Conservative students swept the student government elections at the University of Colorado--Boulder last week. All 28 students who ran as part of the conservative INVEST party won their election, including the office of president, vice president of internal and external affairs, and numerous positions as campus representatives and senators. The key to their success? They say it's their training from the Leadership Institute's Campus Election Workshop on March 31. "The Campus Election Workshop is the best way to finalize your plans for your campaign and get all of your volunteers and candidates on the same page. We owe a huge thanks to the Leadership Institute for training us conservatives to win on an overwhelming liberal campus," said Andrew Yoder, newly-elected president of the Colorado University Student Government. The incoming student government plans to enact a conservative agenda over the next year, building on their success from last year's student government which also was controlled by conservatives. They cut the $36 million budget by $1 million, and defunded CoPIRG and other liberal programs that received disproportionate funding. The Leadership Institute will bring a Campus Election Workshop to your campus to teach you how to run for -- and win -- student government elections. Contact a Regional Field Coordinator to learn more.

Michelle Litjens ran for Wisconsin State Assembly to change the direction of her government. She probably did not imagine she'd be at the center of a national media firestorm just months later, when a Democratic colleague told her she was "[expletive] dead" on the Assembly floor for voting for Governor Scott Walker's budget bill in March. But Michelle ran for office in 2010 to promote her conservative principles: to limit government or, as she put it, to have government "start acting like adults instead of like spoiled children who run up their parent's credit cards." Her political activism started at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where she joined the College Republicans, Oshkosh Students for Life, and the Oshkosh Student Association. But much of her early political experience took place outside the classroom, when she interned for the Leadership Institute and worked on campaigns. Michelle's first Leadership Institute training was a Youth Leadership School, LI's "boot camp of politics," in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1992. After that, she took a Broadcast Journalism School in 1994, a Campaign Leadership School in 2000, and a Grassroots Activist School in Madison, Wisconsin in 2006. In 2010, Michelle decided to run for the open Wisconsin State Assembly seat in her district. The incumbent assemblyman was not seeking reelection -- and neither were 22 other Wisconsin state legislators. To Michelle, that news indicated "we might really have a chance to change the direction of our state," as she explained. It was her first time running for office, but not her first foray into politics, after years spent as a local activist and campaign volunteer. Michelle won the Republican primary election for Wisconsin's 56th district in September 2010 with 59.87% of the vote and won the November general election as well. After her general election win, Michelle sent LI staff a copy of her campaign brochure and a handwritten note: "Another LI grad elected to office. I couldn't have done it without you." Michelle now serves Wisconsin's 56th district in the State Assembly. She lives in Vinland, Wisconsin with her husband, their two children, and their Australian Sheppard. She joins hundreds of LI graduates in receiving the congratulations and thanks of the Leadership Institute, LI supporters, and conservatives in Wisconsin and across the country for their successful 2010 campaigns and commitment to promoting conservative principles now that they are in office.

When Tito Munoz came to the United States several years ago, he was adamant "not to be a burden on the country, the government, or the American people." Coming from Columbia, his political passion and ideology stem from personal experience. “We had Venezuela and Bolivia right next door. I saw government intrusion and take-over firsthand. I came here and said, ‘Not here in America!'” Tito became an American citizen “on September 27, 2008 to be exact,” Tito says, quickly pointing out how much that date means to him. “The day I became a citizen, I became involved in politics. I got my citizenship, immediately registered to vote, and then joined the Republican Party.” His active involvement led him to be nicknamed ‘Tito the Builder' as Tito actively campaigned for the Republican nominee during the 2008 elections. He was featured on many news and media outlets. During the 2010 midterm elections, he was featured on CNN International's election night coverage in Spanish, explaining the Tea Party activists' role in the outcome of the elections. In an effort to promote the Constitution and free markets to the Spanish speaking American public, Tito founded the Conservative Hispanic Coalition. “As Latinos, we are the largest minority in the United States. We have to take our place in history and preserve the vision of the founding fathers of this nation. It is our duty. It is our responsibility,” he said. The catalyst for the conception of the Conservative Hispanic Coalition is very personal to Tito, as he feels the Hispanic community in America has been deceived. “It is crucial to reach the growing segment of new immigrants with a conservative message as soon as possible, even before they learn English. The mainstream media and liberals have lied to them in Spanish about conservative values, and it is time to set the record straight and deliver the truth.” To adequately spread the message, Tito has a weekly radio talk show aimed at the Hispanic community; appropriately entitled ‘America Eres Tu' or America is you. “Every day we make choices. Many of us were not born here; we chose to come to this great nation and it has given us so much. Choose the right path and defend what is so special about America because America Eres TU,” Tito said. Between spearheading the Conservative Hispanic Coalition and hosting a weekly radio show, Tito is the president of a Dale City, Virginia based construction company. Despite his time-consuming involvement, he has attended multiple LI trainings. Recently, Tito attended the Campaign Management School, and commended the program. “This is not like college where you only have professors with book knowledge. Here, you get teachers with book knowledge and practical knowledge. This is what they do!” Speaking at a September 12 Freedom Works rally in Washington, D.C. Tito rallied the crowd by saying, “As our founding founders fought the British redcoats, today we have a job; it is to fight the socialist redcoats in Washington!” Tito continues to stay active, and is committed to using LI training to stay passionately involved with his party and in his community. He is even exploring the possibility of running for state legislature stating, “I was born in Columbia, but I was made in the USA!” To learn more about America Eres Tu, please click here or visit www.americaerestu.com For information on Tito PAC, please visit www.titopac.org

