Auntie ABATE / “Cuz” Report

Dear Cuz,
I signed up not long ago and wonder how much volunteering I should do because I don’t really know what I’m doing yet and am not sure how ABATE works. What do you think?
Gun Shy, But Willing

Dear Guns,
Good Question. Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. If you’re a new member, the most important thing you can do is to sit in on your regional meetings. That’s where you’ll be schooled, gain the most experience, and can ask the most questions, if not in front of everyone, at least to your fellow member sitting on your left. Remember, there’s no such a thing as a stupid question, so ask away and tuck that little tidbit in your craw where you have access to it for next time. Your regional representative will be good at getting you started and showing you the ropes. Another person that would help you is the person that signed you up. Don’t be shy. They have a “vested interest” in you, so to speak, because you’ve already formed a relationship with that person when you joined. The best advice I can give is to be observant for a few meetings and take it all in, help out in any way you feel comfortable with, and don’t criticize. Believe it or not, the people in your region have probably been around for a while and have probably tried a lot of things already, some successful and some maybe not so much. In other words, they have the experience that comes with long term membership. You’ll get there too. Eventually you’ll learn about the organization, the way it works, and what we do, to venture out beyond your own region and will expand your horizons to start attending and becoming active on a statewide basis. How long will that take? Well, that’s up to you. We have a lot of fast learners and we have a lot of members that may observe for years. Some members are perfectly happy working only within their own region. That’s OK – Baby steps.

You have to ask yourself what kind of a member you want to be. Do you have the time, energy, and resourcefulness to dive into big projects within your region, or do you have a lot on your plate right now and can only contribute by paying your dues? We have a lot of members that do just that. Are they any less important? Heck NO! ABATE knows working an event isn’t everyone’s cup ‘o tea; going to Madison isn’t everyone’s cup ‘o tea; going to Washington, D.C. isn’t everyone’s cup o’tea. But as a group, I might work the event and you might go to Madison/Washington. We shine and contribute in different ways. That’s what makes it work. That’s what makes us successful. That’s what gives us the reputation of being one of the best grassroots lobbying groups in the country. Sending membership dues in, even if you can’t be a physically active member is important, because those members make up our numbers and numbers make a difference when we do our legislative work. That’s OK.

What you don’t want to develop into is that Negative Nellie member that thinks they can do everyone’s job a little bit better. Naysayers waste our time and hold us back by hindering the good things that we do. Negative comments keep those members that are working hard from participating in the process, because they feel they are not making a difference. That’s NOT OK. Any member that is unhappy with an organization they belong to should consider moving on and find one they can truly support.

ABATE is successful because we know how to work together and how to get things done. We know the camaraderie that comes with being a loyal, active, and helpful member. We agree to disagree, and at the end of the day, no matter what our personal viewpoints are, we remain brothers and sisters. We have a bond. So, take your time, learn the ropes, step up when you’re ready, and get active if you want to. Whatever you decide, we need you, Guns, we need you.

“Cuz”