By Mary Brown and Laura DeLind | April 4, 2022
Democracy requires dedication, and diversity. But just as important – or maybe even more important – it requires TEAM WORK.
Here in Mid-Michigan, we have a wonderful team of VNP volunteers who bring together their individual strengths, weaving them into a dynamic, powerful, and effective whole.
This unified team has individuals who use their individual skills to strengthen the entire team’s efforts.
For example, we have musicians who look for events where we can collect petition signatures and educate the public. They know where the crowds gather, and they bring their expertise forward. One musician, in particular, used her talents to write songs and led the MI Vote Strummers as they toured mid-Michigan. It’s a combination of planning and performing.
We also have retired teachers whose organizational skills are invaluable. These individuals provide a level of detail to every aspect of our campaigns, keeping us accurately informed.
In addition, we have several individuals who previously worked for the State of Michigan. They know the way the government works. They know the people involved. They know how to reach our public officials and when it’s best to do that.
Our team has retired IT people. They love data collection and working with new apps. We couldn’t function without these individuals. We are grateful for their patience when some of us still prefer the reliability of paper and pencil.
One individual has served in numerous campaigns over his activist lifetime. His experiences and advice keep us aware of the importance and pitfalls of public campaigns and campaigning. His input as we continue on with our VNP adventures is very welcome.
Likewise, one of our team members is a wordsmith, willing and able to write exceptional ‘letters to the editor’ and opinion pieces. His messages have been printed (and reprinted) in newspapers across the state.
We also have a group of fabric artists who created a beautiful gerrymandering quilt for the 2018 campaign. It was shown more than a dozen times as a backdrop to different events. Another of their projects featured the 19th amendment (i.e., women’s right to vote) and was displayed at a League of Women Voters commemorative event. This brought the two organizations into closer and stronger alliance. Local churches also have displayed their art, giving us access to their communities.
Right now, we are preparing to collect signatures for the Promote the Vote -2022 petition. There will be a whirlwind of events. The Mid-Michigan VNP team is prepared and up to the challenge. It is the input of all our talents that will bring success. We support each other. We enjoy our collaboration, our camaraderie (and occasionally even some chocolate). And we’re proud that we can act in unison as “democracy warriors” for Voters Not Politicians. No matter your strengths or skill sets, there is room for you on our team. Click here to volunteer!
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