Here at American Majority it is one of our goals to educate activists on how to properly use online media.  During the presentation, Patriots 2.0, we attempt to teach the importance of getting actively involved in facebook, twitter, and other social networks.

After our Patriots 2.0 presentation, the questions come rolling in.  More often than not, the questions refer to facebook privacy settings.  Although, we spend an hour teaching the ins and outs of facebook it is difficult to go into depth on how to effectively establish your privacy settings.  For this reason I feel it is necessary to dig deeper and get down to the nitty gritty of facebook privacy.

According to the facebook page on facebook (that sounds silly), “Facebook has led the industry in giving people the tools to control the information they share and with whom they choose to share it. User privacy has always been a top priority for the company, which has worked with such organizations as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and WiredSafety. Facebook is TrustE certified. Users also have the ability to share and restrict information based on specific friends or friend lists.”  If their privacy settings are that great, let’s utilize them!

• Step One: Go to your facebook page and click “Account” in the top right corner.   Then click “Privacy Settings” in the drop box.  A page such as the one below should pop up on your screen.

• Step Two:  Click “View Setting” under the “Basic Directory Information” tab.  Here you can alter what others see when they search your name on facebook.  This is where you can stipulate who can search for you, add you as a friend, send you messages, and see your personal information.  Simply, click on the side tabs to change privacy settings.  Click “Preview My Profile” to see if your settings are to your liking.  This will show you the content that non-facebook friends see when they search your name.

• Step Three: Click “Back to Privacy” to continue onto the next section, “Sharing on Facebook”.  Here you can manage which of your day-to-day activity can be viewed by others on facebook.  This includes photos, links, status updates, and the content others share on your wall.  Facebook recently installed a one touch privacy setting that gives you the option to allow only your friends to see the content of your page.  This can be done by clicking “Fiends Only”. You can also customize your privacy settings by clicking “Customize Settings” (wouldn’t you have guessed it).  To preview how your profile appears to specific individuals, click “Preview My Profile” and insert a friend’s name into the given blank at the top of the screen.

Click here for a slow-paced video that will take you through

a step-by-step guide to facebook privacy settings.

• Step Four:   If you want to have various friends view your page differently from one another, you can utilize the list making tool.  Click “Account” in the top right corner, then “Edit Friends” in the drop box.  A page such as the one shown below will pop up on your screen.

• Step Five: Click “Create New List” and type in a title for a certain group.  For example, lists can be titled: family, work, college friends, strict profile people, church friends, or whatever your little heart desires.  Once you have the group titled, go through your friend list to find those who fit into that specific group.  You can type their names into the given blank.  Once your list is complete, click “Create List”.  Repeat this for as many groups as you would like.

• Step Six:  In order for a list to be able to view or be restricted from viewing certain parts of your facebook activity, go back to “Customize Settings” under “Privacy Settings”.  Click on the drop box for each setting and click “Customize”.   Then type in your list’s name to either hide or show your activity.  To ensure that you’ve performed these steps correctly, click “Preview My Profile” and type in a person’s name from that list.

As we all know, the creators of facebook are constantly working to make their site more user-friendly.   Unfortunately, this means that the layout of facebook changes on occasion.  This can be frustrating, but privacy settings are sticky.  Therefore, when the inevitable change occurs, your privacy settings will transfer accordingly.  However, it is always important to stay aware of your settings to ensure that everything transfers correctly.

If you are having trouble activating or navigating facebook

please see our Facebook Guide for Beginners.

All above information is correct as of 8-1-10

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Tuesday, October 12 in Valdese, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the Waldensian Room at the Old Rock School located at 400 West Main Street in Valdese, NC from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:30.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, August 21st in Dallas, TX to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at the Best Western Dallas Hotel & Conference Center, 8051 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75251 from 9:30am-3pm. Online pre-registration is necessary to provide adequate materials and credit card processing. The cost is just $25 per attendee. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. A box lunch will be provided.

Registrations are limited to 100 activists so speedy online registration is recommended. Space is expected to fill quickly!

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (a look at where our country started, where we are today, the problems that have arisen and how we can take our country back)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Grassroots Activism (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Modern Patriotism (the Founders had printing presses and pamphlets, we have facebook and twitter. How can we use our modern tools to promote liberty?)
• Digital Pamphleteering (Thomas Paine wrote pamphlets but if he was around today he would be a blogger or wiki contributor. Learn how you can be effective with blogs and wikis online.)
• Social Capitalism (learn how to use social networks in your fight for conservative victory online. This is an advanced class for online activism)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Raz Shafer at Raz@AmericanMajority.org or call 254-592-3361 and leave a message.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Sunday, August 29 in Concord, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the upstairs meeting room at the Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills Malls located at 818 Concord Mills Boulevard in Concord, NC from 1:30 to 5:00.  Registration opens at 1:00.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on becoming an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Cadets at West Point Military Academy are taught to analyze an effective mission on three separate tiers: objective, strategy, and tactics. The broad, desired end-result goal is your objective. The specific method of action to accomplish this goal is your strategy. And tactics are the various points you employ to reach your destination.

Look at any well-run campaign as an example. The objective is to earn a majority of votes, 50 percent plus 1, to win election to public office; an effective strategy would be to define yourself as the candidate who will work to improve the economy, bring needed jobs to your community; and tactics would vary from utilizing different communication techniques to disseminate your message.

Once an objective is established, every tactic your campaign employs — from all its communications, public appearances, and policy statements — must advance a consistent strategy to accomplish this goal. Every person on a campaign staff that potentially has an affect on voters must thoroughly understand, know and internalize the strategy so he or she is able to make decisions and take actions that will move the operation closer towards the objectives.

Strategic Planning - VW Case Study

A fundamental flaw that inevitably raises its ugly head during misguided and failed attempts at elected office is when campaigns confuse strategy and tactics.

A strategy by nature must be durable, predictable, and steady — a north star in campaign operations consisting of message discipline and framing the debate favorable to your candidacy. Tactics are fluid elements that fluctuate as a campaign evolves — shifting from targeted door-to-door get-out-the vote operations to making a surprise appearance in the local media.

Effective strategies are consistent. Good tactics create surprises. Get these confused and chaos ensues.

An excellent and recent example of this occurrence is the 2004 presidential election. The Bush campaign understood that to win re-election they had to convince voters it was important to stay the course in the War on Terror, strong leadership in perilous and dangerous times. The Kerry campaign by contrast struggled to find a clear and consistent strategy, often confusing the overall message. Desperately seeking acceptance among the far Left, Kerry portrayed himself as a globalist devoted to building international consensus first and foremost; simultaneously, and paradoxically, he had a contrasting message of wanting to appear as a hawk on national defense.

Bush developed a simple strategic narrative: I am strong and decisive; my opponent is weak and uncertain. Kerry infamously “Voted for it before voting against it.” The Republican incumbent made use of effective tactics to convey a clear message to voters via mass media, public appearances, and an outstanding door-to-door operation conducted in competitive states. Kerry had multiple messages that contradicted each other, tactics that were directed at differing groups, and eventually left voters confused and unsure of where he stood on important issues. At the end of the day, voters went with whom they trusted, the candidate with a clear strategic message.

Whether you seek elected office in a your hometown or happen to find yourself in a much higher form of the political game, defining your objective, strategy and tactics is imperative to establishing a successful campaign. Separating strategy and tactics could mean the difference between ultimate success and absolute voter confusion.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, August 12 in Brookfield, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Smith’s Auction and Business Center located at 502 South State Street in Brookfield from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:45.  The cost is $5. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Volunteer in Campaigns (Learn how to be of the most value to a campaign, how to benefit your candidate and discuss expectations with former campaign staffers)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.  Dinner will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people. Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, August 19th in Kirksville, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Rosie’s Northtown Café located at 2801 N Baltimore St in Kirksville from 6 pm to 9 pm. Registration opens at 5:45. The cost is $15 if you pre-register online by August 17^th and $20 at the door. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Government 101 - How government structures work, what your elected officials’ job descriptions actually are.
• Patriot 2.0 - Effectively communicating using blogs, wikis, Facebook, Twitter, and much more (including traditional media)
• Micro Targeting Precincts and Volunteering in Campaigns – Understanding your district, identifying the precincts needed to win, and understanding the voters who live in those precincts.
• Organizing Meaningful Events - Learn how to organize events from candidate coffees to legislative townhalls, candidate forums, watch parties, rallies and more.

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community. Dinner will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@americanmajority.org .

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri and the Johnson County Patriots are pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Monday, August 16th in Warrensburg, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds Building located at 386 NW 145 in Warrensburg, MO from 7 pm to 9:15 pm.

Topics* to be covered during the Training includes:

• Building Coalitions and Reaching Your Community (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)

If you have any questions or would like to register for this training, please call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@americanmajority.org .

