Communism is real for Zeljko "Zed" Zidaric.

A Croatian by birth, he escaped communism and grew up in Canada.

“As an escapee from communism with family left behind in Croatia, I know firsthand what communism is about,” he said. “I heard from my family about the hardships and the fear.  I knew that communism was a flawed system that benefitted only a few.  I was fortunate to have escaped and felt that it was my duty to stand against communism and fight to defend the freedom that we in the West cherish.”

So he attended Royal Military College in Canada and became an officer. “I was fortunate that communism collapsed and I did not need to go to war, but I did volunteer to go and protect the new democracy in Croatia as it struggled to escape the shackles of the former communist Yugoslavia,” Zed said.

Senator Ted Cruz (R—TX) came to the Leadership Institute’s Wednesday Wake-Up Club Breakfast last week and spoke to 229 conservatives about the current state of affairs.

Senator Cruz began by quoting Sam Houston, “Texas has yet to learn submission to any form of oppression come from what source it may… that is an attitude the Leadership Institute has embraced for a long, long time.”

To read more about the role the Leadership Institute played in Sen. Cruz’s campaign, please go here for info regarding his field staff and here for info on his pollster.

On Sunday, millions of Americans watched the Super Bowl and some had the privilege to watch live in person, after buying tickets.  

But what if your tickets came with restrictions?

“If you go back in time three years, no one had heard of restricted tickets,” Fan Freedom National Manager of Partnerships & Outreach Alex Johnson said. “But restricted tickets existed.”

Fan Freedom protects the rights of all live event ticket holders. The organization supports legislation and promotes activism to protect those rights, including: When fans buy tickets, they own them. Fans have the right to buy, give away or sell their tickets however they choose, anytime they choose, in any way they choose, at any price they choose, the Fan Freedom’s website states.

LI's Deputy Director of Grassroots Programs Chris Doss was awarded Employee of the Year award yesterday in the all-staff meeting.

Read on for more details about his contributions to LI's successful 2013 record-breaking year.