Workaholic Washington does stop. I've witnessed it today.This morning I commuted to work in a record-breaking 12 minutes, when it usually takes 30-45. Commuters left the Beltway for the holiday.My well-attended Wednesday morning meeting in the district was sparse, and cut short. It's quiet in the office this afternoon. Many of my fellow Leadership Institute co-workers have ditched me for home (I don't blame them).But before I leave the office to start cooking for tomorrow's feast with my boyfriend's family, I pause to reflect.What a privileged joy this past year has been working at the Leadership Institute.I have met some of the most thoughtful, intelligent, and passionate people while here.These folks I have worked alongside many an hour. They have been fellow LI employees, volunteer faculty for our trainings, and students who have given up weekends and nights to learn political technology. The donors who support our mission to train conservative activists, students, and leaders give a priceless gift, and do so voluntarily, because it's their delight.In my year here, I have seen many walk into our building with nothing more than a great passion to make a difference within the public policy process. They've left armed with the tools to make that dream a reality.Later, I find out they won their State Senate campaign. They started a conservative organization. They organized their precinct, and voted in a conservative school board member. They debated liberals on CNN and MSNBC like they've owned the airwaves forever.This place is truly remarkable. There's no place quite like it.We are a family here. Not just the staff, but the interns each semester who are valued team members in our departments and the 300-plus volunteer faculty who give their expertise and precious time to share their insider knowledge with our students. And the LI graduates, wow, they have this special nostalgia of their time here.I have met many people who, after hearing where I work, say that they've attended trainings here, or support the Institute, or taught for us in the past, or interned here. They owe their career to LI, they say. LI launched their career. LI helped them get elected. LI staffed their organization with the right staff. LI helped them start a conservative group on their university campus. And so on. I hear it regularly.Wow, what a place! What a family!While my immediate family in Austin, Texas is 1,504 miles away (and I miss them dearly), I am grateful to come each morning to work hard for a worthy purpose.But it's much greater than just LI. I am thankful for the liberty-loving, conservative coalitions, and their commitment to doing right by this country. It is an honor to serve alongside you.America is the world's last best hope. Yes, there are challenges, but we can all be thankful for being American, for we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.On June 28, 1787 when the Constitutional Convention seemed likely to fail, Benjamin Franklin stood, addressing General George Washington, assembly chairman, and others present, and said:“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for God, my Savior, this great Country, the Conservative Movement, the Leadership Institute community, and my amazing family.Fellow patriots—enjoy these quiet, slow moments. Cherish the love in your homes. Be unreservedly grateful for each and every blessing.We have a lot to be thankful for. >

Tonight's presidential debate on foreign policy and national security begins at 8 p.m. EST.Join the conversation online here. Also at this site, you'll have access to Heritage's expert commentary and notes from behind the scenes.You can host a debate party and receive a free watch party kit here.“The timing couldn't be better. We're setting the table for some lively family discussions at Thanksgiving,” Heritage Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner said. “Nothing is more important to the future of our nation than how we approach national security and foreign policy.” Tweet with #CNNDebate, and the Heritage Foundation says they will retweet the best Debate Watch Party tweets.You can also vote in the Facebook poll.>

The Leadership Institute announced its 100,000th student trained since 1979: Alejandro Capote. Alejandro, a Florida State University sophomore and recently naturalized US citizen, graduated from the Institute's Youth Leadership School, its flagship training. After completing his first Youth Leadership School in Arlington, Virginia in July, Alejandro organized a 35-person Youth Leadership School on his college campus in Tallahassee, Florida on October 15. The two-day training taught students to organize and lead mass-based youth efforts for candidates and causes of their choice. At the Tallahassee training, Alejandro was named LI's 100,000th graduate. He receives free Institute training for life and a travel scholarship to any LI training in the U.S. in 2012. “In 1965, experienced conservative friends much older than I advised me there was no way to earn a living doing what I hoped to do, building the conservative movement, so I am proud today to celebrate the 100,000th student trained by my Leadership Institute,” said Morton Blackwell, president and founder of the Institute. “Alejandro Capote demonstrates the purpose of my Institute's training: to produce a new generation of conservative leaders and activists.” Born outside Havana, Cuba, Alejandro immigrated to the United States at age six with his mother and his siblings. On April 28, 2011, he became a naturalized American citizen. “The American Dream is not a house or a car, but the chance to be free and live in a country where the individual comes first,” Alejandro explained. Now a sophomore at Florida State University, Alejandro plans to teach high school classes on government and political science and, someday, to run for elected office in Florida. (His immediate next step, though, involves the Leadership Institute: he'd like to intern for LI in summer 2012.) Alejandro's political inspiration is President Ronald Reagan. “I was not around when President Reagan was around,” he said, “but his story continues to call upon a new generation of Americans, so that we can meet the challenges of our time. It is a story that continues to call upon people from all over the world to come to our shores, because they all believe that if they work hard, they can achieve the American dream. That is the greatness of our country. It is a nation built upon free ideas and free people.” Alejandro hopes someday to meet Mrs. Reagan to share how much she and her husband have shaped his ideas about government and American politics. “I want to change history,” Alejandro said. “If someone else can do it, why can't I?” Since its founding in 1979, the Leadership Institute has trained more than 100,421 students. Graduates include members of the US Senate and House, governors, state legislators, media personalities, and conservative activists and officeholders at every level. Notable graduates of training include Sen. Mitch McConnell, US Senate Minority Leader; Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity; and Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee. Join more than 100,421 conservatives who got political training – or the start of their careers in politics – at the Leadership Institute. Learn more about LI training and register for a training near your hometown.

