Perched atop some Ozark hills with a stunning view, 24 Convention of States Arkansas leaders from Regions 1 and 2 met at the home of Jim and Sandy Boothe.
The meeting began and ended with prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and two volunteers sang "There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place."
COS Arkansas Grassroots Coordinator and meeting organizer Katherine Del Conte shared print resources and numerous online methods for staying informed. She emphasized checking the COS webpage every 24 hours.
Del Conte included activities which encouraged the members to get acquainted and allowed them to earn door prizes by answering trivia questions.
Legislative Liaison Randy Alexander addressed the two most common questions he hears about COS: Can the convention become a runaway event, and won't the federal congress take it over with their own agendas.
He stated, "There is nothing wrong with our country that engaged citizens cannot change." Alexander recommended serving on one's local political party committee and vetting of candidates to impact change.
Alexander also shared details of the Faithful Delegate Resolution which will soon be proposed in the Arkansas legislature. He noted that the Arkansas resolution differs from other states in that the commissioners would be comprised of five elected congressional officers and three citizens. The addition of non-elected citizens will strengthen the delegation.
Then, Region 1 Captain Bob Fuller spoke about the influence a COS member may have in the state by serving on a quorum court, city council, and other organizations.
His advice on connecting with potential petition signers is to ask, "What does self-governance mean to you? What does liberty mean to you?" Fuller also stressed researching issues from sources outside the standard media.
Veterans Coalition Director David Ormsby added, "I can't make any change, but together we can." Two new District Captains signed on that day.
Our path to success may be as winding as the roads to the Boothe home and may experience the valleys and peaks of those Ozark hills, but the journey is worth the effort and filled with highly committed people with which to travel along the way.
