Title: 2020 Momentum: Legislative Thank You Day Success!
Original CoS Document (slug): volunteer-voice-6th-edition
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Created: 2020-01-26 18:31:56
Updated: 2020-03-02 03:00:00
Published: 2020-01-28 00:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T21:08:16.887642825
By COS Tennessee State Director Greg Clements 
The Convention of States Tennessee team swarmed the capitol building on the opening day of the 2020 legislative session.
It is an annual event for us, where we hand-deliver packets of information, sign thank-you cards, and distribute small bags of candy to every legislator and assistant, for a total of 299 deliveries this year.
Each packet contained a current list of petition signers in their district (house and senate), a special newsletter for legislators, a COS Pocket Guide with my COS business card attached, a business card from our State Grassroots Coordinator (Lyle Hill), and the thank-you card signed by 20-30 volunteers.
Speaking of Lyle, we extend a huge thank you for doing most of the heavy lifting in the design and production of the cards, petition lists, newsletter, and the professional name badges we wore throughout the day.
Special thanks also to Regional Captain John Taylor, who organized and executed the signing of all the cards and the assembly of the packets by some volunteers ahead of time. I want to also thank the other leaders that pitched in and helped make this a successful event.
In addition to distributing all that helpful and tasty stuff, we also schedule as many 15-minute appointments with legislators as possible that day and the next. Each volunteer tried to get in front of both their representative and senator, and leaders paired themselves up with “rookie” volunteers in teams to get in front of key legislators.
This year our message focused on recent national progress and also inquired about any legislation they were pushing that had a self-governance theme to it. We emphasized that we are a grassroots organization with over 40,000 supporters throughout the state. If there is a self-governance issue we can get behind, we can make a difference.
We met with 45-50 legislators over a two-day period and received a great deal of positive feedback from them and their assistants on our dedication, organization, and professionalism. One senator declared that we are the most organized grassroots organization he has ever seen. Of course, we are!
Our volunteers had a great time, and our first-timers came away with renewed confidence in their ability to be heard and respected by their elected representatives. In addition, our team will be getting some national exposure as we had a camera crew from Voice of America covering our activities.
They conducted individual interviews and filmed our card-signing process, along with some of our packet deliveries. State Communications Coordinator Toni Clay worked with them like a pro and has since formed a great relationship with them, which can really help us gain even more national exposure.
Plan to join us for this great opportunity in 2021!
2020 COS Tennessee Challenge
Tennessee has over 40,000 Convention of States grassroots supporters! Can you imagine the impact of doubling that number by year's end?
That may sound daunting. However, if each Article V supporter shared the mission of COS with even one friend or neighbor that signed our petition, we would indeed achieve 80,000 by the end of 2020.
Consider the strength of 80,000 voices joined in support or opposition to legislation being considered in Tennessee.
COS Tennessee will do its best to keep you informed about self-governance legislation being considered in our state. Help us guide the public narrative and protect our self-governing rights. After all, it's your state, your country, and your future!
Spreading Happiness Through Gratitude
by Rachael Miltner - COS Tennessee State Content Writer
What's the most life-changing advice you’ve ever received? Mine was, “Before you get up every morning, say 'Thank you for (name of important/annoying person). May I never take him/her for granted.'” This simple expression of gratitude revolutionized my life.
Gratitude is not a magic pill. Change is slow, steady, incremental, and remarkably simple. Then suddenly one day, old minor irritations barely matter. After some time passed, I looked back and realized that my attitude about the person had changed and their annoying habits weren't so bad and sometimes had even improved. Maybe it was because I thanked more and grumbled less!
This January, Convention of States Tennessee decided to spread gratitude and tell our legislators how much we appreciate their time and diligence. We want to participate in the dialogue and support their efforts to preserve state rights and autonomy.
Do you know research shows that gratitude is one of the strongest indicators for increasing good mood, kindness, and happiness? Of course, gratitude improves the life of the giver and the receiver. It is hard to be happy without gratitude, and those who are unkind and unhappy are rarely grateful.
Can you imagine any greater kindness than giving someone absolute freedom to make the best choices they can for themselves and those they love?
What we ask of our state representatives is not to take care of us in our every need. Rather, we ask that they preserve our freedom to take care of our family, community, and country with the innovative care that millions can invent rather than asking a few hundred federal representatives to try to account for every nuance of need we will find in this very diverse country.
Let's ensure they do their part to keep our nation a beacon of freedom for another 200 years and more!
Convention of States Action Monthly Meeting- Kingsport TN
Topic: “What is Self-Governance?”
When: Sat, Feb. 8, 2020
Where: Concordia Lutheran Church, 725 Truxton Dr. Kingsport Tn. 37660
Click here to secure your seat
Gun Show at the Appalachian Fairgrounds
When: Feb. 8 & 9, 2020
Click www.RKshows.com for more info
Citizen Action Summit with Mark Meckler & Charlie Kirk - Save The Date!
Topic: Citizen Activism vs. Political Activism
When: Sat. May 16, 2020 1:00pm-4:pm
Where: Knoxville Hotel, 501 East Hill Ave. Knoxville, TN 37915
Ticket Prices beginning at $39.00
Note: If you are holding tickets purchased for the Jan. 18 event, this is the rescheduling of that event. Tickets will be honored.
More information at Citizen Action Summit 2020