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

This event has been cancelled- please contact Jessica Bradford at (913) 940-7398, Jessica@AmericanMajority.org for information about rescheduling.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Kansas is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, October 9 in Columbus, Georgia to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Homewood Suites located at 6614 Whittlesey Blvd in Columbus from 10:30 am-2:00 pm.  Registration opens at 10:00 am. The cost is $25 if you pre-register online by October 1st, and $30 at the door. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics to be covered during the Training include:

• Hardwiring Precincts and Effective Campaigning (learn how to organize and impact campaigns on a precinct level, and the practical steps to campaigning or being an effective campaign volunteer)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community. Lunch is provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Jessica Bradford at (913) 940-7398 or Beka Romm at (913) 940-7369 or e-mail Jessica@AmericanMajority.org or Rebekah@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

You are Invited to Learn how YOU Can Make a Difference in Your Community!

American Majority Arkansas is pleased to announce its Activist Training Program is coming to Prescott, AR on Tuesday, July 27th from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. The event will feature general sessions for individuals interested in running for public office and those looking to become more effective activists.

The event will be located at the Nevada County Fairground, 856 West 1st St. South in Prescott, AR.

Information and pricing for each track is as follows:

Admission is $10 per person and online registration is requested.  If you are unable to register online, please call our office to secure admission.

Attendees will receive three hours of specialized training on subjects such as:

• Utilizing New and Traditional Media (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)
• Building Coalitions and Organizing Meaningful Events  (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Holding Elected Officials Accountable (how to communicate with elected officials and encourage transparency on a local level)
• Political Campaigns and Issue Advocacy Organizations (learn the basics of how to organize a campaign and lay your strategic groundwork)

Included in the training materials will be samples and supplements to help you apply what you learn in the training to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

To register for the event, please click here to use our online reservation system.  If you have any questions, please contact Kerry Baldwin at Kerry@americanmajority.org or Laurie Masterson at Laurie@americanmajority.org or call (501)-801-1030

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Minnesota is pleased to announce that an Activist Training will be conducted on Monday, August 23rd in Chanhassen, MN to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists and candidates.

The political training will take place at the American Legion Chanhassen Post 580, located at 290 Lake Drive East, in Chanhassen from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Registration begins at 5:30 pm.  The cost is $15 if you pre-register online and $20 at the door.  Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Building Coalitions and Reaching Your Community (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• The Campaign (learn the basics of how to organize a campaign and lay your strategic groundwork)
• Micro-Targeting Precincts (how to most effectively target the precincts in your district and set the vote goals you need to win)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Michael Yost at 651-343-5558 or e-mail at michael@americanmajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

One of the fundamental challenges the liberty movement currently faces is getting individuals to put down their protest signs and stop attending rallies in favor of instead picking up a clip board and getting to know their neighbors.  We have all heard about the importance to door-to-door campaigning for candidates; what you might not have been told is that you should organize your own area.

We must be responsible for our own neighborhoods, blocks, and precincts.  Understanding who lives around you, targeting them to learn what issues or values they care about, reaching out to them about upcoming events (perhaps a tea party or campaign fundraiser?), and talking to them about candidates you support or issue petitions you’re working on will help you to radically change the makeup of your community and state.

So where do you start?

1. Know your terms.  What’s a precinct?  A precinct is the 10-block radius around your polling place, or where you vote.  Precincts are the most local level of government organization in America.  In some areas of the nation, precincts are referred to as wards.  On average across the country, precincts tend to have about 1,100 voters, and a statehouse district is generally made up of 15-25 precincts.  Make sense?

2. Now we know what our precinct is, let’s figure out the dynamics of our particular precinct.  Go to your local county clerk or board of elections.  Ask for the voter registration list and historical voting totals from 2008, 2006 and 2004 for your local precinct.  This part is important: Ask for it on disc.  This will not only save you money and time because the staff don’t have to print it all out, but it will also allow you to manipulate the data and have a lasting database of your area.

3. Look at the numbers.  Try to identify what you can learn about your precinct.  Which candidates did your precinct vote for in 2008, 2006 and 2004?  What were the overall voter turnout numbers?  By what percentages did your type of candidate win?

4. Determine your goal.  I strongly believe that we must have a goal in mind if we are ever to achieve it- so what is your goal?  Are you going to survey the voters in your precinct to understand the issues they support or care about?  Do you want to talk to everyone in your neighborhood about a candidate you support?  Are you going to flyer each door in regards to an upcoming event, maybe a candidate BBQ you’re holding at the neighborhood park?  Determine your goal.  Then make it happen.

