January Update

SD31 DFL News

January 2025

1. January-February Events
2. Neighborhood Network News
3. Winter Clothing Donations STILL Needed 
4. Links Worth Checking Out
5. Contributions and Email Submissions

DFL Friends–

It is a hard time of the year for many reasons— all this cold (high of -8 predicted for tomorrow as this is written)— but especially the tectonic political shift that is upon us.  It is hard to know how best to prepare for the next 4 years.  But we know we need to stick together, and to resist where we can— not randomly, but where it can make a difference.

So check out our weekly coffee breaks, come to our monthly meetings, write letters to editors, get involved in our Neighborhood Network.  Or pitch in any way you can to help make our community a better place.  Like it or not, we are in this for the long haul!
 

January-February Events

** Mark your calendars:  Our monthly meeting has moved to the SECOND TUESDAY of each month for 2025. See details below.

** Movie Night Returns January 31 with a Potluck in January!
We are bringing back a favorite event from earlier last year— monthly movie night, joining with our friends from SD35.  We will start in January with a potluck to watch the inspiring movie PRIDE, which is a historical comedy-drama film based on a true story, about a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners’ strike in 1984, at the outset of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign— a fun reminder of what can be done through solidarity!
This year we are expanding to add snacks and whatever you may wish to bring for a potluck dinner. We will have more details about the food as we get closer to the event. To sign up for the event please click the link below. This helps us with planning. If you do not get registered, no problem, you are still invited to come.
Movie nights will be on the last Friday of each month in 2025
Mobilize Link:
https://www.mobilize.us/2024mnvictory/event/746497/
Time: Gather at 5:30 to 5:45 PM; Movie starts promptly at 6:00 pm
Place: Andover Community Center— Teen Room
Date: Friday, January 31

DFL SD31 Neighborhood Network Events (See below for details):

• Every Saturday Morning— SD31 DFL Coffee Break     08:30-11:00 am
• Saturday, January 25—Neighborhood Network Rally and Letter Mailing Campaign 9am- 3 pm

    Both events at Starbucks in Andover Target, 2000 Bunker Lake Blvd

• Saturday, February 15:  Neighborhood Network Informational Meeting–12:30 PM

    Rum River Library, 4201 6th Ave, Anoka
 

Thursday, January 23— Friends of the Boundary Waters Day at the Capitol
Minnesota’s wilderness treasure faces an unprecedented threat. President Trump has promised to roll back crucial clean water protections and open the Superior National Forest to copper-sulfide mining.
The time for Minnesotans to unite and act for the Boundary Waters is now.
Join us on January 23 for Boundary Waters Day at the Capitol. This is a chance to talk to your representatives and to be part of a movement to build a strong, state-wide defense against the federal government’s overreach.
Never been involved in advocacy before? Don’t worry! We’ll provide everything you need to get ready to meet with your representative!
Your personal connection to Minnesota’s wilderness is what matters most, and we’ll give you all the tools you need to effectively share your story with legislators.
The Boundary Waters has survived for generations because Minnesotans have always stood up to defend it. Now it’s our turn.
Join us  in showing that the protection of clean water and our wilderness heritage isn’t a partisan issue – it’s a Minnesota value.
Register Now
 

Tuesday February 11— SD31 DFL Monthly Meeting
Place: Andover Community Center— Community Room A (DOWNSTAIRS!)
Date: Tuesday, February 11 and March 11 2025
Time: 6:00 pm Social Gathering, 6:30-8:00 pm business meeting
 

Anoka-Hennepin School Board Meetings
Work Sessions– Mondays, 5:30 pm Education Services Center,  2727 Ferry St, Anoka.                   
Regular School Board Meetings— Mondays, 6:30 pm, Sandburg Ed.  Center, Anoka 1902 2nd Ave.
Work Sessions allow for observation only but we need people to watch what is happening!
Major decisions are often made in these meetings, without a written record.  We need observers to help keep the Board accountable, especially in this critical Budget period.
Next Regular Board Meetings:  Jan 27, Feb 24
Next Work Sessions: Feb 10, March 3
 

Neighborhood Network News

We had a big year in 2024.  Our network grew by leaps and bounds, thanks to the efforts of many of you.  Now we face a challenging political landscape in 2025… so please join us for weekly Coffee Breaks on Saturdays, and one or both of our 2 big upcoming events!

Every Saturday Morning— SD31 DFL Coffee Break     08:30-11:00 am
Starbucks in Andover Target, 2000 Bunker Lake Blvd
For DFLers looking for politically compatible company. We just get together, talk over events, relax, and get re-energized to face another week. Drop in, stay as long as you like, and see what we are all about. Charlie is usually there.
Saturdays— January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22

Saturday, January 25
Neighborhood Network Rally and Letter Mailing Campaign
This will be the first of 5 big campaigns for 2025.  We are banding together, organizing for the chaos that is coming.  First, we want to strengthen and improve our local government and school boards.  Second, we want to prepare for the next election cycle by connecting with voters who think like we do.  Third, we want to support other good people whoa re doing good things for our communities.  And lastly, we want to keep Minnesota headed in the right direction by prompting and electing high quality representatives.

You can help us!  Address and mail 20-30 letters to help move our community and state toward an even kinder and more sensible way of life.

