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1836
Guest
I have seen a lot of advice bandied about, but not very much about how to conduct oneself at their conventions. Seeing as a lot of Texas conventions are this weekend, let me relay a little bit of advice as regards how people should, and most certainly should NOT act at their county conventions.
- Do NOT go in with a combative attitude. A lot of Ron Paul supporters at their first conventions will come in with an attitude towards storming the fortress, and will miss the great opportunity to network with your local GOP members and leaders. That is a missed opportunity that you simply cannot miss.
- Do NOT wear big flashy Ron Paul gear. Just don't. Don't wear a shirt, don't wear a hat (you really shouldn't wear a hat anyway), don't carry a big sign, or anything of the sort. You may wish to wear a Ron Paul button, and certainly a small one would not be flashy or ridiculous. But I can only tell you that you will turn off more people than you'll make friends of. A lot of folks run into these conventions thinking they need to announce to the world they're Ron Paul supporters. You really don't, not at the lowest convention level.
- Do NOT speak more than a few times, and only really if you need to. If you wish to speak on behalf of a motion or some issue, remember that you are eating up people's patience and your own political capital with every time you speak. One, two, or three times may be okay, but after more than a few, people get tired of you and just don't take you seriously.
- Do NOT use Robert's Rules of Order unless you know what you are doing, and EVEN THEN, ONLY USE THEM SPARINGLY. I cannot emphasize this enough. If Ron Paul had a nickel for every convention where Ron Paul supporters ruined themselves by over-using Robert's Rules of Order, and not even when they needed to but just because they thought it was cool to do so, then Ron Paul would have billions in his campaign account. If you have leaders for Ron Paul at your convention, and they know Robert's Rules, let them do the talking. Maybe ask them first. But just as Robert's Rules can be a great tool, it can be OVERUSED, and just like in the last point, you can unnecessarily BURN BRIDGES. Which you don't want to do.
- DO make friends with non-Ron Paul people, members of your local GOP and party leadership. When you deal with these folks, be respectful and kind, and appreciative of all they've done for the party. When talking with your leadership, maybe thank them for helping out with putting the convention together.
- DO make a point of showing and saying that you want to be involved. The GOP needs people. Volunteers. As a private organization that has to raise money, the Republican Party's biggest asset is people, and biggest debt is the lack thereof. YOU can help fill that gap. You need to say so, and point out your interest in being involved. You can also ask to see if there's a way to continue to be involved after the convention and even after the state convention. If a candidate speaks, is someone running that you think you maybe could support? Even if they're not a perfect Ron Paul match? Helping a candidate can give you credibility as long as the candidate's not a loon.
- DO make a point of thanking your convention chair after the convention is over. Go up to the person and shake their hand. Thank you for chairing the convention, you did a great job. That makes a world of difference. Do the same for the others in the party. A smile and a friendly first impression go lightyears, I assure you.
- DO dress nicely. This speaks for itself. Don't wear a suit, for goodness sakes. But act like you're going to church.
- DO make a point of talking to whoever is involved in the appointment of the preliminary slate to the state convention, assuming that you want to be a delegate. If for whatever reason there wasn't a chance to apply prior to the convention, or you weren't aware of it, find that person or group first thing and speak with him/her/them, and KINDLY ask to be put on the delegate or alternate list. Oh yeah...
- Do NOT expect to be a delegate on your first go-around. If you press to be a delegate, you shouldn't expect to be either. If you're alternate, you'll probably get seated at the state convention anyway. So no big deal.
Last thing.
- DO have fun. You're there to learn and listen, and get somewhere on that list to the state convention. Stay involved and plan on staying involved so you can do more for the movement and the party down the line, to advance the cause
- Do NOT go in with a combative attitude. A lot of Ron Paul supporters at their first conventions will come in with an attitude towards storming the fortress, and will miss the great opportunity to network with your local GOP members and leaders. That is a missed opportunity that you simply cannot miss.
- Do NOT wear big flashy Ron Paul gear. Just don't. Don't wear a shirt, don't wear a hat (you really shouldn't wear a hat anyway), don't carry a big sign, or anything of the sort. You may wish to wear a Ron Paul button, and certainly a small one would not be flashy or ridiculous. But I can only tell you that you will turn off more people than you'll make friends of. A lot of folks run into these conventions thinking they need to announce to the world they're Ron Paul supporters. You really don't, not at the lowest convention level.
- Do NOT speak more than a few times, and only really if you need to. If you wish to speak on behalf of a motion or some issue, remember that you are eating up people's patience and your own political capital with every time you speak. One, two, or three times may be okay, but after more than a few, people get tired of you and just don't take you seriously.
- Do NOT use Robert's Rules of Order unless you know what you are doing, and EVEN THEN, ONLY USE THEM SPARINGLY. I cannot emphasize this enough. If Ron Paul had a nickel for every convention where Ron Paul supporters ruined themselves by over-using Robert's Rules of Order, and not even when they needed to but just because they thought it was cool to do so, then Ron Paul would have billions in his campaign account. If you have leaders for Ron Paul at your convention, and they know Robert's Rules, let them do the talking. Maybe ask them first. But just as Robert's Rules can be a great tool, it can be OVERUSED, and just like in the last point, you can unnecessarily BURN BRIDGES. Which you don't want to do.
- DO make friends with non-Ron Paul people, members of your local GOP and party leadership. When you deal with these folks, be respectful and kind, and appreciative of all they've done for the party. When talking with your leadership, maybe thank them for helping out with putting the convention together.
- DO make a point of showing and saying that you want to be involved. The GOP needs people. Volunteers. As a private organization that has to raise money, the Republican Party's biggest asset is people, and biggest debt is the lack thereof. YOU can help fill that gap. You need to say so, and point out your interest in being involved. You can also ask to see if there's a way to continue to be involved after the convention and even after the state convention. If a candidate speaks, is someone running that you think you maybe could support? Even if they're not a perfect Ron Paul match? Helping a candidate can give you credibility as long as the candidate's not a loon.
- DO make a point of thanking your convention chair after the convention is over. Go up to the person and shake their hand. Thank you for chairing the convention, you did a great job. That makes a world of difference. Do the same for the others in the party. A smile and a friendly first impression go lightyears, I assure you.
- DO dress nicely. This speaks for itself. Don't wear a suit, for goodness sakes. But act like you're going to church.
- DO make a point of talking to whoever is involved in the appointment of the preliminary slate to the state convention, assuming that you want to be a delegate. If for whatever reason there wasn't a chance to apply prior to the convention, or you weren't aware of it, find that person or group first thing and speak with him/her/them, and KINDLY ask to be put on the delegate or alternate list. Oh yeah...
- Do NOT expect to be a delegate on your first go-around. If you press to be a delegate, you shouldn't expect to be either. If you're alternate, you'll probably get seated at the state convention anyway. So no big deal.
Last thing.
- DO have fun. You're there to learn and listen, and get somewhere on that list to the state convention. Stay involved and plan on staying involved so you can do more for the movement and the party down the line, to advance the cause
