SD31 DFL This Week
August 27, 2024
** LABOR DAY Issue **
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Happy Labor Day Week, DFL Friends!
What an amazing convention week— so many great speeches and events… and the feel of the tide turning toward positive energy, optimism and JOY! The sense that if we all keep working at this, something very big may happen— a good election outcome, yes, but MAYBE also a shift in our country, regaining a sense of unity and shared values. Of course that sounds naive, and we have “miles to go before we sleep.” And it depends not only on the messages from the top, but on the work and the lives of each of us.
Our participation in the North Metro Picnic has generated over $1000 in new funds for SD31. A HYUGE THANK YOU to all of you who donated time and items to make this such a success!
One of the new “Yellow Signs” from the Anoka County DFL is in our yard and has this message: “What Unites Us Is Greater Than What Divides Us.” Let’s go into the next 2 months with that spirit, and do everything we can to see that Harris and Walz are elected in November with such a margin that all of the right wing’s scary tactics cannot undermine the outcome!
We hope many of you get a good Labor Day break this coming week, and that you get rested and re-energized. This newsletter will likely not be published next week. But we will see you again in September.
Now just for fun, watch William Galison and “The TIMOTHY WALZ.”:https://youtu.be/aKh-PdKMXJ4?
- This week
- SD31 Monthly Meeting Info
- Other Upcoming Events
- Candidates
- Neighborhood Network
- Other Volunteer Opportunities
- Links You can Use
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THIS WEEK (And the Next)
SATURDAY AUGUST 31: FUNDRAISER FOR GADISA BERKESSA
Gadisa is gathering people from his immigrant and faith communities at this special event, and EVERYONE is invited!
Even if you have already donated, please make a plan to come to this event. Oromo/Ethiopian food will be served, and the Joy will be overflowing!
Saturday, August 31
4:00 pm
4201 Regent Ave North, Robbinsdale MN. 55422
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7: THREE EVENTS
1- Linwood Family Fun Days
Booth Set-up is at 8am: 10am-5pm
Street dance to 11pm
22817 Typo Creek Dr. NE, Stacy MN 55079
2- Ramsey Happy Days
Booth and Parade
Booth set-up @ 7:30am-10am;
Open 11am-7pm
PARADE: LINE-UP 10 AM/ Parade 11 AM to around Noon
7550 Sunwood Dr. NW Ramsey, MN 55303 Happy Day Field
SD31 and Betsy O’Berry for County Commissioner (see links below) are in need of parade marchers and booth staff. SD31 and Betsy will have separate groups marching— but you might be able to march in both, as they start at different times
3- DFL Saturday Morning Coffee Break— Neighborhood Network connections
9-11 AM
Starbucks in Andover Target, 2000 Bunker Lake Blvd
Next Dates: August 31, September 7, September 14, September 21
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Meeting
Work Session—Observation Only– but we need people to watch what is happening!
5:30 pm Education Services Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka.
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SD31 DFL Monthly Gathering & Business Meeting
Our last monthly gathering was held on August 15.
Next SD31 DFL Meeting:
Thursday, September 19
6:00 pm Social / 6:30 pm call to order
Andover Community Center
(Agenda in preparation)
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Other Upcoming Events:
Check out our website for more info: VoteBlueMN.org
Every Saturday Morning— DFL Coffee Break 9-11 am
Starbucks in Andover Target, 2000 Bunker Lake Blvd
Next Dates: August 31, September 7, September 14, September 21
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Meetings:
The students and faculty of Anoka-Hennepin School District need our continued support all through this school year, as the right-wing faction seeks to undo years of progress and stop anything related to equity or teaching history honestly without whitewashing.
Work Sessions– Observation Only but we need people to watch what is happening!
5:30 pm Education Services Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka. NEXT: 9/9
Regular School Board Meetings- Comment allowed at the beginning
6:30 pm, Sandburg Education Center in Anoka 1902 2nd Ave. NEXT: 9/23
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SD31 Candidate Campaign Links
Gadisa Berkessa 31B
(Eastern Andover, Ham Lake, Oak Grove, East Bethel, Linwood, Athens)
https://gadisa4mn.com/
Dara Grimmer 31A
(Ramsey & Western Andover)
https://vote4grimmer.com/about
County Commission Races
These are nonpartisan races. SD31 supports these progressive candidates– be sure to help them out if you can:
Betsy O’Berry— District 1: Anoka, Ramsey, Nowthen, St Francis
https://www.betsyo.org
betsyoberry24@gmail.com
Mike Gamache— District 5: Parts of Andover, Coon Rapids, Oak Grove
https://www.reelectmike.com/
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NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
We have Only 2 more Rallies to send letters— before the election. We need help addressing envelopes!