We will prepare a packet for you and have it ready for pickup.  You take the packet, sign the letters, address the envelopes, and put them in the mail.  THAT’S IT!
These letters help DFL-minded people in your neighborhood know about what we are doing, and how they can help.
Starbucks inside Andover Target on Bunker Lake Blvd
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday, Jan 25, 2025

Saturday, February 15
Neighborhood Network Informational Meeting
Come to Our Neighborhood Network Informational Meeting!
Let’s talk about…
1. How can we get better healthcare, more vacation time, and higher pay for people who have to work for a living?
2. What do we need to do to strengthen and improve our local government?
It is just 12 months before candidates start their campaigns and we want to keep Minnesota moving forward for working people and their families.  To learn more about our SD31 DFL Neighborhood Network project and our aim to improve life in Minnesota’s State Senate District 31, please attend a Special Informational Meeting on:
Date: February 15, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Rum River Library, 4201 6th Ave, Anoka
Join us to help make a difference.

Email: Outreach@VoteBlueMN.org
Website: DFLNeighborhoodNetwork.net/About-us
Phone: 763.200.1078

Take our Survey:
Obviously the Democrats on the National level need some advice and we want to give it to them. We want to let them know what we think is most important. That’s where you come in.
Click the link below and tell us which policies you most want them to address by taking our DFL National Policy Survey and picking the issues that are most important to you.  Then check back to see the results in a couple weeks:
https://dflneighborhoodnetwork.net/survey/

Upcoming Event: Democracy Fair (Community Resources Event)
This will be our second annual event, bringing together many different advocacy and community groups from our area. 
The event is in the planning stages, so stay tuned and  “Come see Good People Doing Good Things”!
 

Winter Clothing Donations STILL Needed 
We keep having spells of deep cold, and there continues to be an urgent need for warm winter clothing for unhoused and underserved Native Minnesotans from aid groups that Ellen Hadley (of SD35 DFL) works with. Gifts will benefit residents of Four Winds Treatment Center in Brainerd, the CHUM Center in Duluth, and Nenookaasi Aid for unhoused people in Minneapolis. These groups do outreach on the streets of Duluth and Minneapolis every day, and the warm gear that is donated will help save lives, literally.
The needs are mostly for men, but also women, and include the following items:

• Warm jackets and snowmobile suits
• Snow pants, Long underwear, Warm socks, sweaters, flannel shirts
• Boots, Belts
• Mittens and gloves, Hand and toe warmers, Hats and scarves

Links Worth Checking Out

Netherlands releases names of more than 400,000 accused Nazi collaborators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjIIleLFlM

Trump’s Deportation Plan Could Start Next Week in Chicago
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/politics/trump-immigration-raids-chicago.html?campaign_id=56&emc=edit_cn_20250118&instance_id=145122&nl=on-politics&regi_id=137648919&segment_id=188620&user_id=9eb47a483b1a404e85840f6c5b486e61

As Polio Survivors Watch Kennedy Confirmation, All Eyes Are on McConnell
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/us/politics/kennedy-confirmation-polio-survivors.html?campaign_id=56&emc=edit_cn_20250118&instance_id=145122&nl=on-politics&regi_id=137648919&segment_id=188620&user_id=9eb47a483b1a404e85840f6c5b486e61

Heather Cox Richardson:
More than 60% also oppose Trump’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education. 
Almost 75% of voters oppose his plans for sweeping deportation raids, wanting only those with criminal records to be removed from the country. 
More than two thirds oppose calls to take control of Greenland
Only 46% approve of his choices for cabinet positions.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-17-2025?isFreemail=true&post_id=155073099&publication_id=20533&r=3x1uaj&triedRedirect=true

Thom Hartmann:
Trump’s Hit List: Who Will Be His First Victims?
https://hartmannreport.com/p/trumps-hit-list-who-will-be-his-first-c75?isFreemail=true&post_id=154980609&publication_id=302288&r=3x1uaj&triedRedirect=true

Biden Farewell:  Oligarchy warning
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-15-2025?isFreemail=true&post_id=154935611&publication_id=20533&r=3x1uaj&triedRedirect=true
 

Once Again…Contribute to SD31-DFL and get a REFUND!
The cycle starts again for 2025— and the amounts have increased: Contribute whatever you can to SD31 DFL–  
GET A FULL REFUND for any amount up to $75 per person or $150 per couple
After donating at VoteBlueMN.org,  just go to this site to find, print, and fill the following document— then send it in with your receipt:
https://cfb.mn.gov/citizen-resources/board-programs/public-subsidy-of-campaigns/political-contribution-refund-program/

Email Updates and Submissions
Newsletters and other Emails from SD31 DFL will typically be sent out Monthly on a Monday or Tuesday, with updates more often for special events, or if there are new announcements that need to be sent.  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.

THANK YOU for the energy to move forward despite the fears and frustrations we all face.  In whatever ways we can, we all need to keep working for a country where 
EVERYBODY COUNTS and  No One is left behind…
We need to keep speaking for working families, for those in need, for those without a voice.
Step by Step, Always Together, Always Forward.

SD31 Communications
info@VoteBlueMN.org

Our Core Values and Moral Guideposts:  

• 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
• Love Your Neighbor
• Truth, Justice and Compassion
• Non-Violence
• Showing up to Do Your Part