Leadership Institute graduate John Rossomando, after having taken six trainings at LI, has begun the Rossomando Report to showcase his writings for Townhall.com and the Daily Caller. “I got my start on the Rossomando Report last fall after a friend -- who is also a Leadership Institute alumnus -- suggested I start a website to showcase the work I have been doing for the Daily Caller and for other publications I have been writing for,” John said. John's articles for the Daily Caller “have received as many as 30,000 hits...which I think showcases my ability to connect with my readers and write about what they care about,” John continued. When asked about his LI training experience, John said, “The Leadership Institute's schools are excellent.” In particular he mentioned that the "Capitol Hill Staff Training School provides invaluable information for aspiring Hill staffers that is hard to find elsewhere, and the Broadcast Journalism School also provides invaluable information on getting started in the field from people in the field. The PR school also provides a good introduction to the PR field for those considering entering it.” John's Townhall column debuted over the weekend.

March 16, 2011, Arlington, VA—Sunday's edition of The Atlantic featured an article by National Journal Political Correspondent Beth Reinhard where she says, “Now, potential presidential candidates know Ryan Rhodes on a first-name basis.” Twenty-eight-year-old Ryan Rhodes, a former Leadership Institute intern, is a true conservative grassroots activist, arriving here only by way of an unlikely road. To read the full article by Beth Reinhard, please click here. “Rhodes never expected to be at the forefront of presidential politics. When he started college, he was more interested in partying and going to football games. He was found guilty of underage drinking in 2002. A couple years later, he left college and floated from one job to another: chef, construction worker, clothing store salesman, pizza delivery guy.” In 2007 at Iowa State University Ryan was activated to politics after witnessing a “protest over a campus blood drive,” where “a handful of students were accusing the Red Cross of discriminating against gay men by refusing to take their higher-risk blood. To Rhodes, the protest smacked of political correctness, and he plunged into movement conservatism.” He began reading conservative books like Barry Goldwater's The Conscience of a Conservative and Thomas Paine's Common Sense. “He started going to church. He interned at the Leadership Institute, a boot camp for conservative activists in Virginia” and across the world. Ryan has attended 12 LI trainings including a blogging workshop, campaign management school, future candidate school, online fundraising workshop, public relations school, advanced public speaking workshop, student publications workshop, TV trainings in techniques and on camera, and the youth leadership school, LI's flagship school. “In 2008, still in college, he turned theory into practice and ran for the Iowa House against a Democratic incumbent. He didn't have a car, so he took the bus. He wore out four pairs of shoes. The centerpiece of his platform was a plan to boost Iowa's economy by encouraging college graduates to stay in the state. If they got jobs in Iowa after graduation, the money they owed in income taxes would go toward paying off student loans.” “After he lost the election, ‘literally penniless and eating eggs,' Rhodes honed his chops at retail politics working at a Chrysler dealership and selling ads for a group of radio stations.” “On the side, he organized tea party rallies and lobbied a key Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, to vote against President Obama's health care reform. In 2010, he managed the unsuccessful congressional campaign of a retired pilot and gun enthusiast who carries a copy of the Constitution in his coat pocket.” To read the full article in The Atlantic, please click here. The Leadership Institute is proud of former intern Ryan who is doing good things. To see LI's upcoming trainings and get plugged in like Ryan, please click here. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. LI trains and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media by teaching them how to succeed in the public policy process. To do that, LI offers 40 types of training programs, works with more than 1,465 conservative campus groups, and helps employers connect with conservative jobseekers. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,600 students have been trained. Alumni include U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, city council members, local mayors, state legislators, and conservative activists and officeholders at every level. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- 

