Leadership Institute

The Leadership Institute is a non-profit training center dedicated to teaching conservatives how to present, advocate, and campaign.  The classes are rumored to be excellent and the cost to students is usually minimal if anything. Among other things, they teach grassroots online advocacy strategies.

Here’s a sample schedule for the spring and summer of 2009 taken from their website:

April
3	Introduction to Television Techniques Workshop	Arlington, VA
3	On-camera Television Workshop	Arlington, VA
24	On-camera Television Workshop	Arlington, VA
25 - 26	Activist School, Level 1 (2 Day)	Atlanta, GA
25	Campaign School, Level 2 (1 Day)	Houston, TX
27 - 1	Campaign Manager School	Arlington, VA
May
1	Activist School, Level 1 (1 Day)	Wilmington, SC
4 - 6	Public Relations School, Advanced	Arlington, VA
15	Documentary Workshop	Arlington, VA
29	Communications Workshop	Portland, OR
June
4	Intern Workshop	Arlington, VA
5	Public Speaking Workshop	Arlington, VA
12	Introduction to Television Techniques Workshop	Arlington, VA
12	On-camera Television Workshop	Arlington, VA
26	On-camera Television Workshop	Arlington, VA
July
20 - 22	Public Relations School	Arlington, VA
27 - 29	Conservative Career Workshop	Arlington, VA
August
4	Internet Blogging Workshop	Arlington, VA
10 - 14	Future Candidate School	Arlington, VA
11	Internet Fundraising Workshop	Arlington, VA
14	Public Speaking Workshop	Arlington, VA
18	Internet Activist Workshop	Arlington, VA
25	Advanced Internet Activist Workshop	Arlington, VA

My brother and I have wanted to attend a Leadership Institute event since we were in college, but never have been able to work it into the schedule.  Recently, it looked like the opportunity would present itself, but we were disappointed.  Despite registering online and sending emails confirming that we’d be attending at a particular location in San Diego as advertised on their website and email, we showed-up to meet the Leadership Institute folks, but they didn’t show up to meet us.   The hotel had no record of the Institute being registered to host an event and the Arlington office was not answering phone calls.  Frantic emails to the instructor were not responded to… ever.  We were never able to clear up the confusion or get any answer about where the Leadership Institute folks were and whether they had just simply canceled without telling us.

So, we refer you to the Leadership Institute’s website with some reservation.  The idea is excellent, but execution is everything.  If you have had positive experiences to counter our regrettable non-experience in San Diego, please feel free to post a comment or review.