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Title: Introducing "Grassroots Groundbreakers"

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/introducing-grassroots-groundbreakers|introducing-grassroots-groundbreakers]]

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Created: 2024-05-07 09:36:33

Updated: 2024-05-15 03:00:00

Published: 2024-05-08 00:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T21:30:26.128395920


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Grassroots activists and leaders are the backbone of Convention of States Action (COSA). They give all that they can in every state to the cause of calling an Article V convention to blunt the massive overreach of the federal government.

Their amazing work has resulted in 19 state legislatures passing COS resolutions. When 15 more states pass the resolutions, Congress will be compelled to call a convention.

That work and the highly-effective strategies and planning behind it as well as the challenges it poses, will be a major feature of COSA’s latest podcast:** [[https://conventionofstates.com/grassroots-groundbreakers|“Grassroots Groundbreakers”]]**, hosted by COSA chief grassroots officer **Mike Ruthenberg**. 

The inaugural episode debuts on May 17 and will be available [[https://conventionofstates.com/grassroots-groundbreakers|here]]. 

Mike will talk directly with the people who have had success and keep the grassroots in the fight for the long haul. 

"As I speak with more and more grassroots activist leaders," he said, "I am hearing about challenges that bedevil teams. I also hear about great solutions and victories that are happening.  

"The most important challenges I am hearing about relate to building the army and keeping activists engaged and active."

Mike will combine his own engaging style that you have enjoyed during trainings and calls with the stories and experiences that his compelling guests will share to motivate, inspire, and educate, while furthering the COS mission of building an army of self-governing grassroots activists. 

Mike plans to explore the "why" of his grassroots guests -- to discuss their reasons for committing so much time and effort to not just call an Article V convention, but spread a spirit and ethic of self-governance across the country.

He will examine the best strategies that the grassroots have employed to turn petition signers into activists and leaders, how to engage with legislators and present testimony, conducting successful team calls and meetings, and how to utilize tools such as texting and emails to build and sustain teams district by district. 

Mike's first episode highlights the amazing success story -- which he calls a "phoenix story" -- of the COS Illinois team, led by State Director **David Winters** of Bartlett, Illinois.

Mike and David examine the challenges that David encountered and lessons learned upon first becoming State Director, and his strategies for strengthening the team by recruiting volunteer activists, District Captains, and other leaders. 

They also discuss hosting events throughout the state, interacting with new COS petition signers, and David's approach to his responsibilities as State Director -- including not overburdening volunteers with training, finding great events for promoting COS, and having fun in the midst of saving the republic. You will find out why Illinois is such a successful and cohesive team.

Like David, the guests on "Grassroots Groundbreakers" will be the most effective leaders within COS. They have proven that they not only know how to get the job done, but how to grow the organization, and establish relationships with volunteers and legislators alike in order to activate Article V and chart meaningful course correction.

"Grassroots Groundbreakers" is an important resource for everyone involved with COS. 

Be sure to join Mike and his guests [[https://conventionofstates.com/grassroots-groundbreakers|every third Friday of the month here]]. Mike's informative and entertaining conversation with David Winters will be available on May 17. 

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