One hundred people attended the Conservative Career Workshop Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at LI's Steven P.J. Wood Building in Arlington, VA.“This was some of the best advice I've received for my job search. I learned about the interview process and negotiating a salary. I had no idea how to negotiate salary prior to this! I feel more confident about tweaking my resume and going into an interview now," said Heritage Foundation Coalition Relations Intern Dixie Cline.The Conservative Career Workshop helps those looking to sharpen their professional skills and for those searching for their next career move. Attendees learned about different paths in the conservative movement from working on the Hill, in a think-tank, or for a non-profit.“I learned how to take my private sector experience toward perspective job opportunities in the conservative movement," said Robert Towner, a Government Technical Coordinator for Verizon Wireless.LI had a great lineup of expert faculty, including:-American Conservative Union Director of CPAC Chris Malagisi-Americans for Prosperity Foundation Recruiter Andrea McCarthy-Foreign Policy Initiative Director of Government Relations & Outreach Rachel Hoff-FreedomWorks Federal and State Campaigns Director Brendan Steinhauser-Global Vision Communications Principal and Founder/CEO of Ladies America Lindsey Mask-Heritage Foundation Recruiter Kristine Bramsen-Leadership Institute Vice President Steven Sutton-Leadership Institute Director of ConservativeJobs.com Emily Miller-Republican Study Committee Executive Director Paul Teller“At the conservative Career Workshop I learned to be more confident in networking and utilizing the contacts I have. It's a great workshop that will provide insider tips to finding a job in D.C.” said Kelly Cassara, the media/field department intern for Concerned Women for America.Family Research Council intern Terri Hufschmid said, “The information about propriety in networking and resume formats was extremely helpful. I will be using this for the rest of my life!”Americans for Limited Government Senior Research Analyst Richard McCarty, another attendee, said: “I have attended several LI schools, and I've always found them interesting and insightful, as well as good places to network.”During the two evenings, attendees learned to: find career paths in the conservative movement; successfully get a job on the Hill; negotiate salary; enhance resume and interview skills; and have an effective personal brand.Avant Garde Information Solutions Financial Controller Patrick Fabian said: “The Leadership Institute provides the must-have tools necessary for a conservative activist to transition to a full-time career related to public policy.”LI offers training year-around. Come get trained to be effective in public policy. >

Leadership Institute graduates Mike Watson, founder and president of Control Automation Technologies Corporation and, as of last week, newly elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, together with his Campaign Manager Annette James are this week's Leadership Institute Graduates of the Week. “Mike Watson and I met at LI just under one year ago and this past week, we brought home a victory for Mike as the new delegate over an incumbent in a district with a 53 percent Obama approval rating, and where the generic ballot test favored the Democrat,” Annette said. “It was an uphill battle, but we succeeded.” Mike and Annette met at LI's week-long Campaign Management School in December 2010. “LI is one of the best things that you can do if you are interested in politics,” Annette said. “The amount of information you receive is a bit like ‘drinking from a fire hose.'" Mike said: “I have a clear vision of goals for the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation. 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.” Mike has taken many LI trainings: Television Workshops (both introduction to techniques and also on-camera); Public Speaking Workshop; Campaign Manager School; Future Candidate School; and Legislative Project Management School. Annette too has come for lots of training, including the Event Planning Workshop; Travel-Campaign Management School; Public Speaking Workshop; Campaign Manager School; and Youth Leadership School. Mike and Annette pursued the goal of “working to preserve the American dream,” Mike's campaign slogan, and brought home a victory last Tuesday in Virginia's state elections. As Mike heads to work in Richmond, Annette is heading back to her home in Florida before gearing up for a national campaign. “Mike and I are both willing and eager to come back to LI and tell our story at any training class you would like us at,” Annette said. “Any way we can help to promote the heck out of LI through this victory, we would be thrilled to do so!” Annette added, “We will always be grateful to LI; you hold a special place in our hearts.” LI offers campaign training the first full week of every month. Mike and Annette met at one of these week-long campaign trainings. Come to a training; you just never know. To read a former story on Annette, please click here. To read a former story on Mike, please click here. To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate you know to be featured as LI's graduate of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Hart at LaurenHart@LeadershipInstitute.org.

While recognition of military service is prevalent throughout American history, the modern-day view of Veteran's Day largely began in 1926 when most states established November 11 as a legal holiday.The original name was Armistice Day, which changed to Veteran's Day in 1954.Across America, communities honor those who sacrifice greatly and selflessly to defend the United States. There are hundreds, if not thousands of events today, but here are some of the highlights for the Washington, D.C. area:• Wreath laying ceremonies on November 11: -Arlington National Cemetery: 11 a.m. -Vietnam Veterans Memorial: 1 p.m. -World War II Memorial: 9 a.m. -Navy Memorial: 1 p.m. -Air Force Memorial: 11 a.m.• Mount Vernon: -All-veteran barbershop chorus: 11 a.m. -Wreath laying at George Washington's tomb: 2 p.m.• Veterans Day Parade in Manassas, November 12 at 11 a.m. Parade starts at intersection of Quarry Rd. and Prescott Ave., travels south on Prescott and then west on Center St. ending at West St. For more information, click here.Check out your local events to find a parade or memorial near you. Most importantly, thank a soldier.Have a safe and happy Veteran's Day! >

