Checkmate Strategies

08/23/2026

Checkmate Strategies Action Legislature
Youth Mock Legislative Session for High School Students

Monday, September 29, 2026

Old State Capitol
100 North Blvd
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

EXPERIENCE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ACTION!

Checkmate Strategies invites high school students to participate in our Action Legislature Youth Mock Legislative Session on Monday, October 19th at Louisiana’s historic Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Students will:

• Learn how the Louisiana Legislature works

• Hear from state leaders and civic-engagement experts

• Participate in mock committee hearings

• Deliberate legislative instruments

• Experience the legislative process inside the historic House Chamber

Monday, September 28, 2026

9:00 AM–2:00 PM

Registration Check-In is from 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Old State Capitol, House Chamber, Second Floor

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

We will host another Action Legislature Mock Youth Legislative Session on Monday, October 19, 2026

The program is open to all high school students. Teachers, school organizations, student leaders and youth groups are encouraged to participate.

REGISTER ONLINE:

Checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/events or text 225 9335435

Please share with your local high schools

08/17/2026

Please share with your local high schools

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

EXPERIENCE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ACTION!

Checkmate Strategies invites high school students to participate in our Action Legislature Youth Mock Legislative Session on Monday, October 19th at Louisiana’s historic Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Students will:

• Learn how the Louisiana Legislature works

• Hear from state leaders and civic-engagement experts

• Participate in mock committee hearings

• Deliberate legislative instruments

• Experience the legislative process inside the historic House Chamber

Monday, September 28, 2026

9:00 AM–2:00 PM

Registration Check-In is from 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Old State Capitol, House Chamber, Second Floor

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

We will host another Action Legislature Mock Youth Legislative Session on Monday, October 19, 2026

The program is open to all high school students. Teachers, school organizations, student leaders and youth groups are encouraged to participate.

REGISTER ONLINE:

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/event-6793191?fbclid=IwVERDUATvcJhwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHoPYYOlKSQOKkD2PPy0dHSJNK46sfzggIbqQyD8OoO6qzfjBavYg8_S1NKlw_aem_tG2HoG2lwIl7LkgKP41dvw

Action Legislature is presented by Cindy Bishop, President of Checkmate Strategies.

Please share with your local high schools in Louisiana

Registration Fee is $45/per student or chaperone

For questions contact Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435 or [email protected]

08/08/2026

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: EXPERIENCE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ACTION!

Checkmate Strategies invites high school students to participate in the Action Legislature Youth Mock Legislative Session on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Louisiana’s historic Old State Capitol.

Students will:

• Learn how the Louisiana Legislature works
• Hear from state leaders and civic-engagement experts
• Participate in mock committee hearings
• Deliberate legislative instruments
• Experience the legislative process inside the historic House Chamber

📅 Monday, September 28, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Old State Capitol, House Chamber, Second Floor
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

We will host another Action egislature Mock Youth Legislative Session on Monday, October 19, 2026

The program is open to all high school students. Teachers, school organizations, student leaders and youth groups are encouraged to participate.

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/event-6793191

Action Legislature is presented by Cindy Bishop, President of Checkmate Strategies.



Questions? Call or Text Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435

07/11/2026

Thanks to everyone who has donated to Mercys World Leadership Congress fundraiser. Your donations will allow Mercy Gayle to participate in the Hugh O'Brian World Leadership Congress slated for July 25th through August 1st in Washington DC. I am so excited for her! I learned yesterday that 400 high school sophomores are registered from the United States and 6 other countries. Wow!

In mid-June, Mercy Gayle represented her local high school at the HOBY youth leadership seminar in Tallahassee. In her essay about her experience, Mercy wrote about gaining confidence, learning to speak up, listening to others, serving the community, and realizing that leadership is not about being perfect — it is about growing, helping others, and using your voice for good.

