
The Strategies for Success webinar series provides useful tips and training on a range of topics. From cutting-edge resources to tried-and-true practices, this series will teach you how to achieve success. Webinars serve a dual purpose of providing training and encouraging collaboration among members of the Genetic Alliance network.
2010
2009
2008 and Prior

November 5, 2008:
How to Write a Successful Abstract
| Sharon Terry talks about what professional societies are looking for during the selection process, the most common problems with unsuccessful abstracts, and how to improve them. She also talks about how Genetic Alliance abstracts differ from traditional scientific abstracts and how to maximize collaboration, innovation, and participation in your submissions.
Presenter:
Sharon Terry - President and CEO, Genetic Alliance
Download session materials:
Developing an Effective Abstract [pdf] |

March 26, 2008:
Community Centered Family Health History Program Awards
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Genetic Alliance invites organizations and communities to apply for CCFHH Program Awards of up to $10,000 to integrate the Does it Run in the Family? toolkit into their existing programs and initiatives. We will describe the new online tool for customizing family history materials (debuting Summer 2008) and discuss award requirements and qualifications. Learn more about this opportunity; all organizations and communities - local and national - are encouraged to apply!
Presenter:
James O'Leary - Chief Operating Officer, Genetic Alliance
Vaughn Edelson - Project Coordinator, Genetic Alliance
Download session materials:
Community Centered Family Health History Program Awards [pdf] |

February 13, 2008:
The Quality Assessment Toolbox
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The Access to Credible Genetics Resources Network, a CDC funded project, has produced the Quality Assessment Toolbox to evaluate and produce quality and appropriate educational materials. The Quality Assessment Toolbox consists of three parts: the Quality Scale, the Content Scale, and the Usability Scale. Join us February 2 for the soft launch of this online tool. Learn how to make these tools work for you and your organization.
Presenter:
Kate Reed - National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics
Pat Furlong - Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Meredith Weaver - University of Maryland
Download session materials:
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October 17, 2007:
Tools for Nonprofits: Free Fundraising Software, ruubi.com
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This webinar explored ruubi.com, a free fundraising system and gave listeners a chance to decide if presented tools were appropriate for their organization's toolbox.
Guest presenter:
Rick Brown - Hot Salsa Interactive
Download session materials:
Slideshow demonstrating Ruubi Session descriptions are provided by the presenter. This webinar is informational. Products and services are not endorsed by Genetic Alliance. Want to learn more about a different service or company? Let us know by clicking here. |

July 3, 2007:
Basics on Educating Members of Congress
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This engaging session gave attendees tips on how to effectively communicate with members of Congress. Though this opportunity was tailored for Genetics Day on the Hill participants, all parties interested in educating members of Congress about policy concerns found this session beneficial.
Guest presenter:
Joann Boughman - American Society of Human Genetics
Download session materials:
Basics on Educating Members of Congress [PowerPoint] |

April 18, 2007:
Developing and Managing a National Volunteer Program
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During this webinar volunteerism and the challenges that face national organizations were discussed. In this session, participants learned about different methods of management, how to engage different types of volunteers, and strategies for evolving their program as their organization grows.
Guest presenters:
Jannine Cody - President, The Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society
Jan McKenzie - National Support Groups and Volunteer Services Manager, National Psoriasis Foundation
Download session materials:
Jannine Cody's Presentation [PowerPoint]
Jan McKenzie's Presentation [PowerPoint] |

March 21, 2007:
Money Matters II: Grant Writing Tutorial
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During this webinar participants learned how to be proactive in writing winning proposal by developing a case statement, searching for the right funding partners, developing a stretegic plan for proposal development, and using the all-important opening page to grab attention.
Guest presenter:
Laura DeShano - CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
Download session materials:
Grant Writing Tutorial [PowerPoint] |

