Why join TFA?

[johnharris]

I have people, particularly long term TFA supporters, ask me how best to respond to the question that non-TFA members and even some TFA members ask?

Why should I join TFA?

This question has come up from time to time and as a prior post by David Lewis demonstrates, there are many ways to approach the question. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1554

I do think we really need to consider this question and prepare a more formal, reasoned analysis springing perhaps off of David's prior post. I would really like to see this question asked in the chapters and let's start collecting answers so that our chapters go in some instances from an entertainment meeting to a constructive, tactical and planning sessions.

Now, in considering this question, I think we must step back and ask a preliminary question of What is TFA?

When I started with 11 others 15 years ago, TFA was then pure and simply networking for grassroots activists. I do not see it much different today although it is many times larger than the original 12.

If my perspective is right then what we realize is that TFA is not a club or a special interest organization where the benefits that a member "gets" for joining are things like a magazine, a hat, a shirt, or even someone else to do "it" - whatever "it" is - for them. TFA is not an NRA where we are expected to send $100,000,000 or more annually to the "headquarters" so that they can employ a huge staff to do what "they" think "we" need or want.

If TFA is grassroots, then what we need is a consideration of why someone should "support" TFA rather than why they should "join" the club. Its Kennedy's comment - "ask not what your Country can do for you ...." Kennedy was not talking about sheep but was encouraging patriotism. TFA does not need sheep or a herd to tend. Grassroots needs activists - essentially a political militia that is well regulated.

Maybe I am wrong and so far out in right field that I just don't get it but I would like to see this issue discussed, refined and hopefully it will help us all to better understand that the agenda of TFA is not a corporate agenda but a shared individual agenda.

[Seminole]