The past three evenings this week, 20 conservatives gathered in Arlington, Virginia at the Leadership Institute's Steven P.J. Wood Building to enhance their public relations skills at LI's Advanced Public Relations School.Attendees came from many backgrounds, including: non profits, government agencies, and defense contractors.The training blended the lecture style most common with LI trainings with hands-on practice. As LI's Director of Communications Training Rachel Phillips noted, “PR is about practice. You can learn these skills the more you work on them.”Attendees formed groups to practice the lessons taught by: Jessica Towhey of Dezenhall Resources; Stuart Roy of Prism Public Affairs; and Abigail Alger of LI. Each group was given a scenario, brainstormed how to respond to the crisis, and then held a mock press conference.One group represented a restaurant company with a food crisis. They had a Bird Flu outbreak and had to respond to public concerns. One person played the role of a communications director, one had to write the press release, and the third person played the spokesman during the press conference.To find out when LI is hosting more public relations training, visit http://leadershipinstute.org/training. >

Thomas Beach packed his bags and left his beloved Alabama for a new opportunity in the Lone Star State: managing a congressional campaign for James Kuiken in Texas' 15th district. “My main focus is on the Republican primary election in March and using what I learned about the science of campaigning at the Leadership Institute to win,” Thomas explained. This campaign is his fifth. On his first political campaign, Thomas explained, “I was full of spit and fire, and thought I knew what it took…We won 16% of the vote. I had no experience and no training at the time, but I poured my heart and soul into that campaign.” After his candidate lost, Thomas wanted to understand why. “In my search for answers,” he said, “I discovered the Leadership Institute. Afterward, I helped on various campaigns and organizations, and now I am in Texas fighting for the conservative cause.” Thomas was raised by his Mexican mother and Jewish father. After several tours as a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, he traveled the world by way of various jobs: Madrid taxi driver; English teacher in Brazil and Mexico; and fisherman in South Korea. As Thomas' international perspective grew, so did his conviction that liberty is the only solution. “I witnessed firsthand the results of centralized governments and their progressive policies,” Thomas recounted. So began his involvement in the public policy process. Thomas returned to the United States with his wife, a native of Brazil, and they now have a two-year-old daughter. “I went to school at the University of Alabama for a degree in political science,” Thomas said, “and entered the political ring to fight bare-knuckled for the conservative cause.” Thomas first came to the Leadership Institute's Steven P.J. Wood Building in Arlington, VA in December 2010 for several LI trainings: the week-long Campaign Management School; the Blogging Workshop; and the Public Speaking Workshop. But that wasn't enough. He wanted more. Two months later, Thomas attended the Conservative Career Workshop; the Public Speaking Workshop for a second time; the On-Camera Television Workshop; and LI's High-Dollar Fundraising School. Within six months, Thomas was back. This time, for the week-long, intensive Future Candidate School and LI's Online Fundraising Workshop. “I would highly encourage folks to go to LI training if they've never been,” Thomas said. “It's a great place to network with fellow conservatives and learn exactly what it takes to win elections...Plus, there is a dorm which helps on keeping the cost of staying in the Washington, D.C. area down.” Thomas said, “For anyone who has plenty of experience and assumes that they will not learn anything new, I encourage them to put their pride in check and take notes. You will learn something new. For anyone who is new to the conservative fight, take notes till your fingers bleed. Write down every word and then go home and type it all on your computer. Yes, do it exactly that way. Taking any course and stuffing the handouts in a closet till the next election cycle does not help the conservative cause.” LI now offers campaign training like Thomas took every month. LI's next week-long, intensive training is the Future Candidate School the week of December 5. Come get trained. Register here. To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate you know to be featured as LI's graduate of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Hart at LaurenHart@LeadershipInstitute.org.

The American left is still shaken by the success of spontaneous conservative grassroots participation in tea party activities leading up to the 2010 elections. In desperation, leftists now hope to profit from the Occupy Wall Street gatherings which have spread to many other locations. Haven't the mainstream print and broadcast media, overwhelmingly liberal, given massive and sympathetic coverage to the Occupiers? Isn't this a good way to build enthusiasm among the base the left needs to win the 2012 elections? Probably not, even though Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, many extremist labor unions, the Socialist Party USA, the Communist Party USA, and others on the left are singing praises of the current demonstrators. So many want to lead the Occupiers. One week after the Occupy Wall Street protesters first gathered, the New York Times ran an opinion piece by Michael Kazin, “Whatever Happened to the American Left?,” offering his guidance in left-wing movement building. He urged the demonstrators to focus on “demanding millions of new jobs that pay a livable wage.” A fat lot of good that demand would do. Creating new jobs requires creation of new wealth, something that government has never been able to do. Government can and frequently does destroy jobs by interfering with wealth creation. At best, government can facilitate the creation of wealth (and jobs) by restricting its activity to protecting property rights, enforcing contracts, punishing fraud, and deterring violence. The idea of leftists “demanding millions of new jobs that pay a livable wage” reminds one of the famous “cargo cults” which sprang up in the South Pacific after World War II. Allied forces visited many remote islands during that war, built air strips, and flew in large quantities of goods needed in the war effort. Native islanders, unfamiliar with modern civilization, received some of those goods from Allied forces who wanted friendly relations with them. After the war, the planes stopped coming. Some primitive islanders created cargo cults. They built crude replicas of airplanes and prayed to the replicas, hoping to receive additional free goods from the sky. As evidence of the persistence of human folly, a handful of the cargo cults still survive, but most have faded away after generations of disappointment. Leftists demanding from government millions of new jobs will be similarly disappointed. For better or worse, though, the Occupiers are too diverse to unite on a single demand. What attracts their current supporters, from top government officials to the avowed Marxists and Leninists, is their potential usefulness in promoting class warfare, an ancient and common thread which runs through the entire left. Maybe, somehow, the Occupiers will build a great surge of hate, invigorate class warfare, and help the left to maintain and increase its power, despite the growing public disapproval of President Obama and his allies. And maybe not. We'll see. Right now, the protesters don't seem to be winning public approval, despite sympathetic news coverage stressing their “idealism.” My late father often said, “Anyone can get his name in the newspapers if he's willing to take his pants off in public.” Many of the Occupiers have done that and worse, which generates for them more contempt than admiration. The TV interviews with randomly selected Occupiers are suitable to run only on comedy shows. Before the current age of easy communication, every community had its village idiot, someone everyone knew couldn't think straight. The local village idiot was pretty isolated and usually tolerated well, often with affection because of his affliction. “Poor fellow.” Today, village idiots can find each other easily online, and sometimes they can gather in large numbers. Such gatherings are ugly, but they attract media attention, which attracts more idiots. Their idiocy, when it is directed toward leftist politics, may be ignored or soft-pedaled by the major news media, but the mainstream media has lost its former monopoly on mass communications. Most Americans have easy access to conservative media's broadcast, print, and online communications which widely expose the idiots' wackiness and bad behavior. Who but the willfully blind still approve of the Occupiers' protests and flights of fancy? Political linkage to these demonstrators will hurt, not help candidates in the 2012 elections. But this doesn't occur to the left, who are stuck in a rut with an outmoded world-view just when millions of conservative Americans have become newly activated as responsible political participants. The left cannot accept the increasingly obvious fact that big government is destroying jobs and bankrupting our country and its people. Leftists are fascinated by the Occupy Wall Street protesters because, for generations, their organizing principle hasn't changed. It was best stated in 1901 by future Soviet dictator Vladimir Lenin in his newspaper Iskra (The Spark). Lenin wrote, “Our task is to utilize every manifestation of discontent, and to gather and turn to the best account every protest, however small … Concentrate all droplets of popular resentment. Combine all these streamlets into a single gigantic torrent.” More recently, Saul Alinsky taught much the same thing to many who now cannot resist applauding the Occupiers. That old strategy won't work in America today. Most experienced political analysts predict that President Obama cannot be re-elected unless our national economy improves dramatically before November 2012. More government can't generate the growth necessary to save the left in next year's election. And even if it could, the current Congress would defeat any major attempts to increase government spending and government control of the economy. The ironic fact is that the Occupy Wall Street protesters will, to the extent that they vilify profits and shame and frighten employers and prospective employers, discourage private investment in new activity which alone can create new jobs. By linking himself and his allies to these protests, President Obama is scaring off job creators and damaging his chance of re-election, not building his base of support. Fortunately, there aren't enough idiots out there.

