The Leadership Institute's Advanced Public Relations School offers hands-on instruction for tackling communications problems, from organization and planning to presentation. Attendees are divided into communications teams and are given fictional crisis situations to work through strategy and message development in a mock press conference setting.The next Advanced Public Relations School is April 11-13 from 6:30-9:30 PM. Topics covered include:• How to deal with an adversarial press• The key to recognizing “hooks” in the day's news• How to develop, pitch, present, and defend your message and visionAs one past attendee remarked, “It really helped to hear from professionals in the same work environment I am in. I got a lot out of their advice, stories, and warnings!” To learn more and register for the training, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/APRS0411. >

As an Institute supporter, you'll like this article from last week's Washington Post. It details a new project by liberals to copy LI's media training. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so LI grads should feel flattered.From the Washington Post: “Brenner [a faculty member] joined the other participants in a wood-paneled room on the carriage house's ground floor. A camcorder stood on a tripod in the middle of desks arranged in a horseshoe formation. Black and white boards hung on the walls. Brock, with graying hair and blue tie, offered some words of wisdom to the class. Their conservative antagonists had all gone through rigorous media training at the Leadership Institute, he warned, but now they, too, would be armed with the ammunition to compete.”If you're ready to compete in the liberal-dominated media, take a television training from the Leadership Institute. Register now for schools on Friday, April 15 and Friday, May 13.>

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The Leadership Institute invites you to attend the fourth annual International School of Fundraising: How to Raise A Lot of Money in Your Country for Your Causes from April 5 to April 9 at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire in the United Kingdom. Register now before all the 100 spots are filled.At the training, you'll receive lessons from expert faculty on personal solicitation; adapting the principles of direct mail fundraising to your culture and country; how to fundraise for corporations; vital research on donors and prospective donors; building strong donor relations; how to make strong presentations; writing a fundraising plan and budgeting for long-term success; how to write a successful fundraising letter; social media for fundraising; informational mailings and newsletters; how to build a house file with strategies for strong renewals; and many other topics.The cost for the week-long training is US $750 and includes lodging, meals, materials and training in state-of-the-art facilities with top-notch expert faculty from around the world. Scholarships are available. However, this seminar will be limited to 100 delegates.Register for the International School of Fundraising right now.If you have any questions, please contact Director of International Training Miguel Moreno at mmoreno@limail.us or 703-247-2000 ext. 345.>

As we are rolling into a fresh race cycle for 2011, jobs are starting to pop up on the campaign trail. If you are in any way politically inclined there will always be a certain allure to working on a campaign at one point in your career. When I graduated college I had this vision of being staffed full time on a campaign. I was envisioning rallies, debates, and late nights eating pizza sessions while listening to Led Zeppelin. Do not get me wrong, these things did happen during the campaign (minus the Led Zeppelin tunes, even though we did throw in Journey a few times) but there were many holes in my vision that were quickly filled in once starting my first campaign job. My first job after college was a Congressional campaign, and it was one of the most intense, yet rewarding experiences of my life. But it takes a certain personality to truly enjoy campaign work. It is not for everyone. Before you embark on a search for a campaign job, here are a few things that I observed being campaign staff. This is not a job for the weary of heart.Be flexible: This job is in no way your structured, 9 to 5 scenario. In fact this might just be the antithesis of your typical job. Campaigners never sleep; there will always be an early morning news article that needs to be read, late night events that need to be hit, and weekends free are just a distant pastime on your life B.C. (Before Campaign). You may have a schedule planned for the day, and an article may turn up in the local paper that morning that will turn your whole day upside down. A last minute event opportunity may present itself that you cannot ignore. Having structure but being able to roll with the punches is a priceless craft to master on the campaign trail. Be open-minded: A campaign job is a job with many hats. While you will be hired for a specific job, be prepared to be doing everything under that job's spectrum. You will be in a suit one day and jeans and a T shirt the next. You will find yourself dressed up for a gala one night and pounding the pavement going door to door the next morning. You might even find yourself running to put out signs in your professional attire. Anything is possible. Be prepared to have your comfort zone pushed as far as possible.Assess your stress threshold: Before you embark on the journey to seek out the campaign job, sit down and be honest with yourself about how prepared you are to handle the stress of the campaign thrill ride. People told me that working on a campaign was like working in a pressure cooker and I could not think of a better way to explain it. There will always be more doors to knock on, there will always be another hundred calls to make, there will always be volunteers that need to be recruited, and there will always be media alerts to assess. Everyone wants to say that they handle stress well, but for the sake of your sanity and your potential colleagues' sanity; if you tend to not react well to stress, this may not be the job for you.At the end of the day be able to let your hair down: While the stress is high and the tasks are at times arbitrary, the point of campaigning is your ability to connect. This is a job strictly contingent on creating personal relationships. While there are a lot of things on the table, you still need to be able to have fun, and allow yourself to truly enjoy the job opportunity you are experiencing because it is truly one of a kind.Recognize that once you solidify your position on a campaign, you are surrendering yourself to the ride of your life until November 3rd. The only way to see if you're truly cut out for the work is to throw yourself into one headfirst. It may be the worst experience you've ever had, or the best experience you've ever had, but at the end of the day it will be an experience you will never forget. >

