Convention of States Delaware held its semi-annual state-wide meeting at the TGI Friday in Dover on Saturday, March 12. Leaders from all three counties showed up to discuss future plans and how to advance our movement in Delaware.
As always, we began with the pledge of allegiance, and then divided in small groups to practice our “elevator speeches.” State Director Ginny Watkins gave each group cards with common objections to COS: the “runaway convention” and “what if they get rid of the Second Amendment,” for example. The groups practiced answering these objections with each other in order to be prepared when we confront them from legislators.
Bob Creamer, our Veteran’s Liaison, shared his recent efforts to find opportunities to speak or have tables at different veterans’ events, and the resistance he is encountering there. Many of the groups have strict rules about who is allowed to speak, and they tend to avoid any political speakers. Next we discussed our need for a new Legislative Liaison and various possibilities. One suggestion was to divide the work between several liaisons so that no one is too overwhelmed. The point was made that we need a liaison who understand the process of moving a resolution through the legislature.
Finally we spent time discussing the new monthly volunteer groups that will be organized by grouping several districts together. We will have groups in North Wilmington, Bear/Newark, Pike Creek/Hockessin, MOT, Dover, the Beach areas, and west Sussex County. These groups will encourage attendees of the informational meetings to get more education and become more involved in COS. At the end of the meeting, we divided into our district groups to discuss plans for starting these meetings.
The big treat of the day was the new COS Delaware tee-shirts and that were distributed to the team. These are blue shirts, the color of the Delaware flag, with a picture of the state and “We the People Decide” printed on the front. We’re excited that we can now wear matching shirts to our events, even to Legislative Hall to meet with our representatives!
