You do not have to be a political junkie to be frustrated by our government today. Simply going to the grocery store, filling up your car with gasoline, or paying your utility bill is enough to be aggravated. Maybe you don’t know what’s causing these market disruptions but, you know something isn't right. You are not alone. Many of our friends and neighbors are wondering the same thing. We study the issues and the candidates and vote in every election; yet nothing ever changes. It’s enough to make you feel helpless.
Imagine knowing that there’s actually a solution to solve these problems.
This is the first installment in a blog series describing specific ways our Convention of States leaders make a tangible difference in our country. We are asked almost daily, “What difference can I make?” Well, it turns out each of us working together can make a huge difference. So, here's an example.
There’s a legislator in Arkansas who was a vehement and vocal opponent of our resolution. Convention of States Project (COSP) President Mark Meckler was attending a rally organized by the Arkansas Team. And after the main event when Mark was sharing in fellowship with the team, this vocal legislative opponent approached Mark. He had criticized Mark in the past, so Mark was prepared for more of the same. Pulling out four handwritten postcards from his suit pocket, this man waved them before Mark. And then he said, “You know, I’ve been in the Arkansas Legislature for 14 years, and I’ve never ever received four handwritten notes about any issue - until I received these from your Convention of States team.” He went on to explain that he’d received hundreds of supporter e-mails, but these four postcards had truly touched him with a better understanding of the COS movement. This legislator not only pledged to vote in favor of our resolution, but he also pledged to work with our team to convince others to do the same.
All it took was FOUR postcards to make a difference!
This seemingly small effort was coordinated by our District Captain (DC) for that Arkansas legislative district. The District Captain is the most critical role in our entire organization. District Captains are the closest to our grassroots supporters and their first line of support. The DC helps educate and train our grassroots to be self-governing citizens. Here are a few specific activities a District Captain engages in:
- Welcoming new petition signers to their House District and explaining volunteer roles.
Connecting volunteers to our Grassroots Development and Training Teams to help ensure success in the role for which they’ve volunteered. - Supporting grassroots supporters in their district to connect with their legislators and being involved in local COS events.
- Having a professional working relationship with their legislators to gain support for COS legislation and issues in their district.
- Identifying groups and events in their district to educate attendees about the convention of states process.
- Assisting supporters in their district with participating in Calls to Action, Get Out the Vote efforts, continuing education and special events.
- Working with their State Team and participating in COS conference calls.
These are just a few activities associated with the District Captain role. It’s a big responsibility that can make a big impact. And yet, one person does not have to shoulder all the workload. Perhaps you are not comfortable making presentations to groups. As you are communicating with supporters in your district, you are likely to find someone who enjoys giving presentations. They can be added as a member of your team to complement your skill set and build a more effective district.
If this sounds like something that’s of interest to you, go to our Take Action Page and volunteer. A member of our team will be in touch to answer any questions you may have and to make sure this is the right fit for you. We will only be successful if you feel fulfilled acting in this role. Thank you for supporting the Convention of States Project!
In liberty,
Brett
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