Massachusetts and Illinois Grassroots Coordinator Barry Newman were named COS State Team of the Year and Volunteer of the Year respectively during the sixth annual Grassroots Awards ceremony held on the evening of December 10. The ceremony can be seen here:
Emceed by regional director Deanna Becket, the celebration included COS grassroots volunteers and leadership from coast to coast via videoconference. Since 2019, the organization's regional directors have nominated individuals and state teams for the awards.
Convention of States Action president and co-founder Mark Meckler was on hand in Springfield, Illinois, with Newman and several members of the Illinois team for the announcement of Volunteer of the Year.
"It's hard to think of anyone more deserving," Meckler said of Newman, who accepted heartfelt congratulations from fellow Illinoisan David Winters, who was the 2023 Volunteer of the Year.
Winters said that Newman, a longtime human resources professional by trade, is "the quintessential example of thoroughness" and pointed to Newman's willingness and ability to organize events and recruit and train district captains and other volunteers all over the state.
Regional director Michael Arnold called Newman "a truly inspirational servant leader."
"I'm humbled, humbled beyond belief," said Newman upon receiving the honor. Not one to rest on his laurels in the least, he reiterated his goal of Illinois having a district captain in each of its 118 legislative districts by the end of 2026.
Meckler pointed out that leaders such as Newman "are great patriots" who embody a tremendous combination of the values, intelligence, and commitment of American revolutionaries like George Washington, Patrick Henry, and John Adams as well as Levi Preston -- the humble farmer from Massachusetts who took up a musket against the most powerful military in the world.
Speaking of the Bay State...
In the face of great political odds and hardship, the Massachusetts team made history in 2024 and continues to grow with innovative strategies and remarkable esprit de corps.
In February, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts favorably passed the Convention of States resolution for the second legislative session in a row.
Massachusetts became the first "blue" state in the union to pass a COS resolution out of committee for a second time due in no small part to the team's ability to establish connections with legislators and present a compelling argument for the necessity of an Article V convention during public testimony before the committee.
The team also found a way to amplify the message about COS and Article V out after finding themselves excluded from various events throughout the state. Mass COS volunteers began setting up tables outside of grocery stores to gather petition signers and explain the Article V process, which has worked wonders.
As state co-director Jane LaBorde explained during the ceremony, the "Shopping for Petitions" idea was borne out of discussion during a strategy meeting focusing on drawing petition signers in the Speaker of the House's district. The device was so popular and productive that it spread to other districts in Massachusetts and New England, and has now gone nationwide.
Kudos to the Massachusetts team for getting it done everywhere in the commonwealth, from Beacon Hill to Market Basket and Stop & Shop!
COSA senior advisor Rick Santorum wrapped up the ceremonies by discussing the tremendous opportunities that COS has in several states in 2025. He expressed grateful thanks for the work that the grassroots do, likening them to those who plant and tend the crops that will eventually produce a yield of 34 passed states.
Congratulations to the Massachusetts team, Barry Newman, and all of the nominees for jobs well done!
Join millions of your fellow citizens in signing the petition below to continue the gathering grassroots momentum to call an Article V convention:
