August 3, 2011—Arlington, VA—Want to promote conservative principles and make some extra money on the side?Submit a blog post to the Leadership Institute's CampusReform.org's Contributing Writer Program! This is a great way to build your resume, get published, and strengthen your writing skills.For each post that receives 150 unique hits or more within 24 hours of publication, Campus Reform will give you $30! Up to 10 prizes per week will be awarded for a 10 week period. The official start date is Sunday, September 4, 2011.Requirements:• You must be a registered student.• You must be a registered user of CampusReform.org.• Blogs should be in line with Campus Reform's general mission and promote conservative values.• The post must contain original content.To submit your post, write it on CampusReform.org and post it to the appropriate college sub-site. After saving and posting your blog, send the URL to Brittney Morrett.In the e-mail please include your name, school, and class year. Put "Contributing Writer Program Submission" in the subject line. For more information on the program, or how to get involved in conservative activism on your campus, contact your Regional Field Coordinator!>

June 27, 2011, Arlington, VA— Next week from July 2-8 the Leadership Institute's international programs department will go again to Mongolia to train around 500 key leaders in government, politics, and business, as well as those seeking public office and those who will run and contribute in the next presidential campaign.The Leadership Institute has currently trained more than 1,000 key Mongolian leaders in Arlington, Virginia, USA and in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.Leadership Institute International Programs Consultant Torey Hall met with Mongolia's President Tsakhia Elbegdorj last week when he was in town for meetings with President Obama and several conservative organizations. Mr. Elbegdorj was overjoyed that Mongolia has established democracy after 65 years of a communist government. “We will build a strong relationship with the USA and emulate President Ronald Reagan," President Elbegdorj said.President Elbegdorj, accompanied by his personal advisor and LI Graduate Mrs. Battsetseg Shagdar, was very happy to see LI's Torey Hall. He expressed great enthusiasm and thanked LI for training those who ran his political campaign, as well as other Mongolian business leaders and social entrepreneurs.LI's Director of International Programs Miguel Moreno and three other LI international speakers will address several audiences of key Mongolian leaders in the capital Ulaanbaatar next week. >

June 17, 2011, Arlington, VA- Last week, the Leadership Institute welcomed over 122 DC-area summer interns to the Conservative Intern Workshop. Representing numerous states and organizations, interns enthusiastically engaged in discussions with speakers and networked with each other throughout the intensive, day-long event.Topics ranged from learning how to navigate DC and making the most of an internship, to constructing an effective resume and building a valuable network.“Become an unforgettable asset,” said Steve Sutton, vice president of development at LI. “You want to be the ‘go to' guy. Show initiative and do more than the minimum.”Sutton encouraged interns to “press the advantage by always doing the job of the person ahead of you. If you want the job, do the job. And, never say no for someone else.”Students also learned how to translate first impressions into lasting impressions. Brian Bernys, national field director at LI, explained that manners are the hallmark of profession presence and that there is no end to making first impressions.“You need 60 seconds of information to position who you are, why you're important, and why people should remember you. Know yourself through self-assessment.”Andrea McCarthy, director of employment placement services at LI, shared tips on how to get your resume noticed. Student Bennet Opitz, intern of the American Legislative Exchange Council, described the training as “a great learning experience. I learned a lot about constructing a resume and forming it to fit my future career path.”The workshop concluded with CPAC Director Chris Malagisi of the American Conservative Union instructing interns that networking is not only helpful, it is critical. “Networking today equals opportunities tomorrow; it is an investment in your future.”Malagisi emphasized that following up on connections is the most important aspect in building an effective network. “In politics, most opportunities result from a single independent human being. The follow up can make or break a network.”“The networking talk was especially good because it shared how to take advantage of more opportunities while in DC. It really matters who you know,” commented Kevin Schafer, intern of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.This year's annual workshop was the largest yet. Students enjoyed the energy, relevance, and interactive nature of the speakers. Intern Stephanie Jaczkowski of the National Taxpayer's Union summed up her experience: “This was nothing like any other workshop I've been to. The speakers were respected professionals and captivatingly witty. It exceeded my expectations a hundredfold!” >

