All of us ordinary Convention of States volunteers devote our extraordinary experiences and skills to the work of self-governance. Lynette Miesen’s story is a curious example of the bumpy path to patriotic awareness.
With husband Tom, the Miesens were “somehow” invited to local political meetings. Lynette is not sure why, but if you read her poetry, it is quite obvious. She readily admits her book, The Poetry of Art, is about freedom versus communism. Is that struggle not the forgotten work of true citizens in the American democracy?
Lynette was on a scientific career path as a pharmacist when fate intervened and pointed her in a more creative direction. She went from clinical and pharmaceutical sales work to painting and writing. She eventually enhanced her Florida painting of plein air themes (outdoor landscapes and sea sides) with poetry that “has to do with what’s going on in your life.”
As Regional Captain in northwest Florida, Lynette has 10 district captains who are hundreds of miles apart. She hopes that with this year’s redistricting, her area will get smaller. She spends a lot of time on the phone helping to train and orient new volunteers. She also attends tons of meetings as a social media warrior and tele-patriot.
Lynette describes herself as “not afraid of controversy” and thinks her team needs more activists who are willing to challenge and ask questions so they may be informed. As a young person taking college aptitude tests, Lynette scored highest in detective skills. She uses those abilities today to sort out issues and educate constituents in her region.
True to COS philosophy, Lynette believes it is best to work locally, especially with school boards this year. She says it does matter “more than I ever would have thought” to contact local candidates running for office. She thinks those who don’t speak up get left behind. Obviously, COS needs volunteers who are willing to speak up.
Recognizing that we are all busy with work and family demands, Lynette still hopes to recruit energetic patriots. The first priority is to grow the grassroots army that understands local issues. It's equally important to continuously educate Florida elected officials about COS. We encourage them to support the goal of calling a convention to use Article V of the Constitution to pass amendments, realigning our governance to the original format described in our Constitution.
If you are new to COS, please sign the petition and volunteer your expertise. If you are already involved, why not take the next step to a more active role? Many Florida districts are in desperate need of a captain.
