Liaisons
Posted November 15th, 2011 by Fred
Here is something easy that you can do to make you a more informed liaison or just a more informed observer of politics. Set a Google alert for the subject or politician that you are interested in and every time something is posted on the web you will know about it instantly. Or you can set one up to give you weekly updates as well.
Just go to Google home page. At the top click on “more”, then click on “even more”, and towards the bottom of the menu, you will see “alerts”. Then type in your person/subject and the frequency that you want to be updated, and never be caught flat-footed again.
Posted November 9th, 2011 by Fred
I was tipped off to a phone application that every patriot with a smartphone should have. It’s called ‘Congress’ by Sunlight Foundation, and best of all it’s free!
‘Congress’ is a free pocket directory that allows you to quickly get detailed information on your members of Congress, and what they’re up to. Follow the latest bills and laws, and see floor activity and votes as they happen.
You can type in your address and it will tell you who your legislators are, or it can use GPS and tell you who represents the exact area that you’re at. You can see the bills that they’ve sponsored, their votes, relevant news about them, even their most recent tweets. You can call them or send a message instantly. It uses Google Maps to show exactly where the congressional districts are (and yes, they are crazy looking). It’s a great way to educate yourself, just think of it as an interactive C-SPAN.
Congressional Dist. TX-24
Posted September 9th, 2011 by Fran
LET’S GET BUSY!
There are many opportunities to volunteer at NE Tarrant Tea Party, and many needs to fulfill. Current NETTP Volunteer Needs Include:
Membership/Recruiting Team: If you can help us in our efforts to grow our membership, please contact Jonathan at jstickland@hotmail.com. This may include tasks such as developing a letter, creating ads/flyers/business cards, contacting printers, contacting newspapers and radio stations, writing scripts for robocalls, brainstorming ideas for membership drives, stuffing/stamping envelopes, creating mail lists, etc.
Set-Up Crew and Coordinator: We need to create a team of people who can show up at our meetings early to help set up tables and chairs. This task could be rotated amongst volunteers so that it’s not always the same people. If you would like to volunteer for this team and/or be a coordinator for this team (responsible for scheduling the crew for each meeting), please email Julie at heyjuliesue@gmail.com.
Fundraiser Team/Coordinator: We desperately need people to help us raise funds. If you can coordinate this effort and/or help with this effort, please contact Julie at heyjuliesue@gmail.com
Office Help: If you can help with general office work — making phone calls, typing memos, posting calendar events, making copies, creating documents and merges, sending emails, etc — please contact Julie at heyjuliesue@gmail.com.
Commenters/Post-ers: When an article comes out on the tea party or on a subject of interest to the tea party, we need people to go in and post comments, tweet it, and/or facebook it. This includes articles on our own website. If you can help in this area, contact Fred at fdmccarty3@yahoo.com.
Booth Workers: NETTP tries to get our name out to the public as much as possible. One good way to do this is to set up booths at various events in our communities. If you can help man a booth on occasion, please contact Dennis at dla2of17@charter.net.
Researchers: From time to time we have a particular issue we need to research. It may be info on a city policy or an event or a politician. It ranges from very simple to fairly in-depth. If you enjoy research, please contact Fred at fdmccarty3@yahoo.com
Clean-Up Crew: At the end of each event, our goal is to leave the facility better than it was loaned out to us. One person is assigned the clean-up checklist for each meeting to make sure nothing was missed. Contact John at jvester@mss-scm.com to sign up for this team.
Kitchen Workers: Kitchen volunteers coordinate all food and beverage for our meetings and our potlucks. Bridget schedules these helpers to make sure each event is covered. Email Bridget at bkenbridget@verizon.net.
Greeters and Registrars: These folks welcome people to our meetings, pass out flyers and name tags, sign up new members, and help people find their precinct number. Sally coordinates our greeter volunteers to make sure someone is available at all functions. Contact her at sallysgriggs7@gmail.com.
A/V Team: We need one coordinator and several volunteers to run the audio/visual equipment during our meetings. The coordinator would be responsible for making sure an A/V volunteer is scheduled for each meeting. (This way no one has to attend EVERY meeting). Please email Julie at heyjuliesue@gmail.com if you can be the coordinator and/or a volunteer in this area.