Last week the Leadership Institute hosted 77 representatives from 12 countries—Bolivia, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Romani, Russia, Spain, Tanzania, United Kingdom, and the United States.The International Leadership Training Seminar (ILTS) was a week-long crash course in communications, fundraising, negotiations, and on-camera techniques.Member of the Bolivian Parliament Paola Zapata Montaño said, “The Leadership Institute has made me proud of being a conservative, and has equipped me with not only the right tools, but also the right principles that motivate me to recover the democratic lifestyle that Bolivia deserves.”Notable attendees included Armando Vera, the founder and president of the Hispanic Tea Party; Paola Zapata Montaño, a member of the Bolivian parliament; Lkhagvajav Dolgorjav, the Secretariat's manager for the Democratic Party of Zavkhan province; and Dr. Ole-Ronkei Morompi, the advocacy director at Compassion International.The training was taught in/translated into English, Spanish, and Mongolian. Those in attendance learned from experts in various fields, including: Stephen Clouse, the president of Stephen D. Clouse & Associates; Ann Fitzgerald, president of A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates, LLC; and Giuseppe Gori, the president of Central Dynamics.When asked what he enjoyed about these lectures, Compassion International Advocacy Director Dr. Morompi said, “Strategic use of social media for purposes of political mobilization, fund-raising and ultimately winning an election is certainly the highlight of the training for me at LI.”After three days of intensive training at LI, the group toured the U.S. Capitol. From there, The Heritage Foundation opened their doors and gave additional lectures on the economic index, new media, and how a think tank like Heritage and a “do tank” like LI can work well with conservative activists and officials who want to make a difference.“Graduates of The Leadership Institute go on to be amazing leaders for their cause, both here in America and back in their home countries,” said Bridgett Wagner, Heritage's director of coalition relations.Before returning to their respective countries, some of the attendees offered their kind words about their time at LI.Bolivia's think tank Funbolider's President Alejandro Barja said, “This training has allowed me to change my thinking and my behavior and it has equipped me to better solve the problems of leadership we face and fulfill the needs in my region and country in a positive way.”Interested in attending a future International Leadership Training Seminar? Contact LI's Director International & Government Training Miguel Moreno at (703) 247-2000.Other Leadership Institute training is available here. >