With our increasing hunger for information, real-time photos and video, and "live-tweeting" from the scene, a composed response to any scenario is more important than ever for political communicators. That's just what students learned at last week's interactive, three-night Public Relations School at the Leadership Institute. "Crisis communication is a sixth sense -- an art, not a science," explained Mark Pfeifle, an LI faculty member and Systems Media Group Vice President. Drawing on his past experience as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Press Secretary and Communications Director for Interior Secretary Gale Norton, he taught attendees how to stay on message during a crisis. For Washington Scholars Legislative Fellow Mark Cummings, "learning the different aspects of crisis management was the most beneficial" information at the school. Mark, who works for Senator Ensign (NV), called the training "a worthwhile, eye-opening experience." Blain Rethmeier (photo at left), Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the American Insurance Association, instructed LI students to "always answer the question you wished they would have asked" during his lecture on message development. Remember, he advised, that "every question is an opportunity to get your message out." The faculty was well-received; their lessons, even more so. But the students weren't the only ones enjoying their time. As Blain Rethmeier said at the end of his lecture, "I came to you to do this, because people used to come do this for me."

Florida campaign manager Andrea Penton, Vancouver CEO Julian Haigh, Texan entrepreneur Trent Derr, and more than forty other conservatives came to the Leadership Institute for its Campaign Management School (CMS), a week-long, intensive "boot camp" in campaign management last week.The school teaches students the ins and outs of campaigning through intensive training and real life stories, and in doing so, give students the how-to knowledge they need to succeed. As CMS student Gus Leventis of Addison, Illinois said, "The [CMS] will teach you how to win!"The week-long school drew future campaign managers, campaign staff, and several potential candidates. Among the candidates was Lynda Fairman (photograph below), a candidate for a Virginia State Senate seat. "I was visiting our state senator and every question I asked, the current state senator answered, ‘We'll just have to disagree on that,'" Lynda explained. "I asked about an education issue, since it is a field I am well experienced in, and it was an issue I was certain everyone would agree was a state issue. He claimed it was a district issue, looked at me then said, ‘We'll just have to disagree on that.' As we are about to leave, he sarcastically says, ‘Hmph. You should run for School Board.' I turn around, and blurt out ‘Actually, I think I'll run for your job!'" Lynda laughed. "He [the senator] just looked at me, then says, ‘Get in line.' With this training, I feel I have been given the tools to succeed. Not just for my campaign but for the movement as a whole."Emily Lucier, a contract documents paralegal in Richmond, Virginia shared her experience: "This has been such a plethora of invaluable information that has given me ideas for my candidate all week." She attended the school because she'll serve as campaign manager for a local government race in Richmond this fall. "This training has helped me to first consider the skills I have and how to use them, and also has given me a strong, organizational frame in how to go about planning a campaign. Learning these tools and processes will allow me to go forward with confidence."The CMS featured experienced, expert faculty members who brought many years' experience with campaigns -- and a willingness to share their knowledge with eager students."The campaign management training was an intense, one-week experience packed with the best practices and wisdom of the most impressive group of consultants I have met," said Trent Derr of Texas."Just this week alone, the training has been successful," said CMS attendee Dr. Lolita Mancheno-Smoak. She teaches graduate and undergraduate business at the University of Phoenix and Strayer University, and is an at-large candidate for the Fairfax County (VA) School Board. "What [LI] teaches is not just theory, but application. When you know you can immediately apply it, you know it is valuable," as she had already put the training to use by crafting a coalition of support for her candidacy.Lolita praised the training as teaching "the good, the bad, and the ugly of real campaigning based on real-life experiences." She added "fundamentally I think everyone should take this school. Not only campaign managers, but candidates, as well. I am ecstatic! We learn the right questions, the proper techniques, and bottom line you could never get this from a book. This is good!"Sharing this sentiment, Lynda Fairman added, "And not only is the training itself good, but the dinners at night and being able to stay in the dorms allows us to network and connect with each other. This is definitely worth my -- and the donors' -- money...Most of the lasting connections are made after class."After a week at the Campaign Management School, the more than 40 students are ready to contribute to the conservative movement as campaign managers, campaign staff, or future candidates. Perhaps Lynda explains it best: "Prior to this school, I felt like I was jumping off a cliff into a pit. Now, I'm ready!">

