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SD31 DFL NEWS
September 2025
UPDATE 1: Ramsey Happy Days Sept 6! And Monthly Meeting Sept 9
VoteBlueMN.org
sd31dfl@gmail.com
DFL Friends–
We hope these last days of summer, and the first days of fall, are going well for you. We covered most of the events and news for September in our last newsletter, but did not have the details about the events for Ramsey this coming weekend— so here they are! Also we attach one more item from Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny for your consideration, and a reminder of our upcoming monthly meeting on Tuesday Sept 9.
Greetings, DFL Friends–
Our plans for an upbeat lead were blown away by the terrible shooting in
Minneapolis. One more example of the awful effects of having 400 million+
guns in the US, and no political will to put basic common sense limits on
them. Our hearts go out to those killed and injured, and their families and
communities. We all do better when kids and politicians alike do not have to
fear for their lives. We all must do better. Thoughts and prayers are
important, but not anywhere nearly enough.
But there was some exciting news this week, and it is related: A state
senate seat in Iowa was flipped by Democrat Catelin Drey, who campaigned
against gun violence and for reproductive rights. She won in a district that
voted for Trump by double digits— and this broke the GOP supermajority in
the Iowa State Senate! …
| Update– Missing Links! Not everyone got the bid-sheet for the Silent Auction, or for the essay posts of Heather Cox Richardson Here are the links to click: Bid Sheet for SD31 DFL at North Metro Picnic –Tuesday, August 12 https://mcusercontent.com/5800b7244684e27db110292fa/images/43ff65d2-3bb5-6648-b179-9cd931a4f520.jpg Heather Cox Richardson Posts https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ The website states that Subscription is free; access to comments requires a payment. Thank you, and keep up the good work. Let your voice be heard! SD31 DFL Communications sd31dfl@gmail.com |
VoteBlueMN.org
sd31dfl@gmail.com
SD31 FRIENDS—
We hope your early summer is going well, despite all the humidity and the unsettling news from around the country (and world). What can one person do? Start close to home and do one or two small things to support the good in our country.
“politics… is the ancient and honorable human endeavor of creating a community in which the weak as well as the strong can flourish, love and power can collaborate, and justice and mercy can have their day… a civic community sufficiently united to know our own will and hold those who govern accountable to it.” — Parker Palmer
Every little step helps build that civic community. Here are some links for volunteer opportunities coming up soon. Take a look and pick one or more to sign up for— we need and REALLY APPRECIATE your help!
July 19
EAST BETHEL BOOSTER DAYS BOOTH AND PARADE
Our northern neighbors in SD31 need as many of us to turn out as possible. Volunteer for the Booth (10 am- 7 pm) or the Parade (3-5 pm)— or BOTH!
https://volunteersignup.org/
August 12
NORTH METRO PICNIC and SILENT AUCTION
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, and a chance to get together with other DFL’ers from nearby districts. Lots of good food and good friends. Sign up to volunteer, and/or send us your info for silent auction items. Every cent from these items goes to SD31, so submit an item or two to the auction!
To Volunteer:
https://volunteersignup.org/
For Silent Auction — print and fill in the Bid Sheet (see link). We need name, address, and value of the item to be donated (for our reports). This can be dropped off with the item at the Picnic.
https://mcusercontent.com/
August 23-28
State Fair DONUT BOOTH
NEW for this year SD31 is working with other DFL Districts to run a Donut Booth at the State Fair. And we share in the proceeds. Shifts are 5-6 hours in length, and can be as much fun as they are work. We have openings on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of Fair week— one morning and 3 afternoon times are available. Sign up here:
https://www.grandstanddonuts.
As always, Thank You, and keep up the good work. Let your voice be heard!
SD31 DFL Communications
sd31dfl@gmail.com
Late June 2025
* Candle Light Vigil Wednesday 6/25 for Melissa and Mark Hortman and John and Yvette Hoffman
* SD31 Needs VOLUNTEERS for Summer events starting Saturday 6/28
Greetings, DFL Friends–
It is easy for our heads to spin with all that is happening at the national and world levels. We have no idea where Trump’s war will take us all. And we in Minnesota are also still reeling from the assassinations of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman. Below find details about the Wednesday 6/25 Candlelight Vigil for Melissa. Let’s join with other local DFL’ers in this event.
