Time to discuss

This conversation will make some people angry, and others not.

I have spent the last week fundraising for 3 different III Projects.  One for one of our proudest Patriots who needed some personal help.  The second Project was the first step in building bridges between we the III, and our Organized Militia allies.  Make no mistake, those men are III to the f'n bone.  Finally I was fundraising for the T.O.C., another project that evolved from Brock's PatCon - the concept is simple: When there is a fight, and there will be fights - the III intends to show up with specific primary and secondary missions.  We're loosely calling it the Liberty Support Teams (we can change it) and  the physical vehicle to be used by the Teams is the Tactical Operations Center - T.O.C.  That one seems to resonate with our military brothers.

I have said many times over the last 4 years that fundraising sucks.  I despise it.  Even for the most righteous causes in the world, the act of sticking out my hand and asking people to open their wallets is repugnant to me.  But I do it.  I do it because it has to be done to accomplish some of the goals we have decided we wanted to accomplish.

I am proud to say that every single time I have pushed myself into fundraising mode for a cause that we III Patriots found worthy, we have succeeded.  Not me - we.  Every single time, you Patriots have come through.  You Patriots financed getting the III on the radio, and our friend Russ Longcore (a professional voiceover artist) cut the track for us.  You Patriots financed the insane proposition of starting a firearms company that would carry our most prized possession - our III symbol.  That company does not pay a single Human Being a dime, as was our plan.  You supported III Arms, knowing it would be the financial cornerstone of yet another III Project that seemed insane to many people - the Citadel.  Was the Citadel a success?  Oh yes.  I do not mention it much online anymore because it has evolved, but there are people living in Idaho right now, people moving to Idaho, to build that community of like-minded Patriots on a simple principle: Rightful Liberty.

You are responsible for these successes.  Every one of you, whether you sent money, commented across blogs and forums, sent us your prayers and well-wishes, or like Jim Miller, decided to dive into a lifelong dream and begin building firearms for Patriots.  There has not been one single bad review of one single product Jim has ever turned out of his shop.  I promise you the 1911 Jim Miller ships to you will rival any custom 1911 on the market.  You Patriots gave Jim Miller the opportunity to live his dream, and in return, III Patriots have succeeded in building the financial cornerstone of our Citadel.

Cohesion and morale among this group of III Patriots is tighter and higher than I have ever seen.  During one of the many tussles between myself and SSI Alan Mullenax said very succinctly (paraphrase) - "we're not ignoring - we're picking sides".  That group of Patriots who meets twice each year at Brock's NC PatCon is simply remarkable.  The group of Patriots who visit WRSA and "our" blogs are remarkable.  I have literally filled several thousand IIIGear orders, and despite a few hiccups (which get cleared up one way or another) I get a personal and deep sense of accomplishment anytime I show up at an event and I see people from all over the country flying IIIGear.  (By the way - if anyone is waiting on an order, let me know in email: Kerodin@Kerodin.com) That is cohesion.  Morale is evident and rising higher.  We know we are in for a fight.  We know we will probably die.  I don't hear any whining about it.

Now is the time to eliminate the one true drawback to every political organization: Cashflow.  Everything we do and everything we want to do requires money.  And the simple reality is that most of us are never more than a few paychecks from missing a mortgage payment - and we know the economy is not going to improve.  When I stick my hand out for T.O.C. or any other fundraising, I know people are choosing what gets paid on-time this month, and what doesn't.

Brock's PatCon was a very busy place this spring.  One of the topics touched upon briefly by some of us has turned into a deep and serious undertaking.  We absolutely must find an end to our financial woes.  And since Mr. Koch isn't writing us checks, one more time either we do it, or it won't get done.  The model for every successful agenda-driven political organization in America is Membership.  The dues are kept low, and the revenue stream makes it possible to finance things like the T.O.C. without the embarrassing out-stretched hand.

We need to talk about it, seriously.  The first concern most III Patriots will have - the first one I had - no organization gets to decide who is, and who is not, a III Patriot.  That is absolutely true and will not change.  Leaderless Resistance will remain Leaderless Resistance with all that means.  Our III organization will simply be certain III Patriots who have decided to come together, form an organization, and move forward.

Question two will probably be: Who decides if we spend money on a T.O.C. or a hot tub?  That one is even easier.  In a business it is the "Bylaws" that spell out what the company (in this case a non-profit) may, and may not, do.  Who controls the money?  Such a non-profit must have at least 3 officers, who may or may not also be on the Board of Directors.  One of those officers is the Treasurer - and that person is responsible for every penny in and out of the non-profit, consistent with the bylaws.

There is much to be discussed, and way too much for a single post. 

Because we have a few people who will 1) lose their shit over this conversation and 2) try to derail anything and everything in which I participate - this is already a done deal, legally.  I created a non-profit in 2012 for such an eventuality, and we have a full 27 months from the time we begin operations to file with IRS to be granted our 501(c)(4) status.  (A 527 is not the right vehicle for this type organization).  You and I may ultimately decide NOT to do it, but no one can STOP US if we choose to go forward.

So, what that means is - there isn't a single legal way anyone can pee in our Cheerios.  ;)

Our discussion is what we do, how we do it, who we assign/vote to be Board Members, Officers, accept bylaws, then begin accepting members.  Thus begins our true political power in an organized format, and marks the end of having to demean ourselves by having to extend our hands for fundraisers.

Early discussions have suggested 2 tiers of annual memberships: $10/month and $20/month.  also a lifetime membership like so many organizations offer.  Lifetime Members would be awarded greater influence in the organization - but ALL of this is to be discussed.  I'll probably let all members into CQB free, discounts on IIIGear, Lapel Pins and special Membership-only patches/decals as part of membership, etc.  We'll discuss it.

We've all been members of organizations that abandoned their stated intent and disappointed us.

They are hogs at a trough with an agenda.

Our mission is simple: Restore Rightful Liberty in North America.

Nothing more or less.

So let us discuss.  Let us grow our official numbers to such that Oathkeepers and NRA and elected Federal Politicians quake at our name. 

For we are not AARP. 

We are the III. 

We are the sons and daughters of the original III Percent Patriots who dared meet the world's most powerful Army on the Green in a tiny New England town and say "No."  The same way a thousand or so Patriots recently faced down the BLM and simply said "No."

Kerodin
III