Ready to Run Program for New Jersey Women

Ready to Run Campaign Training for Women
"Changing the face of politics, one woman at a time."

Ready to Run™ Survey
If you have attended a Ready to Run™ conference, please fill out our online survey here to tell us about your experience at the event.

Ready to Run™ was established to encourage women in New Jersey to seek public office. In 1998, the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, created Ready to Run™ as a bi-partisan effort to recruit and train New Jersey women to run for all levels of office.

We need more women in public office in New Jersey. While we're one of only 19 states ever to have elected a woman as governor, we have a markedly poor overall record of electing women to public office. Despite gains in 2006 which have lifted New Jersey out of the bottom 10 states for the proportion of women serving in the state legislature, our state is still in the bottom third of all states. Clearly, there is much work to be done. Beyond achieving fundamental fairness and democratic ideals, having women in office makes a measurable difference. CAWP research shows that elected women bring to the table distinctive issues and perspectives based on their life experiences.

Ready to Run™
The one-day Ready to Run™ Campaign Training presents a unique opportunity for potential women candidates and campaign managers to hear directly from prominent elected and appointed leaders, campaign consultants and party officials about how to get ready to run.

Ready to Run™ is for women considering seeking public office, running for higher office or working on a campaign.

Ready to Run™ Pre-Conference Programs for Women of Color
CAWP has partnered with key individuals and organizations to present special pre-conference programs for women of color: Elección Latina, Run Sister Run, and Rising Stars: Educating Asian Women for Politics. Participants in the pre-conference programs will then attend the Ready to Run™ training the following day to learn about the nuts and bolts of working on a campaign. More details on each of these programs will be coming soon.

Ready to Run™ conference sessions will cover:

Positioning Yourself for Public Office
*	Raising your public profile
*	Leveraging a political appointment into a run for office
*	Using your private-sector skills and contacts in planning a campaign
*	Assessing your strengths as a candidate
*	Dealing with the county party organization
Putting Your Campaign Together
*	Essential management functions of a campaign
*	Building a team of professionals and/or volunteers
*	Maintaining control of your campaign while letting the professionals do their jobs
Raising Money for Campaigns
*	How much money will you need to raise and how will you do it?
*	What challenges confront women candidates in fundraising?
Media Strategy for New Jersey Candidates
*	Making strategic use of print, cable and broadcast media in New Jersey
*	Getting and using free media
Running as an Outsider or Challenger
*	Strategies for running as an outsider
*	Special challenges of running without party support and/or a professional campaign team
*	Organizing a grassroots campaign
*	Using your personal, community and professional contacts to build a campaign team
Appointive Office: How to Position Yourself and What to Expect from the Process An invaluable opportunity for New Jersey women interested in seeking one of more than 4,100 positions available in the new administration
*	Maintaining involvement and visibility so you are considered when appointments are made
*	Surviving the "vetting" process
Conquering the Camera An interactive session with Chris Jahnke, President, Positive Communications
*	Tips for successful interviews on tough topics
*	Looking poised and professional on camera