Idaho State University “Elect Her” training set for Feb. 17

Elect Her – Idaho State University Women Win, funded by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Running Start, is a half-day training on Thursday, Feb. 17, that teaches college women how to run for and win student government positions.

It is a unique workshop as Elect Her is the only program in the country that encourages and trains young women to run for student government positions at their colleges.  The ISU training is scheduled from 4 to 8:30 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Salmon River Suite. Check-in begins at 3:30 p.m., with the training beginning promptly at 4 p.m.

Elect Her – ISU Women Win is free and open to current ISU students, both men and women, as well as to interested Southeast Idaho high school students. ISU’s Elect Her training will include dinner and a reception at the end of the evening. Advance registration is required for participation.  Registration is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ELECT-HER-2011.

Topics covered during the training include

• “The Importance of Young Women Running for Office”;

• “Making an Impact,” by American Falls Mayor Amy Wynn;           

• “The Importance of Message”;

•  “The Nuts and Bolts of Running for Associated Students of ISU Office”; and

•  “Campaign Strategy.”

ISU was chosen as one of the nine 2010 sites through a competitive application process and received a special invitation to continue participation in 2011. The original application was submitted jointly by Rebecca Morrow, director of the Anderson Gender Resource Center and AAUW Pocatello Branch member; and ISU students Shalene Summers and Gena Cook.

“The 2010 training was a rewarding experience for all who attended, and we expect this year, particularly with the inclusion of new activities, to be even more exciting and beneficial for attendees,”
 Morrow said. “This program will help ISU students to prepare to run for not only positions in ASISU, but also for local, state and federal offices. The experience will also help prepare students for other leadership positions in their communities and professional lives after graduation.”

Currently, women hold just 17 percent of the seats in Congress and 24 percent of the seats in state legislatures. Elect Her: Campus Women Win is training a whole new generation of college women for running for office later in life.

Since 2007, AAUW and Running Start have collaborated to encourage college women to run for student government. Building on those successes, the organizations developed and initiated the Elect Her: Campus Women Win training program last year, and the effort is already showing results for young women. From the nine campus sites, including ISU, in 2010, participant evaluations show practically double the number of students planning to run for student government and planning to run for political office post-college.

To learn more about Elect Her: Campus Women Win, please visit:
http://www.aauw.org/learn/LeadershipPrograms/electHer.cfm.

For more information about the ISU training, contact the Anderson Center at 208-282-2805.

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For the Media: If you would like more information about Elect Her: ISU Women Win or the Anderson Center, please contact Dr. Rebecca Morrow at 208-282-2805.