Nearly a month ago, conservative students from Texas A&M University came together at the ranch of a Leadership Institute supporter. The students -- many members of the Texas Aggie Conservatives, affiliated with LI's Campus Leadership Program -- were there for a Campus Election Workshop taught by Tony Listi, a Regional Field Coordinator for the Institute. The A&M student government elections were coming up, and these conservative students wanted to learn how to win student government positions. With the results now in, it's clear they learned well. Freshman Kristin Bonner and sophomore Nicole Heath were elected to the Student Senate on platforms that reflected their conservative principles. In a field of 64 candidates, Nicole received the eighth most votes; Kristin, the 20th most votes. "The campaigning tactics provided by the Campus Election Workshop proved to be a vital element in getting elected as one of the top student senators," Nicole explained. "I know I would not have been near as successful running my very first campaign without having gained such valuable knowledge and skills." Kristen agreed, adding, "I know that I would not have won the student government election without the information and guidance provided by the election workshop held by the Leadership Institute." LI's Campus Election Workshop teaches conservative students how to run for -- and win -- student government elections. If you or someone you know would like to bring a workshop to your school, contact Kent Strang, Director of Youth Leadership School, to organize one.

Americans for Tax Reform Development Associate Aaron Buchhop who is a part of the ATR internship program has taken six Leadership Institute trainings, saying “LI training schools I've attended have helped me in a number of areas, both personally and professionally.” After attending the fundraising school at the Leadership Institute, Mr. Buchhop said that by far the most beneficial thing to him was “how to organize a development department in an organization and putting into practice the suggestions made at this school.” LI's February fundraising school, How to Raise Money...the Easy Way, hosted 82 students and took an in-depth look at how to improve an organization's fundraising efforts through personal solicitation, online fundraising, and event fundraising to support the cause or candidate. Mr. Buchhop has taken six LI trainings including: the Job and Internship Fair; How to Raise Money…the Easy Way; Youth Leadership School; Advanced Public Relations; and two Public Speaking Workshops. “Public Speaking was my first and most inspirational LI school,” Mr. Buchhop said. “It motivated me to be more involved at LI and to take advantage of the excellent training provided in a variety of areas.” Commenting on the Youth Leadership School, Mr. Buchhop said it was the “most beneficial in its heavy promotion of conservative grassroots organizing and activism. The Advanced Public Relations School enabled me to start seeing the flip side of media so as to better understand how to work with the media and avoid being used by it.” When asked about how he would describe his LI experience, he said, “LI staff and teachers are very willing to assist and answer questions. Networking is very important at any LI school and it is strongly encouraged. I have met conservative students and professionals from all walks of life. Networking with the people I have trained with has opened doors for future opportunities, both for them and for me. And of course the provided meals are always good!” What does Mr. Buchhop plan next? “I plan on incorporating all LI training into my life in one way or another. Specifically with the development training, I hope to use the organizational knowledge I have acquired at the most recent school to not only help strengthen and better my current development work, but to develop a more solid, experienced understanding of development operations as I advance in my career.” We wish you the best Aaron! To learn how to talk with voters, be a public relations professional, create a campaign plan, fundraise, or get TV training like Aaron—come get LI training.

