The upcoming weekend's "Strategy 2017” will not be a conservative pep rally, Carol Davis, an organizer and member of the Wheaton West Suburban Tea Party, said.
The Elmhurst event is different because it's more substantial than a pep rally, she said.
“We want to really equip people,” Davis told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Let's put new tools in our toolbox.”
Carol Davis of the Wheaton West Suburban Tea Party
Davis said key parts of the conference will focus on candidate training: teaching political activists about fundraising, putting together campaign plans and assembling good campaign teams. She said the planners will rely on experienced political operatives to talk about what tools are most helpful to have on the campaign trail.
Another focus, she said, will be on election integrity.
“It's so badly needed in Illinois,” Davis said.
Catherine Engelbrecht, a keynote speaker from True the Vote, is one anticipated participant.
“We're very excited about having her,” Davis said. “We've got some awesome speakers.”
Toward the end of the conference on Saturday afternoon, participants will be prepped on social media use.
Davis said exhibitor tables will be set up in the ballroom so that they can part of all sessions.
“Everyone who comes will be an active participant,” Davis said. “We’re getting a great response.”
Davis also expressed gratitude to the sponsors whom she said had made major efforts to support the conference, such as Freedomworks and the Heartland Institute, as well as Illinois Family Action and American Majority.
“We’re so excited about this,” Davis said. “We're getting a great response… any Illinois taxpayer who has had it and is outraged -- we want to take their outrage into action.”
The conference kicks off at noon on Friday, with a meet and greet planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday's all-day event includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Registration and more details are available at www.illinoisconservativesunited.org/.
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