CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference) is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives in the United States. Some 10,000 conservatives from throughout America – and some of us from overseas – get together over three days in Washington DC each winter. Next year CPAC takes place from Thursday, 9 February to Saturday, 11 February at the Marriott Wardman Hotel, Washington DC.

In recent years since I first attended CPAC in 2001, the conference has been addressed by President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, Charlton Heston, Benjamin Netanyahu, Newt Gingrich, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Ann Coulter, Julia Timoshenko, Matt Drudge and many, many more conservative heroes. I was delighted to see David Trimble on the same platform as Netanyahu, Jesse Helms, Charlton Heston, Chief Buthelezi and Dick Cheney in 2001. He confirmed what is now well known – he was and is a proud conservative.

CPAC presents an outstanding opportunity for young conservatives in Britain. Alongside the three-day conference runs an exhibition that knocks the socks off the Conservative Party Conference. Instead of being full of corporate sponsors, CPAC’s exhibition consists of booths manned by the myriad of organisations that comprise the American conservative movement. You get the chance to learn about the movement and to become involved in whatever groups or groups take your fancy.

There is also a recruitment fair hosted by the Leadership Institute and a student lunch hosted by the Young America’s Foundation. Those YBF activists who have benefited from attending the US Summer Conference programme also can renew old acquaintances by attending the Special Relationship Party on the night before the start of CPAC.

Many activists will spend the whole week in Washington, sightseeing or undergoing media training at the Leadership Institute. Others will try their hand at shooting an MP5 sub-machine gun, a revolver or a semi-automatic pistol at Blue Ridge Arsenal. I tend to take in an ice hockey game too, even though the Washington Capitals always – without fail – lose whenever I go and watch them!

CPAC should be one of the highlights of the young conservative calendar in Britain, just as it is in the United States. This year a dozen or so Brits will be travelling to Washington DC. You can still apply online today – come and join us! You’ll have the time of your life – and you may just get to hear Sarah Palin too!