Ohio native Jessica Talbert first became interested in politics as a student at Flagler College in Florida. Her passion for politics and participation in public policy only grew. Now, Jessica has worked in most areas of the public policy process, ranging from the executive and legislative branches to PACs, lobbying groups, Capitol Hill, and political committees. Jessica came to the Leadership Institute first for the Capitol Hill Staff Training School in November 2010 and returned for the week-long Campaign Manager School in December 2010. “I highly recommend the Leadership Institute for conservatives who want to get firsthand training in a variety of topics from campaign management, public speaking, grassroots, and the list goes on,” Jessica said. “In addition to offering great training, the Leadership Institute also brings together conservatives from across the nation, creating relationships that will last our entire careers.” Jessica continued, “Having volunteered in numerous capacities with campaigns, I attended LI's Campaign Manager School to learn the overall operations of a campaign. I was amazed by the experts who spoke at this training…. This training was thorough, extremely informative, and overall a great experience.” Jessica worked in government affairs in D.C. for seven years, but, as she explained, “once Republicans took over the House, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to get firsthand experience working on policy and legislation.” So, Jessica registered for LI's Capitol Hill Staff Training School in November after the elections. She joined 146 other conservatives, making it the largest training in LI's Steven P.J. Wood Building at that time in the Institute's history. “My goal in attending the Capitol Hill Staff Training School was to network with the students and seasoned Republican staffers,” Jessica said. “The class provided a well-rounded explanation on the various issues facing job seekers and also what to expect after finding a position on the Hill.” Jessica got a job working in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Steve Austria (OH-7), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, in February 2011. As his legislative assistant, Jessica handles appropriations and policy issues concerning judicial programs, transportation and infrastructure, homeland security, health care, Medicare, Social Security, education, and labor. In college, Jessica said she “was honored to intern for Congressman John Mica in his district office where I learned the importance of constituent services. I then spent a semester in D.C. interning with the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy and Congressman Dave Camp. This was a unique semester because I simultaneously interned with the Executive and Legislative branches, which was an eye-opening experience on how our government really operates.” “After my semester in D.C.,” Jessica reflected, “I knew I wanted to live here after college. Two days after graduation, I moved to D.C. and started my career.” Her first job was at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Then, she moved to do policy research on substance abuse issues at a small firm. Before moving the Capitol Hill, Jessica most recently ran a political action committee in the health care industry. As Jessica worked during the day, she attended law school at George Mason University School of Law in the evenings. When she wasn't working or going to school, Jessica was volunteering in politics. “As an attorney, I volunteered in Alaska last year for the Senate contest and also volunteered as the Election Day Coordinator in Stark County for the Ohio Republican Party,” Jessica said. “Campaigning is also a passion of mine, and I have volunteered on a Florida State Representative race and Team Ohio.” LI is offering the Conservative Career Workshop November 15-16, similar to the Capitol Hill Staff Training School that Jessica took last year. Register now to reserve your spot. To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate you know to be featured as LI's graduate of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Hart at LaurenHart@LeadershipInstitute.org.

Dr. John Lenczowski founded the Institute of World Politics (IWP), an independent graduate school, in 1990 to teach what no one else did: statecraft.Statecraft, as Dr. Lenczowski explained, consists of different "arts": military power and political warfare, political action and information programs, and peace-making and law enforcement. In concert, these arts are the “instruments of national power."Yet many American officials are unaware of them.After work for the State Department and the National Security Council, Dr. Lenczowski perceived that people "were inadequately intellectually and professionally prepared" for their jobs in government.He founded IWP to provide that missing intellectual and professional preparation in foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence.Today IWP, located in Washington, DC, offers three Master's programs, eight Certificate of Graduate Study programs, and an internship for college students.Its faculty is composed of “scholar-practitioners,” people with work experience in places like the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the military.Many students are mid-career professionals in related fields. Some are sent to study at IWP by intelligence agencies or military branches.IWP has been successful in working with what Dr. Lenczowski calls the "permanent bureaucracy" and the armed forces. He credits it to the Institute's integrated study of statecraft, and then provides an example. Today's Army officers must integrate traditional military power with counterinsurgency and stability operations, Dr. Lenczowksi said. The Army has sent officers to IWP because it “educates them in related, complementary arts” necessary to fulfill those duties.But an IWP degree is in more than just strategy. IWP offers courses on America's founding principles, the Western moral tradition, and the use of power. This prepares graduates for an important struggle: the battle of ideas.The Cold War, Dr. Lencowski explains, was a war between “two different philosophies of life and of government.” But foreign policy professionals -- who did not understand the American founding -- were not ready to study and wage intellectual war against Marxism and Leninism. IWP does not intend to repeat that error.Dr. Lencowski explained IWP welcomes the public and LI graduates to learn more about IWP and its programs.You may apply to take an individual IWP course or for admission to a graduate study program. You may also attend one of its many lectures, special events, and annual dinners -- all of which feature prominent speakers.Dr. Lencowski is both Leadership Institute faculty and graduate, having attended the Direct Mail School. He advised Institute staff on founding the Foreign Service Opportunity School and has lectured at several LI campaign trainings on foreign policy issues.You may learn more about Dr. Lencowski's IWP online at IWP.edu or by calling (888) KNOW-IWP.>

Want to know what it's like to be an intern at the Leadership Institute?Eight of the current interns created profile videos to tell you a bit more about their background and what they do in their department.Click their picture to watch the video.Thomas Cloud: Office of the President Intern Mikayla Hall: Recruitment Intern Laci Lawrence: Employment Placement Service Intern Charlie Creitz: LI Studios/Online Programs Intern Angela Mitchell: Events Intern Frank Manning: Donor Relations Intern Obed Bazikian: Youth Leadership Schools Intern For more on the LI intern program please click here.>

This fall has been extremely busy for LI's Youth Leadership School (YLS) department. In October alone, there have been six YLS trainings around the country. The Sunshine State is particularly popular: LI trained 56 young conservatives in Tampa and Tallahassee this month.The YLS, an intensive, two-day program known as the “boot camp” of politics, is the Leadership Institute's flagship training. Attendees learn what it takes to build an effective student organization and youth campaign. The YLS has launched more political careers than any other Institute training.In Tampa, 21 conservative activists from more than five organizations participated. “[The YLS] has been a life-changing experience for me,” said Mechelle Morgan, a University of South Florida student.“I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life.”One week later, 35 conservatives attended the Tallahassee YLS. Graduates left the training energized and ready to get involved. There were three students who had returned to take the YLS again, and others expressed interest in hosting their own YLS in their hometown.Anna Crow, an attendee and Institute supporter from Pensacola, said, “Seeing all the bright, intelligent, knowledgeable students here was the most heart-warming part—the future leaders of America.”Interested in attending the Youth Leadership School? There are still eight trainings in 2011. To register for this school and other schools, please go here. >