Internships are the best way to get introduced to a professional job setting. One is able to learn proper business etiquette and protocol. An internship helps one realize what is and is not acceptable in an office setting without the fear of being dismissed for one minor fault. Internships are filled with great learning experiences. You might wonder, “When is the right time to start applying for and accepting internships?” Speaking from personal experience, the summer right after your freshman year of college is the best time to start interning. Employers are really impressed with a job seeker who is motivated enough to pursue internships so early on. Even if you are not necessarily interested in the field in which you are interning, you will always learn valuable lessons that you can apply to your professional life in the future. You may ask, “Is it ever too soon to intern?” I believe it is a case by case basis. Personally, if you just finished high school, and haven't lived on your own before, internships can be a little difficult, especially if they require you to move away from home. There are local internships that allow a new high school graduate to live at home and slowly get introduced to the professional world. If you are fresh out of high school, and if you have not had experience being on your own, you may want to look into internships that are close enough to home so that you can commute. I am so glad that I chose to apply for, and accept my internship at The Leadership Institute. In the first two short weeks of being here, I have learned many new things, I have made mistakes, I have realized what it means to live on your own, and I have made friendships that will only continue to grow. When given the choice between an internship, and, say, working at Applebee's for the summer, definitely go for the internship. Not only will you be marketable in the future, but you will also grow more as a person, and have experiences that you will never get in the local hang out. >

Jump-start your political career today. Become one of the nation's best-trained, most effective, conservative leaders through the Leadership Institute's 2011 Fall Field Representative Program.Every fall semester, LI's National Field Program sends out across the country a team of motivated, highly trained field reps. LI field reps help conservative students break the left-wing monopoly on their own college campuses. Currently, LI's Campus Leadership Program includes more than 1,400 active campus groups.Now, you or some other dedicated conservative you know can join LI as a full-time fall field rep.The pay is generous. The experience is priceless.Opportunities for full-time, paid jobs fighting for your beliefs do not come along very often. Your employment with LI as a Field Rep is résumé gold. Field reps use the experience and connections gained from LI's National Field Representative Program to launch rewarding conservative careers.Former field reps have gone to work for conservative think tanks, consulting firms, Congressional offices, and national and state political parties. Several have even started their own conservative non profits.To take advantage of this unique opportunity, register your profile and apply online.You would travel to the campuses in your region to identify, recruit, organize, and train conservative students to win battles against the radical left on their campuses.LI would fly you to the Institute's Arlington, VA, headquarters for a week of intensive training in August and provide you with the tools and techniques necessary for success. Get paid, fight the left, launch your exciting political conservative career, and have fun doing it!>

Learn how to stand out at your summer internship with the Leadership Institute's free Conservative Intern Workshop on Thursday, June 9. The free, full-day workshop will teach you how to contribute to your organization, how to stand out to staff, and how to advance your careers. Last year, more than 26 organizations sent 93 interns to attend.You will learn:how to write an effective resumehow to build a network in D.C.how to secure a full-time positionhow to dress for a professional officehow to manage your financesYou'll also receive a complimentary lunch, refreshments, and a networking dinner, so you can make connections with other interns as well as LI faculty, who are established political professionals. Register today at http://bit.ly/jQImSr!The Conservative Intern Workshop is an opportunity to advance your professional development at no cost to you. There's no better way for you to start your career in Washington, D.C.! >

