Course description
New to organizing? Start here. In this introductory training, you’ll learn how to navigate VAN confidently, manage contact records, and get started with key organizing tools like the Virtual Phone Bank and the VAN Help Center. You’ll walk away with a solid foundation for using VAN effectively—whether you’re a new volunteer, campaign staffer, or organizer looking for a quick refresher.
Join us for a practical, beginner-friendly session that walks you through the essentials of logging in, finding and managing contact information, and running your first phone bank.
What you’ll learn:
- Log in and get started: Understand what an ActionID is, how to create one, and how to securely log in using multi-factor authentication.
- Navigate VAN with confidence: Learn your way around the main menu, left-hand navigation, and database views for My Voters and My Campaign.
- Find and manage contacts: Use Quick Lookup and Smart Name Search to locate voter or supporter records, view and update contact history, and add notes or tags.
- Run your first Virtual Phone Bank (VPB): Discover the difference between VPB and OpenVPB, learn how to join or host a phone bank, and correctly log calls to ensure accurate reporting.
- Get help when you need it: Access the VAN Help Center, troubleshoot common issues, and learn best practices for reaching out to support efficiently.
You’ll leave this training ready to take your first confident steps in VAN, equipped with the tools and know-how to start organizing effectively.
Who this is for: New VAN users and organizers looking to master the basics.
Course duration: 40 minutes