Liaisons: introduce yourself to the assigned elected official, establish a relationship, hold face to face meetings on a quarterly basis (or more frequently as determined necessary), if applicable - attend council/board meetings as often as possible, monitor activity, and report back to the Liaison Coordinator periodically.
Current Liaison Needs:
- State Representative Barbara Nash, District 93
- Haltom City Mayor & Council
- Grapevine/Colleyville ISD
- Tarrant County College Board of Trustees
- Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 3
- North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Other “2nd person partner” positions to city councils, school boards, and others
Liaison contact: Fran Rhodes, Liaison Coordinator, rhodesfran@yahoo.com
Posted August 31st, 2011 by Fran
Did you feel a little tightening in your wallet on Monday night? Just a tiny little squeeze? It’s because your taxes went up Monday, and you probably didn’t even know it. And if you or a family member attends Tarrant County College, your tuition just went up too.
Tarrant County College trustees adopted a $348.9 million budget for fiscal 2011-12 on Monday night that raises next year’s property taxes for the college district by 8 percent and tuition by 4 percent.
We alerted NETTP members last Friday that this tax/tuition increase was on the table, and urged members to either attend the special meeting on Aug 29, or submit feedback via the College’s website. Many of you did write to them in opposition, and 5 people attended the meeting to speak out in opposition of the increases.
In spite of that, the Board voted 4-2 to approve the Option A budget which included the tax increase of about $15 – $20 per year for an average household in Tarrant County, and a tuition increase of $2 per semester hour. The additional revenue will be spent in the “renewal and replacement” line item of the budget, including a proposed new performing arts center for the NE Campus.
We really need a Liaison assigned to the TCC Board so that we can be better prepared to address issues like this in the future. We were not aware of the proposed increase until late last week – thanks to Jeff Cason for the heads up on this one! – which was not really enough time to inform and motivate people.
Please consider joining our Liaison team either in this capacity or in one of the other open positions we need to fill. For more information on the Liaison program, or to volunteer, please contact Fran Rhodes, Liaison Coordinator at rhodesfran@yahoo.com
Current needs include:
TCC Board of Trustees Grapevine Colleyville ISD
State Rep Barbara Nash (Dist. 93) North Texas Council of Governments
Tarrant County Commissioners Haltom City Council & Mayor
The need is great, and our active Liaisons are making a difference! Come join us!
NOTE: The Trustees who voted against the increases are Kristin Vandergriff, and Joe Hudson. Please consider contacting them with thanks and support, and contact the other members to express concern. Trustee contact info at : http://www.tccd.edu/About_TCC/Board_of_Trustees/Members.html
Posted August 10th, 2011 by Fran
That’s right folks, with unemployment standing above 9%, we’ve got jobs! Right here in NE Tarrant County! The NE Tarrant Tea Party is looking for enthusiastic men and women to fill positions as Liaisons to elected officials.
Job Title: NE Tarrant Tea Party Liaison
Salary: Unlimited gratitude and appreciation
Benefits: Recognition of your peers, a rewarding sense of fulfillment, and a chance to help elect conservatives to every elected office in our region, and then hold them accountable!
Job Description: The Liaison will introduce him/her self to the assigned elected official, establish a relationship, hold face to face meetings on a quarterly basis (or more frequently as determined necessary), monitor their activity, and report back to the Liaison Coordinator periodically.
Seriously folks – being a Liaison is a very rewarding volunteer job. Anyone can do it, and it doesn’t take a lot of time. We don’t have pesky regular meetings, only when something pertinent comes up. You can work on your own, or with a partner and you will be amazed at how much you will learn by being a Liaison. Our Tea Party group is absolutely the best at educating our members, and being actively involved in a volunteer position gets you to a whole new level of learning.
I’m happy to report that we recruited 2 new Liaisons at the meeting on Monday night for Keller City Council, and Birdville ISD. Here are the ones that still need to be filled:
State Representative Barbara Nash, 93rd District (new district for our group)
North Richland Hills City Council/Mayor
Grapevine/Colleyville ISD
Haltom City Council/Mayor
Tarrant County Commissioners (2)
North Texas Council of Governments
If you are interested in becoming a Liaison, or would like more information about it, please contact me at rhodesfran@yahoo.com. I would love to talk to you about this important position. The future of our cities, school boards, county, state and country depend on us fighting for conservative candidates and holding them accountable.
YOU CAN make a difference!