Dozens of highly energized students at Grove City College in Pennsylvania participated in the Leadership Institute's Youth Leadership School.Student Brian Lonto enjoyed “learning how to be an effective political force,” a skill he is planning to utilize on campus, but also as he prepares for a career “to influence politics as a non-politician.” Brian was encouraged that even though he is only a student, “I can [still] influence politics outside the political spectrum.”The students assembled for the YLS were not only getting ready to tackle campus issues, but also their future career prospects. “I would tell [any friend] that this training is absolutely crucial if they want to go into politics,” said Kristie Eshelman, adding “I eventually want to work on a campaign or run for office in local politics.”During the busy weekend, the engaged students learned the ins and outs of campus activism and leadership, and “how to use the power of youth to further your cause,” student Sharon Koss said.Also available to students was a lecture about networking, interviewing, resumes and how to land a job in DC—at a Capitol Hill office, on a campaign, or at a conservative nonprofit.LI's Director of Employment Placement Service Andrea McCarthy reviewed students' resumes and advised those not already on ConservativeJobs.com to make an account. Andrea said, “The students were really receptive and put into practice what they learned. I've seen some resumes since the YLS and they look much better.”Andrea said because of the weekend training, LI's relationship with Grove City College's career services has been strengthened. Now, on a weekly basis, college students receive an email of featured jobs and internships advertised on Conservative Jobs.At the end of the weekend, student Emily Seelman had reached a verdict, “It was definitely intense, but absolutely worth every minute!”Find the next YLS near you or other LI training opportunities or create an account on Conservative Jobs now to hear about new jobs and internships or to find the perfect new employee.>

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Bess Folsom, a student at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota last weekend to attend the Leadership Institute's Youth Leadership School (YLS). Bess, who is active in a political club on her campus, joined nearly two dozen other conservative students at LI's "boot camp of politics."“It not only gets me excited to go out and win, but it gives me the tools to do so," Bess said of the training. "I hope to continue shaking things up on campus before moving on to shake things up on a bigger scale!"The YLS is the Institute's flagship school. The intensive, two-day training teaches young conservatives to lead mass-based, youth efforts for the candidates and causes of their choice. Top graduates have gone on to become youth coordinators for major, statewide political campaigns as well as leaders on their campuses and in their communities."This training has given me great tools to be able to actively participate in a campaign," explained Caleb Van Vooren, a student of Augustana College in Sioux Falls. This YLS is "equipping me with skills for life, as well as giving me the tools to effectively lead any group of people."Bess added that she would recommend the YLS to other students for "the opportunity to spend a weekend with other college students who care just as much as you do, and learn techniques that will help you in every organization you're a part of."You can see upcoming YLS trainings online or contact Kent Strang, LI's Director of Youth Leadership School, for more information or to schedule a school in your area.>

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Gathering on the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains, the Denver Youth Leadership School (YLS) drew dozens of students for the "boot camp of politics" to prepare them to lead youth efforts for the candidates and causes of their choice."These skills helped us win the student elections," said Gregory Carlson of the University of Colorado Boulder. He added, "We amended them to fit the dynamics of the CU campus. They empowered us to be more effective and work smarter, not harder."Brian Ruddle of the University of Colorado (CU), not only tagged the school as “intense” but also commended YLS for teaching "what is needed for campaigns and [political] awareness."The Youth Leadership School, the Leadership Institute's flagship school, has traveled across the country for decades. The school has launched more political careers than any other LI training program."This training motivated me exponentially to read books, stay connected on news, and improve my thinking," high school student Bay Baker said, adding her intentions "to be involved in college."Nicholas Catalano of the University of Colorado Boulder agreed, saying the YLS is "invaluable for the price" and plans to use the training "to advance my political career."With the tools in hand, LI faculty left the group of energetic students ready to hit the ground running with LI staff and resources at their disposal for the future.As the school drew to a close, Centennial Institute Staff Assistant Karthik Venkatraj (photo at right) praised the training as an effective tool for campaigns and campus activism and for being "quintessential in leading an effective, pragmatic conservative movement." See LI's calendar to find a training -- including a Youth Leadership School -- near you.>

