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Neighborhood Team Convention
Michael Crusinberry, Regional Field Director for Organizing for America, announces Minnesota’s first ever Neighborhood Team Convention. The purpose of this event is to bring together committed volunteers in the 3rd Congressional District to talk strategy and tactics for re-electing the President. As President Obama has said repeatedly, this campaign is grassroots to the core and we need your passion, skills and hard work to make it a success.
What: Neighborhood Team Convention
Who: Anyone living in the 3rd Congressional District
Where: Southdale Library, 7001 York Avenue South, Edina
RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/training/gpzf52
Election Day, November 8, 2011
For voting information and to find out where to vote, follow this link to the Secretary of State's web page:
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=4--
Progressives on the Prairie
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Is our Culture Anti-Intellectual?
-American Idol and Survivor occupy the top 11 spots from the last decade's television viewing. The lone news show in the top 125 (60 Minutes) does not appear until #116.
-50% of Americans are alliterate (they can read but rarely do so) and watch TV over 4 hours daily.
-60% of eligible voters did not participate in the last general election
Join us for a thought provoking evening with noted educator Dr. Stephen Schroeder-Davis. His presentation and discussion will examine the implications and potential remedies for these discouraging trends.
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Is our Culture Anti-Intellectual?
Star Bank Community Room, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, (Across from the EP Center Mall)
Monday, November 7, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
With Dr. Stephen Schroeder-Davis ISD 728 Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Contact: Karen Oakes, 952-949-5969, acornko@gmail.com
Democratic Visions: The best progressive talk on TV comes from the Southwest Suburbs
The October Edition of Democratic Visions features DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL Senate District 42 Chair Laurie Pryor, and Met Council Member Steven Elkins.
Thissen provides his unique perspective on Minnesota House Republicans and their constitutional amendment initiatives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXrOZPBLb6o
Southwest suburban DFL leader Laurie Pryor and host Tim O'Brien provide metro area Democrats with smiles and a calendar of not to be missed events. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mDj6UyNyiA&feature=related
Met Council member Steve Elkins of Bloomington talks about the synergy between public transit and economic growth as he reviews progress on the Central Core and Southwest Corridor Light Rail Transit Projects. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxUFXfkt1W4&feature=related
On Saturday, April 9, a large and committed group of local DFL'ers met at Eden Prairie High School for Senate District 42's first "odd" year convention. The first order of business for Convention Delegates was to elect Senate District Officers. Next, two inspiring speakers, Representative Paul Thissen and Representative Steve Simon, fired up the delegates and prepared them for the work ahead. Finally, delegates broke into small groups to discuss strategies for getting Minnesota back on track to our shared values and future. It was clear to all who attended that despite tough loses in 2010, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka Democrats have heart. We continue to strive for justice and to promote the general welfare.
Congratulations to our new Senate District Officers
Chair- Laurie Pryor
Associate Chair- Derek Gunderson
Treasurer- Daniel Hilson
Affirmative Action Officer- Mary Lewis
Secretary- Wanda Miller
Speakers
Representative Steve Simon (DFL Hopkins/St. Louis Park, Assistant House Minority Leader)
Representative Simon asked that people work with him to publicize the bad votes that our current GOP representatives are making at the capital this year. To be most effective this needs to be a "real time," ongoing effort and not just a few letters at the peak of election of season.
(If you would like regular, fully documented updates on bad GOP votes, and DFL talking points email Laurie)
Representative Paul Thissen (DFL, Richfield, House Minority Leader)
Representative Thissen admitted that he was deeply disappointed at how the GOP was engaging in delays & distractions from their obligation to produce an honest, balanced budget. Through this extraordinarily difficult session, the House DFL is working closely with local party units and grass root activists in support of the Governors common sense budget and the priorities that Minnesotans truly value.
Highlights from Group Discussions
Group I. Core Values and Message
Favorite slogans from brainstorm-
Justice for All
American exceptionalness takes exceptional Americans
“Promote the General Welfare” (Preamble of the Constitution)
Education- the Road to Jobs
Democrats Have Heart
Group II. Communication
Part 1: How do we keep abreast of what our lawmakers are doing?
See these pages for suggested News Links and Blogs
Part 2: How so we get the word out?
Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Letters to the Editor, Forward email messages, Reach out in a positive way, Do all of these things!
Group III. Growing the Party
Ideas to put out the welcome mat through focused outreach, events, communication, and visibility in the community we serve.
Group IV. Election Methods and Tactics
Review of the last election and ideas to prepare for 2012.