Decide to stand up for freedom

It was a cloudy, overcast Saturday morning. We were on our way to a COS breakfast meeting 45 minutes outside of town. Regional team member Melissa Martin and I wanted to support the new 90th House District Supervisor, Greg Hall. His Senator, Eddie Settle, is unsure if his constituents want the passage of COS Resolution HJR235, so we were determined to find more supporters and petition signers to convince him to take a stand.

Early on this Saturday morning on my day off, I was more interested in sleeping in and getting my coffee at home. However, when we arrived and saw Reepicheep, the freedom llama and mascot of freedom for the North Carolina COS Patriots, it seemed like the sun was shining at this quaint cafe in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and my excitement and energy levels soared before I even had my first cup.

The pet-friendly River Roast Coffee Shop in Jonesville was bustling with life! We just missed the regulars, about a dozen dogs and their owners, but a few stayed at the table, along with the llama and our 10 guests, all in good spirits.

Reepicheep's big brown eyes seemed to say knowingly, “This is where I see freedom, and this is where I belong.” Like the devoted pet he is, he had ridden in the back seat of Greg's car and now stood like a greeter behind the front door.

COS guests were already deep in conversation with Greg as he explained the COS mission, the resolution filing process, and our current status regarding progress in North Carolina.

Frustration was running high, as is evident from the fact that nine years have passed since the COS resolution was first introduced in North Carolina, and the debt has grown from $16 billion to a staggering $35 trillion; and to hear our Senators say they are afraid of what might happen in ten years if the convention does not meet by then!

Why don't they just do the only job they have in the entire Constitution, Article V, and pass the resolution, since we elected them to stand up for us and be our voice on this issue both in North Carolina and in Washington, DC?

Meanwhile, a steady stream of new customers received a social media card with the COS QR code for signing the petition, most stopping to have their photo taken with the Liberty Llama and learn more about COS.

As we gathered on the patio to say goodbye, I could see that the llama's thick coat was still soaked from the previous night's rain and thunderstorms, but his hat – high on his head – and the red, white and blue scarf with the star and COS name tag reminded me of the perseverance of these dedicated grassroots volunteers.

Come rain or shine, we continue to stand ready to answer the call of our Republic and advance the truth of a better future that is within our reach if we only seize it.

If you haven't signed the petition yet, go to conventionofstates.com and sign it now. If you're in North Carolina, call your senator and insist they do their duty and pass HJR235. Over 100,000 other petition signers across the state are standing with you!