John Rosenfeld is like many of us: a small business owner, a family man, and a liberty-loving American. But John is also a member of his City Council -- a position he sought out of concern for his country. "Like many people, I just recently got involved in the political process during the run-up to the 2008 election," John said. Although he had no political experience, he ran for a seat on the City Council in Minturn, Colorado, a small town west of Vail. John's motivation for getting involved was simple: "I am very concerned about the direction of our country," he explained. John's campaign strategy was to talk to as many Minturn residents as he could -- and put a few signs around the town. "I wish I could have taken your class long ago," he said to Chris Doss, LI's Grassroots Training Coordinator, after an Institute training just a few weeks ago, "as I would not have made the mistakes I did." In the April 2010 election, John lost by just one vote. "The ballot stated that people needed to vote for three of the five candidates," he said. "Ironically, during the vote, my wife and I both voted for the same three [candidates]. I lost by one vote -- to the person that we voted for, effectively giving that person the victory!" But in October 2010, John's luck changed. An incumbent City Council member resigned because he'd decided to move his family to Ecuador. John was appointed his seat as the "next highest vote-getter" in the election, and started his City Council term on October 6, 2010. "It's going well so far," John said of his time as a City Council member. "We are dealing with many important issues" like "property taxes and staff salaries." In January, John decided to supplement his hands-on political experience with training from the Leadership Institute. On January 28 and 29, John attended LI's Campaign School in Lakewood, Colorado -- a 99-mile drive from Minturn. Was it worth it? It seems so. "With this class, conservatives will gain the skills needed to take this country back," John said. He added a personal note for other conservatives: "I am just one example of the transformation we are experiencing in this country back toward freedom and liberty. You are playing a very important role in that transformation." To learn the tools and techniques to become a leader in your community, attend a Leadership Institute training. Review LI's 2011 training schedule online. If you'd like to bring training to your hometown, contact LI's Grassroots Department, which brings Leadership Institute training to conservatives around the country.

February 7, 2011, Arlington, VA—Yesterday marked 100 years since the birth of the 40th U.S. president. Honoring Ronald Reagan's vision of a new generation of conservative leaders, the Leadership Institute brought its Youth Leadership School to 27 college and high school students in Wilmington, North Carolina this past weekend, where students represented three states and two countries. The Gipper himself praised the Leadership Institute by asserting that "LI is paving the way for a new generation of conservative leadership."“We need you, we need your youth, your strength, and your idealism, to help us make right what is wrong,” President Reagan proclaimed decades ago, yet the message is still as relevant as ever.During the intensive boot-camp, Reagan's call was answered. The students learned hardcore strategies ranging from organizing and leading a mass-based youth effort to building a successful student organization to a launching a successful career in politics.Indeed Reagan and his team knew how to mobilize people en masse, in particular the younger generation. In his farewell address the President stated, “A final word to the men and women of the Reagan Revolution, the men and women across America who for 8 years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger; we made the city freer; and we left her in good hands.”The Great Communicator's vision of a shining city on a hill, standing strong, prosperous and robust, is the consequence of leadership by faithful conservatives working strong, working diligently for their Country.Reagan's achievements are historical markers, influencing policy and politics long beyond his presidency. He stood sternly against tyranny; he fought bravely for liberty, democracy and free markets. His efforts to bring down the Soviet Union were rewarded when he changed the course of history, and the Soviet Empire finally collapsed a few years following his presidency. Nevertheless, his greatest achievement was giving a struggling nation hope; proclaiming for all to hear “it is morning in America.”The Leadership Institute is training at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this week. One of the trainings is called the History of the Conservative Movement: 1945-Present. This course will teach the intellectual and political history of the modern conservative movement. What are conservatives trying to "conserve"? How did classical liberals, traditionalists, and anti-communists "fuse" together? Who were the philosophers, popularizers, philanthropists, and politicians who brought about the most consequential movement in American politics? To register, please click here.For information on upcoming LI trainings, please click here.The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. LI trains and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media by teaching them how to succeed in the public policy process. To do that, LI offers 40 types of training programs, works with more than 1,465 conservative campus groups, and helps employers connect with conservative jobseekers. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,576 students have been trained. Alumni include U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, city council members, local mayors, state legislators, and conservative activists and officeholders at every level. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org-30- >