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

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

The Leadership Institute took training to Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week, where hundreds of conservatives were trained in public speaking, campus activism, fundraising, the history of the conservative movement, government accountability, and job-hunting secrets.Hundreds of students, activists, and elected officials visited with LI and its Campus Leadership Program. At the LI booth, Andrea McCarthy, Director of Employment Placement Services, was on-hand to offer free resume consultations. Cody Holt, a sophomore at Patrick Henry College, first attended LI training when he was a college freshman. He took the broadcast journalism school at the Institute offices in Arlington, and even received LI's the Balance in Media Fellowship, a scholarship for those studying journalism. With the fellowship, Cody interned last summer at a radio broadcast school in Los Angeles. "I use a lot of what I learned at the Broadcast Journalism school in my internship," he explained, adding that his goal is to be a show host. "I want to be the next Rush Limbaugh."Chuck Norton said after his CPAC training, “I can't wait to attend more," Chuck Norton, another CPAC attendee, said after he attended LI's training at the conference. "I have a degree in communications and the public speaking workshop was very solid, especially considering it was an abbreviated course...Your people were of the highest caliber. Intelligent, charming, and gracious are just a few of the words that come to mind. There is no doubt that LI has peerless passion for their mission. LI was the highlight of my CPAC experience."LI offered a Job Fair and seven trainings at CPAC:Secrets to Landing a Conservative JobBringing the Conservative View to CampusYour Guy Won. So What? Holding Conservatives' Feet to the Fire.History of the Conservative Movement: 1945 - PresentPublic Speaking Workshop (two)It was an exciting week with many great, high-profile speakers, training sessions, and future leaders. Miss LI training at CPAC? Review the full list of upcoming training online.>

February 11, 2011, Arlington, VA—Yesterday was a fun-filled day for all LI staff at CPAC. Not only was there incredible demand for LI trainings, but the hotel itself was at full capacity with a record number of attendees and conservative public figures.Congresswoman Michelle Bachman spoke about the political direction the country is headed toward. Congressman Paul Ryan spoke on the financial hurdles we must overcome to lead exceptionally and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich addressed the issues that are facing the nation.Several panels discussed topics ranging from political correctness to moral issues to the legacy ofPresident Ronald Reagan. Today—Friday—LI is offering the following trainings: 10:00 a.m. – Public Speaking WorkshopKnow how to prepare and deliver persuasive speeches and avoid common mistakes to communicate effectively before an audience. 12:30 p.m. – How to Raise Money…the Easy WayAs our founder Morton Blackwell says, "You can't save the world if you can't pay the rent." Take an in-depth look at how you can improve your organization's fundraising efforts. We will teach how to use personal solicitation, online fundraising, and event fundraising to support your cause or candidate.3:00 p.m. – History of the Conservative Movement: 1945- PresentLearn the intellectual and political history of the modern conservative movement. What are conservatives trying to “conserve”? How did classical liberals, traditionalists, and anti-communists “fuse” together? Who were the philosophers, popularizers, philanthropists, and politicians who brought about the most consequential movement in American politics?All trainings are in Wilson AB at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.To pre-register for LI training's at CPAC, please click here. >

January 28, 2011, Arlington, VA—Staff from the Leadership Institute's Campus Reform went out to the March for Life in DC Monday to talk with attendees, many of them college students, about why they came so far to walk for a cause in weather so cold . Click more to watch the full video.On Monday, Jan. 24 people all across our nation gathered in Washington, D.C. to march for those with no voice. Attendees, many of them students, came to America's capitol to send a pro-life message to legislators that life begins at conception and ends in natural death.The rally commenced at noon on the National Mall where more than 20 Members of Congress spoke and affirmed their shared view of life with hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists. After the rally, around 2 p.m., the activists marched up toward the Supreme Court where the landmark case Roe v. Wade set the precedent for legalized abortions.To watch the full video of attendees from the 38th annual March for Life, 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 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->

