The Connectional Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is mobilizing to make sure that the A.M.E. Church gets the maximum presence with its vote this year.

The Lay program is titled AME-200V-ALERT (A Movement Plan to Increase Voter Turnout)

The mission statement of the plan reads thusly:

WE CAN AND MUST MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

We, as the leadership in our Zion "must" do our part, to encure a positive and productive future for generations yet to come. If we don't step up to the plate, who will? It is left to us, to define what kind of future we want and deserve for ourselves our families, our communities and yes -- our church. That means that we must urge every adult we can conduct to Vote In The Upcoming General Election On NOvermber 7, 2000

Some of you may already be involved in a Get-Out-The-Vote effort. If so, bravo! Others intend to vote, but not make much fuss about it. If so, we urge you to go the extra mile and have provided yhou with a Plan of Action. Iam asking that you reach out and include as many as you can, so that we can touch as many as we can.

Remember the date - November 7, 2000 - ELECTION DAY Remember the purpose - To bring alive the AME mission encouraging self-determination, self-help and self-reliance. Remember what we must do - Get involved. Remember when - Now! So let's get busy and make it happen.

Rather than paraphrase the good work the Connectional Lay Organization is doing, I figured I would share it. Why did I share it in discussion?

So ideas could be shared and movement begun on ways to facilitate the Lay's goals. I read Rev. Rodgers report on how her church has been rallied to vote.

Do any of you have any creative ideas to share on how to get out the vote and how to make sure those registered get to the polls?

And better yet, may we all use this seed of thought to motivate us individually to use our time, energy and efforts to let the A.M.E. Church make an impact in the upcoming election.

I really do not care how you vote, just that you vote. If you do not vote then you are allowing someone else to control your destiny. Your are stepping aside and letting someone else map out the future not only for you but for the generations that will follow you.

If you want to have a say in your own quality of life, in the direction of your economic future, of the moral fabric of the government of this country, then you have to step up and let your vote blaze the path you will follow.

The law now says, taht nobody can disenfranchise you, but you certainly can disenfranchise yourself by giving away your vote.

Follow the lead of the Lay. Don't just claim your vote but help others claim their vote too.

Let's talk about it while we still have time to and then let's do something about it.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2000

Answers

Rev. Fisher thank you so much for the reminder to vote. I was thinking about a way to get people to vote. Have a VOTING PARTY! Don't laugh but you know on superbowl sunday people gather at each other houses to party and watch the game. Some churches even have the party in the church. Why not do the same thing on election day encourage all friends to vote and then have a party or potluck at someone's house and watch the election. It could even become a tradition. Rev. Denise Rogers

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2000