the Story (repeat)
Storytelling remains a key strategy for conveying what can sometimes be your technical and business-focused policy position. Gain insights for how you can become an effective storyteller and get your audience to see issues in a new way.
11:15 a.m. Concurrent Workshops H
H1: Empowering You
You are your most important resource. Investing in yourself through professional development opportunities such as this conference gives you the chance to develop new skills for a new market. We'll discuss ways to translate your current skills into bigger or different roles, how to make yourself stand out and how to remain an asset in your organization.
12:00 p.m. Adjournment
