I was inspired by a comment I received on a diary I wrote three weeks ago.
“Even though you’re an alternate delegate, make sure to go to the next level.”
Dbug
I was saddened that I was an alternate instead of an elected delegate. I discounted myself as superfluous. Sitting on my hands while the most important decisions were made about my district, state, and country, was intolerable, though, so I took my alternate delegate self to the next level of the WA legislative caucuses.
There were delegates who did not attend today’s meeting. In the same high school gym where my journey began three weeks ago, I cooled my heels (and chapped my ass) on the bleachers as alternates were called up to fill the vacancies. I waited. And waited. A long procession of alternates filed down to the precinct officers’ tables to exchange their alternate credentials for their delegate bona fides. My heart sank as the chairperson announced, “Okay, looks like all the delegates are selected.” I prepared to head home and look for some other way to be useful to the process.
But wait a minute. There were not as many alternates heading down to the caucus floor as there were names called. Now what? More alternates were needed. The last name called, the last chance to get in on the action, was imminent. The chairperson picked up the last alternate card on the table and announced, “Brown Mouse!”
Okay, so she called my actual name. My point is this: EVERYONE MATTERS! Get involved. No matter how small you may think your contribution is, it is vitally important that you make it. And who knows, it may morph into something bigger than you anticipated. I thought I was going to be second-string today, but I was called off the bench to help elect our delegates and alternates to the convention level. And the opportunities to act, to make a difference, don’t end here. We have local and state elections coming up, as well as doing our damnedest to put a Progressive Democrat in the White House.
Part of being empowered, is exercising the power we have. GO US!