Copyright 2019 - Western Liberty Network - All Rights Reserved / Phone 503.970.1876 - Fax 503.430-5734 / execdir@westernlibertynetwork.org
TRAINING
WLN Academy
All of the types ot training offered by WLN are collectively known as "WLN Academy." Although WLN Academy will not earn you an accredited degree or provide credits to be applied toward one, it can provide you with the skills needed to confidently participate in our democratice processes - particularly at the local, county, and state levels. Below you can download and view a rich selection of resources developed by WLN since its founding in 2011.
Scope of Training
WLN is dedicated to "Teaching people how to Take Their Power Back" and, in the process, "Re-Weave the Fabric of Our Political Culture." WLN offers training to individuals and groups who want to be more politically impactful with their limited time and resources. WLN provides training along these four tracks of instruction:
1. How to Run for, Get Elected to, and Serve in a Local Non-Partisan Office.
2. How to Manage a Local Campaign or Lead a Grassroots Organization.
3. How to be an Effective Volunteer for the Candidates, Ballot Measures, and Projects You Care About.
4. How to be an Effective Citizen Lobbyist or Advocate.
Trainees will feel empowered and engage in local politics with increased skill and confidence. Those elected or appointed to public office will "Take Their Power Back" by performing in office in accordance with their values. As more and more people take WLN training, talent pools will form along the four lines listed above. These talent pools will be accessible to new activists who move into their social and political circles.
As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, WLN does not and cannot involve itself in the campaigns launched or participated in by it's trainees. Likewise, WLN does not advocate or oppose any candidate, ballot measure, or legislation. Trainees must decide for themselves how best to apply what they learn through WLN.
Companion Training Documents
These documents, though designed to be used as part of a live training session, can stand on their own. Feel free to print and distribute them as you see fit but remember - these documents nor their contents are meant to be offered as legal advice. If you have legal questions regarding any of the material contained in these training materials, consult the appropriate public officials or an attorney practiced in the field(s) at issue. We offer training on the following:
Lobbying Office Holders 1: The Basics of Lobbying
Lobbying Office Holders 2: Seeing Things from Their Side
How to Canvas Your Neighborhood or Precinct Door by Door
How to Be Effective in Informal Debates
Petition Signature Gathering in Oregon
Petition Signature Gathering in Washington State
The Care and Feeding of Good Volunteers
Effective Campaigning with Little or No Money
Dealing with the Media - Do's and Don't s
How to Get Out The Vote With Your Individualized GOTV Campaign
Developing Your Personal Media Campaign
Becoming an Opinion Leader in Your Group or Community
Basics of the Board/Staff Governance Model
Assessing Yourself as a Candidate for Public Office
How to Testify Before Public Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Basics of Washington Ethics Laws
Running Efficient and Effective Meetings
The Challenges of Serving as an Organization's Chair
Taking Your Power Back - Interpersonal Relationships in Your Group
Setting Up and Running a Voter Registration Booth
Basics of Oregon's Local Budget Processes
Basics of Washington's Local Budget Processes
Elements of Good Political Messaging
How to Design and Maintain a Campaign Calendar
Download a PDF File Containing All of the Above Training Documents
Weekly WLN Saturday Training Sessions
WLN holds a live, interactive training on Zoom every Saturday afternoon at 1PM Pacific Time. Topics vary. Each training lasts approximately one hour and usually features a "guest trainer" who is expert with respect to the topic being dealt with. These sessions are typically recorded. Below you will find links enabling you to view past trainings.
To participate in the weekly trainings LIVE, make sure you have ZOOM conferencing software on your computer, phone, or other device. At 1PM PST on every Saturday, SIMPLY CLICK HERE. When prompted, the Meeting ID is: "358 890 0478" and the Passcode is: "WLN" (no quotes). If you need the ZOOM conferencing software, get it free by CLICKING HERE.
May 18, 2024
End of Campaign Checklist
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke offers a brief training session discussing some things candidates and activists can do for the campaigns they are working for in a campaign's final days. Click HERE to download "Campaigning on a Budget" and Click HERE to download "Canvassing Your Neighborhood."
May 11, 2024
Personal Earned Media Campaigns
WLN Exec. Dir. Richard P. Burke leads a training session on how activists can design and execute earned media campaigns from home! Traditional media, such as newspapers and radio stations, are covered along with internet and social media platforms. Click HERE to download the training document association with the session and CLICK HERE to download a sheet on how to deal with representatives of the traditional media.