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!">

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 As the nation celebrated the legacy of George Washington this past weekend, young men and women gathered in Lexington, Kentucky to prepare for leadership at LI's Youth Leadership School (YLS).For two full days students learned how to fight liberal bias effectively, energize youth groups, and promote campus activism. Judging the quality of the school, Amaris Wade said, “We learned how to campaign effectively for virtually any cause.” With lecture topics ranging from leadership identification to organizational building to media and public relations, the students listened attentively.While students attending have tough fights on their respective campuses and in their respective communities, they set their aims high and vowed to utilize the material from the school to proceed on a path to success.“I am looking forward to initiating a conservative youth movement in Bolivia,” said Carla Webber, also a intern with the Leadership Institute.. Ms. Webber continued by saying, that she also wants to “teach teenagers these skills so that they too can be encouraged to become effective and strong leaders for our nation.”For decades, the Youth Leadership School has been the premier launch pad for thousands of youth wanting to make a lasting impact. The tools and techniques taught at the school prepare students for “what it means to be a youth leader,” Greg Caswell from the University of Kentucky said.As the school finished, students rushed to share their newfound knowledge with their peers and take one step further on their chosen path. Ms. Webber concluded, “This training is absolutely essential for someone who is looking for a political career. Whoever has to deal with opposition and wants to win should take the YLS.For information on upcoming trainings, please click here. For information specific to LI's Youth Leadership Schools, please call 703-247-2000 to speak with Director of Youth Leadership Schools Kent Strang.>

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the Leadership Institute hosted a job fair with 18-plus employers recruiting for conservative talent from a great pool of 495 jobseekers. LI also provided free one-on-one resume consultations. This kind of quality care toward jobseekers and employers is not unusual from the daily experience at LI. Director of Employment Placement Service Andrea McCarthy makes sure to connect with jobseekers in person, over the phone and by email to help them in their job search. Ms. McCarthy also works to identify and support the hiring needs of conservative organizations, Capitol Hill offices, campaigns, and media outlets.Through www.ConservativeJobs.com an employer and a jobseeker can create a profile, upload their resume, submit their references, and upload writing samples. Unlike many other job placement services, Conservative Jobs hosts a robust public policy questionnaire that evaluates an individual's view on particular issues. Ms. McCarthy and her department have held thousands of resume consultations and placed hundreds in conservative jobs.“The CPAC Job Fair was a great success! Several organizations found excellent candidates for summer internships, and the Leadership Institute hired the new Donor Relations Officer directly from the fair,” Andrea said. “Danielle Savoy joined the LI team on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, ten days after the job fair took place.” Employers that were present at CPAC's job fair hosted by LI included:Accuracy in MediaAmericans for ProsperityAmericans for Tax ReformAmericans United for LifeFreedomWorksHSP DirectIntermarkets, Inc.Judicial WatchManhattan InstituteNational Taxpayers UnionPrison FellowshipTerra EclipseThe Heartland InstituteThe Leadership InstituteTownhall.comWorld Journalism InstituteYoung Americans for FreedomYoung Americans for LibertyFor more information on LI's employment placement service, please click here. www.conservativejobs.com For free resume consultations, please call Andrea McCarthy at 703-247-2000.>

