Editor’s note: After realizing I was mistaken about the 20th being an all-day vote and not a meeting, this post has been edited to reflect that. See what happens when you don’t get involved!
I have a confession to make.
I didn’t vote in the last election.
I didn’t vote in the last election because when I moved to the town I currently live in 5 years ago, I never registered to vote.
Until yesterday.
My town is going through some political turmoil right now.
If you live in town, you probably know the details.
If you don’t live in town, I won’t bore you with them.
But one of the biggest issues is that next year’s school budget is going to be cut by at least $600,000.
I’ve complained about the state of our town’s schools.
But I haven’t really done anything about it.
Until today.
So here is my plan…
In the e-courses that I run, I encourage the participants to share their goals.
To let the other members know what they intend to do for not only the entire course, but for each day.
Putting stuff out there helps to make us more accountable.
When you tell a group of 20 or 30 or 40 women that you are going to work out at least 5 times in a week, you will feel more inclined to follow through.
Plus, those ladies will ask you if you did what you said you were going to do.
I tell you this because we have a lot of people in our town who are frustrated and angry.
Who are sending emails to the powers that be voicing their frustration.
Trying to flood the “gentlemen” running this town with protests.
While their intentions are good, I doubt that those emails do much.
I wonder if anyone even reads them.
I propose we do something else.
I propose that we pledge to go to the referendum on May 20th.
Out loud.
I’ll be the first to do it.
I am going to the town referendum on May 20th.
If you don’t see me there, you have permission to kick my ass and publicly humiliate me.
Now, I have another proposal.
A challenge, if you will.
I challenge you, for every child in your family, to get another member of this community (preferably one who is pro-education) to commit, out loud, to going to vote as well.
A member of the community who wasn’t present at this past meeting.
I will get seven people who weren’t at the meeting last week to vote on the 20th.
Rather than protesting, let’s show up in numbers.
Big fucking numbers.
Let’s not put out a blanket “Don’t forget to vote tomorrow!!!” status update on our Facebook page.
Instead, specifically target people.
Text them.
Call them.
Email them.
Facebook message them.
Tweet them.
Harrass them.
Until you have reached your goal.
It’s just a few minutes of your time, for a few years of your children’s lives.
Be a leader for your children.
Vote TOO LOW for education and TOO HIGH for municipal!
See you on the 20th!
I’m #2! Now let’s get my ass up to #1! I need your votes!
VOTE ! VOTE! VOTE ! VOTE! VOTE ! VOTE! VOTE ! VOTE!
I’ll keep writing, you keep voting!
All you need to do is click on the banner above, the one that is flashing VOTE FOR ME!, to register a vote for me!
You can vote one time every 24 hours from your computer and cell phone! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! I really appreciate your support!
Check out and “like” the not-your-average-mom.com facebook page!
Follow me on Twitter @mom_not_average
You are so right! It is vital for parents especially to pay attention to what’s going on in their town & to participate! I wasn’t always this kind of citizen, or parent for that matter. But for the past 3 years, though, I run a budget advocacy group in central CT along with another mom that among other things, mobilizes pro-education, pro-town services people to get out & vote in support of the town/school budget every year. The kind of direct contact with those in our network is exactly what it takes to make a difference. GOOD LUCK BROOKFIELD! Support your town & your kids!