February 4, 2011, Arlington, VA—Gathering from across the country, professionals and students prepared for the Leadership Institute's two-day boot camp on landing a D.C. job. A student from the Capitol Hill Staff Training School, who is currently an office manager at the United Services Organization said this school is “the best training program in the country hands down.” LI provided students with the information they needed to “hit the ground running” as recent college graduate Benjamin Green put it. “I have a book full of notes that I will apply to my job search, in addition to the valuable skills I have learned here,” Green added. LI provided students with the information they needed to “hit the ground running” as recent college graduate Benjamin Green put it. “I have a book full of notes that I will apply to my job search, in addition to the valuable skills I have learned here,” Green added. Professionals with seasoned private sector experience, college students, and recent college graduates gathered with a similar aim: to land a D.C. job, particularly on Capitol Hill. Jennifer Lundy, a student, said that she plans to use the information to find a Capitol Hill job as a staff assistant or as a legislative correspondent. “It was a great experience! I learned a lot of great job strategies that can be used at any point in my career. I networked with a lot of amazing people, and I would definitely recommend attending any LI school,” Ms. Lundy said. Among the featured speakers was National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Political Director Mike Shields. “Capitol Hill is one of the most pompous places in the world,” Mr. Shields said. “To get anywhere, you need to network but also always work incredibly hard.” Other faculty included: Heritage Foundation Director of the Young Leaders Program Heather Sexton and Executive Director at the Senate GOP Steering Committee Ed Corrigan. LI student Ron Hamilton from Pennsylvania said, “I brought my son here so he could learn the proper application of conservative ideas. He is going to college this fall, but hopefully this training will aid him in getting a job in the future.” AEI Intern Greg Brooks said, “Every training I have taken here leaves me excited to get more involved in the conservative movement because I am more confident with the tools I have acquired.” Mr. Brooks is working in AEI's political department working on public opinion data. LI Political Coordinator Amanda Bowman assembled a team of preeminent speakers for the intensive school, discussing topics ranging from networking strategies, interviewing skills, and the inner workings of Capitol Hill and surrounding D.C. establishments. The Capitol Hill Staff Training School prepares students for a bright future in D.C. For information on upcoming trainings like the Capitol Hill Staff Training School, please click here. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. LI trains and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media by teaching them how to succeed in the public policy process. To do that, LI offers 40 types of training programs, works with more than 1,465 conservative campus groups, and helps employers connect with conservative jobseekers. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,574 students have been trained. Alumni include U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, city council members, local mayors, state legislators, and conservative activists and officeholders at every level. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- 

February 3, 2011, Arlington, VA--Traveling from South America, 47 students gathered at the Leadership Institute for a week-long international leadership training seminar. Read more for student and faculty testimonies.LI training had “top of the line speakers, high quality content, carefully planned topics and profound insights,” said LI student and Conservative Party of Nicaragua Electoral Commission Secretary Ing. Raul Baca. The training “left me with the gifts of clarity and renewed purpose. Now I have a very powerful set of assets to take back to my county and share with my peers,” Mr. Baca said.The students gathered with the common goal of being better prepared to lead in their communities back home. They experienced a week full of learning taught by prestigious LI faculty seasoned in the political industry.Among the featured speakers was Stephen Clouse, president of Stephen Clouse and Associates. Mr. Clouse shared his knowledge of how to be a great communicator with the students in his presentation.“What a great group you bring us to serve,” Mr. Clouse said. “I was very impressed by the caliber and thoughtful questions. Thank you (LI) for all you do to advance liberty around the world!”Other faculty included: Larry Ward, president of the new media consulting firm Political Media; Professor Philip Bom of Regent University who discussed Constitutional democracy and leadership; former Ambassador Terry Miller; Don Irvine, chairman of Accuracy in Media; and Michelle Taylor, vice president of A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates, LLC. The students also had a visit from former President of Ecuador Dr. Lucio Gutierrez.“The wonderful experience lived at the Leadership Institute will positively affect the rest of my life in my constant democratic battle to achieve better days for the Ecuadorian people,” said Dr. Gutierrez. LI Director of International and Government Programs Miguel Moreno assembled the challenging, rewarding program that equipped students with the tools to be effective leaders. Through interactive lectures as diverse as new media and technological networking, to television training assuring a polished, well-spoken presentation when confronted by the media, students had an edge for future political victories. For information on upcoming trainings, please click here.>

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The email from Illinois State Representative Tom Morrison was simple: "Thanks to training at the Leadership Institute, my campaign manager and I beat an incumbent Illinois state representative in the primary, and we went on to win in the general election by 24%." Of course, the story had more to it. Tom, a 36-year-old local business owner, started taking Leadership Institute training in 2005. His first class was a Grassroots Workshop that the Leadership Institute hosted in Chicago, Illinois -- not far from Tom's hometown of Palatine. A few months later, he came for more training at the Leadership Institute's Arlington, Virginia office: Public Relations School, Campaign Leadership School, and Future Candidate School in quick succession. When LI training came to Chicago the next summer to offer more training, Tom was there too. He attended the Institute's Grassroots Fundraising Workshop and Television Training Workshop, and then took an intensive, One-on-One Television Workshop. Tom publicly declared his candidacy for Illinois state representative less than a year later in September 2009. His primary race was against a six-term incumbent who previously had beaten challengers. When Tom won his primary race in February 2010, a local newspaper characterized it as a stunning upset. When Tom won the general election in November 2010, he did so by 24 percentage points. Now Tom is a freshman member of the Illinois General Assembly. In one of his first official acts, he surprised senior members when he refused to join the Assembly's “lucrative” pension program on the principle of cutting government spending. Tom has credited his campaign victories to a "very, very strong grassroots effort" -- and Leadership Institute training. "We were outspent in both elections nearly 2-1,” but were still victorious, Tom explained to the Leadership Institute. “Thank you for all of your good work. I've told dozens of people about your outstanding programs, and that you all were the key to my success.” Tom joined hundreds of Leadership Institute graduates in winning political office in the 2010 election. Whether you're a candidate for student government, state house, US Senate, or any office among them, Leadership Institute training can help you too. Review LI's 2011 training schedule, and contact LI's Grassroots Department if you'd like to bring Leadership Institute training to your town.

