2007 READY TO RUN(TM)
Ready to Run Workshop Helps Prepare Women for Elected Office
Almost 40 women from across the state took the time to attend the third annual "Ready to Run(TM)", a non-partisan workshop designed to encourage and support women to run for office. Produced by the Women's Fund of Greater Omaha and Friends of the Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission, it is a program of the Center for American Women in Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Interest in the program peaked as a result of studies conducted separately by both the Women's Fund of Greater Omaha and the now-defunded Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission that revealed low numbers of women in local, state and national elected office. Determined to change those numbers, the two organizations collaborated to produce the first workshop in 2005 at Mahoney State Park.
At this event, keynote speaker Carol Marinovich, former mayor of Kansas City, Kan., and the first woman to hold that office, offered her perspectives on the practical challenges of running for office. Plenary sessions provided attendees with more hands-on information, including making the decision to run, recognizing the impact on the candidate's family and recognizing the physical demands of campaigning door-to-door and hectic schedules. One session covered the basics of campaign finance, finding a great treasurer and recognizing the costs of running for office. Two panel sessions, which featured media professionals and those who have run for office, addressed questions on the importance of media to get the message disseminated, as well as personal and professional connections. The workshop ended with information on how to find opportunities for effective networking.