AND there are many ways to be take action this summer— SD31 needs lots of volunteers— so please sign up! Read on for specifics.
And don’t forget our monthly meeting on July 8!
Meanwhile, keep cool and spend some good summer moments with family and friends.
Wednesday, June 25
7:30 PM
Candle Light Vigil
In honor of Melissa and Mark Hortman
And supporting John and Yvette Hoffman
Hosted by Transformative Circle, empower Diaspora, and League of Women Voters
Evite Link:
https://www.evite.com/event/031CZFFG36DH6UOWCEPQJ3RPXTTQDI
Facebook Link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/18xJbhEhpk
SD-31 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Take a look at these opportunities and sign up— enjoy the company of fellow progressives and speak out to our community. The next big event is the Ham Lake “Freedom Festival” this Saturday— shared with SD32. Then, the Coon Rapids Parade on July 2, shared with SD35.
Saturday, June 28
3 pm – 11 pm
Ham Lake “Freedom Festival- with SD32
Wednesday, July 2
4 pm-7 pm
Coon Rapids Parade- with SD35
Line up starts @ 4 pm, Parade starts @ 6 pm
Friday July 11- Saturday July 12
Fri: 4-8 pm
Sat Noon-9 pm
Andover Family Fun Fest
Meet Abbey Payeur, candidate for A-H School Board
6/28- Ham Lake; 7/11 & 12— Andover
Meet Abbey at The Ham Lake Freedom Festival or the Andover Family Fun Fest.
She will have a booth at both of these events.
https://www.abbeypayeurforschoolboard.com
See our calendar page for more events. And look for additional sign-ups an the DFL Neighborhood Network website:
Other upcoming events…
** July 8— Tuesday. 6-8 PM
SD31 DFL Monthly Meeting/ Gathering: Andover Community Center
Daily– 10:45 AM
DFL Statewide Call (see below)
Weekly– Protests at Emmer’s Office, Otsego
Tuesdays 4-5 pm
Saturdays 11 am- Noon
Weekly– SD31 DFL Coffee Break- DFL Neighborhood Network
Saturdays 8:30- 11:00 AM
Starbucks Inside Andover Target
More SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SUMMER 2025
Event/ Dates/ Partner
*Isanti County Fair July 17-20— Thursday-Sunday
*East Bethel Booster Days July 19— Saturday
Booth and Parade
*Anoka County Fair July 22-27— Tuesday-Sunday Anoka Co DFL
Ramsey Game Fair August, 2nd & 3rd Weekends
*North Metro Picnic– Long Lake Park, New Brighton August 12— Tuesday
Several other SD’s
Picnic & Silent Auction
*Ramsey– Happy Days September 6— Saturday
Parade/ Booth?
Linwood–Family Fun Days September 6— Saturday
* = SD31 DFL planned involvement— SPECIAL NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS!
School Board Meetings
Anoka-Hennepin
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.
Work Sessions– Education Services Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka
Mondays
6/30— 4:30 pm- Board Policy Committee Meeting
8/11— 5:30 pm- Regular Work Session
Regular School Board Meetings– Sandburg Ed. Center, Anoka 1902 2nd Ave
Mondays, 6:30 pm
7/14
8/25
If you cannot make the meetings in person you can also watch live. The agenda and streaming link are posted here:
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/2720
St Francis
2nd and 4th Mondays , 6:30 PM, Community Room, District Office
4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW, St Francis MN 55070
NEXT: 7/14, 7/28
Links You Can Use
Keep checking our SD31 DFL Website: VoteBlueMN.org
Common Cause Minnesota
Brennan Center for Justice
https://www.brennancenter.org/
Clean Elections MN
FREE! CONTRIBUTE to SD31— FOR FREE!
Make a donation of any size to SD31 and get a full refund— before the legislature takes it away!
Contribute whatever you can– and then GET A FULL REFUND for any amount up to $75 per person. If you make smaller donations, save your receipts and submit them together— this is a one-time refund per person. Each member of a couple can get the full $75 refund.