February 17, 2011, Arlington, VA--Running a successful campaign and being victorious is hard in and of itself, and without fundraising, it is virtually impossible. To ensure excellence in fundraising, the Leadership Institute hosted a 'High Dollar Fundraising School' over the past two days."The school was invaluable for someone like me who is new to fundraising, but expected to get results," said Brian Garst, director of government affairs at the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. Mr. Garst was one of over 50 professionals and students who traveled to Arlington, VA for this training.Among the featured faculty were seasoned and experienced LI staffers, as well as company leaders, business owners, and political operatives. As Mr. Ronald J. Hamilton of Pennsylvania put it, "I enjoyed hearing from people who are out in the field, actually doing the work they are presenting."The curriculum consisted of several techniques that, when adequately applied, will guarantee a fundraising hey-day for any campaign or organization. Todd Meredith, Owner of Morgan, Meredith, & Associates, addressed the issues of direct mail, cash flow projections and donor programs. Through real life examples and illustrations, Mr. Meredith guided the attendees carefully through the intricate process of properly implementing these efforts.Other faculty members also included Rick Hendrix, co-founder of ClearWord Communications, Carter DeWitt, vice president of Development at the Tax Foundation, and Ann Fitzgerald, president of A.C. Fitzgerald and Associates.Ms. Fitzgerald used her extensive experience in the conservative movement as a marketing strategist and fundraiser guru to teach the participants the importance of organizing and engaging every element of your organization.Praising the school, Ken Vaughn, a Congressional candidate from Lynchburg, VA, said, "most of this stuff isn't rocket science, it's common sense; but it's stuff we don't think about, and tend to forget. It's invaluable."At the end of the two-day school, the participants were prepared to reevaluate their organization and campaigns fundraising efforts. Some even followed Charlottesville, VA resident Elizabeth Blake's example: "I've signed up for 12 more trainings this upcoming year," she said, as the school came to a close.For more LI training opportunities, including more fundraising training, 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 1, 2010, Arlington, VA--Last weekend, the Leadership Institute's Grassroots Department staff was on the road again. Chris Doss, LI's Grassroots Training Coordinator, went to Lakewood, Colorado to offer campaign training to 90 conservative activists.The students themselves can explain how it went.LI's Colorado training had “the best and most knowledgeable instructors pertaining to the political process,” explained Richard Robbins from Parker, Colorado. “I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and would highly recommend this class to anyone just starting out in politics.”Chris -- who's taught more than 100 seminars here and abroad for LI -- joined with expert, volunteer Institute faculty to offer training sessions on Friday night and all day Saturday. Students learned about vote goals, voter ID, and voter targeting; developing a strong campaign message; fundraising; building coalitions; and much more.Mike Henley, a student from Denver, Colorado, explained, “This is a worthwhile program that provides useful information that can help those concerned about the future of America move into constructive action.” Bill Leek, from Arvada, Colorado, said the course “taught me to think about campaigns in a way I never had before.”Chris explained that his standard for success was simple: “For me, the most genuine litmus test is when students say—‘how soon will you come back?' and they all asked when LI would be back to Lakewood.”LI's Grassroots Department can bring Leadership Institute training to your hometown too. See if your state is already on LI's 2011 training calendar. If it's not, contact Robert Arnakis, LI's Grassroots Director, to learn how to bring LI to you.>

December 8, 2010, Arlington, VA—This past weekend the Leadership Institute trained 62 young conservatives in political technology at LI's Youth Leadership Schools in Flagstaff, Arizona and in Arlington, Virginia.The 62 students came from Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington state.Seen in the picture are students from the Northern Arizona University Conservatives club, who attended the YLS in Flagstaff, AZ.The Leadership Institute's flagship school, nicknamed “the boot camp of politics,” provides you with effective techniques to organize and lead mass-based youth efforts for candidates and causes of your choice.The Youth Leadership School has launched more successful political careers than any other Leadership Institute training program.Topics covered include:• Building an effective student organization• Getting out the vote• Earned media (favorable publicity)• Developing a public relations strategy• Launching a successful career in politicsFor more information on Youth Leadership Schools and to find the schedule and location of the upcoming YLS 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. 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->

December 3, 2010, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute hosted 147 people on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for Capitol Hill Staff Training School. Read on for a student's reflection and for information on an upcoming school geared for those looking to work on the Hill.LI Student Alex VanNess of Baltimore, Maryland said, “I really wanted to thank you, and all of the Leadership Institutes staff, for putting together the Capitol Hill Staff Training School. I learned a great deal of information, over the past few days, that I know will help me with my Capitol Hill job search.”“I have been searching for a job on the Hill, unsuccessfully, for well over a year now. I've gone on informational interview after interview, thinking that I was getting my name out there. But I still couldn't understand why I wasn't finding an open position. It's because of this school, that I understand how the lack of sufficient follow up, with the people I met with, was hindering my job search.”“You provide an invaluable service to the Hill job hunter. I will definitely utilize as many of the networking concepts, as I can, in my future job search. Thank you so much.”The Capitol Hill Staff Training School helps conservatives looking to work in Congress by bringing in great faculty to highlight students' personal strengths, interview skills, salary negotiation, annual budget process, and the legislative process in the House and in the Senate.Notable faculty included:• Paul Teller, Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee• Christopher N. Malagisi, Director of Political & New Media Training at the Leadership Institute• Jessica DeGraffenreid, Executive Director, America's Future Foundation• Sarah B. Smith, Corporate Relations Manager, Americans for Prosperity• Steve Sutton, Vice President of Development & Campus Programs at the Leadership Institute• Meghann Olshefski, Talent & Events Manger at The David All Group• Ed Corrigan, Executive Director of the Senate GOP Steering CommitteeDue to the demand of this school LI will be hosting a similar school February 2 and 3 for conservatives looking to work on the Hill. For more information on this upcoming school and to register, 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. 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->

