The volunteer leaders of Convention of States Action Florida met this past weekend for the Annual State Strategy Meeting. In attendance were captains and team leaders of the Grassroots Army made up of constitutionally conservative and engaged Florida citizens. Florida State Director, Denah Butts, hosted the meeting at her ranch on the west coast and we evaluated and planned our way through the agenda over the course of two days with the company of many squirrels, sheep, birds... and Bob! her husband.
On day one, Denah set the tone by emphasizing that not every petition signer is a volunteer. Our best interest is to improve our ability to seek and find those signers who are personally compelled to get involved and apply their skills and preferences for the efforts that suit them and COSA. Those are the volunteers that are acutely aware the Republic is in a fight for its life and they are meeting their own calling to get involved with their own time and effort.
Founder and Chairman, Mark Meckler joined the meeting via zoom the first morning for an enjoyable discussion with the leaders in attendance, including those who couldn't be there in person joining via zoom. Open, candid and inspiring, Mark provided motives and motivation, guidance and appreciation and pointed to the results we are striving for with our own purpose and passion. Delving further into the makeup, the DNA of Convention of States Project and COS Action, we gained a better understanding of the project and organization's origins and the source of inspiration.
Meckler touched upon his own evolution from being a citizen with a sense of duty, to a biblical citizen, being obedient to the Judeo-Christian beliefs and values that underpinned the delicate, deliberate and divinely inspired development of this country; an independent nation detached from any and all Monarchy, owning its sovereignty. Not an absence of religion but clear access to one's own beliefs and practices through their own autonomy, their beliefs and pursuits are to be defended.
First and foremost, Convention of States Project and Convention of States Action's original goal is for a minimum of 34 states to pass the identical Resolution calling an Article V Convention and secondly, if not simultaneously, to grow an engaged grassroots army in support of the Republic as defined by the U.S. Constitution.
Key targets of grassroots growth include:
- volunteer sign-ups
- maintaining active and engaged positions
- build and fortify relationships with legislators
- improve activity metrics and application
Florida already passed their Resolution on 4/21/2014 which leaves us to educate and encourage the Florida population, legislators and local leaders, while also standing ready to assist other state's missions. Making phone calls for TelePatriot missions and joining the numerous social media calls-to-action (CTA) as they are needed are some of the ways we apply our purpose.
It is of high priority that we maintain our legislator's enthusiasm for a convention and to light the spark in each new representative that enters their office in our State Capital in Tallahassee including in D.C.. To its credit, Florida has the greatest number of active volunteers of all the states and we were kindly made aware of their great results and the contributions made to their districts. Much appreciation was shared for those team members and leaders that help facilitate those efforts.
Recruitment, training and systems-building discussions generated a lot of input and the progress from here will be a substantial benefit in the next coming weeks, as will means of activity tracking and follow-up tools. Volunteers will be hearing more from their District Captains in the near future about some opportunities to grow our presence in neighboring districts and ways to engage the people of those communities.
Divine providence has brought us together and we need to be reminded and emphasize this in everything we do. The weekend was a great success and a great pleasure with kind camaraderie among leaders.
Do you share the same passion and determination to return your country to its glory and intended means of governing itself? Sign the petition today and see which roles interest you the most. Sign up below - we welcome your participation!
