Empowerment Track

The Empowerment Track offers a variety of training seminars designed specifically to work with and help women who are or want to be candidates for office, party activists and campaign paid operatives or volunteers. This training will impart industry specific knowledge and encourage women to get more involved in the campaign process as well as work their way up the political ladder staying engaged on a long-term basis (on the ballot or behind the scenes). 

Open to all Republican women, membership is encouraged, but not required to participate in the Empowerment Track.  Extra benefits are provided to those who do become full members, including reduced program fees.

Group training programs will be offered at multiple locations in the state in an effort to bring the training closer to all and reach as many women as possible. Fees apply for each program, and participants only attend and pay for sessions they chose to participate in.

Detailed, in-depth training programs will include, but not be limited to:

One of the two campaign schools held in 2018, this one at the Palatine Republican Headquarters.

- Understanding what a campaign is and how to win;
- How to build a winning campaign organization;
- Fundraising;
- Grassroots neighbor-to-neighbor campaigning and GOTV (Get Out the Vote) efforts;
- Public speaking training ;
- Working with the media;
- Building coalitions;
- Party leadership;
- Internet and social media;
- Introduction to possible campaign and consulting careers;
- Training programs for high school and college women;
- and more.

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The Empowerment Track is perfect for women entering or are already involved in the campaign and political process. This track is also very applicable for those who are considering running for office a few years down the line and are just looking to gather more information.

Additionally, Member-Only programming includes:

- special guest speaker events;
- networking events;
- webinars on various topics including discussing campaign "how to" issues and current happenings;
- access to recorded sessions;
- private social networking pages;
- and more events to come.

2020 Empowerment track calendar

January                                                                                                                     July
1/29/20 at 7 p.m. via Zoom Webinar                                                                    Half-day Public Speaking Workshop*                                               
"How You Can Make A Difference                                                                          (reduced pricing for members)   
Volunteering on Campaigns and in Your Local Party"                                        Webinar - Social Media & Politics 
Featuring Connie Beard, McLean County Republican Chair                              
Please register by January 27 via the contact page to participate.                  August
See more information on webinar here.                                                                State Fair - Event to be announced*
                                                                                                                                  
February                                                                                                                    September                                                                                                                                   
2/19/20 at 7 p.m. via Zoom Webinar                                                                     Webinar - To be announced
"Fair Campaigning Through Fair Maps"                                                                Member only event - to be announced*
Featuring IL House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.                                            
Please register by February 17 via the contact page to participate.                October
                                                                                                                                     Break for elections
March                                                                                                                          
Tentative date 3/28/20 in Peoria                                                                          November                                           
 Women History Month Luncheon                                                                         Webinar - "How to Get on theBallot for 2021 Municipal 
                                                                                                                                       Elections"
April                                                                                                                                  
Members only event*                                                                                                December 
Half-day Fundraising Workshop* (reduced pricing for members)                    Happy Holidays! - To be announced                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                     
May                                                                                                                              
Webinar - Topic: State Central Committee/                                                       
Becoming a Precinct Committee person*                                                           
                                                                                                                                      
June                                                                                                                             *More information to be posted at a later date
Major Event to be Announced Hosted by The Lincoln Series 
Webinar - "Illinois State Ethics: Behind the Red Tape".