Listen Up Legislators! 
How to Move Your Elected Officials From Information to Action

September 28th, 2010 from 9 am until noon (registration open at 8:30 am)

Too often, communicating with our elected officials feels about as much fun as going to the dentist.  This is in part because our system of government at all levels can be inefficient, frustrating and, well, painful.  In this insightful and entertaining session, Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru, will help you understand the factors that influence elected officials, the best ways to approach them and why government isn’t broken (it just feels like that most of the time). You’ll learn the four keys to getting policymakers to listen as well as the one thing that ALWAYS works.  Disability advocates in Minnesota need to continue to speak up – come to this session to learn how.

Who Should Attend

Professional caregivers, family members, self-advocates and others who want to protect disability services will learn how to effectively communicate with elected officials. This workshop is fun and will energize attendees to help build ARRM's power at the legislature.

Location and Hotel Information

Canterbury Inn (at the intersection of Hwy. 169 and Canterbury Road)
1244 Canterbury Road
Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: 952/445-3644
For directions, please go to www.canterburyinnshakopee.com.
The room rate for attendees is $89 plus tax.

Registration Information

Registration Fee:
ARRM members, self-advocates and family members: $25
Non ARRM members: $50
Registration opens at 8:30 am

Seating is limited to the first 200 registrants.

Registration deadline: September 24th, 2010


For information about ARRM's registration and cancellation policy, click here.

About the Presenter:

Stephanie D. Vance, the “Advocacy Guru” of Advocacy Associates, LLC is author of Government by the People: How to Communicate with Congress, the fabjob.com guide, Get a Job on Capitol Hill, Citizens in Action and the recently released Advocacy Manual: A Practitioner’s Guide. She has over 20 years of experience in Congressional affairs, having worked in a prominent DC law firm, lobbied for National Public Radio and worked in various Congressional offices, holding positions as Legislative Director and Staff Director.

Her work on congressional communications stems from a deep and abiding belief that government is effective only when citizens are active participants. She has presented the concepts behind Citizens in Action at seminars and workshops around the country and she is a member of the National Speakers Association. Ms. Vance is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives and Women in Government Relations. Her website, www.advocacyguru.com has won a number of awards, and her work has been the subject of a variety of print media stories, including a column in the Washington Post.

A frequent guest on radio and television news shows around the country, Ms. Vance holds a Masters Degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies at Georgetown University. She is the only advocacy trainer to hold the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association.

Click here to view a video of Stephanie on YouTube.