January 21, 2011, Arlington, VA—Leadership Institute Graduate Amanda Carpenter, who is currently a speechwriter and senior communications advisor to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has been named one of the Top 10 Capitol Hill Staffers to watch, according to the Washington Post. Amanda Carpenter has taken 10 LI trainings, including: Broadcast Journalism, Public Speaking, Student Publications, and Television Workshop—both introduction to techniques and on camera, and the Youth Leadership School. She has lectured as a distinguished faculty member at four LI trainings, including: Conservative Career Workshop, Advanced Student Publications School, and two Public Relations Schools. Ms. Carpenter has “achieved two of her long-term goals in 2010, when she placed op-eds in both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. But it's her digital media savvy that really distinguishes Carpenter from the pack. Among her other qualifications for the job was an enviable Twitter presence. At last count, Carpenter has well over 16,000 followers on the micro-blogging site,” The Washington Post said. To read the full article from the Washington Post, please click here. Her full story can be found here. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,500 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- 

January 20, 2011, Arlington, VA—After the Leadership Institute's Capitol Hill Staff Training School in November, Alex VanNess of Baltimore, Maryland landed an internship in Congressman Doug Lamborn's (CO-05) office. Mr. VanNess said, “You provide an invaluable service to the Hill job hunter.” “I just wanted to thank you and the Leadership Institute, again, for holding the Capitol Hill Staff Training School. I also thought that you would be interested to know that shortly after making the revisions to my resume, utilizing the suggestions of [LI staff], I received an offer.” “I would also like to note that at the very beginning of my interview, it was commented to me that my resume looked very professional and well put together. Thank you so much. Without your help, I do not feel that this opportunity would have presented itself and I am looking forward to utilizing the rest of the skills I have learned from the Leadership Institute to further networking toward my career aspirations,” said Mr. VanNess. The Capitol Hill Staff Training School helps conservatives looking to work in Congress by bringing in distinguished faculty to highlight students' personal strengths, interview skills, salary negotiation, annual budget process, and the legislative process in the House and in the Senate. The Leadership Institute's next Capitol Hill Staff Training School is February 2-3, 2011. To sign up contact Amanda Bowman at ABowman@limail.us or go here. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,500 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30-

January 19, 2011, Arlington, VA—Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, spoke January 5 at the Leadership Institute's monthly Wednesday Wakeup Club Breakfast. Read on for Mr. Phillips' personal comments on the Leadership Institute and to watch the video. To view the full breakfast video on January 5, please go here. At the breakfast Mr. Phillips said, “There are many reasons that I'm thankful to Morton Blackwell and the Leadership Institute. Some of them are personal. Twenty-six years ago I was a 19-year-old young man with not much to offer frankly, except maybe a good work ethic that my parents instilled in me. Morton trained me through LI Youth Leadership Program. He pulled me aside late on a Sunday night, it must have been about midnight. We ate a couple of Oreo cookies about midnight, and he said, “Young man, you need to go on a campaign somewhere,” as I'm sure many of you and thousands of other Americans have heard over the last 30 years. So, two weeks later I was in the coal fields of southwest Virginia, and I found my life's calling. But, he did more than that. He had a young lady working for him. She may have been the 5th or 6th employee, Morton, it was way back in 1984. And she was really pretty, I mean, beautiful, smart, just like all of your folks are. I married her about 7 months later. The bad news was I took her away from LI. We moved down to work on the next campaign, that also Morton helped me work with. So on a personal level there is a lot to be thankful for. But, the other thing I'm thankful for is Leadership Institute. I see the growth; I see the dynamic programs and the difference they're making; Morton and all the LI staff… I meet your graduates all over the country, whether it's at one of the hot air events that Abigail talked about where we're fighting cap and trade or whether it's the hands off our health care bus tour and ad effort we ran, which by the way, Rachel Maddow called “the bloody red hand” because we had this big red hand print on the side of the bus (that's actually pretty good I thought). We meet your graduates everywhere. They are the grassroots activists of America. They are the people who are organizing locally. They are the people who are helping us beat the left right now. Make no mistake. The battle in DC is not decided. But out in the rest of the country, we're beating them right now. I can tell you that with confidence having been in all 50 states in the last year, except Hawaii. Morton, I cannot get the AFP Hawaii chapter up and running. My board won't let me; it's very frustrating for me. We're going to do one day, maybe. I can tell you we're winning everywhere with the American people, and that's something LI is a crucial role in. I meet your graduates everywhere,” said Mr. Phillips. The next LI Wednesday Wakeup Club Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, February 2 featuring guest speaker Todd Herman. To register, click here to pay online or call Joanne Bogan at 703-247-2000. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,500 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- 