May 4, 2024
Getting Out The Vote (GOTV)
WLN Exec. Director provides a training session on how to get out the vote from the comfort of your own home. Click HERE to download the training document on GOTV, click HERE to download a worksheet you can use, and click HERE is you wish to go further and learn how to knock on doors maximize your GOTV campaign!
March 30, 2024
Raising Money from Individuals
WLN Exec. Director provides a training session on how to raise money from individual donors for political races, projects and organizations. The training document used in this session can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
October 14th, 2023
How to Raise Money One on One
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke leads a WLN/PRE Zoom training session on how to raise money from individual donors one on one. Burke discusses legal requirements for of political fundraising in Oregon, who to ask, how to ask, how to plan, and the attitude fundraisers should maintain as they do their work.
October 7th, 2023
How to Spot a Liar
WLN Executive Director leads a training session on how to tell when people are being dishonest with you. While you need to use your own judgement and trust your gut, Burke shares tips from a retired FBI agent and a UCLA study which can help you in sussing out lies..
September 30th, 2023
Building Your Campaign Team
WLN Executive Director leads a training session on building a campaign team. You can download the companion document for this training session by CLICKING HERE.
September 9th, 2023
Recording and Sharing Testimony
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke discusses how activists can record their public testimony and disseminate it using social media as a way to expand their reach.
August 26th, 2023
When School Board Shut You Down
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke leads a training session on how to deal with school boards who stonewall parents by silencing them through technology or unduly restricting their ability to properly address them during school board meetings.
August 19th, 2023
Testifying Virtually
In a training session sponsored jointly by Western Liberty Network and Parents' Rights in Education, WLN Executive Director discusses ways in which activists can effectively testify virtually when one can't testify in person.
August 16th, 2023
Building Your Campaign Team
Richard Burke of Western Liberty Network offers a training session about building a campaign team to members of the Mises Caucus, a group of libertarian activists. NOTE: WLN training is available to any group that wants it regardless of party affiliation and does not endorse or oppose any political party or candidate for public office.
August 12th, 2023
Testifying in Front of School Boards
In a training session held jointly with the WLN affiliate Parents' Rights in Education, Richard P. Burke leads a training in how to effectively testify in front of school boards. In addition to this video you can CLICK HERE to download a WLN training sheet on public testimony.
August 2nd, 2023
Canvassing Your Neighborhood
Richard P. Burke of Western Liberty Network provides a training session sponsored by the Mises Caucus, a libertarian organization supporting limited-government principles through participation in the political process. CLICK HERE to view or download the companion training document which goes with this session.
April 29th, 2023
Your Personal GOTV Campaign
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke offers a training session on how activists can design and execute their own Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns leading up to the Oregon May 16th special district elections. CLICK HERE to view or download the companion training document and blank GOTV form.
April 1st, 2023
Providing Written Testimony
WLN Executive Director offers training in how to draft written testimony to public officials, committees, commissions and boards.
Click HERE to download WLN's training document on this topic!
March 18th, 2023
Building Your Campaign Team
This session is on the elements of a good written campaign plan and why a written campaign plan is important to have no matter the dynamics of your race - even if you are running unopposed. Click HERE to download WLN's training document. Click HERE to download a template and example of a campaign plan produced by the Democrat Party (WLN endorses no party - provided for instructional purposes only).
March 11th, 2023
Building Your Campaign Team
WLN Executive Director talks about how to build a campaign team for a candidate's race for local non-partisan office. Click HERE to download WLN's training document on this topic!
March 4th, 2023
Filing for Local Office in Oregon
In WLN Executive Director Richard Burke walks through the process of filing for local nonpartisan office in Oregon for the state's May 16th Special District Elections. Form SEL 190, used to file, can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Other forms are discussed in the video.
February 11th, 2023
Writing Your Candidate Bio
WLN Executive Director talks about writing a candidate bio for your local campaign, the purpose of a bio, ways in which it can be used, and how a candidate bio can help you win your election.
December 17th, 2022
Prepare for Your 2023 Election
WLN Executive Director shares ideas on what candidates aspiring to win election to local office in 2023 can do now to prepare for their races. If you are running for office in Oregon, you will want to CLICK HERE to download the forms mentioned in the video plus a document you can use to assess yourself as a candidate!
October 29th, 2022
Use Social Media to Swing Votes
Greg Burnett, president of the Burnett Media Group digital media firm and WLN board president, leads a training session on how people can use their social media accounts to support the campaigns they care about a week or two before an election.