The Neighborhood Network is our very own grassroots project. We are reaching over 3000 voters in our district, and we want to keep expanding! We are working to help Elect Harris and Walz in this election but also to build community for the future. We are aiming at 2026 and 2028, not just 2024!
You can help us put together and send out two mailings to our neighbors between now and November. If you can address and mail about 25 letters each time, it would be greatly appreciated. Come to our next DFL Coffee Break next Saturday morning, at the Starbucks in the Andover Target (on Bunker Lake Blvd). See above for details. You will meet other concerned people in our district and the Neighborhood Network leaders, talking about how you can get involved in your precinct at this pivotal moment in history. At these meetings, you will receive around 25 pieces of literature to address and mail out to nearby DFL neighbors (or to drop off at the doors if you are so inclined! Remember, these are friendly DFL doors). Rallies are fun and provide an opportunity to socialize, share experiences, and discuss politics in a safe environment.
Another great way to help is donating stamps—you can drop them off at the DFL Coffee Break.
If you want to find out more, or if you are not able to attend, email Charlie at
Outreach@VoteBlueMN.org
or call 763.200.1078.
If you would like to support our project financially here is the link:
https://secure.actblue.com/
Join us and share in all the good DFL energy!
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Other Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to volunteer for something more than the events we list here, the DFL would love to have you. Contact the Coon Rapids office field organizer Isaac Jones at 651-600-9265. Wherever you choose to put your time, if you can volunteer a few hours it will go a long way to ensure that we keep moving forward to a more joy filled and brighter future. THANKS!
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Links You Can Use
Keep checking our SD31 DFL Website: VoteBlueMN.org
The Science of Messaging— by our Connections Lab friends, George and Lisa Greene— THIS TUESDAY Aug 27 and Thursday August 29— These are fantastic trainings, and are the last ones scheduled until after the election:
Thom Hartmann:
Freedom Takes Center Stage: Harris and Walz’s Secret Weapon Against the GOP. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have kicked it off…
And… The GOP’s Last Stand: Cruelty is All They Have Left:
Heather Cox Richardson— the best 1-page summary of the electrifying DNC— “Rockin’ in the Free World”
https://heathercoxrichardson.
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HELP OUR HARRIS-WALZ SUPPORT WORK and TRUMP REMOVAL PROJECT— AND GET YOUR REFUND!
Contribute whatever you can to SD31 DFL–
This year we must get out the vote to ELECT HARRIS and WALZ, and our LOCAL MN Candidates, and defeat Trump.
If you have not already done so, contribute to us and then GET A FULL REFUND for any amount up to $75 per person.
After donating at VoteBlueMN.org, just print and fill the following document and send it in with your receipt.
https://mcusercontent.com/
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SD31 DFL Leadership
Co-Chair: Alyson Gullette
Co-Chair: Leslie Pendergast
Secretary: Wes Volkenant
Treasurer: George Drew
Outreach Officer: Charlie Baarsch
Communications Director: Peter Miller
Email Updates and Submissions
Newsletters and other Emails from SD31 DFL will typically be sent out on Monday or Tuesday, but only if there is new information or announcements that need to be sent as reminders. And more often during the lead-up to the election. If you have an item to share, please submit it by noon on Friday to info@VoteBlueMN.org
We also welcome longer items for our website if you have articles, blogs, or letters that you would like to share! Check the site out at VoteBlueMN.org.
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Thank you to all who have been showing up and pitching in to help with our Picnic, the Neighborhood Network, Candidate Campaigns, and just being out there as “Good People Doing Good Things” in your family and community. Every small bit is helping to defeat the extremists, bring civility and sanity and joy back into our lives, and to build a more unified country where EVERYBODY COUNTS and No One is left behind.
Step by Step, Always Together, Always Forward!
SD31 Communications
info@VoteBlueMN.org
Our Core Values: A Good Economy for Working Families; Fighting Hatred and Racism; Liberty and Justice for ALL— including Women’s rights and reproductive freedom; Taking care of our Home– the Earth
Our Moral Guideposts: Love Your Neighbor; Truth, Justice and Compassion; Non-Violence; Showing up to Do Your Part