After donating atVoteBlueMN.org, just print and fill the following document and send it in with your receipt. The address is on the form.
https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-12/pcr-25.pdf
Email Updates and Submissions
Newsletters and other Emails from SD31 DFL will typically be sent out on Monday or Tuesday, once or twice a month. If you have an item to share, please submit it by noon on Friday to:
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 every effort you are able to make— no matter how large or small. Stay connected with us as we struggle to resist the authoritarian extremists and make our communities, state and country better!
SD31 Communications
sd31dfl@gmail.com
Our Core Values and 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
… and because even though it should be obvious in the USA, they seem to have forgotten:
The Rule Of Law
The Constitution Of The United States
SD31 DFL News Update
June 12, 2025
No Kings, and More … All of a sudden, from LA and across the country, so much is going on. Here is a quick but limited update about some of the leading events.
“NO KINGS”
Once again, Indivisible has taken the lead in organizing these protests– originally to counter the huge Soviet-style military parade Trump has ordered for his birthday this Saturday, 6/14. And now with the repression spanning out from LA, it is even more important that ordinary citizens join together and speak out against the corruption, the hatred, and the madness. It is equally important that we do this PEACEFULLY– and not give Trump’s military reasons to attack and create scenes for their theatrical show of force. Protests are scheduled for several spots in Minnesota this Saturday— but you will need to sign in at a link to get specific information and register.
Other Ways to protest:
It is also of great help to support organizations, like Common Cause, the ACLU, and the Brennan Center. Help them, or other similar organizations, any way you can:
https://act.commoncause.org/
https://www.aclu.org/
https://www.brennancenter.org/
or join the regular protests at Emmer’s Office– Otsego Tuesday 430-530 pm, Saturdays 11 am- noon
Closer to home – take 1: State DFL Daily Call messages
Some recent highlights…
Friday, June 13– listening session in Bloomington at the VFW. Congresswoman Kelly Morrison and Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough are special guests. Visitors are invited to attend.
June 13 Humphrey-Mondale– dinner with JB Pritzker. They have a dedicated Content Creators table at the event to get the word out-
Saturday, June 14- No Kings Day–there are 37 rallies in MN. Richard Carlbom, DFL Chair, will be at 4 of them.
Monday June 16- Richard will be at the Bemidji Fish Fry
- New Co-host: DFL Director of Operations Hannah Dereje will join the calls as a co-host
- Expect an announcement Monday about a New Program for Summer of Action that districts can join.
- LA situation: Trump wants to expand his authoritarian regime. He is trying to distract from the fact that big business is making lots of money with changes in tariffs and the big bad bill. We need to continue to hold him to account.
- Message of the Day: Minnesota Democrats are fighting for workers, not corporate power.
- June 11 graphic shows a Minnesota Reformer article about how Democrats protected the ban on non-compete agreements from carve-outs sought by big business. Share graphics like this from the DFL: https://dfl.org/post/
Closer to home – take 2: Volunteer for SD31 DFL this summer
SD31 DFL had our monthly meeting this Tuesday, 6/10. Chair Leslie Pendergast shares this quick summary:
“The biggest call out for the newsletter is that we’re looking for volunteers for various parades, fairs and other activities. Sign-ups for all the various festivals are on the Neighborhood Network website.
We also are canceling our Aug meeting so that everyone can join the North Metro Picnic (on Tuesday August 12) to participate and donate silent auction items.
Protest this weekend of course. Buses are full.”
The signups for volunteering are here:
https://dflneighborhoodnetwork.net/
The calendar for summer events can be seen there and at:
https://votebluemn.org/
Closer to home – take 3: CD6 Candidate forums
Several candidates are seeking endorsement to run as the Democrat against Congressman Emmer in 2026. CD6 DFL is organizing a series of forums to introduce each candidate and their values. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts on the key issues facing our district. We’ll be holding four forums across the district, each focused on the unique challenges in our communities.
Check out the calendar for these events here:
https://cd6dfl.com/candidateforums
Thank you, and keep up the good work. Let your voice be heard, in PEACE and LOVE!
SD31 DFL Communications