October 22nd, 2022
Learn to Organize Your Precinct!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke talks about how precinct "captains" for campaigns, political parties, or independent "wildcat" activists can go about the business of organizing and mobilizing people in their precincts. CLICK HERE to download the training document on this topic.
October 15th, 2022
Learn How to Be a Poll Watcher!
Janice Dysinger of Oregonians for Fair Elections provides a presentation on how to be a poll watcher or election observer. Download a PDF version of her slideshow by CLICKING HERE.
October 8th, 2022
Run a Personal GOTV Campaign!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke shows how activists can conduct personal Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns to augment those conducted by political parties, candidates, and ballot measure campaigns. Download the training document that went with this session by CLICKING HERE.
September 24th, 2022
Avoid End-of-Campaign Mistakes!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke goes over some of the common mistakes candidates and their managers make during the last six weeks of election campaigns (and how to avoid them). CLICK HERE to download the training documents referred to in the session.
September 11th, 2022
How to Persuade in Discussions!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke offers an approximately 35 minute training on how to actually be persuasive (that is, not just "score points"), when engaged in informal discussions and debates. The session originates from North Bend, OR while Burke is on a work trip.
August 27th, 2022
How to Do Campaign Fundraising!
WLN Exec. Dir. Richard P. Burke offers a training session on how to raise money for campaigns from individuals through phone calls and private meetings plus how to raise money from groups at candidate coffees and similar events.
August 20th, 2022
How to Retain Good Volunteers!
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke goes over some tips to follow and hazards to avoid in order to retain good volunteers. Download the training document associated with this session by CLICKING HERE!
August 13th, 2022
Dealing with the Media!
WLN Exec. Dir. Richard Burke offers some useful dos and don'ts to keep in mind when working with members of the media. These tips will help any activist become an important and useful resource for media representatives while getting a message out to the public. CLICK HERE to download the companion training document.
July 30th, 2022
Building Your Campaign Team!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke describes the makeup of a basic campaign team including positions and responsibilities. Targeted at candidates for small, local, and non-partisan office, the campaign team design discussed is scalable and can be applied to those running campaigns for more highly contested offices. CLICK HERE to download the training document.
July 23rd, 2022
Parents' Rights Summit Preview!
Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director of Parents' Rights in Education (PRIE), offers a preview of her organization's second annual conference scheduled for Saturday, August 6th at the Portland Airport Sheraton hotel. PRIE is an "independent affiliate" of the Western Liberty Network which supports school choice and advocates for parental rights.
July 16th, 2022
The Basics of Opposition Research!
Former state representative Patrick Sheehan now owns a political consultancy and has worked for many campaigns. Patrick goes over the basics of opposition research; how activists can do their own and use what they find to help the campaigns they care about.
June 11th, 2022
Robert's Rules of Order!
WLN's Washington State Director Ken Morse offers a primer on Robert's Rules of Order (RRO) in a well-attended session. You can download his session outline by CLICKING HERE. Download a RRO "cheat sheet" by CLICKING HERE. Download a brief summary of RRO by CLICKING HERE.
June 4th, 2022
Design a Campaign Calendar!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke explains the importance of campaign calendars to candidates, campaign managers, and individual activists and how to design and maintain one. Download the related training sheet by CLICKING HERE. Download Oregon's 2022 official campaign calendar by CLICKING HERE. Download Washington's by CLICKING HERE.
May 14th, 2022
Assuring Election Integrity!
Janice Dysinger, Executive Director of Oregonians for Fair Elections (a WLN "Independent Affiliate") goes over ways in which individual activists can help to insure the integrity of our elections. CLICK HERE to download the list of things you can do that Janice provided!
May 7th, 2022
Getting Out the Vote!
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke conducts a 35 minute training session showing how individuals can design and execute their own Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns to augment GOTV efforts being undertaken by political parties and candidates. CLICK HERE to download the sessions training document and worksheet!
April 30th, 2022
The Final Weeks of an Election
E Werner Reschke, a third-term Oregon state representative from the Klamath Falls area in the southern part of the state, offers his thoughts on what activists supporting candidates can do to have the most impact during the final weeks of an election.
April 23rd, 2022
Elements of Political Messaging
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke goes over the components of good political messaging. This is useful for candidates and those responsible for candidate, ballot measure, and issue advocacy messaging. Click HERE to download the companion training document.
April 16th, 2022
Preparing for Candidate Debates
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses the organizational and argumentative structures of introductory speeches and policy proposals within the context of candidate debates.
