The idea of A.R.M. is to provide you with an alternative means for political action, and in a way that will allow you to get together with like-minded friends, neighbors, work and business associates to activate an effective grass roots and local effort focused entirely on getting one of your own elected as an – Independent – to the House of Representatives. That’s all.
The other important thing to also keep in mind is this….as long as you are not a formal political organization or party….you can pretty much operated however you like. You are truly “independent”. So, for this purpose think of yourselves as a private “investment club”. One which is aiming to invest more wisely in the governance of this country.
- Getting Organized: Obviously, someone has to take the initiative to get things started. No reason it can’t be you. The worse thing that can happen is….nothing happens.
If you have the facility for it, this first session can be at your home. If not, or if you prefer, pick a decent restaurant or hotel small party or meeting room. Keep it simple, and within whatever budget you can afford.*
- Meanwhile, to prepare for this founding session to set up an A.R.M. Chapter in your District, download and print out the – Blueprint – with enough copies for each of those you’ve invited to the brunch. If you have a laptop, you might also set it up and be ready to click on the intro video clip about A.R.M. The combination of these two things should have a stronger effect than just a printed handout of several pages.
- Prepare a simple “FOUNDING COMMITTEE RESOLUTION” along the following lines:
FOUNDING
COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
We,
the undersigned founding committee, to establish a A.R.M. chapter for
the Congressional District #---- of the State of -----, hereby agree
to the following:
1)The
Chapter is a voluntary association of concerned voters of this
District
who
wish to have a non-party, unaffiliated means for effective political
action.
2)
Active membership and participation in the Chapter’s activities is
open to
any
registered voter of this District who is prepared and willing to
re-register
as
an independent and un-affiliated voter.
3)All
members of this Chapter are prepared and willing to donate their time
and
services to support the Chapter’s activities, and, to share any
incidental
costs
the may be required from time to time. Such costs to be equally share
among all active members.
4)The
primary objective of this Chapter’s political action efforts will
be to have
one
of its own elected as an –Independent- Representative to the House
of
Representatives.
The process for that to be as follows:
a.)Five
members’ s names will be drawn by lot as its “primary slate” of
candidates
for that office. Any member declining to be replaced by a
further
draw.
b.)By
a series of town hall type meetings, these selected candidates will
be
examined
and questioned by the membership as to their backgrounds,
positions
on any issues of common concern, and any other qualifications
they
may have to be their Representative in Congress.
c.)
Following these proceedings, the membership will then vote on which
of
the
five candidates they believe will best be able to be the Chapter’s
entry
for
Congress in that election cycle.
d.)Having
selected a candidate for Congress, the Chapter will campaign for
that
person as an independent candidate for Congress, either by gathering
sufficient
signatures to get its candidate officially placed on the ballot; or,
as
a write-in choice. The Chapter will concentrate its efforts only on
those
who
are registered voters for their District.
- Through a variety of means the Chapter will communicate and collaborate with other Chapters throughout its State, and elsewhere from around the country, to help develop and promote broad consensus on issues of concern to all, and for common and coordinated political action, as appropriate.
Approved
and adopted on ---------------------
at----------------------------------
SIGNED:
------------------- ------------------ ----------------------
--------------- ------------------
(typed names for each
signature)
NOTE: This is just a suggested outline for such a resolution. It can be worded any way that is preferred.
- Once the basic organizing has been accomplished, the next steps should be:
- Obtaining a copy of the list of registered voters for your District. This is a public record, and will provide their names and addresses for contact.
- Establish an internet account and name. In the regard it’s recommended that all A.R.M. chapters adopt this standard format for that purpose. That is…. "ARMchapt_CA.D12@yourmail.com". This will provide each Chapter with a specific and unique designation that will avoid any confusion with any other Chapter. More importantly it will enable the A.R.M. as a whole to see what progress is being made across the nation.
- From the voters’ registration list, begin preparing invitations to periodic town hall type meetings, a hundred or so at a time. The brunch approach may be the best way for that. The membership dividing the related tasks for that among themselves, based on skills, talents, etc..
- The purpose of such meetings will be to promote the A.R.M. idea, to get other voters to register or re-register as Independents, keeping in mind the more of the District’s voters switch that way, and get involved with your A.R.M. Chapter, the better the odds will be for getting your Chapter’s candidate elected to Congress. And the big “carrot” for getting voters involved is the possibility that any one of them could become a candidate and be elected to Congress.
- At some point your Chapter will probably have to become more formalized in its operations. It’s strongly recommended that it consider the 40+ Organization’s model for that purpose. That’s because it operates on the basis of its membership working on a volunteer and rotating schedule basis, to do whatever tasks are needed. This spreads the load of work, and minimizes costs besides. It will also be beneficial to recruit HS and College age students as interns/volunteers, to tap into their generations’ idealism and eagerness to be involved in constructive political action (keep in mind these are all potential voters, so the earlier they are exposed to the A.R.M. idea, the more likely they are to support and become active with it later on).
* * * * * * * * * * *
Click here to add comments