The potential for growth of conservative political strength still exists. The rapid, spontaneous growth of grassroots conservative activity in 2009 and 2010 proves that. It turns out that the more groups you have and the greater the number of people you activate and teach how to be effective, the more power that you have to impact on the public policy process. I don't have to tell you how often Supreme Court decisions on liberal versus conservative issues are now decided on a five to four basis. The Congress is divided between conservatives and the left, with many congressional elections decided by only a handful of votes. The next presidential election is likely to be very close. Conservatives may once again be able to unite behind a conservative to win a presidential nomination and the 2012 presidential election. The margins of victory in the American public policy process may be smaller now than at any other time in American history. You can make a difference, now and in the future. The number of American conservative activists and leaders is certainly growing. To grow in effectiveness, they must study how to win. My Leadership Institute now offers 40 types of training schools in the public policy process. You can review those 40 types of schools online. For the first time, political training for conservatives is available online, on demand, and free 24 hours a day. Other conservative organizations also offer worthwhile training you should consider. Nothing would be more disappointing politically than for conservatives to lose because of avoidable mistakes. So I urge you, remember the real nature of politics and the clinching argument which has revived the power of conservative principles in America: You owe it to your philosophy to study how to win. You have a moral obligation to learn how to win. Morton Blackwell is the president of the Leadership Institute. This post is excerpted from "Another Large Influx of Grassroots Conservatives."

January 25, 2011, Arlington, VA—Despite the freezing weather, tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C. yesterday to walk for life. Read on for more about yesterday, including pictures.The 33rd annual March for Life was a several day event with several rallies, an exhibit hall, a march with more than 25 pro-life Members of Congress speaking, and a closing dinner.For more information on March for Life, 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 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- >

A principled conservative who wishes to succeed within a party should heed the following ten points:1. Make yourself useful to the party's candidates and the activities of party organizations. Choose carefully what you agree to do, and then do it well.2. Rise slowly. Don't put yourself forward for every available position of leadership. If you display competence in your party or campaign activities, other people will soon enough be ready to ask you, even urge you, to seek higher posts. Remember, there is always a big turnover. People without persistence drop out. Many vacancies open up.Even those party activists who have no particular political philosophy still like to win. If you become valuable to the party and a reliable asset to its candidates, even political opportunists will come to tolerate you and your commitment to principles.3. Build a secure home base.It is not necessary that you and your allies now control the local or state party for you to become effective in the long run. What is necessary is that you cultivate allies who will reliably work together for your conservative principles.The Lone Ranger was never a successful politician.4. Don't try to solve all the problems you see in a party committee or in a campaign organization.People resent a know-it-all. Pick and choose the matters in which you become involved. Sometimes it is better to let others learn by their own experience than by your advice.5. Politics is of the heart as well as of the mind. Many people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. It is possible often to say unpleasant things pleasantly.Too often our politically wounded are left to bleed to death. Be compassionate and show it.6. Study how to win.Being right in the sense of being correct is not sufficient to win. Political technology determines political success. Learn how to organize and how to communicate. Most political technology is philosophically neutral. You owe it to your philosophy to study how to win.7. Expand the leadership.Do your best to locate, recruit, train and place other conservatives in the political process.Attrition of leadership is more severe in party organizations than in almost any other activity.Phyllis Schlafly says, with some justice, that county party chairman is the worst job in politics. Many people burn out quickly.As you build the size of your base of effective activists, it is natural that your own position within the party will gradually improve.8. Study the rules of procedure. Or find someone of like mind who is or will become expert on the rules.One of the reasons for conservative successes within the Republican Party is that many conservatives in that party have taken the time to master the rules of procedure.Beyond a mastery of the rules comes an understanding of meeting dynamics. Meeting dynamics are best learned by long experience at political meetings.9. In volunteer politics, a builder can build faster than a destroyer can destroy.If you achieve anything in politics, you will have enemies, some of whom will delight in attacking your every flaw, real or imagined. Do not spend much time replying to such criticism.On the average, it takes less time for you to recruit a new activist than it does for your enemies to persuade one of your recruits that you are a bad person.Over time, you get stronger and your enemies do not.10. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good.I'm not perfect. You're not perfect. No candidate is perfect. No party committee is perfect.If you can't cope with anything less than perfection, you will never achieve anything worthwhile. You would be like the pastor who was so concerned with heavenly things that he was no earthly good.Perfection is unattainable on this earth, but it is a useful guide to the direction we should go. One can use a good compass for a lifetime without expecting ever to get to the North Pole.About the AuthorMorton Blackwell is the president of the Leadership Institute. This post is excerpted from his writing "People, Parties, and Power.">