November 30, 2010, Arlington, VA--Friday the Leadership Institute will teach individuals at the Arlington, VA headquarters how to be effective in public speaking.The workshop on public speaking provides folks with the tools and techniques to communicate before an audience in the public policy arena.Topics covered include: -Fundamentals of interpersonal communication-Special circumstances and impromptu speeches-Organizing and building a speech-Delivering an effective speechFor a sample agenda and to register please click here or contact Communications Training Coordinator Rachel Phillips at RPhillips@limail.us.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->

Are you looking for a job on Capitol Hill? Are you a little unsure of how to go about it? Join other Hill staff hopefuls at the Leadership Institute's Capitol Hill Staff Training School on the evenings of November 30th and December 1st. Veteran staff members from congressional offices will give you the pointers you need to make your job hunt successful and your transition into life on the Hill as easy as possible. Register today and treat this school like your first job interview. Hill offices have hired directly from the Capitol Hill Staff Training School in years past. So bring your resume. You never know.Free resume consultations will be provided upon request. Hurry and secure your spot in this excellent training school today!>

November 15, 2010, Arlington, VA—This afternoon many conservative activists across the country gathered outside the Capitol for a rally sponsored by Americans for Prosperity celebrating the Nov. 2 election victories while expressing a halt to Congress' lame duck session.Distinguished speakers included: Senator Jim DeMint (SC); Congressman Mike Pence (IN); Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN); Congressman-elect Morgan Griffith (VA); Congressman-elect Frank Guinta (NH); Congressman-elect Bob Gibbs (OH); Congressman-elect Sean Duffy (WI); Andrew Langer – Institute for Liberty; and Dick Patten – American Family Business Institute.For more information on November Speaks,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. 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->

November 12, 2010, Arlington, VA—This upcoming week the Leadership Institute will host public relations professionals for a three-day advanced school in PR. Get a seat before they are all gone.The Advanced PR School at LI offers hands-on instruction for tackling communications problems, from organization and planning to presentation. Students will be divided into communications teams and given real life scenarios to work through strategy and message development, including topics like: How to deal with an adversarial press; The key to recognizing “hooks” in the day's news; and How to develop, pitch, present, and defend your message and vision.For more information on this school, including the agenda and faculty bios or to register, 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. 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->

Are you interested in working for a new or existing conservative office after the election? If so, you need to become a registered member of ConservativeJobs.com and complete your professional profile to be considered for important jobs in congressional offices.Simply register, complete your profile, provide references and fill out the Public Policy Questionnaire. Don't forget to check the box, "I want to work on Capitol Hill."Once your profile is complete, email ConservativeJobs2011@gmail.com to let key Hill staff know that you've completed your profile and would like to be considered for a job opportunity in the 112th Congress.Don't wait until after the election to begin making connections with the people who have the power to hire or recommend you. Now is the time to ramp up your networking efforts and put your hat in the ring. It's going to be a competitive job market with many job seekers vying for the same positions. The earlier you launch your job hunt, the better.>

