InspiredtoAction
"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall."
Ray Bradbury
Visit the COS Action Center to
The federal government has continued to grow to be something our Founders would find unrecognizable. Federal agencies have grown in power and increasingly become tools of the Deep State. Tell your member of Congress, US Senators & your state's legislature to END the FBI.
It is simple, just visit the Action Center, add your feedback and we'll do the rest.
...and don't forget to Sign the Open Letter from Convention of States!
In this issue...
- The State Director's Message
- InspiredtoAction
- Spotlight: Maria Bedard, State Communications Coordinator
- BeCOS It Matters: News and Essays from the Comms Team
- COS Action Maryland Out & About: A calendar of upcoming events - event coordinators needed!
- COS Action Learning Resource of the Month
A Message from Mike Rilee, State Director - District 19
"Stand up, Speak up, Show up!" is one of the mottos we have in COS Action Maryland. It reminds each of us that our individual duty is our own, and we cannot expect others to carry our weight for us. We have been led by experience and reason that America needs to have the national discussion that an Article V Convention of States will provide.
Having this discussion requires courage from us. The courage to stand up for what is right. The courage to speak up for the future of America. And the courage to show up so that we can look our neighbors and representatives in the eye and let them know we're all in this together.
The event season is in full swing as the summer has flown by. COS Action Maryland is setting up booths across the state, spreading the word about using the Constitution to save the Constitution.
Our booth at the Howard County Fair was a great success. Volunteers from across the state came to the fair, many hosting a booth for the first time. Many people who stopped by our table were hearing about COS for the first time. It was a great experience to talk to people and to learn from and get to know the dedicated and talented COS patriots who did booth duty!
COSA Southern Maryland has been out and about as well, with booths at events in North Beach and the Solomons Dragon Boat Festival.
And there has been a great deal of COS Action in Western Maryland too!
There are many opportunities to volunteer at a COS event around the state. You'll get practice talking with the great Americans of our state and you'll hone your advocacy skills, gaining the confidence you'll need in the months and years ahead as we organize to save Constitution and Country. Just contact your District or Regional Captain about opportunities in your area. If you don't know your local COS Captain, contact me for more information.
This month we welcome Zacary Mann, the new District Captain for District 30. Zac's a small business owner with a young family and cares a great deal about the future of our country. We're excited to be organizing in the vicinity of Annapolis and Zac has experience networking and working with our state legislature. Welcome, Zac!
We're also pleased to welcome Chandler Simon to our Follow-Up Team. When a supporter signs the COS petition our Follow-Up Team gives them a call to welcome them to COS and provide them any information they may need about COS, especially if they're interested in volunteering. Chandler is a recruiting pro who is bringing her "A game" to our team, for which we're immensely grateful. Thank you for volunteering, Chandler!
For Liberty!
Michael Rilee
State Director
michael.rilee@cosaction.com
We're inspired by the actions of our Maryland supporters - those who are brave enough to try to make a change. We're on pace to surpass 32,000 petition signers in 2022. Our progress since 2018 looks like this:
YEAR |
YEARLY SIGNERS |
SIGNERS TO DATE |
2022 |
2,375 |
29,517 |
2021 |
5,934 |
27,142 |
2020 |
4,313 |
21,208 |
2019 |
3,580 |
16,895 |
2018 |
3,536 |
13,315 |
The more signatures we gather, the more our Maryland state legislators recognize the strength of our cause. Your SIGNED PETITION goes directly to your Maryland legislators so they know its importance to you.
Contact your legislators & candidates to let them know you support the Article V Convention of States resolution.
Spotlight on Team Maryland: Meet Maria Moungelis Bedard, State Communications Coordinator (District #3B)
It is my extreme pleasure to work with Convention of States Team Maryland! This fantastic group of people were strangers to me 20 months ago and I am proud to now call them friends. I joined the team in February 2021 in search of an outlet to express my love of country with a joyful heart. I was honored when asked to take on the role of State Communications Coordinator 1 year ago, filling the shoes of Mike Rilee who was moving to the State Director position.
Volunteering with Convention of States has been fulfilling and educational to say the least. It allows me the opportunity to express myself in words as well as in deeds. I inherited my love of country from my parents and grandparents, all Greek immigrants. They passed along their Greek heritage and Eastern Orthodox faith with great care and pride, but they absolutely believed their adopted nation was the greatest place on earth. I'm the daughter of a United States Marine, born at Quantico. I carry their legacy with exuberant pride.
The Maryland Comms team works so very hard to get the Convention of States message out across the state. Our mission is to REACH, TEACH and ACTIVATE (that's a Mike Rilee euphemism). That in mind, we've rolled out several campaigns: 50 Patriots Who Would Have Signed the COS Petition, 50K Race to Liberty, Back to Basics (of Civics), Liberty Rising and coming this winter, The Convention is Coming.
Another way we're trying to REACH, TEACH and ACTIVATE Marylanders is with public service messages on issues that matter like education, election integrity, crime, and the economy. We'll offer links to articles, surveys or contact information for people in power so that you may also express yourself on the issues that matter to you!
Our team of State Content Writers are hard at work creating meaningful blog posts, eblasts and newsletters. Our Social Media Warriors are on social media channels, creating excellent video content and meme making. If you enjoy dabbling in any of these areas, join the team - we need enthusiastic, creative and upbeat folks to help spread the messages of self-governance and Article V.
We all need to muster the courage to speak up and express ourselves in a meaningful way. My avenue is through the written word and visual arts, always trying to come at it with a joyful heart. What's your avenue?
State Comms Team members: Jake Brooks, Mike Colburn, Jerry Cooper, Jake Goldberg, Josh Jenkins, Gayle McCowin, Collin O'Meally, Nichole Weakley, Will Zwart
BeCOS It Matters
Here are some interesting news articles from COSA Maryland, around the state and the nation that are worth reading and sharing with your circle of influence.
...meanwhile in Maryland
TAKE THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SURVEY
Resource for Parents: Courage is a Habit - Defend Your Child (school opt outs)
...and who can forget this one
August 8: FBI Raids Mar a Lago Residence of Former President Donald Trump
COS Action Maryland Out & About
Event Coordinators needed!
COS Action Resource of the Month
and
Why the Framers Inserted Article V in the Constitution
InspiredtoAction: One More Thing
If you've already signed the petition - Thank you.
If not, please do so and then send the link to your circle of influence.
It matters. Your support matters. Our country matters.