April 9th, 2022
Raising Money for Your Campaign
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke discusses attitudes toward fundraising that make it easier to raise money with confidence. Different fundraising approaches and tactics are also discussed. Participants offer additional information.
April 2nd, 2022
Your Personal Media Campaign
WLN Executive Director tells trainees how they can support the campaigns they care about by designing and executing their own personal media campaigns in print, on the radio, through blogs, and even television stations. Such campaigns can generate media worth thousands of dollars for free. Click HERE to download a PDF of the training document provided.
March 26th, 2022
Organizing Around Local Issues
Tom Cox, business coach and former candidate for statewide office, provides a training session on how to organize around local issues. The training, provided via Zoom, was provided at Western Liberty Network's March 26th, 2022 training conference at the Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Click HERE to download a PDF of the slideshow provided.
March 19th, 2022
How to Campaign on a Low Budget
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses ways candidates and ballot measure advocates can design and execute low-budget campaigns. Elements are touched on relating to the writing of campaign plans, the use of low-cost tactics, individualized media campaigns and individualized Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns.
March 12th, 2022
Andrey Illarionov on Ukraine & USA
Andrey Illarionov is the senior fellow at the Washington, DC based Center for Security Policy. He was also president Vladamir Putin's senior economic advisor from 2000-2005 when he resigned because of his believe that Russia was no longer a free country. In this session, Illarionov outlined his view of the Russia-Ukraine war and what he believes the West and regular people can do to fight the aggression.
March 5th, 2022
Forming and Joining Coalitions
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke goes over some of the ins and outs of forming coalitions to accomplish a single goal, pursue ongoing change, and how to tell if joining an existing coalition is good for your organization or not.
February 26th, 2022
Assessing Yourself as a Candidate
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke goes over metrics prospective candidates for public office can use to determine whether to run for office and what to run for. CLICK HERE to download a self-assessment questionaire and instructional guidelines.
February 19th, 2022
How to Build a Campaign Team
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses the most important roles to be filled in a campaign team, their jobs, pitfalls, and different team designs for large and small campaigns. CLICK HERE to download a humorous take on this topic from comedian Jon Steward from his book, "AMERICA (the Book), a Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction."
February 12th, 2022
How to Lobby Public Office Holders
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses the basic on how to successfully lobby or persuade public office holders at any level with an emphasis on state legislators. CLICK HERE to download the companion training document.
January 22nd, 2022
How to Keep Volunteers Motivated
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses how and organization, campaign, or project can prevent volunteers from dropping out.
January 15th, 2022
How to Do Phone Cavassing
WLN Exec. Dir. Richard P. Burke offers a 30 minute training session about how to be an effective phone bank canvasser. This important skill can be easily learned and can help activists become an asset to any candidate or ballot measure campaign.
January 8th, 2022
How to Write a Campaign Plan
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke offers an interactive training session about campaign plans and how to write them. Download a companion document by clicking HERE.
December 18th, 2021
Becoming a Local Opinion Leader
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke discusses what an informal "local opinion leaders is, how people can become local opinion leaders, and how existing local opinion leaders can expand their spheres of influence. Download a companion document by clicking HERE.
December 11th, 2021
How to Run More Efficient Meetings
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke goes over a variety of techniques people can use to make sure that meetings are shorter, more focused, and more productive. Formal and informal meetings are discussed along with some basics of Robert's Rules of Order and how it can be used to make meetings run better. Download a companion document by clicking HERE.
November 13th, 2021
What are a Parent's Rights?
Suzanne Gallagher, national director of Parents' Rights in Education, discusses what the rights are of parents whose children attend government schools. In her presentation she shows how people can get important information from a variety of sources.
November 6th, 2021
Beating the Tactics of Saul Alinsky
Professional leadership trainer and former statewide candidate Tom Cox goes over the tactic developed and promoted by Saul Alinsky in his book "Rules for Radicals" and describes how to defeat them.
October 30th, 2021
Holding a Home Fundraising Event
One of the most effective, and lowest cost, ways of raising money is to hold candidate, campaign, or project fundraising events in a private home. Learn the keys to success of such events by checking out this training lead by WLN Executive Director Richard Burke.
October 23rd, 2021
Managing Your Online Reputation
When you post something on the Internet, it's there forever. Be careful and thoughtful about what you post. There are things you can do to clean up your on-line past, and rules of thumb to use going forward. This training features Greg Burnett, owner of the Burnett Media Group. Click HERE to download the accompanying slide show.
October 16th, 2021
Detecting Lies and Liars
Most people give others the benefit of the doubt and take people at their word when. This is a good thing. Still, lies are everywhere, particularly in the political sphere. It is possible to extend the benefit of the doubt to people while acquiring and using tools to detect lies. In this session, WLN Executive Director Richard Burke goes over techniques used by the FBI and airport security consultants to suss out lies and liars.
October 9th, 2021
Neighborhood Canvassing Basics
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke leads a brief training in the basics of how to canvass neighborhoods in support of a candidate or ballot measure campaign. The training contains some basics about precautions to take when canvassing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
October 2nd, 2021
Leading Better Zoom Sessions
Love 'em or hate 'em, Zoom meetings are here to stay. Not everyone enjoys them, but Zoom meetings offer grassroots activists a great tool to use when organizing themselves to take on specific projects and campaigns. WLN Executive Director leads a training session on how to host better Zoom meetings.
September 25th, 2021
A Chat with Andrei Illarionov
Andrei Illarionov, once Vladimir Putin's senior economic advisor until he effectively defected to the United States, he has since worked for the Cato Institute and now is a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, DC. Illarionov talks about the state of liberty in America and the importance of grass roots activists in preserving liberty. Illarionov also answers questions.
September 18th, 2021
Redistricting Update in Oregon
Oregon state senator Dallas Heard discusses the upcoming special legislative session dedicated to redistricting, where legislators will wrangle over how legislative and congressional districts will be mapped for the next 10 years. Heard also discusses how his faith motivates him and how limited-government grass roots activists can prepare themselves to be successful during the 2022 election cycle.
September 11th, 2021
Live from Gathering of the Eagles
WLN Executive Director Richard Burke conducts a short Zoom session from the third annual Gathering of the Eagles / Rally Around the Flag conference held outside of Turner Oregon. Burke conducts short interviews with exhibitors at the conference including Slavic Vote, Turning Point USA, Turning Point Faith, FreedomWorks and Parents Rights in Education.
September 4th, 2021
Basics of Writing Press Releases
WLN Executive Director, Richard P. Burke, offers a brief training session on how to write and distribute press releases. Click HERE to download a PDF file containing templates for press releases along with examples of real ones. The file is shown and referred to during the presentation.
August 28th, 2021
A Chat with Wayne Allyn Root
National talk show host and WLN Board of Directors member Wayne Allyn Root provides an energetic and entertaining perspective on various issues of the day. Wayne also answers questions from Zoom call participants.
August 21st, 2021
Economic Update w/Stephen Moore
Steve Moore, who works with the Heritage Foundation and FreedomWorks, was president Trump's senior economic advisor. In this session, Steve provides his assessment of the American economy thus far under the Biden administration, suggests what our nation needs, and answers questions from session attendees.
August 14th, 2021
Getting Involved with Toastmasters
Cleon Cox, a leading Toastmaster at the local, state, and national level, talks about what Toastmasters has to offer you, how it works, and how you can get involved. Participants describe experiences with Toastmasters. Any activist who wants to be effective should consider getting involved with Toastmasters to improve his or her ability to communicate, inform, and persuade.
August 7th, 2021
Being an Effective Precinct Captain
Richard P. Burke, WLN's Executive Director, provides a training session on how to be an effective precinct captain for a political party, candidate, or ballot measure campaign. Click HERE to download WLN's outline for the presentation outline and examples of precinct leadership manuals from the Republican Party of Texas and the Democrat Party of Indiana.
July 17th, 2021
Oregonians for Fair Elections
Janice Dysinger, leader of Oregonians for Fair Elections, lead's this week's WLN Saturday session. Oregonians for Fair Elections, one of WLN's Independent Affiliates, monitors elections for integrity and works to advance legislation that makes our elections more transparent. She also discusses vote audits in GA and AZ relating to the 2020 elections.
July 10th, 2021
Being Effective in Informal Debates
In this WLN Saturday session, WLN Executive Director Richard Burke talks about how to actually persuade when engaging in informal discussions and debates. Click HERE to check out their website.
June 26th, 2021
Information About BLExit
In this WLN Saturday session, we highlight another of WLN's many Independent Affiliates, BLExit - Oregon Chapter. Janira Brannigan, their Executive Director talks about her organization's mission of bringing Black, Latino, and other minority communities to conservatism and the ideals of limited government. Click HERE to check out their website.