It's time for a little tough love to current job seekers. Some people have excellent resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills, and some do not. Chances are if you are reading this blog you are looking for some help. Congratulations for taking the first step in a job search: asking for advice! I have compiled a list of absolute, never ever, do not's for your job search. These are golden standards that apply to every job sector, and the types of issues that result in resume trash-dunking contests across the country. The tips may seem like no-brainers, but pay attention to each of them to make sure your resume doesn't end up as a paper airplane cruising your dream job's office.1. Never use family and friends as references. Employers know your mom will give the most glowing reference of your selfless dedication and organizational skills, but what they really what to know is why you couldn't find a real reference for your application. If you have worked somewhere for several months and you use your sister as a reference, the “red flag” is immediately raised for the employer. 2. Watch for suspect job skills or descriptions. In the wise words of George Washington in his Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation, “Show nothing to your friend that might affright him.” Review your resume and have others critique your resume. You might be surprised how many mistakes remain even after you have spent hours formatting and editing. Look for strange descriptions that might make for hilarious office emails but not a credible resume. If a friend reading the job description has no idea what tasks you performed, find another way to describe your duties. Also, avoid labeling yourself as unemployed or unlicensed. Find a positive way to express your current job status (i.e. jobseeker).3. Check any bad attitude or negativity at the door. The job market is tough right now, there's no question about that. You have probably been working your tail off applying for jobs, networking, and sending out your resume to everyone you can think of. It is a frustrating process! Despite any aggravation you've had with previous failures, adopt a positive and upbeat attitude for the job interview process. Find positive things to say about your job search and experiences or say nothing at all.4. Avoid oversharing during the interview. Returning to the wise words of our first President: “Be not tedious in discourse or in reading unless you find the company pleased therewith.” When asked the inevitable “Tell me about yourself” question, be prepared to answer with a concise and relevant response. The employer does not want to know your life story despite the open-endedness of the question. It is easy to become stressed in the interview and spew useless information; review potential questions before the interview and practice your answers.5. Do not be the silly applicant. Read and re-read the job posting and any document you submit to the employer. Nothing is more embarrassing than sending the wrong cover letter to an employer or sending your application to the wrong person. Be sure you have the correct email address and that you have properly submitted all documentation. Incomplete applications rarely go further than the recycle bin, and incorrectly submitted applications cause employers to assume that you are incapable of following directions. If the job posting is confusing, do not hesitate to call or email the employer for clarification. 6. Work your opportunities. Has someone offered to help you? Did a colleague provide some advice? Have you utilized your network? From my personal experience, it is easy to complain about not having a job, but it is harder to continually apply for jobs, seek new avenues of employment, and ask for help. Make sure you take people up on their offers to help with your job search. If you are a new jobseeker, all advice should be relevant and at least educational. It only takes one person to take notice of your ambition and qualifications to land the perfect job. Talk with people, find out their opinions on potential employers, and discover their personal career path. It is often said that searching for a job is a job in and of itself. Are you working 8 hours a day to find your dream job? Chances are other people are working just as strenuously.I hope you will use this advice to your advantage as you apply for jobs and receive interviews. Talk to any hiring representatives, and they will have some hilarious and horrifying stories of their own. Make sure that on the interview day you are the polished, confident, and intelligent candidate. Good luck!>

After being away from Washington, D.C. for nearly 15 years, the Leadership Institute's Graduate of the Week Rob Carter has returned to join the fight on Capitol Hill. “I knew I could learn the new ropes, but I didn't know where to start until I stumbled across a Facebook ad for a Leadership Institute course,” Rob remembers. “That changed everything.” “Nobody—and I mean nobody—can understand how this town works without someone guiding you through the process,” Rob said. “LI gives you the tools and connections you need to get your foot in the door. What you do once you're there is up to you.” In September 2010, Rob attended the Leadership Institute's Legislative Project Management School, and in November 2010 and February 2011 he attended LI's Capitol Hill Staff Training School. In June 2011 Rob came back for the Television Workshop's Introduction to Techniques. “The Leadership Institute taught me how a Congressional office functions and how to get recognized by potential employers. Hill resumes are quite different than those for law firms, and LI really helped me with that,” Rob said. A lawyer by trade, Rob has also worked for: the State of New Jersey as the deputy attorney general; Rep. Bill Posey (FL-15) as a legislative aide; and now for Rep. Bob Turner (NY-9) as his senior legislative assistant. “LI introduced me to many of the people I now see on a weekly (if not daily) basis,” Rob said. "LI also helped me to understand the way political campaigns work and how to market our message in a way that connects with our constituents.” Campaigning is in Rob's blood. He was victorious on three Republican campaigns that were formerly held by Democrats: Senator Scott Brown (MA); Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-3); and Congressman Bob Turner (NY-9). “Two of my classmates from LI's September 2010 Legislative Project Management School were also on the Runyan campaign,” Rob said. “I acquired a large number of contacts through my LI classes, both from presenters and fellow classmates. That alone was worth the small price of the classes,” Rob said. In September, Rob took on a new job: senior legislative assistant in the office of Congressman Bob Turner. In this role, Rob handles homeland security and national defense issues. “Being a tax attorney,” Rob said, “I also review legislation involving taxation, budget & financial services. I meet with constituents and issue advocates, draft legislation, attend committee meetings, monitor floor activity, and prepare vote recommendations.” Previously, Rob worked for Rep. Bill Posey's (FL-15) as a legislative aide. There, he “handled Financial Services Committee affairs for our office, and did legal work on taxation, Government Sponsored Entities (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac), FDIC bank oversight rules and FDA regulation,” Rob said. “During that time, my favorite project was preparing a 12-minute PowerPoint presentation on the debt crisis for Congressman Posey's website,” Rob said. “It proved invaluable during the Continuing Budget/Government shutdown debate in April and the debt ceiling battle this August.” During his college years at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, Rob interned for the U.S. State Department and at the Jesuit Refugee Service when not working on his political science degree. Rob went onto graduate from: Loyola University of Chicago with a M.A. in Philosophy and Theology; Seton Hall Law School with a J.D.; and, New York University School of Law with a LL.M. in Taxation. Rob suggests LI training for all conservatives: “I speak to countless people, both students and long-term career folks, who want to get a start in Washington. I can think of no place better than LI to get the skills you need for the road ahead.” LI is offering the Conservative Career Workshop November 15-16, similar to the Capitol Hill Staff Training School that Rob took last year. Register now to reserve your spot. To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate you know to be featured as LI's graduate of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Hart at LaurenHart@LeadershipInstitute.org.