January 18, 2011, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute trained Mike Watson, founder and president of Control Automation Technologies Corporation, a precision instrument testing laboratory company. Read on for his personal testimony. Mr. Watson has taken many LI trainings, including: the public speaking workshop, campaign manager school, future candidate school and legislative project management school. Mr. Watson said, “I am writing to thank your fine organization for providing such a wonderful learning opportunity for conservative activists, future candidates and political professionals. I first learned of the Leadership Institute at the 2009 RPV Advance in Williamsburg during one of your lectures and followed up with you at a subsequent CARMA meeting. Since, I've completed the Public Speaking Workshop, Future Candidate School and have already benefited both personally and professionally from each. In addition, I have a clear vision of goals for the Commonwealth of Virginia and our Nation and as I determine the route that I will take to accomplish these, rest assured, I will make a difference. Without a doubt, the knowledge and skills learned through LI will be a significant facilitator in this effort.” Mr. Watson is working with a couple of campaigns now as well as serving in leadership roles with both the local Tea Party and Republican Committee. Control Automation Technologies Corporation is accredited through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation ("A2LA") and provides test equipment calibration services to manufacturing industries including pharmaceutical, power generation, chemical, automotive and many more. Mr. Watson's company was selected as "North Carolina Small Business of the Year" in 1998 and state finalist for the US Chamber of Commerce "Blue Chip Enterprise Award" in 1999. They are active in the community, frequently sponsoring or supporting various charitable causes and are the principle sponsor for the Billy Friend Endowed Educational Scholarship at NRCC in Dublin, VA. For more information about the company, please click here. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation that has been training conservatives to win since 1979. LI's mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,500 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- 

January 13, 2011, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute, through generous donors, was able to train more than 9,500 students in 2010, with seven being in the freshman class of the 112th Congress. Read on for LI President Morton Blackwell's thoughts on this past year.LI President Morton Blackwell said, “Last year my staff set records in almost every area of LI programs. Last year more than 9,500 people were students at our 40 types of in-person training programs, and more than 4,000 viewed LI political training lectures online, the first year the Institute ever offered online training. The new Congress includes seven freshmen congressmen who are graduates of Leadership Institute training. Dozens of other House and Senate winners had LI grads in leadership positions in their campaigns.”“Right now my team and I are working hard to maintain and expand our programs over the next two years because I believe the 2012 elections will be at least as important as last year's,” said Mr. Blackwell.The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,500 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org-30- >

January 13, 2011, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute trained Organize4Palin's Grassroots Manager Karen Allen in public speaking, activism, and campaign management. Read on for her personal testimony. "The training exceeded my expectations. What I really liked was that there was not just 'how to campaign' information taught, but 'how to think' information as well. The way the course was ordered, the expertise of the speakers, and the efficiency of everything was impressive. On top of it, with the living and eating arrangements taken care of so well, I didn't have to worry about anything other than studying. It is a highly effective set up," Ms. Allen said. "I feel so much more prepared and empowered after visiting LI. I know I still have a lot to learn, but attending has made it so much easier to recognize and avoid a lot of pitfalls." The Leadership Institute is a non-partisan educational organization and does not endorse, support, or oppose candidates or proposed legislation. LI has an open admissions policy; all programs are open to the public. The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this, LI identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 90,000 people have been trained (with half of those being in the last six years) in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30-