January 24, 2007:
Realizing Your Potential: Keys to Sustainability
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This teleconference was an information session about the Genetic Alliance Institute for Advocacy in preparation for the Spring 2007 meeting in Los Angeles, California. The Institute cultivates highly effective consumer advocates by preparing leaders for engagement in community building and outreach along with advisory work that impacts health care delivery and scientific research.
Speaker:
Elizabeth Burden
Download session materials:
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December 6, 2006:
Creating Your Organization’s Brochure: Literacy, Levels, and Look
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Participants learned how to create a brochure that people will want to pick up and read! Paula Raimondo of the Health Sciences Library at the University of Maryland and Melissa Allen of Melissa Allen Design provided pointers on developing attractive, readable brochures at the right level for the target audience.
Download session materials:
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November 15, 2006:
Separating Quality Information from Junk: A Metric for Assessing Information on Genetic Diseases
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It is important to separate quality information from 'junk' and to understand the difference. We have been working with a number of partners on a metric to assess quality of information. Bring your webpage, brochure, fact sheet, or anything else you'd like to assess, to this session. Meredith Weaver, a genetic counselor at University of Maryland School of Medicine, will explain how to use the metric to assess and improve written information.
Download session materials:
The November and December sessions were sponsored by the Access to Credible Genetics Resources Network, funded by a cooperative agreement from the CDC.
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September 6, 2006:
How to Educate Members of Congress About Policy Concerns
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Pat Furlong, President of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, led an engaging session on effective communication with members of Congress. Though this teleconference was tailored for Genetics Day on the Hill participants, all parties interested in educating members of Congress about policy concerns found this session beneficial.
Download session materials:
Tips That Will Make You a Good Advocate [Web link]
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June 21, 2006:
Graphic Design and Printing
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This teleconference discussed what entails "good design" in terms of designing brochures and other important documents for your organization. Melissa Allen (melissaallendesign.com), a graphic designer who has worked closely with Genetic Alliance in this last year, led the call and helped members gain a basic understanding of how using appropriate design techniques can help clarify your message and audience goals.
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May 10, 2006:
Communicating Disease-specific Information, Part II
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We looked at how to communicate information about your condition from an advocacy perspective. Last month we tackled literacy. This session focused on how to produce materials for different audiences, such as new and established members, providers, and researchers. We also took a look at some of the most popular and inexpensive forms of communication used by advocates. Speakers were Beth Pulsifer-Anderson, Director of Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association, Inc (PAGER) and Janalee Heinemann, Executive Director of Prader-Willi Synrome Association (USA).
Download session materials:
PWSA Changing Needs Maintaining Unity [.pdf]
PAGER Producing Materials [.pdf]
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April 20, 2006:
Telling Your Own Patient Story
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This session gave instructions for writing your own patient story. Communicating about genetic conditions can mean more than describing symptoms or gene markers; it can also mean telling real life stories of your experiences with or because of your condition. The talk was led by Elizabeth Weil, a 2003 recipient of the Genetic Alliance Art of Report Award who has published articles in Time Magazine, the New York Times, and other publications. In addition she has written several books including Crib Notes: A Random Reference for the Modern Parent.
Download session materials:
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April 19, 2006:
Insuring Your Organization
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During this teleconference participants learned how to manage their liability and select a policy that offers maximum protection. At this special session geared towards not-for-profit organizations' needs, the featured speaker was J. Andrew Cooley, CIC, AAI, a specialist and the Nonprofit Program Director for Lighthouse Underwriters. Special guest was Kelly Leight of CARES Foundation.
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April 12, 2006:
Communicating Disease-specific Information
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During this session we took a fresh look at how health information can be best communicated to a diverse membership and collaborators. We discussed such questions as: What is the literacy level of your brochures? Do you have separate hand-outs for patients and scientists? Do you have both web and print resources? Do you consider cultural competency when producing materials? Answering these questions is necessary if you want to make the largest impact possible with limited resources.
Guest presenter:
Patricia A. Cloonan, R.N., Ph.D., of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University.
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March 15, 2006:
Introductory Media Strategies
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Media Strategies was an introduction to how organizations can begin developing a relationship with the media. We discussed translating information about a specific condition into talking points, working with reporters, writing press releases, and more.
Download session materials:
Introductory Media Strategies agenda
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March 8, 2006:
Participation on Advisory Committees
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This session was a discussion of the ins and outs of being an effective member of federal and state advisory committees. Some of us are called upon to serve on advisory committees, and some wish to serve. How can we all be effective spokespeople? How do we participate in the most meaningful way?
Download session materials:
Best Practices for Best Practices
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For a schedule of upcoming Genetic Alliance webinars, visit http://www.geneticalliance.org/webinars.
For tools and information related to these sessions and others, visit the Genetic Alliance Resource Repository.