Fran Rhodes
NE Tarrant Tea Party Liaison Coordinator
Posted June 8th, 2011 by Fran
Looking for an opportunity to help in the fight for governmental responsibility? Our NETTP Liaison program needs a few more people to be Liaisons with local elected officials. Liaisons stay in touch with their assigned elected officials, establish a relationship with them, and report back to the general membership on items of importance.
Recently, Liaisons have had very successful meetings with Congressman Michael Burgess, Congressman Kenny Marchant, Congresswoman Kay Granger, and the North Texas Regional Director for Senator John Cornyn. Liaisons to City Councils and School Districts have attended Council and Board meetings, learned about the people involved in their local governments, and discovered how things work at the local level. Two of our Liaisons have even been recently elected to City Council positions. It’s a rewarding and educational experience! It’s not difficult, and does not require a lot of time. We hope you will consider helping with this important aspect of the NE Tarrant Tea Party.
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
1. There are 150 members of the House of Representatives elected to serve two-year terms – running for re-election in even-numbered years.
2. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by a majority of House members. The Speaker has the responsibility of appointing chairs and members of all House committees and referring all bills to a committee.
3. The House duties are to:
• Pass all laws and resolutions
• Approve the state budget
• Submit all constitutional amendments to the voters of Texas
• Originate all legislation resulting in increased taxation
4. The House convenes in Austin for a regular legislative session, every two years on odd-numbered years.
5. A regular session of the House is 140 days.
6. Legislators receive a salary of $600 per month, plus $128 per day for expenses while they are in session.
7. Bills are scheduled for consideration on the House floor by the Calendars Committee.
8. The House may only initiate charges of impeachment, which must be tried by the Senate.
9. The Governor may call the legislature into special sessions when necessary. These sessions can convene up to a 30-day maximum and are limited to
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
1. There are 31 members of the Senate elected to serve a four-year term – one-half of the Senate is elected every two years.
2. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor, who is elected by the voters of Texas for a four-year term.
3. The Senate’s duties are to:
• Pass all laws governing Texas
• Approve the state budget
• Submit all constitutional amendments to voters for approval
• Confirm state officials appointed by the governor
4. The Senate convenes in Austin for a regular session every two years on odd-numbered years for no more than 140 days.
5. Senators receive a salary of $600 per month, plus $128 per day for expenses while they are in session.
6. The governor may call additional 30-day sessions as necessary, known as special sessions. During this time, the legislature may consider only the subjects submitted to them by the governor.
Information provided by the Texas Senate Citizen Handbook.
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
Personal meetings can be very effective. Approaching them with kindness, good preparation and a caring attitude will go a long way in opening up communication.
PREPARE
• Know your facts and be thorough.
• Develop a brief outline of the major points you need to cover.
• Consider possible questions and objections you may receive and how you can best respond.
• Pray for your meeting.
THE MEETING
• Be aware that you may meet with staff specializing in your particular issue.
• Be concise and well organized.
• Be kind and gracious.
• Do not get mad or threaten anyone.
• Do not talk poorly of other persons or groups.
• Follow your agenda and know your subject.
• Focus on your positive message.
• Tell your elected official the specific action you would like him/her to take.
FOLLOW-UP
• Send a thank you and re-emphasize your key point in a positive way.
• Thank staff members who assisted you.
• Continue to verify the status of the representative’s position.
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
THE PHONE CALL
Phone calls can help you establish a more personal rapport with your legislators than written communications.
The following are some rules to go by when conducting a phone call with your legislator:
• Identify yourself by name, address and hometown within their district.
• Identify the bill by name and number.
• State briefly what your position is and how you would like your elected official to vote.
• Ask for their view on the bill or issue; be firm in obtaining a commitment to vote.
• Show appreciation for service on past votes (BE POSITIVE).
• Supply additional information, if asked, as quickly as possible. (The legislative cycle moves extremely fast during the session.)
• Provide the same information to the elected official’s secretary or legislative aide, if congress or the legislature is in session.
FAX AND E-MAIL COMMUNICATION
Today’s technology allows you to immediately communicate with your legislators through fax and e-mail. Remember to include a cover page and make a follow-up call to the legislator’s office to ensure they received the fax. Follow the guidelines on “Writing a Letter to Your Legislator” to draft an e-mail. In the e-mail, remember to identify the topic in the subject line and blind copy all recipients if you are sending it to multiple people.
