Every year around this time you resolve to make a change in your life. You promise yourself you’re going to eat healthier, exercise regularly, lose weight. You have the best of intentions to finally clean and organize your closets, basement or garage. Maybe you promised to reduce your screen time and read more books. These are all good, noble goals. But you know the old saying about that road being paved with good intentions. Come February or March, old habits begin to creep back in.
Well, I have a suggestion for a New Year’s Resolution you can actually keep, and it doesn’t involve giving up carbs, chocolate or alcohol!
I would like to suggest that you resolve to be a better Republican, a more involved citizen, a more dedicated, patriotic American.
This effort doesn’t have to be time consuming. One simple thing you can do is sign up for the Permanent Absentee Ballot Mailing List. By being on this list, you will get mailed a ballot for every election for which you are eligible, no matter how small the election. The democrats have been taking advantage of absentee ballots for years. This is how they get millages, ballot proposals and constitutional amendments passed. These elections are often scheduled for off-presidential years, in May or August, when voter turnout is at its lowest. If you’re on the Absentee Ballot Mailing List, you will never miss an election again. Get your ballot, fill it out, take it to your polling location and feed it into the tabulator. To sign up, simply go to your local clerk’s office and ask to be added to the Permanent Absentee Ballot Mailing List.
Feeling a little more motivated? How about becoming a member of a local board or commission. Kalamazoo County and the City of Portage are both looking to fill vacancies on numerous local committees, which will shape policy and recommend budgetary spending over the next few years.
Here’s the link to apply for Kalamazoo County Advisory Boards: https://www.kalcounty.gov/749/Current-Openings
And here’s the link to apply for open positions in Portage: https://www.portagemi.gov/FormCenter/Boards-Commissions-11/Board-and-Commission-Application-Rev-102-138
Do you want to volunteer your time for a specific project? Residents in Oshtemo Township have launched a recall effort against five members of the Township Board. They would welcome any help to gather signatures on their petitions. Here’s how you can connect with that petition drive.
Website: https://www.recalloshtemo.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/recalloshtemo/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Residents in Comstock are also working to recall four members of its board. Their petition drive is undergoing an appeals hearing in about a week. You can follow those developments on their Facebook page: FourRecallsForABetterComstock
Have you ever thought about running for political office? Both Oshtemo and Comstock Townships might soon have open seats on their Township Boards. You might also consider running for your child’s school district board, your local library or community college board.
You don’t have to run for office to make a difference in your community. Have you ever attended your local city council, township board or county commission meeting? I have and quite often, I’m the only person in the audience. The people on these boards were elected to serve you, but most of the time residents don’t bother to hold these elected officials accountable for their decisions. These AI Data Centers, Battery Energy Storage facilities (BESS) and wind and solar farms are getting approved in local communities and the residents are finding out about these projects at the last minute, when it’s too late to stop them. Stay informed. Most meetings are livestreamed on local TV or on the internet.
And be sure to become an active member of the KGOP. Join us every Friday for coffee and listen to great guest speakers. Volunteer in our office to help voters, or work with political candidates on their campaigns. There are so many ways for you to get involved and ensure our conservative, fiscally responsible values are implemented throughout our community. Kalamazoo has been voting blue for too long. It’s time to take back our county. But everyone must do their part. I know you are busy with work and family obligations, everyone is. But if everyone pitches in just a little, those small efforts begin to add up to real progress.
America is turning 250 years old. Our Founding Fathers sacrificed so much to create this amazing country. The least we all can do to honor that effort, is to make a small sacrifice ourselves.