October 25, 2010, Arlington, VA—Believe it or not, voters in your community are interested in what you have to say about candidates and issues. Think about it, when you need a dentist who do you ask for advice? You will most likely ask someone you know and trust in your community. So, it only makes sense that voters want to know how their neighbors feel about the candidates and issues that impact their lives, especially right before an election. Writing an Op-Ed for you local paper can help bring attention and credibility to the candidate or cause of your choice in your community. It may even convince some un-decided voters to agree with your point of view.Before you get started on writing your own Op-Ed, please keep the following seven points in mind.1. Relevant -- Make sure your Op-Ed is relevant to what is going on in your state or local community. You may want to weigh in on the national political environment, but you are an expert at what is going on in your community. So, choose a topic that is important to the readers in your area.2. Concise -- Be short and concise. Your Op-Ed should be no longer than 700 words in length. If you can get it down to 500 words even better. Space in most publications is very valuable real estate and it is rare that anything longer than this will be published. Also, choose only two main points and don't get off topic.3. Clear -- Write clearly and use language that a majority of people understand. So, please don't use technical language or acronyms.4. Connect -- Emotionally connect with readers by personifying the issue you are writing about. For example, if you are writing about taxes, make sure you explain how taxes affect businesses and families in your area.5. Research -- Back up your examples with rational and broadly accepted facts and statistics. At this point before the election, editors have their antennae up for attack pieces and will most likely not include your letter if it resembles one.6. Recognize -- Acknowledge the other side. There is a chance that the editors will also run a piece from someone opposing your point of view on the same page. You don't have to spend a lot of time on the opposing view point, but briefly touch on it.7. Reinforce -- Summarize your message and tie it back to your main point in the opening. Use the ending as one last chance to reinforce your message.Remember, you know what issues are most important to you and your neighbors. You know who will best serve your community's interests once elected. So, voice your opinion now before it is too late. There is still time to make a big impact on this election.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. More than 88,000 people have been trained in one or more of the 40 current programs offered in all 50 states and across the globe since the Institute's founding in 1979. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org -30- >

The Heritage Foundation and the Leadership Institute invite you to attend a free informational meeting on Thursday, October 21st in SVC 201-00 on Capitol Hill from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. to learn more about how you can use ConservativeJobs.com to be considered for important jobs on Capitol Hill.Whether you're looking to be a staff assistant or chief of staff, or you're looking to hire staff for your office, you will not want to miss this event.Free Chick-fil-A will be provided by the Heritage Foundation. To attend, please RSVP to ConservativeJobs2011@gmail.com.>

So you've arranged an interview! Your first response is elation…followed closely by pre-interview anxiety. Relax. Getting an interview is half the battle. If you have an interview you know that the employer knows you have the right skills and qualifications needed to do the job. Now is your opportunity to find out more information about the job and organization. Remember, you are interviewing the employer just as the employer is interviewing you.The key to a great interview is your ability to master the basics. Here are five simple interview strategies to help you stay ahead of the competition.1. Do Your HomeworkResearch the organization thoroughly. Know what that organization's mission statement is, when it was founded, who key staff members are, and most importantly why you want to work there.2. Mind Your Body LanguageYou have 14 seconds to make a lasting first impression. Give a sincere smile, look the interviewer in the eye, have a confident, self-assured posture, and master a firm handshake (but not too firm!).3. Dress the PartErr on the side of professionalism. Always wear business attire like a neatly pressed, tailored suit. If you're a man, you must wear a dark blue or charcoal suit with an understated button-down shirt and a power tie with minimal pattern. For women, navy or dark gray skirt suits are preferable. Make sure your hair is pulled back and wear minimal makeup, perfume and jewelry. A little bit of a heel (but not too high!) helps boost confidence.4. Be Engaged in the ConversationYou should talk about 50% of the time and come to the interview prepared with questions about the job and what it's like to work with that company or organization.5. Follow Up!Always send a prompt thank you email as well as a sincere, handwritten note to each person you meet at the interview. Ask when you can hear back from the interviewer and follow up with that person if he or she hasn't followed through on their promise. Hiring managers get busy. Reasonable persistence demonstrates that you really want the job. >

October 12, 2010, Arlington, VA— College Republicans President Elliot Gaiser quotes LI's President Morton Blackwell that conservatives can win the Senate based on the momentum of changing the House majority.Quoting Hillsdale College's newspaper Hillsdale Forum Editor-In-Chief Anna Williams, “But Republicans might just manage to win a majority in the Senate. College Republicans President Elliot Gaiser summarized Leadership Institute Morton Blackwell's theory thus: In an election with enough momentum to change the House majority, you have enough support to change the Senate because House districts are gerrymandered to favor incumbents. “If you can change [the district representative], that means you have enough support to change the state, because they haven't figured out a way to gerrymander a state yet,” Gaiser said.To read the full article at Hillsdale Forum, please visit: http://www.scribd.com/doc/38961915/Forum-Oct-CoverThe Leadership Institute's mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. To accomplish this mission, the Institute identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media. LI has trained more than 90,000 people since its founding in 1979 and currently offers 40 program courses. For more information on the Leadership Institute, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org-30->