5. Start walking- or calling, depending on your physical limitations.  Knock on doors, explain that you live down the street, or across the road, and tell them what you’re working on.

6. Make notes!  This is the real key, and where many people fail to pay attention to detail.  Look around as you walk up to a house- is there Americana decor on the front porch?  Kiddie toys in the yard, which would indicate a young family, whose voters would likely care about different issues than, say, a senior citizen?  What about bumper stickers on the car?  Anything you can see that gives you a personal insight into the life of that voter, make a note of it on your notepad.

7. Talk to the voter- ask them some “yes or no” questions.  Do you believe that your property taxes are too high?  Do you believe that increased education spending will lead to better test scores?  Know your goals and that will help you determine what your questions should be.  Make notes about the voter’s response- not just the “yes” or “no” answer, but if a particular issue excited them or got them going.

8. Victory is in the margins- and here is where it matters: go home and input that information and all your notes into your database that you got from the county clerk/board of elections.  Now you know something about most voters in your area- something about them on a personal level.  You know whether they’re registered to vote or if the database is up to date.  You know what issues they care about most…

9. Now what do you do with all that information?  Make yourself valuable to a candidate who you trust by offering that information to the person you are supporting.  Engage people in your neighborhood who agree with your values by inviting them to events you’re holding to meet candidates in the area or to join your tea party group.  Make a call list of the voters who are most like you and take it upon yourself to call through the list in the days and hours prior to election day to make sure they remember to vote, or to offer a ride to the polls.

10. Keep it up!  After election day, keep in touch with people who agree with you on the issues.  Is there a bill in the state legislature dealing with this issue?  Make sure they know about it and have their representative’s contact information.  Is there a townhall meeting scheduled for your congressman or senator?  Put a flyer on everyone’s door inviting them to join.  Keep them engaged in the process. Use your database as a tool to reinforce accountability amongst elected officials.

Does this sound like campaign work to you?  Well, in some ways it is.  But if change begins on the state and local level- and I firmly believe that it does- then shouldn’t we each be responsible for our own community?  Take these tips and go, make a difference!  It’s time to take back our nation.

“There is a tide in the affairs of men.”

William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar Act 4

It seems that more and more people feel compelled to take part in the growing conservative movement currently sweeping across this country. As a left-wing agenda is aggressively being pushed in Washington and out-of-touch politicians shamelessly bow to special interests – resulting in an obscene national debt, rising unemployment, and a nationalized healthcare system – families back home feel deliberately kept out of the process, their concerns removed from debate.

Last night I attended a meeting of the North Houston Tea Party Patriots; a topic that repeatedly came up in conversation was the problem – albeit a healthy one – of consistently higher-than-expected amounts of people showing up at their assemblies and rallies.  What began as a loose group of concerned citizens gathering in their homes grew to a substantial organization that required renting a large warehouse for weekly meetings and a team of volunteers to staff office needs.

In April of 2009, a group of motivated citizens coalesced together to plan their first Tea Party in the North Houston area – a Tax-Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009. They reserved a local park in The Woodlands and anticipated a few hundred people would attend to voice their frustration over the recent budget-busting stimulus plan. As the event began that afternoon, so too did the crowd begin to arrive, with an unending stream of cars, backing up area roads for miles. Thousands flooded into the park wanting to be a part of this event, which for many, was their first ever-political action! Word of the event had spread like a Texas grass fire throughout the north Houston region, and over five thousand citizens and their children stepped forward to express their concerns (not too shabby for a Wednesday evening event during the middle of the school year!)

Supporters grew over the year, and by April 15 of 2010, their next Tax Day rally was more than twice as big, with 15,000 patriots flooding into the Sam Houston Race Park. With a larger venue that was more conveniently located, they were able to attract more Houstonians and Harris County residents, all eager to voice their growing concerns over our nation’s perilous direction. Their radical demand? A return to conservative, common-sense policies in Washington – respect for our Constitution and fiscal restraint. And while this tremendous event took place in my hometown of Houston, across the United States countless similar rallies took hold of this idea and articulated a nationwide phenomenon.

