Our Convention of States Hawaii team had great success over the Father's Day weekend collecting over 110 petition signatures during the Hawaii Rifle Association's annual Shooting Sports Fair at the Koko Head Range in East Oahu. We set up an outdoor table under a big Banyan tree for shade, right next to the registration tent, tied up our banners, spread out our 2nd Amendment and FAQs, Palm cards and pocket Constitutions on the table for people to read and then started collecting signatures.
The trick is having more than one person work the table by approaching people (away from the table!) and ask them directly to help us by singing our petition. Immediately, they'll ask: "What's it for"? That's when you can start talking about Convention of States, just make it quick and concise! We had to be ready when the event opened each day as the registration line got long in the morning. It took all three of us to work the line down without interfering with registration.
One way to approach people when you have to get through a line of over 100 in a hurry. Print out blank petition signature slips and staple them individually to the palm cards. Pass those out throughout the long registration line. Ask folks to sign the petition, explain Convention of States, then leave the card and blank petition form with them (along with a pencil). Ask them to read more about Convention of States on the palm card and when they get done filling out the form, bring it over to the table to get a free pocket constitution. Move on to the next group.....
Brett Kulbis, Hawaii Grassroots Coordinator for Convention of States.
Instead of using the standard one-page petition signature form, we used a 4-signature petition form we made up last year and had printed. Each signature area asked for the same information but doesn't include the actual text of the message itself. Along with a Pocket Constitution we provided a copy of the 1-page petition as it shows the email that's sent to state legislators.
Our 4-signature petition form works pretty well for us. Minimizes papers and allows us to mingle with groups better.
These cards with the petition signature strips attached worked pretty well as they allow me to keep moving through a big crowd on my own until help arrived.
Here's one way to approach a large group of people to sign our Convention of States Petition.
Preparation: First, have something to hand out that explains Convention of States. The Palm Cards and Social Media Cards are the best. Also popular are the Frequently Asked Questions (folded in half with the title facing out). Second, have with you, or have one or two others come right behind you with blank petitions on a clipboard (and a pen) to sign immediately right there. We created our own petition forms in Hawaii so we can get 4 full signatures on one page.
Action: Approach a small subset of the main group (3 to 5 people) and begin talking with them about Convention of States. As you finish with this small group (15 to 30 seconds max) move on to another small group. Let the first group sign the petition as you explain it to the next group.
Script:
You: Hello folks! I'm with Convention of States here in [Hawaii] and we're asking folks to sign our petition today. Can we get your help?
Them: What's the petition for?
You: It’s for Convention of States! Have you heard about us before?
Them: No, not really.
You: Oh! I'm glad to be the first to introduce it to you! A Convention of States is all about you and me (circular gesture) we the people, taking control over the federal government (pause for effect). Hey, I know it sounds crazy but we can do it! We really can gain control over [or "rein in the power of"] the federal government... We do it through our state government because The States created the federal government in the first place. Here's a card that explains more about it...and look its actually legally authorized in Article V of the Constitution (Palm Card has it on the front side). Here's another card with our website on it. You can go on line while your waiting and take a look!
Them: Oh, wow...
You: Yeah, I know. Its exciting because we're trying to get [Hawaii] to be the next state to call for a Convention of States. We've got 12 states already but we need 34, and we want [Hawaii] to be the next state to call for Convention of States. We'd like your signature today to tell our state legislators that you support a Convention of States and you want them to do the same.
Them: What's the convention supposed to do?
You: You know what it is? Its really just a meeting, like a diplomatic meeting, where the states get together in a convention...a Convention of States...to propose amendments to limit the size, scope and jurisdiction of the federal government and return that power back to the states and the people in [Hawaii}. (Optional, for stubborn listeners) You know how bad the federal government is today, right? A $20Trillion debt; no representation; huge bureaucracies--they're in everything: in our bedrooms, boardrooms, bathrooms, classrooms, cars, kitchens...everywhere. Man, the rules and the taxes just never stop!
Them: Yeah, I hear you!
You: We'd really like your help signing our petition today. If you sign, we'll give you a free pocket constitution. Just drop by our table over there. (We buy these ourselves from the National Center for Constitutional Studies)
Them: Okay! Where do I sign up?
You: Right here! (Have clipboard with petitions ready or get the person that has it) And thank you so much for supporting Convention of States! We'll need your name and address so we can send your signature to your State Senator and State Representative. Let us have your email too so we can send you future updates about Convention of States
