Convention of States Project Bruce -- First, I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and a great New Years Day. I would also like to thank people like you who have supported the Convention of States Project so far, either by signing the petition, or becoming a grassroots volunteer or by becoming a volunteer leader in your state assembly district. 2015 is now upon us and I am passing on a lengthy but important summary---from the national and state level---that many have requested. I’ll keep lengthy updates like this to a minimum (perhaps every few months) but I ask that you share the good news and forward it as far and wide as possible, especially to those who are not yet familiar with the Convention of States Project. While this news is encouraging and motivating, it is important that we continue quickly spreading the word and getting others to join this historic nationwide movement---especially those you know who are in other states. It is also important for us to mentally prepare for what will come in 2015 and 2016. In addition to the 7000+ supporters like you who have already joined the movement in California, we are soon likely to see a significant surge in support. With America clearly in the balance, the American people are quickly coming to the realization that elections alone will never fix the fundamental problems we face, they are getting fired up and they are going to demand real solutions. Only a Convention of States will allow us to take back the power the Founders intended for us to have from the beginning, and we must seize this opportunity while the iron is hot. We the People hold the ultimate power, we must unite and we must take decisive action to take back our power from Washington DC. Bruce, this will be my first call to action for 2015. If you have not already, I ask and urge you to find out (below) how you and your friends can get involved and be part of this historic governing movement by the American people. It’s easier than you think and you can make a big difference. But first let’s cover the latest and greatest… National Progress Updates: 1) The Goal: Remember, the nationwide goal is to build a viable operation in at least 40 states and to capture support in 3000 state house (assembly) districts. 2) The November 2014 State Legislative Elections: It is important to remember that the state house elections that just took place in November across the country represent a major shift in power at the state levels and, along with bipartisan (yes, bipartisan) meetings that have been taking place between state legislators from well over thirty states across the nation, we have a clear indicator that the iron is red hot and that the Convention of States Project is likely well positioned to capture the thirty-four states required to call such a convention in either 2015 or 2016. 3) States with COS Applications Passed so far: 3 (Georgia, Florida, and Alaska) (Goal: 34 states) 4) States currently considering a COS application: Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey; and many more are being targeted to introduce such bills this year. 5) States with Grassroots Leadership teams: 44 (Goal: 40 states) 6) Nationwide Petition Signatures so far: 49,000+ (Goal: 75,000) 7) Key Endorsements: 10; These include the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC); US Term Limits; Madison Rising; The Jefferson State Legal Board of Reference; Texas Public Policy Foundation (See more at conventionofstates/endorsements) 8) Behind the Scenes (Assembly of State Legislatures): The Assembly of State Legislatures, a bipartisan group of currently serving state legislators from across the country, recently met for the third time (in early December) to continue work on draft language for rules and procedures by which an Article V convention for proposing amendments would operate. This behind the scenes movement among the states is growing rapidly. California Statewide Updates: 1) Our statewide goal is to accumulate 8000 grassroots volunteers (100 in each of the 80 state assembly districts) by the end of 2015, and to begin a coordinated statewide campaign to have a COS application introduced by early 2016. (California’s legislature locks in its legislative proposals for the year in the first few months of session, so we must first build our grassroots infrastructure in 2015 to ensure we have overwhelming support going into 2016) 2) The current number of District Captain Leaders has grown quickly to 21 (in 19 of California’s 80 assembly districts) and these dedicated Americans are working very hard and leading the way. (If I am your designated point person when you login to COS, it means that we are still looking for a District Captain in your assembly district! And if you have a District Captain, you can still join the team and help speed the process in your district.) 3) Statewide Petition Signatures: 5400+ 4) Statewide Supporters: 7000+ (Goal: to convert these existing supporters into volunteers) Are you a volunteer yet? conventionofstates/volunteer 5) Our Facebook presence is growing exponentially. “Convention of States California” Facebook Page Likes are now well over 9000 (over 1500 this week alone.) Social media has been making a big difference and is expected to explode in the coming weeks. 6) More good news! You can also now follow us on Twitter at: COSProjectCA 7) Soon I will be sending an introductory letter to the legislature (Assembly and Senate), and members of our state leadership team will begin meeting with select legislators in Sacramento to formally introduce them to the Convention of States, to start the conversation and to begin the process of identifying potential sponsors and supporters for the 2016 legislative session. (I hope this was helpful and that you will stay tuned for future updates.) Now, the big question many of you have been asking is: How can I help? And here’s how… (it’s much easier than you think and only takes a little bit of your time): 1. If you haven’t already, start by going to conventionofstates and complete, sign and submit the online petition (*Be sure to include your complete address where youre registered to vote to ensure it reaches your legislator); 2. Become a volunteer ( conventionofstates/volunteer ) and select any of the following options: (a) be a social media warrior, (b) contact your legislators, (c) host a party, (d) attend a meeting with your legislators, (e) recruit volunteers, (f) write a letter to the editor. Signing the petition helps, but volunteers receive key updates and will be the key to our success in passing the application. When the time comes later in 2015 and early in 2016, we will need our volunteers to be ready to respond simultaneously to coordinated calls to action (that will include these activities mentioned above) to urge our legislators to introduce and pass the COS application. Equally important, once the amendment proposing convention is over, volunteers will be needed to support the state’s ratification of the proposed amendments. Believe me, this next year will be an exciting and historic time for every one of us as history is going to be played out right before our eyes! 3) If you are really fired up and have some extra time (say 3-5 hours a week) and are willing to spread the word and recruit new volunteers, then seriously consider applying to become a District Captain. I have approximately sixty unfilled district leader positions, so go to conventionofstates/be_a_leader and fill out the District Captain questionnaire. If you don’t have that much time, you can still use your personal supporter link to help recruit ten others. Everyone we have spreading the word and recruiting makes a big difference, and social media works great for this! For those who have not yet joined the COS movement, the only questions I have are… Do you still believe in America? Do you believe our federal government has become far too big, too powerful and too intrusive? And do you realize that our Nation’s Founders knew this day would likely come, and that for this very reason they gave us the power (in Article V of our Constitution) to call for such a convention to take back our power and reign in the federal government and to protect our liberty? Are you ready to reclaim your power as an American? If so…then Let’s Get the California Cavalry Fired Up, and Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! Finally, Bruce, as a veteran and a fellow volunteer, I appreciate you helping us spread the word so far. It means a lot to me as a veteran and every little effort on your part is making a big difference. Thank you. In Liberty! Clayton Smith California State Director conventionofstates/ Director.ca@selfgovern Facebook Pages where you can find me: “Convention of States California” and “Veterans for Convention of States”
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:41:18 +0000
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