It’s a convenient argument to dismiss a lone-voice as insignificant, an anomaly in political discourse that must be ignored by elites resting comfortably high above in ivory towers; an agenda-driven media mocks those who question Ivy-League credentialed authority as the unwashed masses; working families are told to “eat cake” and feel fortunate that we have such gifted leaders to make all-important decisions on our behalf. When small groups – motivated to act on behalf of eroding liberties – evolve to countless numbers occupying stadiums across the country, it’s a stark observation that in this day and time “the tide in the affairs of men” is causing unexpected amounts of a once-dormant public to become increasingly active in the political process and vigorously working to bring a new conservative direction for our nation. Politicians and elite media assuredly will spin, but at the end of the day numbers don’t lie.

American Majority is excited to be coming to Springfield, IL to host a one day training program for conservative leaders, activists and community groups on Saturday, August 21^st, 2010. The event will be held from 9:00am- 4:00pm at the Hilton Springfield, 700 East Adams Street, Springfield, IL. Registration will begin at 8:30AM.

Registration is $30.00 per person in advance, and $40.00 at the door. Lunch is included.

The workshops offered will give volunteers and activists the latest tools and information that will help them be most effective in their communities in the months leading up to the November 2010 elections. Workshop topics  include*:

• The System: In this presentation we breakdown the progressive rise and how their efforts over the past 100 years have build the system we now face. We take a deeper look at that system and explore areas of reinforcement within government than can be broken down and exploited to bring about a more transparent and accountable system.
• Precinct Power: highlights the great impact that can be made by focusing on precinct work, crunching numbers and understanding how the political system works on the local level.
• Grassroots Action: covers specifics on how to lead an organization, how to hold elected officials accountable, and how to work together with other organizations in your area.
• Patriotism & Communication: explores how activists today can utilize social media to win the hearts and minds of fellow citizens, much like the pamphleteers of the American Revolution.
• Digital Pamphleteering: look at blogging platforms, communications strategies, and other online tools that will help you carry your message.
• Social Capitalists: discusses the value of social networks and how to invest in your “brand” online.

*Subject to change as necessary.

The event will be held from 9:00am- 4:00pm at the Hilton Springfield, 700 East Adams Street, Springfield, IL. Registration is $30.00 per person in advance, and $40.00 at the door. Lunch is included.

Political Training Registration

Please register online, or call 540-338-1251 for over-the-phone registration.

I encountered a man that was attending a training of ours in Russell, KS last evening.  After the training was over he came up to us and began chatting and sharing stories, and one story in particular really inspired me.  He talked about his experience last year when he attended the March on D.C.  He was explaining what an amazing experience it was for him and how blessed he felt to be a part of the movement – something bigger than himself.  He then went on to mention how shocked he was that when it was over and most everyone had cleared out, the streets were nearly spotless. He was blown away at how respectful everyone in attendance was towards their capitol.  However, there were a few signs on the ground and one in particular that had blown through a fence into the capitol building area that was off limits to the public.  He went up to the guard that was standing outside the fence and asked, “May I go pick up that sign so I can throw it away?”  The guard answered, “No.”  “Well, do you think maybe you could go grab it for me?  I would hate to think that my group was responsible for littering on the capitol,” the man said.  “Not my job” replied the guard.  The man was stunned and then said, “Well this is my capitol and I want to treat it with respect, so please sir, may I just climb through real quick and retrieve the sign?”  Finally the guard allowed him to do so.  This little exchange, though not a huge ordeal, really says a great deal about this man and people in attendance at the march.  It also says a great about the attitude that so many people seem to be taking nowadays.

When he told me this story, I was reminded of a poster that I once saw.  The poster is meant to demonstrate an instance in which a road-worker, instead of taking the initiative to move some road kill out of the middle of the road in order to paint, just painted right over it because it “wasn’t his job.”  However humorous the poster may be, it sends a scary message.  What would this country be like if everyone took the “not my job” approach that the capitol guard and the road-worker so willingly did?  There are many people who do; however, I am extremely thankful that there are citizens out there like the man at our training in Russell who understand that there are some things that you do because it is your duty as a citizen – it’s your job.

If you are a citizen of this great nation and enjoy the rights and freedoms granted to you in the United States Constitution, then it is your job.  It’s your job to hold your representatives accountable.  It’s your job to vote and to encourage others to vote as well.  It’s your job to educate those who may not be informed on important issues.  It’s your job to help candidates whom you believe in get elected.  And it’s your job to step up when there is a need for a liberty minded individual to emerge and run for office.

It is so refreshing and so motivating to see more and more citizens that understand how important it is to take the initiative when they see a problem in this country and make it their job to fix it.  The more active citizens that emerge, like the man I came across in Russell, the closer we will be to getting this country back on the track that our founding fathers intended it to go.