9th Annual Political Action Conference and Workshop

May 13, 2011

Sponsored by non-governmental organizations including the Hungarian American Coalition, the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation, the Hungarian Communion of Friends, and the University of Maryland

Dear Potential Workshop Participants:

We received your note of interest to participate in our Political Action Workshop. Now with a little less than two weeks before the conference, we have had to change the site from the University of Maryland to American University in Washington, DC. Due to this last minute and unforseen change in the location of our workshop, we want to ascertain how many people are still able to participate. (Note: The content and program of the conference–except for minor changes–remains the same, only the location has been changed!)

Please let us know via e-mail whether or not you intend to participate. The costs of participation (aside from travel) are the following: ca. $34. per nt. in double occupancy residence halls and ca. $22. per day for meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner). On top of this there is a $50. conference fee. A check or money order for $50. should be made out to and mailed to the "Hungarian American Coalition" at 818 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 850, Washington, DC 20006 USA.

This conference fee must arrive at the above Coalition office by May 31st to reserve a place for you in the workshop.

If you intend to participate please also send me an immediate response to this e-mail so that we can verify the final list of participants and so that we can reserve rooms for those who need housing. For further information please contact either of the addresses following the attached program. Looking forward to meeting you in person. With best wishes,

Andrew Ludanyi
Ohio Northern University

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Sunday, June 4th

4:00-9:00 p.m.

Arrival, registration and housing for out of town participants

Monday, June 5th

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:00-9:00 a.m.	Registration
9:00 a.m.	Opening Session: Presidential Election Promises, Public Policy and Human and Minority Rights
	Host: Julie Mertus, Department of Government and Politics (American University) "Greetings"
	Moderator: Frank Koszorus, Hungarian American Coalition "Introduction and Workshop Objectives"
	Keynote Panel:
	"Global Stability and Minorities: Rights and Responsibilities" Dennis Pirages
	"The Kosov(a) Trauma and the Lessons for Inter-Ethnic Relations" Julie Mertus (American University)
	"Hungarian Minorities and the Coming Elections in Romania and Slovakia" Laszlo Hamos (Hungarian Human Rights Foundation)
10:30 a.m.	Discussion and Questions
10:45 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m.	"The Vojvodina One Year After NATO's Air War" Tibor Purger (Washington Correspondent of Magyar Szó, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia)
11:45 a.m.	Discussion and Questions
12:15 p.m.	Lunch
1:30 p.m.	"Communication with the Hungarian-American 'Attentive Public'."
	"The Internet Connection" Bela Liptak (Hungarian Lobby)
	"Newsletters and Printed Appeals" Janos Szekeres/Andrew Ludanyi (Hungarian American Coalition)
	"Telephone Networking" Gabor Szorad (HHRF)
2:30 p.m.	Discussion and Questions
2:45 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	"The Gore Campaign and the Democratic Position on Human/Minority Rights." Tom Albert (Democratic National Committee)
	"The Bush Campaign and the Republican Position on Human/Minority Rights." -yet to be contacted- (Republican National Committee)
3:45 p.m.	Discussion and Questions
4:00 p.m.	Break
4:15 p.m.	"Media Agenda Setting" Andrew Ludanyi (Ohio Northern University)
4:30 p.m.	"Contacting and Feeding the Media" Ildiko Bodoni (HAHRC)
5:00 p.m.	Discussion and Questions
5:30-7:00 p.m.	Dinner
7:30-9:00 p.m.	Party Time/Quiz Bowl
	"What do you know about Human Rights?" Gabor Szorad (HHRF)
9:00-10:00 p.m.	Brain storming about priorities in relation to the campaigns and contacting Congressional representatives

Tuesday, June 6th

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00 a.m.	"The American Political Scene And Interest Representation" Kay Randle Scrimger (Consultant to the U.S. Conference of Mayors)
9:30 a.m.	"Preparing to Meet Members of Congress: How to Form Your Message, How to Deliver It" Bulcsu Veress (Legislative Consultant)
10:00 a.m.	Discussion and Questions
10:30 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m.	"Interest Group Interaction With the Congress" Bryan Ardouny (Director of Congressional Relations, Armenian Assembly)
11:15 a.m.	"How to Write an Effective Letter to Your Congressman, Your Favorite Newspaper or Policymakers in Executive Departments?" Bela Liptak and Frank Koszorus
11:45 a.m.	Discussion and Questions
12:15 p.m.	Lunch
2:15-4:30 p.m.	Appointments on the Hill with the Congressional Representatives of the Workshop Participants
5:00 p.m.	Dinner
7:00 p.m.	Assessment and Evaluation of the day's meetings
8:00 p.m.	Free Time

Wednesday, June 7th

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30-9:30 a.m.	Orientation for Remainder of Meetings on the Hill
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Meetings of Workshop Participants with their Congressional Representatives and their staffs
12:30-2:00 p.m.	Luncheon Meeting: Assessment and Evaluation Of Workshop Activities and Congressional Briefings
2:00 p.m.	Farewells and Departures