While most people are hunkered down behind locked doors, Convention of States Arkansas Team members are busy planning for the future.
Even with the obstacle of social distancing, Regional Captain Rod Beasley of Conway, Arkansas - along with District Captain Dora Vanscoy - met with me and another new volunteer at the Midnight Oil Coffee Shop in Searcy Arkansas.
This was my first face-to-face meeting with my Regional and District Captains.
Volunteer Amy Gibson and I were there to learn about COS volunteer positions that we can fill. We had both recently signed the petition online and were ready to meet our Regional and District Captains, and to learn about the volunteer positions we were considering.
At the meeting I was greeted warmly by the leaders. COS supplies were generously given by Rod and especially Dora, who had multiple copies of the constitution; COS articles; a DVD of the Constitution; plus, pens that tell what COS stands for: term limits, fiscal restraints and to limit federal government.
Rod told us about the District Captain position and how important it is, but I had already chosen two volunteer jobs: Prayer Warrior and State Content Writer.
During our COS meeting, I noticed two young men talking on the porch of the coffee shop. They noticed our COS sign and as our meeting broke up, they approached us and began talking.
One of the young men turned out to be my District 44 House Representative Cameron Cooper!
Rep. Cooper voted for the Arkansas Convention of States resolution, which passed in 2019. He asked if we were his constituents. I wasn't sure, so I gave him my address.
Rep. Cooper looked up my address on his phone with an app and showed me where I lived. I am his constituent and so is Amy, the other volunteer meeting with us.
Engaging right away with him, Amy asked Representative Cooper, "Why has the Governor allowed tracing on people’s phones and how can that be stopped?” She told Rep. Cooper that this is government overreach.
Rep. Cooper stated that this falls under the Arkansas Emergency Services Act of 1973. “It is something that we need to work on”, he said, “but the Governor is the only one who can call the legislators back to work right now because of the COVID-19 shutdown.”
He assured Amy that he would work on the Arkansas Emergency Services Act of 1973 as we closed our meeting.
I appreciated his introduction to our Convention of States group. He is a wonderful young man and public servant. I feel so privileged to meet him and for him to know me as a Patriot of COS.
What a fruitful evening for such a small group.
I extend a big special "Thank You" to our Arkansas House District 44 Representative Cameron Cooper.
Service was served tonight, as two new Patriots activated their grassroots commitment, and Representative Cooper proved his servant heart by joining us.
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