State Director's Planning, Creativity, and Craftsmanship Drives Successful Lobby Day Event

“My desire to write history with my friends is great.” – Mark Meckler

What if a leader you admire and consider a friend spoke those words to you? Would you invest time, energy, and money to deliver, in person, a message of good news and great importance to officials in your state government? Would you be inspired to make history with your friends?

That’s exactly what California volunteers for Convention of States did on Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2023. The annual Lobby Day to inform state legislators and their legislative staff about Article V of the Constitution would be extra special this year.

State Director Kimberly Hogan explained: “I had two main objectives. 
The first was that everyone in attendance had something to do. When people are investing their time, it is important that they feel like they made a meaningful contribution, that they were part of the success of the event.”

“The second [objective] was to have some good fun together.”

The fun was under construction, literally, as Kimberly brought to life her vision for a Cornhole Tournament on the Capitol Lawn.

“The officer who approved our event called me to discuss the games I requested. He was the same officer who approved all our previous Lobby Day events. My heart sank when he gave a hard 'No' to us playing Bocci Ball. To my surprise, he added, 'I am open to hear your arguments for Cornhole!'”

“I was so excited when he said yes, with the requirement that we put stanchions in place. I’m not sure he would have approved had we not built a good rapport over the years.”

The Cornhole boards were laminated with COS branding. The bean bags were cut from stars and stripes fabric. The stanchions were custom-made by Kimberly herself, and the fun was enjoyed by everyone.

Visible from many of the windows in the legislative office building, the tournament area drew passersby and audiences of schoolchildren on field trips. At least one, well-dressed official (or state employee) walking along the sidewalk removed his suit jacket to pitch some bean bags. He nearly scored to the cheers of Kimberly and the other volunteers.

Spirited two-player teams of COS volunteers pitched bags across the game area, most missing the holes but some dropping through. Every pitch was a celebration of team rapport and friendship. Volunteers from So Cal and the Central Valley competed alongside others from the Capitol region and Bay Area. Meeting one another in person was a true highlight of the occasion.

Two-by-two the volunteers walked to the legislative office building to deliver information and build rapport with legislators. With their individual, two-minute elevator pitches, the volunteers contributed in a meaningful way toward two goals: empowering state legislators to use Article V of the Constitution to regain authority over California revenues, resources, and policies. They also achieved the goal of becoming engaged, self-governing citizen activists.

They made history, broadly and personally, with their friends.

Convention of States as described in Article V of the Constitution is a citizen-driven effort that depends on state legislators in two-thirds of the states (34) agreeing to propose amendments on a particular subject matter. Citizens must show enough support for the subject matter that their legislators vote by a majority to participate in the convention.

Readers who would like to show support for the effort are invited to visit the Convention of States website at www.conventionofstates.com, read the facts, sign the petition, and volunteer to join their state team.

Nineteen states have already agreed to meet. A model document showing the subject matter in the form of a resolution is available to view on the website.



To Liberty!