At the Leadership Institute's Tuesday all-staff meeting, LI President Morton Blackwell awarded Heather Homan, political training coordinator, the Employee of the Quarter Award.A graduate of the University of Toledo and working toward her second master's degree, Heather balances extensive political involvement with her record-breaking recruitment efforts and dedication to her department.When announcing the Employee of the Quarter Award,LI Founder and President Morton Blackwell said, “Historically, [the fundraising and career] schools are challenging to recruit for, but Heather has risen to the occasion and has led three record-breaking trainings. She has revamped the curriculum of her schools to ensure students receive the latest information from the top speakers in the field. She continuously sets high goals for herself and the department, and always goes above and beyond my expectations.”Most impressive was Heather's work with September's High Dollar Fundraising School. Seventy-nine students registered, making it the largest school of its kind in the 32-year history of LI. Other records include bringing 114 students to the Written Communications Workshop and 122 to the Conservative Intern Workshop.All the hard work doesn't faze Heather. She said, “Conventional wisdom has always said to find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. Working for Morton and among the talented individuals and faculty members here at LI is an honor. I am truly blessed God has afforded me the opportunity to truly live my passion each day and work for such a significant organization in the conservative movement.”Taylor Bryant, an attendee at the Conservative Intern Workshop Heather managed, said, “The whole experience was amazing. I wish I could have had this before I came to DC. This training was an once-in-a-lifetime experience.”Director of Political Training Tyler Foote and Heather's boss said, "Heather has been an amazing addition to our department and the Leadership Institute as a whole. Her creativity and dedication when it comes to recruiting students and building new relationships has allowed LI to reach a wider audience than in previous years. Heather's time at LI, although short, has already made a significant impact on our organization.”Heather's record of great achievements extends beyond LI. Prior to becoming a political training coordinator, Heather spent five years working for U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) both in his district office and on Capitol Hill as legislative staff. While on the Hill, Partnership for a Secure America selected her for a competitive national security fellowship and Foreign Policy's “The Cable” listed her as a “Hill Staffer to Watch in 2010”.She tripled the Arlington/Falls Church Young Republicans membership in a few short months, organized and led campaign deployments across the country for the DC Young Republicans, and currently sits on the Membership and Campaign Committee for the Young Republican National Federation. She is also honored to serve as the current National Committeewoman for the Young Republican Federation of Virginia.Want to experience one of Heather's trainings for yourself? Come to LI's upcoming Conservative Career Workshop November 15-16. To register for this school and to see a full list of LI programs, go to http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/training/>

The Leadership Institute welcomed 41 conservative activists to LI's October Campaign Management School (CMS).Part of the LI's now monthly campaign training, the training teaches conservatives how to help the candidate of their choice run a productive and successful campaign.Craig Brandt, a veteran and candidate for the New Mexico State Senate, said, “As a candidate, before coming to LI I felt uninformed when discussing my own campaign with my campaign manager. I now have the knowledge to not only be a part of the discussion but lead the discussion.”Included in the lectures were the “ABCs of Polling,” taught by Tyler Harber, a partner with The Prosper Group, which described the purpose of polling and emphasized the importance of polling strategy. Also, Rebecca Norman, vice president of Client Services at the Richard Norman Company, broke down how to write a fundraising letter. Other faculty included Terry Campo of The Campo Group; Consultant Dave Johnson; and Dan Morgan and Todd Meredith of Morgan, Meredith, Associates, to name a few.Armed with this information, graduates of LI's Campaign Management School go on to run and work on campaigns across the country.David Wiesley, principal at Hispanic Voter Strategies, referred to the school as “excellent” and “not to be missed.”Didn't make it to the Campaign Management School? Campaign training is now offered monthly, with the Future Candidate School coming up the week of December 5th. To register for this training and others, click here. >

