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 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-

January 11, 2011, Arlington, VA— The Leadership Institute trained 9,646 students in 2010 and over 91,000 since 1979. One 2010 student is Alonzo Baldonado, a real-estate salesman, who having never run for office attended LI's week-long Campaign Manager School. On January 3, 2011 Mr. Baldonodo was sworn in as a newly elected representative in the New Mexico State House. “This was my first time running for public office, and it was against a political veteran,” Mr. Baldonado said. “It was a tough race, but LI gave me the education needed to run a successful campaign.” His campaign was filled with LI trained volunteers and staff. His volunteer Carolyn Chavez took LI's campaign manager school and decided to run for a school board seat. Additionally, four of Mr. Baldonado's youth volunteers attended LI's youth activist school and have now formed a conservative youth group called Expand The Leadership. Mr. Baldonodo is just one of hundreds of winning candidates in the 2010 elections who took advantage of Leadership Institute's 40 types of training. The Leadership Institute looks forward to identifying and training thousands of more conservatives in 2011. 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 13, 2010, Arlington, VA—Last week 71 individuals from 20 states and two countries joined us in our Arlington training facility for a week-long school on campaign management. With over 23 distinguished faculty teaching on various subjects ranging from campaign finance to media relations to grassroots and volunteer efforts, students left prepared for managing their campaigns for the upcoming next election cycle. Below are testimonies of three LI graduates from last week's campaign manager school. Ruthie Thompson said, “I have been able to volunteer for many campaigns and even made my first attempt at a fundraiser for Sharron Angle. I just wish that I was able to take this course prior to me holding that fundraiser. Although I am a very successful realtor, my heart and my passion is with the conservative movement and that is a driving force for my future plans. I want to get involved. I no longer want to sit on the sidelines and watch my country being taken over. The information I take with me from the Leadership Institute is so valuable in my quest to advance the conservative movement and to do my part in getting our message out there.” Annette James said, “The Campaign Manager School is the second Leadership Institute training that I have had the opportunity to attend. I am growing my political career and the opportunity to attend such intensive training is priceless. I am excited to be able to take this knowledge to conservative candidates.” Scott Mellot said, “I am attending the Campaign Managers Program and I have been very impressed by the quality of its content. In 2011, I will be working with a state senate campaign and look forward to putting this information to practice.” Siren Solheim, another student at the campaign manager school last week, said, “As a graduate of the Campaign Manager School, I have been privileged to listen to some very compassionate faculty and guest speakers who have contributed their talent and experience to educate and promote conservative leaders.” 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 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->

December 1, 2010, Arlington, VA—University of Virginia student Wes Siler with the help of the Leadership Institute received university funding for their conservative student group after being denied funding from the students' association and the university president.Wes Siler and his UVA friends began the Burke Society to promote conservatism on campus. Their “mission is to host speakers and organize events to further conservative values and thought on grounds.” Their efforts to become a university funded and recognized student organization was denied by the “liberal student association” and the university president.FIRE, an organization devoted to defending individual rights in higher education, worked with LI in drafting a letter to the UVA president. Within ten minutes of receiving this letter, the university president called the student council president instructing him to allocate money to the Burke Society and give them the right to associate. The Burke Society has worked to get a conservative course called “Conservatism 101” on campus so students can learn conservative ideology as well. For the full story about this course and news articles, please click here.The Leadership Institute recognizes Wes and the Burke Society's unwavering commitment to conservatism, no matter the cost. Good work, we are proud of you!For more information on FIRE, please click here.For more information on the Burke Society, please visit 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.

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->

In a Politico article they quote GOP strategist and Romney 2008 campaign veteran Terry Sullivan talking about one of LI's Laws of the Public Policy Process--"They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."Politico's Alex Isenstadt wrote, "Some presidential hopefuls — like former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty — have spent much of the last year lavishing praise on congressional candidates. Others are starting to ramp up their outreach: This week, House GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) sent contributions totaling $105,000 to 70 candidates across the country — including a handful of contenders in the critical early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.“There's an old Morton Blackwell saying: ‘They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care,'” longtime South Carolina-based GOP strategist and Romney 2008 campaign veteran Terry Sullivan said, referring to the prominent conservative activist. “Voters want to know that you care. It's not just about running for president — it's about helping out guys who are running in 2010.”To read the full Politico article, please visit here. >