Tomorrow the city of Dearborn Heights is renaming one of their parks in honor of Lyle Van Houten who left us all too soon in 2006. He left behind an enormous MI GOP legacy. However there is one item you won't see in a list of his contributions to the MI GOP but it is the one I am writing about today. He was kind and encouraging to the grassroots, and in particular to me.
I had been active in politics back in college but then hadn't really participated in politics for many years until 1999/2000. I credit 3 people with keeping me involved with the party. I think issues, candidates, etc draw people into the party - that happens all the time. The REAL trick is to KEEP those people interested and energized and feeling appreciated. The 3 people that I credit for doing that for me are Sharon Wise, Marlene Chockley and
Lyle Van Houten.
I think this is something that Lyle excelled at and we should all emulate. I met him at my first state convention after becoming a precinct delegate. He was the chair of the 15th Congressional District Republican Committee. He didn't know me. I held no political power. I was just a scared but energetic precinct delegate. Yet he spoke to me a number of times during that convention and made me feel like one of the most important influential people there. I hardly knew anyone there; it was quite an overwhelming situation. So his little kindnesses meant the world to me. As I became more and more involved with the party over the years (even serving on the 15th CDRC with Lyle), I don't think he ever knew how much he meant to me when I was first becoming involved.
I really wish I had told him that story. However since I didn't, I'm telling you Readers - and what I hope you take away from it is not only to honor a great GOP legacy like Lyle Van Houten - but honor him in the way he would love the most - retain and increase the number of grassroots members of the Michigan GOP.
One of the very simplest ways you can do that is to reach out to new members on a personal level. The next time you go to an event, if you see someone you don't know or don't know well, take a moment and speak to them. If they are new, make them feel welcome. Introduce them to someone else you know there. It is a tiny, tiny gesture and not that difficult - yet it can mean the WORLD to someone just becoming involved with the party. I think we lose more volunteers every election cycle because we forget to not only initially reach out to them, but to keep making them feel welcome and important. So many times we concentrate so hard on getting new volunteers that we forget to appreciate and take the time to keep the ones we already have energized and involved.
Thanks Lyle - you are missed by many - I will continue to try to emulate your great work.
