Learn How to Create a Brand for Your Coalition at CADCA’s National Leadership Forum Branding Workshop

Does your coalition have a recognizable brand? Do people know your coalition by looking at your logo? If not, then you’ll want to participate in a session being led by Ruth Gilwit, Media Director of New Rochelle FOCUS in New Rochelle, NY, at CADCA’s 22nd Annual National Leadership Forum, Feb. 6-9 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in Maryland. Part of the Forum’s “Innovate” track, the workshop, “Branding Your Coalition Through the Use of Media—Traditional and Not So Traditional,” will help coalitions use their visual edge to capture audiences better and get a message out.

“Even though they're community-based, (coalitions) can use a lot of the free tools available like Facebook and Wordpress to find something that reinforces their image,” Gilwit said.

Gilwit said the workshop, geared both to adults and youth, will give participants a notebook full of ideas to take back to the coalition and implement. It will help coalitions to reinstate their vision and translate that into a visual tool.

Gilwit said that although her professional background is in communications, anyone in the coalition is capable of branding strategies.

“Even if your coalition doesn’t have a designated person for media, it should be something that should be considered,” she said.

The coalition relies on social media for a lot of their branding, but also continues to convey their mission and message through partnering with traditional media, bus shelter ads and print campaigns. Gilwit is co-presenting the workshop with Coalition Coordinator Bruce Kelly.  
 
CADCA’s Forum is the nation’s largest meeting for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers. The Forum will be held in conjunction with SAMHSA’s 8th annual Prevention Day. The theme “Forum 2012: Collaborate. Advocate. Innovate,” which emphasizes the importance of developing broad-based strategic alliances, implementing proven and promising strategies, and achieving population-level change. You can also still reserve a room at the host hotel, the Gaylord National, for the "CADCA" special rate of $209 per night plus applicable taxes. The room rate for 2012 is $30 less than the rate in 2011. Book online now.  
 
Also, as an incentive, by booking your room at the Gaylord National Hotel, you will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a $209 Gaylord gift certificate. The certificate can be used at any of the Gaylord National restaurants, gift shops, spa or towards your hotel bill. There will be three drawings: Feb. 6 at the Leadership Plenary, Feb. 7 at the Capitol Hill Day Plenary and Feb. 9 at the Leadership Awards Luncheon. You must be present to win.

For more information about the Forum, visit http://forum.cadca.org. Register now.

If you are registered for the Forum and would like to promote that in your community, download our press release template.