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Posted 10/6/2006
Glen A. Caroline, Director of NRA-ILA, and Tony "Pan" Sanfelipo, at the MRF Meeting of the Minds, Lebanon, Indiana.
The annual MRF conference, entitled Meeting of the Minds, took place September 22-24, in Lebanon, Indiana. Hosted by ABATE of Indiana, this year’s conference brought together freedom minded motorcyclists from around the country and Europe. With workshops entitled "Activism from A to Thee," "Building Political Relationships," "Motorcycle Specific Legislation-What is Happening Where" and "Running for Political Office," you know this was grass roots activism training at its best.
Speaking of grass roots activism, one of the best key-note speakers the MRF has ever presented was Glen A. Caroline, Director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. The gun owners lobby is like minded to the motorcyclist’s lobby, when it comes to basic freedoms and Constitutional right’s issues. Mr. Caroline explained in detail how the NRA mobilizes its members, through education, into registering to vote, implementing yard sign campaigns, phone banks and precinct walks, legislator contacts and letter writing.
With four million members, the NRA is clearly the largest grass roots organization around. It’s those four million members who are the machine that drives the organization. Without participation from the membership, the power of the NRA would be diminished greatly. Getting the members out to vote or engage in other activities is what Mr. Caroline does through political and legislative training workshops, much like the one he conducted for the MRF. He also represents the NRA in debates and public forums.
One key to the element of success in the NRA is recognizing that every member cannot be expected to do everything, but, however, they must do something. Any organization hoping to be successful should have a number of programs and activities in which a broad base of the membership can part in.
The lesson to the motorcycle community was quite clear. Activate your members into participating in the legislative process by having a number of ways for them to participate. And never turn away help from anyone wishing to help achieve your goals.