MN Fifth Congressional District DFL

Hosted by 5th Congressional District DFL Field Committee

EAT & GREET & CREATE & COLLABORATE POWER to the PRECINCTS!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

5:45-6:30pm Sign in, casual Mexican dinner. (free)
6:30-8:00pm Training

Location: Woodlake Nature Center: Meeting Room
6710 Lake Shore Dr., Richfield, MN 55423

Arrive early to avoid traffic and take a walk along the 150 miles of trails. Avoid 35W and Hwy 62 between Penn and Portland. (Construction updates)

Who Should Attend: Emerging activists, SD Central Committees, Precinct and Associate Chairs—this is for you!

Hear about PRECINCT PILOTS
CD5 supports 2 Senate Districts with training to re-activate their precincts.
Would your SD like to be a PRECINCT PILOT?

Get helpful TOOLS and RESOURCES
We will highlight a binder of resources prepared for each Senate District, including a simple 9 step plan precinct leaders can start implementing right away. Hear from Kent Berg, DFL Field Director, about how the VAN provided invaluable information for the Senate Recount. See how VAN helps precinct leaders find Strong Democrats in their neighborhoods for house parties. Sign up for training.

*Create ACTIONS to elect Democrats in 2010
Is your local unit sluggish? Hear fresh ideas for motivation, retention, recruitment, and recognition. Are you an emerging activist? Take your next step with a supportive community.

*Request SPECIFIC SUPPORT for your precinct leaders

RSVP today by sending an email to: events@cd5.dfl.org

Please forward to precinct and associate chairs. Do you know door-knockers or others who you could imagine as precinct leaders? Invite them, too.

The venue is an accessible site. To request a disability related accommodation or transportation assistance, please call Eric Margolis at 952.994.5170 or aao@cd5.dfl.org by July 10th.

American health care is a mess. Our patchwork public-private system costs far too much and delivers far too little.

• The cost of health care is increasing by 13% each year.
• Nearly 50 million Americans have no health insurance at all.
• Congress will begin debating health care reform bills in less than a month.
• President Obama wants real change and the American people are demanding it.

The time for national health care reform is NOW.

But we can’t expect our elected officials to fix our broken health care system unless we speak with one voice! Join Congressman Keith Ellison, health care experts, and community leaders for a conversation about how we must work together to get the public health care plan we deserve.

With questions or accommodation requests, please contact David at 612-522-4416 or david@keithellison.org.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
6:00pm – 8:00pm
500 Stinson Boulevard NE
Minneapolis, MN
Facebook event page

UCare is not endorsing Rep. Ellison or engaging in any political activity in providing the facility for this educational forum.

From Jenn Brown, Minnesota State Director, Organizing for America:

I just wanted to remind you about Sunday’s Listening Tour meeting in Minneapolis. We’re excited to be back on the ground in Minnesota, and I hope you can make it to share your ideas and help shape the future of Organizing for America in your neighborhood.

Your effort was crucial in getting us this far. With the health care debate heating up, we can’t let up — it’s just too important.

If you haven’t already, sign up now to attend. Here are the details:

Organizing for America
South Minneapolis Listening Tour Stop

CWA Local 7200 Hall
3521 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Sunday, June 7th
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

RSVP: http://mn.barackobama.com/LTminneapolis

Fun-tastic: How to put the Fun back into Fundraising
…a training for local party units

Monday, June 22, 2009
CWA Hall – Local 7200
3521 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55406

6 – 6:30PM Social Networking
6:30 – 8:30PM A program led by Donald McFarland and Monte Jarvis of Grassroots Solutions will be facilitated in segments allowing for time to share stories and best practices.

Who should attend? Committee members and anyone interested in learning how to raise funds at the local level including Party Unit Chairs, Associate Chairs, Treasurers, & Fundraising Committee Members.

The event is free, and refreshments will be provided.

Door prizes! Win coupons for 10-30% off up to $500 in printing from Paul at Co-Op printing.

Hope to see you there!

Feel free to forward this to stakeholders you think should be invited.

Please let us know if you plan to attend by emailing your reservation to fundraising@cd5.dfl.org.

The site is accessible, has off-street parking, and is located on bus lines 21, 24, and 53.

To request disability related accommodations or transportation assistance, please contact Eric Margolis at 952-994-5170 or aao@cd5.dfl.org by June 14.

Sponsored by the CD5 Fundraising Committee.

From Jenn Brown, Minnesota State Director, Organizing for America:

I just wanted to remind you about Thursday’s Listening Tour meeting in Minneapolis. We’re excited to be back on the ground in Minnesota, and I hope you can make it to share your ideas and help shape the future of Organizing for America in your neighborhood.

Your effort was crucial in getting us this far. Now we can’t let up — it’s just too important.

If you haven’t already, sign up now to attend. Here are the details:

Organizing for America
Minnesota Listening Tour Stop

North Regional Library
1315 Lowry Ave N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Thursday, May 21st
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

http://mn.barackobama.com/ListeningTourMinneapolis

See you there,
Jenn

Three women from the Fifth Congressional District will be inducted into the DFL Women’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 6 at the Minneapolis Hilton. Grace Harkness and Ruth Usem have each been named a Woman of Distinction.Anjuli Mishram is being honored as a Rising Star.

This year, in addition to inspiring presentations for each honoree, the nearly 150 women who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame over the past ten years will be celebrated in a very special way, and many of them will be in attendance. Each year’s award luncheon has been memorable, but this year, the Tenth Annual, promises to be quite moving.

