On Friday morning, April 13, nearly 200 pro-gun patriots attended the NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop, held in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits in St. Louis, Mo.  Though most attendees were home state Missourians, NRA members represented states from across the country. Diversity in geography notwithstanding, all were united in the singular mission of learning what more they could do in their local communities to preserve and protect the Second Amendment—and they weren’t disappointed!

Virtually all of NRA’s national officers addressed the attendees, including:  NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre; NRA President Sandy Froman; ILA Executive Director Chris Cox; First Vice President John Sigler; and Second VP Ron Schmeits.  One by one, our Association’s leaders came to the podium and gave credit for NRA’s successes to whom it rightly belongs—our members and grassroots activists.  Also in attendance were more than 20 of NRA-ILA’s Election Volunteer Coordinators (EVCs)—the true tips of our grassroots arrow.

Grassroots staff provided attendees with an overview of the threats and opportunities we currently face in Congress, including efforts to pass national Right-to-Carry reciprocity and BATFE reform, and our work to defeat legislation amounting to the most comprehensive gun ban ever, to name just a few.  Once all were apprised of our legislative priorities, discussion then turned to strategies our grassroots supporters need to employ in their communities for us to succeed.

In addition to stressing active participation in NRA-ILA’s grassroots programs, attendees were provided with training on voter registration, volunteer recruitment, effective communication with lawmakers, letters to the editor, how to maximize attendance at town hall meetings, and maintaining and bolstering existing networks.

Tomorrow, ILA Grassroots will hold its inaugural “In Their Own Words” special session that will feature some of NRA-ILA’s most renowned activists in a panel discussion that will include Q&A with their fellow NRA members and grassroots supporters.  Opening remarks will be given by former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.).

Please keep an eye out on next week’s Alert for additional information on NRA-ILA’s grassroots activities in St. Louis, as well as on NRA’s Annual Meetings!