To view this on the COS website, click here what-kind-modern-day-minuteman-are-you

What kind of modern day Minuteman are you?

We carry on the Minutemen of the American Revolutionary.

Every once in a while you read something that really inspires you and truly demonstrates the importance of our mission. Enjoy this amazing article by COS Florida State Director Michelle LaFlamme.

==== Are You Ready as a Member of Our COS Team? ====

I joined Convention of States over two years ago. In that time, I have learned so much. I have learned how much time, effort, thoughtful deliberation went into the drafting and ratifying of that God-inspired document known as the United States Constitution.

I have also learned the process by which a very important section of that document (Article V) was intended and destined to preserve this great republic.

However, one of the most important things that I have learned is the level of the moral character of those who have joined this phenomenal grassroots movement. The people who have expressed their love of this country and the will to perpetuate the freedoms that it represents are the lifeblood of this republic.

Every time I have the pleasure of engaging with any of you, either in a personal phone call or during a meeting, my heart soars with the realization that there are such amazing patriots working for what may prove to be one of the most noble of causes in modern day history.

One of the most important roles of a Convention of States District Captain is making sure our volunteers are aware of and understand what is happening in our state legislatures. Being a citizen of Florida, (which has already passed the COS resolution), I missed having the pleasure of seeing our lawmaking bodies come to the obvious conclusion that our federal government is in dire need of an intervention and acted upon it appropriately.

However, in the past few months, thanks to modern technology, I have been able watch the legislators of other states engage in their struggle to bring their collective body to the same prudent and logical conclusion.

To my dismay I have also been made aware of sinister efforts to thwart and even sabotage the progress of this project. The lies and misinformation that are allowed to reverberate through the hallowed chambers of our capitols should raise the hackles of every patriotic proponent of COS.

This malfeasance on the floor and dubious tactics of unscrupulous lawmakers, (such as Senator Bell in Tennessee, who attempted to have our application rescinded, simply due to a personal dispute), illustrates the need to stay vigilant.

I would dare to compare us to the Minutemen of the American Revolution. Though not under the threat of bodily harm, we continue to be threatened with loss of liberty and property through an insidious and insipid creep of regulatory imposition and judicial activism.

Our organization is ingeniously structured so that we can respond quickly to any legislative malfeasance that could impede or set back this most pivotal of endeavors. District Captains are positioned to summon and bring forth the most effective form of influence on any prudent legislator: an informed and engaged constituent.

As Mark Levin would say, a COS District Captain is a modern-day Paul or Paulette Revere.

This makes all those COS supporters, who have indicated that they are willing to be volunteers, modern-day Minutemen. Having watched several committee hearings in both the U.S. Senate and House floor proceedings, it has become obvious to me that if we are to have an effective positive influence on the outcome of deliberations, we must make it abundantly clear to those making the decisions that we are watching. They also need to know that we will react accordingly if they fail to do the right thing.

As a State Director for Florida, I see one of my roles as being like that of Robert John Newman, who was the sexton of The Old North Church in Boston. I stand ready to hang the lanterns in the steeple. This could be an alert to a motion filed by one of our own state legislators to have our application rescinded (God forbid). If such an action would occur, we would need to rally our supporters to put pressure on them to withdraw the motion.

A much more positive and exciting reason for me to “hang my lantern” would be to get you to call forth volunteers to help call constituents of other states and guide them through the process of calling their own legislators when the time comes to convince them to make the right decision.

Then we can all cheer and congratulate one another as we watch it happen live, online. We should revel in the success of adding a new member to our roster of patriotic passed states.

But all this can’t happen unless you ask yourself, “Am I an effective messenger? Am I a Paul or Paulette Revere? Is my horse well shod and swift?”

Do you have a system in place by which you are able to contact all the COS volunteers in your district? Are your volunteers expecting your call, text, Facebook notification, tweet, email? Do you know how each and every one of them prefer to be contacted? Will they respond? Will they respond in time?

Indeed, you need to challenge those very volunteers on their own readiness. Ask them “To what degree are you willing to respond?” Will they just make one call to a representative or senator? Or would they be willing to dedicate some time calling other supporters and encourage them to make calls themselves?

Would they even be willing to show up at a state capitol and testify in a committee hearing in show of support of a bill that would result in a passed application? Do you know that all your volunteers are standing ready? What are they willing to do if called?

The Minutemen of our history were successful because they honed and perfected their ability to respond swiftly and appropriately. It is now time for us to take that same stance and use the technological weaponry that is available to us today. We must be ready to strategically strike with our ammunition of correct and effective information. We must all stay vigilant and stand ready to respond.

How vigilant and ready are you?

==== References ====

http://www.ushistory.org/people/minutemen.htm

http://www.paul-revere-heritage.com/one-if-by-land-two-if-by-sea.html

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Created:	2017-04-20 19:15 GMT
Updated:	2021-02-24 10:25 GMT
Published:	2019-06-20 19:24 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 11:53 GMT
Change Author:	Convention Of States Project
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