Fourteen-year-old Florida native Katie Collins, the Leadership Institute's Graduate of the Week, took LI's October 2008 Youth Leadership School in Sarasota, Florida. “I was only 11 at the time, but I remember learning so much about politics and campaigning from you.” “The Leadership Institute inspired me more than anything,” Katie recalls. “They gave me the tools I needed to believe I could successfully launch a political campaign. They continued to add fire to my dream of being a political activist. I learned how to make a difference around me and I have used these skills in many ways.” Katie has been active in public policy the past three years since she attended LI's YLS. “I left LI with an armful of books, inspired by what you said, and have since worked on several campaigns. However, with age, my projects have gotten increasingly bigger, leading up to my current project, overturning Roe vs. Wade.” Katie helped organize the September 20th rally in partnership with Faith2Action to “influence those who remain ‘undecided' in the Senate” over the Heartbeat Bill (H.B. 125) in Ohio. Katie has assisted several pro-family conferences, including: the 2007 Values Voter Presidential Debate in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as a student assistant; the 2009 How to Take Back America Conference in St. Louis, Missouri as a personal assistant to Faith2Action's Director Janet Porter; and most recently, the 2011 Heartbeat Bill Rally in Columbus, Ohio as the homeschool/youth coordinator. “My job was to contact as many young people in Ohio as possible and get them excited about the bill and involved in the process. I plan to continue to make myself available to help Faith2Action pass the Heartbeat Bill, the most protective piece of pro-life legislation in America through the Ohio Senate,” Katie said. Katie, her brother Sam, and their parents frequently travel, as homeschooling allows a more flexible schedule. The picture right shows Katie in front of the Piazza del Duomo in Milano, Italy. “I was pretty excited about the LI class, but nervous because I didn't know too much about it. In the evening I stayed up well past midnight with the other kids working very hard on all of our assigned homework. The LI teachers taught us to have fun while we worked hard,” Katie remembers. “I worked with other kids during class competitions and even won a contest! I learned specifically how to write press releases, draw bubble pictures for 'campaigns', etc. I go back to my class composition book time and time again,” Katie says, “as I consider how to reach people effectively. I suppose that was the lecture that meant the most to me in how to reach people effectively with a list of a dozen or so ways. And of course, each way had a fun name to remember it by!” What does 14-year-old Katie have her eye on next? “God has given me a gift of communication. Many people have told me that. He has also given me a love of the political arena, in the sense that I feel a calling to be involved in pro-life and pro-family/marriage movements,” Katie said. “I don't want to be a politician! I just want to fight for the issues dear to me, more like a political lobbyist.” Katie says that she has “recommended the Leadership Institute to many of my friends. LI was extremely beneficial to me as a young woman with political interests. LI training has influenced the way I think about politics, the ways I go about working in politics, and the way I relate to others about politics. I hope many others will continue to learn from the teachers at LI,” Katie said. “Maybe someday I'll even be able to go back and take some other classes myself!” Want to be trained as an effective conservative activist like Katie? Check out the full schedule of LI's upcoming trainings. For more information on LI's Youth Leadership Schools, please go here. To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate you know to be featured as LI's graduate of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Hart at LaurenHart@LeadershipInstitute.org.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* 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-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; 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-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} If you're reading this, you have probably felt the disappointment and frustration that occurs when you do not get the callback or receive the dreaded “Thank you for applying…blah, blah…but no” letter from the job you really wanted. Sometimes the interview went okay and sometimes the interview was the best you could imagine. In either scenario, the answer is the same: No thank you.Many articles exist to help you get the job, but this blog aims to help you regroup after the rejection. Consider these tips as you plan your next move.1. Analyze your interview. Think about what questions were asked and how you answered those questions. Were you confident, calm, and composed? Were you rambling, confusing, or withdrawn? I am normally so glad to be done with the interview that I immediately forget the bad parts or sugarcoat the reality of what occurred.You should really think about how you presented yourself during the interview to improve for future opportunities. I also recommend keeping an ongoing document of tough questions and your best answer to those questions. I will post a blog in a few weeks specifically about those terribly tricky interview questions that can tank an interview in about five minutes. Overall, be honest in your evaluation and decide how best to present yourself and correctly answer questions for the next interview.2. Review your portfolio. Make additional changes to your resume, writing sample, references list, etc. Have you sent your resume to other people for advice on mistakes or necessary changes? I edit my resume at least twice a month, and I still find little changes that can make it better. Remember that employers will consider your personality during the interview and the effectiveness and organization of your portfolio. If an employer is caught between two equally qualified candidates and one resume has grammatical or structural errors, you can guess who will receive the job offer. Take the time and make your portfolio the best it can be for the next interview.3. Consider alternative options. Yes, I said it – you may need to refocus your career search. For all of you diehards searching for a job in a narrow field, remember that the economy is not looking very bright. Perhaps several years ago you could jump right into your preferred field, but now current employers have smaller budgets and fewer employees.Take for instance Destiny Decker, a political science and religion major from North Carolina. Her entire undergraduate degree and experiences were aimed at working for a non-profit in England on the Middle East peace process. When things didn't work out, she worked at the Disney Store to make money and enhance her organizational, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills. Destiny continued her search for work in D.C. by using her local contacts, one of whom contacted the director of the Traditional Values Coalition. Her work ethic and skills landed her a salaried position five months later.Are you like Destiny? Take a job, learn new skills, continue looking, and prepare for the perfect opportunity.4. Cultivate your skills while you can. Do not languish at home wringing your hands about the lack of employment. Do something to make your resume better: find volunteer work, get an internship, or work at the Disney store!“Learn as many skills as possible in whatever you are doing,” Destiny recommends. You may even gain contacts through your temporary job that can help the search for your preferred job sector. Do not be afraid to work for a “plan B” or “plan C” employer. All of your experience adds up, and your work ethic can be demonstrated by taking those temporary positions.5. Don't give up. Keep searching for your dream job even though it seems unattainable at the present time. Who knows – maybe the dream job is five or ten years from now. Some opportunities may fall into your lap, whereas other opportunities are earned by hard work and dedication. If you find yourself in a job that is not exactly what you wanted originally, re-evaluate your goals. It could be that you love where you work now.After the whirlwind of changes, Destiny concludes, “Now that I know what my dream job is, I can honestly say I am doing my dream job. It has been challenging, but I know that everything I confront in the job world can either make me quit or make me stronger.”If you fall into the category of unemployed or underemployed, I hope these tips give you some ideas for the future and changes to make while searching. Keep up the hard work, and it will pay off, even if the final product is different than what you initially imagined.>