Dennis Melby
Chairman
Republican Party of Montgomery County, MD
MORE GREAT ADVICE FROM FREDERICK COUNTY
By Marie Melby Elam
It sure is an active and busy time for all of us with the campaigns in full swing.
Looking at the world around us it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges that we face. We see big, complex problems, and we often ask ourselves, “What can one person personally do?”
The answer lives in a single, powerful word - Volunteerism.
Volunteerism is the ultimate form of personal responsibility. It is the decision to stop waiting for someone else to fix a problem, and instead, to step up and fix it ourselves.
Whether it is feeding the hungry, mentoring and caring for children or cleaning up a local park, volunteering is the glue that holds our community together, It proves that change does not start from the top down; it starts from the ground up, driven by everyday people who care.
But I want to take that idea of volunteerism a step further. I want to talk about a specific, vital form of service that shapes the very future of our society; supporting our political candidates.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a living, breathing system that requires active participation.
Every law that affects living, every dollar spent on our schools, every decision made about our healthcare and infrastructure- all of it begins with the people we elect to office.
Political candidates cannot win elections alone. They don't just need financial donors; they need believers. They need people who are willing to give their most valuable asset; their time.
When you volunteer for a political candidate you believe in, you become the heartbeat of their campaign. You become the bridge between that candidate and the community.
- You are the voice on the other end of the phone, listening to a voter's concerns.
- You are the person knocking on doors, introducing a neighbor to a new vision for the future.
- You are the volunteer handing out literature at a community fair or rally, or helping someone register to vote.
You might ask, “Does knocking on one more door really matter?” The answer is yes it does. History is full of elections decided by just a handful of votes. A single conversation on a front porch can change a mind. Changing a mind can secure a vote. Securing a few votes can win a precinct, win an election, and ultimately change the course of a community, our state, or our nation.
When you volunteer for a political candidate, you are doing more than just helping a campaign, you are exercising your democratic right. You are ensuring that the values that you hold dear - whether that is economic growth, social justice, better education, or safer streets - have a seat at the decision making table. You are giving power to the ideas that will shape the world your children and grandchildren grow up in.
Volunteering for a campaign is also one of the most rewarding things you can do. It connects you with like-minded individuals. It builds lifelong friendships. It reminds us that despite our differences, we all share a common goal; to build a better future.
So I am challenging each of you. Do not just sit back and watch the news. Do not just complain about the state of politics. Get involved. Find a candidate who speaks to your values, who envisions the kind of future you want to see, and offer them your time.
Make those phone calls. Knock on those doors. Have those conversations and share our message.
Our community needs your service. Your democracy needs your voice. And our candidates need your hands. Let’s all roll up our sleeves, get to work, and build that brighter future together.
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Marie Melby Elam is Vice President of the Frederick County Republican Women's Club