Some of the resume tips I'm about to list may seem like common sense to many of you, but we can always use a refresher, even when it comes to the most basic of guidelines. So, after looking at hundreds of resumes, here are the reminders for which I see a great need for review.• Keep your resume on one page. I know this is hard for people with 10+ years of experience, and there are certainly exceptions to this rule, but remember, most recruiters give resumes about 14 seconds the first time through. You want your most important information to be seen, so get it on one page to ensure nothing is overlooked.• Unless you are still in college or have graduated within the last year, always list your education at the bottom of the page.• Do not list your high school information on your resume unless you are creating one while you are still in high school.• Be consistent with punctuation. Either use periods at the end of each line or don't. Just decide on one format and stick with it.• Do NOT put a picture of yourself on your resume. It's not a good idea, don't do it.• Line your dates up on the right-hand side of the document. And be sure they are all aligned and consistent. This makes your resume much easier to read in that first 14 seconds.• List the organization, company, or office you worked/work for first, and list your title in that office directly below. Use bold or italics to differentiate between the place and the title, but always use the same font. That goes for your entire document. Nothing screams lack of attention to detail like two or three different font types and sizes in one resume.• Keep it simple. Use the standard bullet to list your responsibilities, accomplishments, and successes under each title you have had or currently have. Resist the urge to use fancy diamond, rectangular, or heart-shaped bullets. The standard black dots will suffice.• Use the whole page. Recruiters do not like to see a lot of white space on a resume. You have one 8 by 11 ½ page to sell yourself to a potential employer. So use all the space you have.• In direct contrast to the bullet above, do not use microscopic font. Anything smaller than 11 is too small, and often recruiters won't bother to read the resume if they have to squint to see what is on the page.• Finally, in your bullets under each place of employment, list your successes and accomplishments rather than just your responsibilities. Quantify your results at each organization or office. Numbers jump out on the page and are proof that you were an asset to that particular employer. I could go on, but I'll save that for another post. Happy resume building! >

December 17, 2010, Arlington, VA—This past weekend LI took its Youth Leadership School to Mexico City to train 55 college students at their request.Three students came to Arlington, VA earlier in the year to receive training and requested LI come to them in Mexico City to train more conservative college activists.Above is a picture of many of these students that have now entered into our distinguished LI graduate, alumni group.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 included:• 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 our upcoming 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 14, 2010, Arlington, VA—With the recent elections behind us, how should conservatives move forward? Who should lead this movement? LI President Morton Blackwell answers these questions in his recent blog post. Mr. Blackwell's RedState blog post entitled, A Better Definition of Who is a Conservative, begins, “The most important political development of the just-concluded election cycle is the enormously effective, new, political involvement of grassroots conservatives through the Tea Party groups and other, major, analogous organizations.” “My Leadership Institute has trained newly active conservatives in partnership with every one of these major groups. My staff and I therefore probably understand all these groups as well or better than anyone else.” “If these groups continue active and growing, the 2012 elections will go much as the 2010 elections did.” Mr. Blackwell's ponders what makes a person a conservative. “In this era when claiming to be a conservative can be a pathway to power for opportunists, we must better define who is truly a conservative.” “I suggest this criterion: Conservatives are people who do more for conservative principles than they think they absolutely have to do. Only meeting such a standard will sustain the enthusiasm of the millions of grassroots conservatives who emerged politically in 2010.” To read the full blog post, 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-