Tickets to the award luncheon are just $35, and must be reserved by May 30. For ticket information, visit www.DFLWomensHallOfFame.org.

From Ann Friedrich:

Minneapolis voters have the important task this year of electing all 9 members of our Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (three At-Large commissioners, and one commissioner from each of the six Park Districts).

Because there are many more candidates than seats on the Board, now is the chance to determine who will represent YOU and your vision for the future of Minneapolis Parks.  We would like to extend an opportunity for you to meet all of the candidates, voice your concerns, and have your questions answered at the Minneapolis Park Board Forum next Monday, May 11th.

• What: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Forum
• When: Monday, May 11th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Where: Minneapolis Park Board Headquarters, 2117 W River Rd N
  

This is a non-partisan forum, and all candidates have been invited to participate.  Everyone is welcome to attend; questions will come from the audience. The first hour of the forum will be for the At-Large candidates. The second hour of the forum will be for the Park District-specific candidates. If you don’t know which Park District you live in, please click here for a Minneapolis Park District map.

We hope to see you there! Ride your bike, carpool with friends (free parking), or click here to plan your trip via public transportation; the building is accessible.

Facebook Event Page

From Amy Lawler:

Join Keith Ellison and other campaign volunteers to kick off the 2009 parade season at the May Day Parade on Sunday May 3.

Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat or sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. If you have a green Ellison t-shirt, please wear it. If you have a creative side, please feel free to bring homemade puppetry as well!

The parade will take place rain or shine, so unless there is thunder and lightning, we’ll be marching! Also, please let us know if you need accommodations in order to participate in the parade – we want everyone to be able to come and show support for Keith.

Line up with us at 12:30 p.m. (parade steps off at 1:00) at Cedar Field (25th and Cedar). We’ll be wearing green Ellison t-shirts and carrying Ellison signs. For more information about the parade, visit http://www.hobt.org/mayday/parade/route.html

To RSVP, or if you have any questions, call the office at 612-522-4416 or email Amy Lawler at amy@keithellison.org.

Thanks, and we hope to see you on Sunday!

Many have argued that Minnesota has the best election system in the country. We’ve also recently been a part of what likely was the most open and transparent recount process of an election of this scale — ever. After the incredible amount of scrutiny our recent election received, the three-judge panel hearing the U.S. Senate contest unanimously declared that “the overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008 election was conducted fairly, impartially, and accurately.”

That said, Minnesota can do even better. Join us for a forum on subjects such as early voting, improving the absentee balloting process, overseas voting, creating easier voter registration, the responses to your questions and much, much more on the evening of April 28th, 2009. Admission is free and open to all.

Sponsored by the Senate District 62 DFL.

Panelists:

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie: After serving for two decades as the President of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and after founding the League of Rural Voters, Mark Ritchie was elected Secretary of State in 2006. Mark Ritchie also lead National Voice and the nationally popular non-partisan “November 2″ campaign. More recently, he oversaw the 2008 election, his office oversaw a primary recount for a Minnesota State Supreme Court race and most notably, Ritchie chaired the Minnesota Canvassing Board for the statewide U.S. Senate race recount. Mark Richie is arguably one of the nation’s leading authorities on elections and voting.

The UpTake’s Senior Political Correspondent Noah Kunin: Seemingly stuck in the middle of Minnesota’s biggest stories, Noah Kunin lived in an apartment literally under the I-35W bridge during its collapse — at the time he was showering and immediately helped victims and then documented the tragedy in real-time. A seasoned writer, blogger and videographer, Kunin reported on the U.S. Senate race for The UpTake and meticulously covered the recent statewide recount and subsequent contest. In a strange twist, Kunin’s absentee ballot he casted on November 4th, 2008 was found to be initially rejected, resulting in Kunin both covering the proceedings as well as testifying in the court he was reporting on. His testimony was broadcast live with the camera he normally stands behind.

State Representative Jeremy Kalin: Representing Chisago County, Jeremy Kalin has authored and worked on, amongst many other things, election legislation in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was the chief-author of Minnesota’s nation-leading Military and Overseas Voting bill which removed substantial barriers in the overseas voting process. Kalin is also known at a national level, participating with the Pew Charitable Trusts’ “Make Voting Work” initiative. His work played a part in tripling the amount of counted overseas ballots by military personnel from Minnesota as well as increasing the participation of overseas voters by 400%. Kalin continues to fight for voters by working to improve our election system at the state level.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Communication Workers of America, Local 7200
3521 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Facebook Event Page

Photo of Mark Ritchie: MPR Photo/Bill Alkofer

The CD5 Central Committee met at Powderhorn Park last night. On the agenda were the elections of CD5 Associate Chair (male), CD5 Affirmative Action Officer (any gender), CD5 Director (2 females positions available), and CD5 Alternate to the State Constitution and Bylaws Commission (female). Thank you to all of the candidates who ran for these open positions and to all the committee members who turned out to vote.

On behalf of the CD5 Central Committee, please join me in extending congratulations to Jules Goldstien, Associate Chair; Eric Margolis, Affirmative Action Officer; Julie Harrison, Director; Nancy Gertner, Director; and Jill Garcia, State Constitution and Bylaws Commission alternate.

Please note that the next CD5 Central Committee meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th at 7:00 P.M., location TBD. There will be female director election at that meeting to replace former CD5 director Marne Mitskog who moved out of town. Thanks for all your work in CD5 Marne and we wish you the best!