With a prayer and the pledge of allegiance
What a wonderful way for Barbara Zimmerman to start her June 26th meeting! As Captain of FL District 16 near St. Augustine, she organized a meet-and-greet between three legislative representatives and local citizens including Convention of States volunteers. State Director, Dennis Darragh and State Grassroots Coordinator, Jean Borden also joined the group.
Barbara thanked volunteers who helped advertise this event which was organized to strengthen our grassroots army and move us closer to the goal of a convention of states. She emphasized the importance of encouraging informed citizens to hold local and state events and develop relationships with legislators.
Our Founding Fathers escaped British tyranny to create a government built on individual and religious freedoms. They knew that one day, our government could spend and tax too much, ignore the dictates of the citizens, and adapt ideologies and policies having more in common with our enemies than our Constitution and founding values. Barbara asked if that “day” had arrived. All those present said “Yes!” They then discussed how Article V is the solution.
Steve Henrickson, Captain of District 17, mentioned current administration missteps such as eliminating the Keystone Pipeline but allowing Putin to complete the North Stream Pipeline, reinstating the Climate Accord, not prosecuting 2020 summer rioters, defunding police, and not protecting our southern border.
Representative Cord Byrd, FL District 11
A leading national Second-Amendment expert and attorney who focuses on preserving gun rights, Representative Byrd said that we have laws on the books to preserve legal gun use. The problem is enforcement which comes with the federal government ignoring laws and proposing onerous revisions. He supports COS as a remedy.
Representative Byrd stated that while Governor DeSantis got well-deserved credit, he signed what the state legislature provided to him. He pointed out that the Florida legislators have passed key bills banning Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project with enforcement mechanisms to ensure that schools comply.
Representative Jason Fischer, FL District 16
Representative Fischer represents Mandarin in South Jacksonville where the event was held. He described giving back to the community through early service as an electrical engineer. He served on the Duval County School Board initially, at that time, taking on Common Core. He chose to run for the Florida House of Representatives to accomplish more for education, transportation, and infrastructure.
Representative Fischer encouraged citizens to become involved with the School Board, to know what is being taught, and to address funding choices. Knowing the necessity for preserving our Constitution, Fischer is very positive about COS and convening a convention.
Representative Cyndi Stevenson, FL District 17
Representative Stevenson credited family influence for developing her interest in serving our country. As a CPA she expressed concern for our growing national insecurity through excessive money printing, dollar dilution, and our ever-rising debt. Stevenson mentioned her focus on generational poverty and her work to help families rise through improving education. She is strongly supportive of COSA and an eventual convention.
Lively Q & A
After the three speeches concluded, guests asked questions about remaining mask mandates, especially for children, and how we keep socialistic indoctrination out of our military (answer was don’t fund it). Tim Denham, a COSA volunteer and Navy veteran, mentioned the legacy of his relatives who had also served. Also in attendance was Ms. Zimmerman’s father, David Goodman, a retired attorney, and another Navy veteran. Tim said that countless people had fought and died to preserve our country. We have to protect it now for future generations.
One younger guest said that she wished many others in her generation could have heard these three Representatives, to learn how committed and caring FL House leadership is.
In conclusion Barbara reminded everyone that, should this great nation fall to Communism, it would become a very dark, bleak world. We all need to take up the challenge to learn about the Constitution and how the Convention of States works to preserve our freedoms.
Share your COS hope for the future of the republic with everyone you meet.
