As the political seasons starts to heat up, now is the time to gather up the harvest and go to work. If we Republicans don't take this threat serious then we are going to find ourselves questioning what we did or did not do. One the aspects of leadership is to find what it is that motivates people to action. Or, as Denis Waitley, puts it, Mode of Action. I get asked the question, what can I do to help the party or how can I make a difference, I am only one vote.
There are numerous ways to help other than giving of your money which is always appreciated but it is the engagement of the talent pool that really puts us over the top.For the first time, in many years in Butler County, we find ourselves facing a serious threat. Of course I have always had the opinion that if someone places their name on a ballot, they should be given all consideration as a competitor and should never be overlooked or taken lightly, because on any given election....
So, what can we do to make a difference? First, get involved. Pick a candidate or issue to love and pour your energy into it. Tell your friends and neighbors why they should vote for that person or issue and that takes an effort on your part to really know why you should vote for somebody other than their party affiliation. That is not enough. Most candidates today have web sites and some even have My Space so getting information is relatively easy if you know how to browse the Internet. There are concentrated phone banks, door to door opportunities and some need help chasing the absentees, that start next week.
Engage the candidates, talk to them and find out why they are running. What is their burning desire to hold this office or be re-elected? Incumbents usually have a track record, make it your business to know what they have achieved and what their goals, plans and dreams are. I will be writing about the contested races in a little more depth as the season goes on and we have a plethora of highly qualified candidates we can really get behind that want and need your help.
The nuts and bolts of grassroots politics are pretty simple. From helping to do a mailing by stuffing and stamping to placing or locating yard signs the work is never ending and we love volunteers. Please feel free to email me at doncarpenter@fuse.net or call the Butler County Republican Party headquarters at 513-893-5292 or visit on the web at http://www.butlercountygop.org/.
