The Steamboat Institute Will Feature Ginni Thomas and Tony Blankley During 2010 Annual Freedom Conference in Colorado

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ginni Thomas, a new social media entrepreneur and founder of Liberty Central, www.libertycentral.org, will be the featured luncheon keynote speaker at The Steamboat Institute's 2010 Annual Freedom Conference on Fri., Aug. 27 at 12 noon MT, it was officially announced today.

The lunch featuring Ms. Thomas, a longtime conservative activist who founded Liberty Central in 2009, will be held at the Steamboat Grand Hotel in Steamboat Springs, Colo.  Karl Rove was previously announced as the Institute's keynote dinner speaker on Aug. 27. (For details, visit: www.steamboatinstitute.org)

The two-day conference will be moderated by Tony Blankley, an executive vice president of the Edelman public-relations firm in Washington,  an on-air political commentator for FOX, CNN, NBC and NPR, and a syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate.

"We're honored to have Ginni Thomas join us this year as our kick-off luncheon keynote speaker," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin, chairman and founding board member.  "Her experience, passion and dedication to our nation's founding principles are synergistic with the goals of The Steamboat Institute, which focuses on creating a more balanced dialogue in the media and public policy arenas." 

"We're also very pleased to have Tony Blankley – a veteran political expert and news analyst – serve as our conference moderator again this year.  Mr. Blankley did an outstanding job last year, and we welcome him back," said Schubert-Akin.

"I'm delighted to have this opportunity to speak at The Steamboat Institute's 2nd Annual Freedom Conference," said Ms. Thomas.  "I look forward to sharing my founding vision for Liberty Central and exploring ways to work with The Steamboat Institute to encourage, empower and engage citizens across the country in our public discourse."

LibertyCentral.org equips citizen leaders to lobby for liberty. Thomas founded the nonprofit organization to serve as a clearinghouse for new and more effective online activism.  Her role as chairman of Liberty Central augments her 30-year experience within the Washington beltway working with esteemed politicians like Dick Armey and for institutions like Hillsdale College, the Heritage Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Blankley said: "I commend The Steamboat Institute for hosting another outstanding conference this year.  I look forward to being a part of dialogue and ideas that are put forth during this exciting weekend – particularly as conservatives prepare for what could be a pivotal election year."

Blankley has appeared as both a political expert and newsmaker on many national programs, including "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation," "Larry King Live," "Good Morning America," "The Today Show," "Nightline," "CBS Evening News," ABC's "World News Tonight," "Hannity" and "The McNeil/Lehrer News Hour." Brill's Content magazine, which keeps a "Pundit Scorecard," recently rated him the most accurate of "TV's weekend soothsayers."

Blankley was editorial page editor of the Washington Times from 2002 to 2007, leaving to pursue his positions at Edelman and the Heritage Foundation. From 1990 to 1997, Blankley was press secretary and general adviser to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Before that, he worked six years for President Reagan in a variety of positions, including speechwriter, Senior Policy Analyst and Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation.

During the two-day summit, Blankley will moderate several public policy panels, including those addressing national security, economic policy, health care and other leading issues.  Last year, Mr. Michael Reagan – a best-selling author, son of President Ronald W. Reagan and chairman of the Reagan Legacy Foundation – was the featured dinner speaker and Robert Woodson, Sr. kicked off last year's conference with a rousing luncheon speech.

The Steamboat Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 to promote the five basic founding principles of the United States: limited government, lower taxes, free markets, strong national defense, and individual rights and responsibilities.  The Steamboat Institute's educational endeavors include seminars, conferences, forums and briefings throughout the year. For further details and on-line registration for the conference, visit www.steamboatinstitute.org.  

Contact: Kirsten Fedewa, (Kirsten Fedewa & Assoc.), Tel: 202.365.6936

SOURCE The Steamboat Institute