Title: CAPITOL SURGE DAY 2024 Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/capitol-surge-day-2024|capitol-surge-day-2024]] Login Required to view? No Created: 2024-01-04 18:21:36 Updated: 2024-01-18 03:00:00 Published: 2024-01-03 01:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T21:28:53.294448836 ---- **CAPITOL SURGE DAY 2024** Please join us in Nashville for the opening day of the 113th General Assembly that convenes at noon on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. COS leaders, volunteer activists, and citizen supporters will meet at the Cordell Hull Building, 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N. (formerly 5th Ave.) at 9:00 a.m. on the mezzanine level outside the Senate hearing rooms.  We will greet everyone, check our meeting schedules, hand out packets for the lawmakers, and then break away for meetings. Our message is self-governance and reining in our out-of-control federal government. Volunteers are busy scheduling appointments, so we can visit the offices of every member of Tennessee’s House and Senate. You may join a scheduled meeting or set up your own appointment (or even ask for a drop-in if a lawmaker cannot commit). Please email your appointment time to jay.walling@cosaction.com, so we can add it to the schedule. (We will fix it if there is a duplication!)  A COS leader will be at each meeting to assist first-time attendees or those who may be a little rusty (or nervous!) meeting with their legislators. Saying hello and then quickly stating the reason for your visit is key to a successful ten-minute meeting. A supporter can join multiple scheduled meetings, but it is also important to visit one’s representative and senator as lawmakers want to meet their constituents.  At roughly 11:30 a.m., the teams will meet at the tunnel entrance (close to security where you entered), and we will walk over to the Capitol building. Session opens at noon, so we will want to be outside to greet members as they enter the chamber, and then volunteers can take their seats. COS volunteers generally are seated in the gallery to the left of the Speaker of the House (to the left as you enter the House).   Following the session, volunteers and supporters will return to Cordell Hull through the tunnel to resume afternoon meetings. Once the volunteers and supporters have concluded their meetings, they are free to leave, to meet others for a meal, and to enter information about the meetings in the COS app. There is a lunchroom on the mezzanine level of Cordell Hull, so you can grab coffee, water, a snack, or lunch.  Surge Day is a great way to make COS volunteers visible at the Capitol, to remind lawmakers we are watching what they do, and to thank our lawmakers for their service to the State of Tennessee. Everyone is welcome to join us on opening day, especially children! For questions, contact Co-State Director John Taylor, (615) 838-8477, john.taylor@cosaction.com or Ramona DeSalvo, State Director for Legislative Action, (615) 943-8704, ramona.desalvo@cosaction.com. We look forward to seeing you as the 113th General Assembly convenes. \\  \\ DETAILS: Parking is at a premium, so arrive early.  Carpooling (even from within Nashville) is advised.  Bus information is here: https://www.wegotransit.com/ride/transit-services/buses Meters have been replaced with QR Code scanning for street parking. ($70+ parking fines!)  Allow time to go through security screening. If you arrive later than 9:30 a.m., please call a leader (above) to catch up to the group as we will be fanned out across the building. Wear your COS button. The dress code is business casual. Please do not dress as Uncle Sam, Davey Crockett, or Betsy Ross!   From: COS Leadership Team            \\ Co-SD John Taylor, SD-LA Ramona P. DeSalvo, and Co-SD Lyle Hill