Title: An Austin Founding Father Brings Halloween Fun
Original CoS Document (slug): an-austin-founding-father-brings-halloween-fun
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Created: 2024-10-31 21:10:52
Updated: 2024-11-09 03:00:01
Published: 2024-10-31 03:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T21:33:58.025409430
An Austin Founding Father Brings Halloween Fun—and a Touch of Civic Duty—to Local Kids
This Halloween, Austin Texas Regional Captain, Randy Purham, took a different approach to dressing up and trick-or-treating by combining festive spirit with a call to action. Sporting a colonial wig, ruffled shirt, and tricorn hat, he looked every bit the part of an American Founding Father. But rather than parading the historic costume through crowded streets or spooky gatherings, he stationed himself at his apartment complex to hand out candy to kids coming home from school, offering them sweets while their parents got something a little more thought-provoking: a QR code linking to the Convention of States petition.
“The kids in my complex loved it,” he shared afterward. “I greeted them as they were coming in from school, and the parents thanked me for doing it.” Each candy bar and treat came with a reminder of civic duty, as parents received a card with information on signing the petition for the Convention of States, a movement focused on reforming government by means of a constitutional amendment process.
“Randy, this is genius!” exclaimed Regional Director, Jonathan Viaud.
Though it was a warm day—“It was fun but very hot!” he laughed—the extra heat didn’t slow him down. His focus was on engaging his neighbors and sparking a sense of patriotism and civic responsibility. As he distributed treats, he explained the petition’s purpose and encouraged parents to consider the role they play in advocating for a balanced federal government. “The parents seemed appreciative,” he said, “and some even said they’d check it out.”
Randy’s approach to Halloween highlights a creative way of blending community spirit with civic engagement, meeting people where they are—especially at a time when engagement is sometimes overlooked. Dressed as a Founding Father, he became a reminder of the power every citizen holds, including those who, one candy bar at a time, could be spurred to think a little differently about the country’s future.