June 19th, 2021
Information About Slavic Vote
In this WLN Saturday session, we highlight one of WLN's Independent Affiliates, Slavic Vote. Dmitriy Shashchenko, president of Slavic Vote, talks about his organization's mission of mobilizing the immigrant Slavic community, what they have accomplished so far, and what their plans are for the year ahead. Click HERE to check out their website.
June 12th, 2021
Dissecting Bad Policies and Ideas
In this WLN training session, you will learn how to dissect and attack bad plans and policy ideas. The skills you will learn will be useful at many levels including political activism and simple family discussions. Pick up these skills from WLN's Exec. Dir. Richard P. Burke, who is a trained and skilled debater and who has participated in debates for Oregon governor and other offices.
June 5th, 2021
Legislative Update w/Kim Thatcher
Kim Thatcher is one of the most conservative state senators in Salem. In this session, Kim provides an update on the proceedings taking place in the current legislative session and answers questions.
May 29th, 2021
How to Make Your Case in a Debate
A lot of limited government activists and candidates have great ideas about how government policy and social change can be achieved for the good of everyone, but don't know how to argue their case. If you want to get involved in government policy, want to be a citizen advocate, or wish to be a candidate, this training will show you how to make your case!
May 22nd, 2021
Effective Citizen Lobbying
The training outlined in WLN's beginning course on citizen lobbying offers information on skills needed to be successful. By focusing in on perspectives held by the policy makers you are lobbying, you can be even more successful. This training covers this important information. Click HERE to get the companion training document.
May 8th, 2021
Successful Get Out The Vote Efforts
A candidate can have a great election campaign, but it is all for naught if voters don't vote. Join WLN's Exec. Dir. Richard P. Burke as he describes how activists can design and execute an individualized Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign from their own homes. Click HERE to get the companion training document designed to go with this training!
May 1st, 2021
Becoming a Local Opinion Leader
If you are running for public office, are considering a run for public office, or if you are a local activist, you will value this session. Bob Terry (former Washington county, OR commissioner and former Hillsboro, OR Chamber of Commerce president) offers this training session on how to become a local opinion leader. Click HERE to download WLN's companion document that goes with this training topic!
April 24th, 2021
Oregon's Local Budget Processes
Scott Jorgensen describes Oregon's local budget process used by local, county, and municipal governments across the state. Jorgensen is the City Manager for Rainier, OR, a former legislative aide, a former award-winning newspaper reporter, and radio personality. Download the companion document on this topic by clicking HERE.
April 17th, 2021
How Board/Staff Governance Works
Mark Knudson, former CEO of the Tualatin Valley Water District, which serves more than 250,000 people, describes how decisions are REALLY made in local and county governments by offering a training on the board/staff governance model used all over America. Download Mark's accompanying slide show by clicking HERE and WLN's document on this topic by clicking HERE.
April 3rd, 2021
Winning Informal Discussions
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke provides training on "How to Win Informal Discussions and debates" Download the companion training document by clicking HERE.
February 27th, 2021
Campaigning with Little/No Money
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke provides training on "How to Campaign with Little or No Money." Download the companion training document by clicking HERE.
February 13th, 2021
The Oregon Citizens Lobby
Bill Dewey of Oregon Citizens Lobby (OCL) offers information about how people can work with OCL, and use online tools, to monitor and impact the 2021 Oregon legislative session. Go to the OCL website and get involved by clicking HERE.
December 12th, 2020
Becoming a Skilled Citizen Lobbyist
Oregon state senator Kim Thatcher leads a Zoom training session on "How Activists Can Become Effective Citizen Lobbyists." You can download her slideshow by clicking HERE and the companion training document by clicking HERE.
January 9th, 2021
Basics of Working With the Media
WLN Executive Director Richard P. Burke leads a Zoom training on the "Do's and Don'ts of Dealing with the Media. Download the companion training document by clicking HERE.
January 23rd, 2021
Organizing Around Local Issues
Former GOP and Libertarian statewide candidate Tom Cox leads a Zoom training on "How to Organize Around Local Issues." Download Tom's slideshow by clicking HERE.
The Western Liberty Network (WLN) is a charitable non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization. WLN offers training to activists at the grass roots level on how to successfully engage in the democratic process at the local level. WLN does not support or oppose any candidate, ballot measure, political party, or legislation. For more information about WLN, check out the "Organization" page on this website. Contributions to WLN are tax-deductible. To make a contribution, check out the "Support" page on this website.