Any donations are greatly appreciated.
To donate, please use this link:

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/page-1075190

Thank you for supporting Mercy Gayle and investing in a young leader with a bright future. ❤️

Many of you know that I served as leadership seminar chair for Louisiana Hoby for many years. I could write a book containing hundreds of stories of how the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program transforms the lives of young leaders. This program is near and dear to my heart ❤️

07/08/2026

My niece, Mercy Gayle, recently had the honor of representing Fletcher High School at a four-day Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program in Tallahassee, Florida.
She came home from the hoby seminar inspired, encouraged, and changed. In her essay about the experience, Mercy wrote about gaining confidence, learning to speak up, listening to others, serving the community, and realizing that leadership is not about being perfect — it is about growing, helping others, and using your voice for good.

Mercy has an opportunity to attend the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. in late July, where she will meet young leaders from across the uniteed states and other countries.

Mercy is trying to raise $2,500 so that she can attend the HOBY World Leadership Congress.
We project that this will cost $1,999 for the seminar registration fee, plus roundtrip airfare. Last week, we raised close to $1000!

To donate, please use this link:

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/page-1075190

Any donation — large or small — would be deeply appreciated and will help Mercy continue her leadership journey.

Thank you for supporting Mercy Gayle and investing in a young leader with a bright future. ❤️

Mary Heath

06/28/2026

I have a personal favor to ask. My 16 year old niece, Mercy recently had the honor of representing Fletcher High School at a four-day HOBY Youth Leadership Program in Tallahassee, Florida.

Mercy has the opportunity to attend the HOBY World Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. in late July, where she will meet young leaders from across the country and around the world.

I am trying to help Mercy raise $2,500 to cover the cost of registration and airfare. We have about $1,150 more to raise to hit our fundraising goal.

To donate, please use this link:

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/page-1075190

Thank you for supporting Mercy Gayle and investing in a young leader with a bright future.

Cindy Bishop
Checkmate Strategies

06/28/2026

06/25/2026

My niece, Mercy Gayle, recently had the honor of representing Fletcher High School at a four-day HOBY Youth Leadership Program in Tallahassee, Florida.
She came home inspired, encouraged, and changed. In her essay about the experience, Mercy wrote about gaining confidence, learning to speak up, listening to others, serving the community, and realizing that leadership is not about being perfect — it is about growing, helping others, and using your voice for good.

Mercy has the opportunity to attend the HOBY World Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. in late July, where she will meet young leaders from across the country and around the world.

I am helping Mercy raise money so that she can attend the 5 day HOBY WLC youth leadership seminar. We project that this will cost $1,999 for the seminar registration fee, plus roundtrip airfare.

Any donation — large or small — would be deeply appreciated and will help Mercy continue this leadership journey.

To donate, please use this link:

https://checkmatestrategies5.wildapricot.org/page-1075190

Thank you for supporting Mercy Gayle and investing in a young leader with a bright future. ❤️

06/24/2026

Listen up business owners. If you were in business during the Coronavirus Pandemic, you have 10 or more w2 employees, you have ten more days to schedule a free assessment with an experienced tax firm to see if your business qualifies for the employee retention tax credit refund.

There's a tax refund opportunity with a hard deadline of July 10, 2026, that many business owners don't know about. However, in order to see if your business qualifies, you must schedule a FREE assessment by June 30, 2026. You can schedule your assessment by contacting
Cindy Bishop. 225 933 5435 (Text or call) or via email at cindy.bishop@checkmate-strategies

Two federal courts (Kwong v. United States and Abdo v. Commissioner) recently ruled that COVID-era IRS penalties and interest were unlawfully assessed. That means refunds may be available to a wide range of U.S. taxpayers.

Additionally, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) window may still be open — worth up to $19,000 per employee for businesses that:
Were fully or partially shut down by a COVID government order,

OR

Saw a significant revenue drop vs. 2019 (50%+ in 2020, 20%+ in 2021)

Unfortunately, in the past, many business owners were told the ERC deadline had passed. Based on the court rulings, that may no longer be accurate.

The IRS has appealed these decisions, which is exactly why protective claims need to be filed before July 10, 2026.
I'm collaborating with two tax firms that specialize in ERC claims processing. They are conducting free assessments to see if your business qualifies. You do not pay anything until you receive your refund
Please contact me if you are interested so that we can schedule your free assessment before June 30th