SD31 DFL NEWS
May 2025
http://dflneighborhoodnetwork.net
Greetings, DFL Friends–
We hope you have been managing in the heat… and don’t get hit now with hail or tornadoes. The world seems to keep getting hotter, and more climate-chaotic— despite Trump’s efforts to silence National Weather Service and climate science. Thermometers don’t lie (unlike Trump and the GOP)!
The news keeps on coming about Trump’s abandonment of the US Constitution and embracing of Corruption and Cruelty. There are lots of ways to respond, to resist, and to try to find a solid way forward. One of the best ways is to stay connected with others, especially fellow DFL’ers. The summer looks like it will be a “long hot summer” in more ways than one. Take a look at the opportunities for action that are just past your doorstep. Each of us can pick one thing to do and stick to it.
Our most recent general SD31 DFL monthly meeting took place on Tuesday May 13. See notes below, as well as lots of other activities locally and across the Metro.
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Key Upcoming Events (see details below)
**Saturday 5/17: COMMUNITY ADVOCACY FAIR— 11 am -2 pm
Sponsored by SD31 DFL Outreach
Rum River Library, Anoka
Tuesday 5/20: Clean Elections MN Webinar with Sec. of State Steve Simon 7 pm
“The Threat to Voting by the SAVE Act and President Trump’s Executive Order”
Daily: DFL Statewide Call. 1045 am (info below)
Weekly: Protests at Emmer’s Office, Otsego
Tuesdays 4-5 pm
Saturdays 11 am- Noon
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TUESDAY 5/13 was our most recent
SD31 DFL Monthly Gathering & Business Meeting
Items discussed included (unofficial list):
*Treasurer report was presented. We have a solid pad in our account.
*The group agreed to have a budget plan (spending and income) by the time of the August meeting
*Elaine Drew was elected as assistant Treasurer
*Several Director positions remain open— please volunteer!
*Same for State Central Committee representatives (2 positions)
*Abbey Payeur, nonpartisan candidate for School Board, talked about her campaign
https://www.abbeypayeurforschoolboard.com
*State DFL announces kick-off weekend 5/27=31 for “Summer of Action”
*Daily DFL phone call (see more below)
*Thanks to members who helped with the Park Cleanup
*Fundraiser at Crooners for Anoka County DFL Monday 6/9
*CD6 Peoples’ Town Hall Wednesday 5/28
*North Metro DFL Picnic Tuesday August 12— our biggest fundraiser— start planning!
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Our next SD31 DFL Meeting:
TUESDAY, June 10 (and the second Tuesday every month)
6:00 pm Social / 6:30 pm call to order
Andover Community Center
Officers for 2025-2027:
Chair: Leslie Pendergast
1st Vice Chair: Andy Hillebregt
2nd Vice Chair: Alyson Gullette
Secretary: Betsy O’Berry
Treasurer: George Drew
Outreach Officer: Nichole Hayden
Congratulations and THANKS to our new officers!
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SATURDAY 5/17
** NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK- COMMUNITY ADVOCACY FAIR! **
Our Neighborhood Network now has connections with thousands of voters. One important upcoming event sponsored by the NN is the Community Advocacy Fair. This is “An event designed to connect community members with non-profit organizations that provide valuable services and volunteer opportunities.”
This gathering is a great opportunity to connect with fellow community members, enjoy some refreshments, and talk with others who work to support important causes in our community. These are community members of non-profit organizations who provide valuable services and volunteer opportunities that make a positive impact in our district. No RSVP required.
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Place: Rum River Public Library
4201 6th Ave NW
Anoka MN 55303
For more on the Neighborhood Network, check out their separate website,
http://dflneighborhoodnetwork.net
AND If you would like to support this great work, here is a direct link:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sd31nn
Also, don’t forget our weekly DFL Coffee Break every Saturday morning 830-11 at the Starbucks inside the Andover Target.
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Daily:
DFL Daily Statewide Call— GET THE SCOOP and GET CONNECTED!
The DFL State party has started daily communication calls Monday – Friday at 10:45AM.
These are BRIEF calls— 7 or 8 minutes tops! And don’t be late or you will miss the whole call.
These calls highlight important messages to share, actions to take, and text to use in your social media.
Any DFL’er can join in! If you’re interested in signing up for these calls, click this link:
Some of the most recent messaging points:
- HUNGER: From school meals to SNAP, Minnesota Republicans are trying to cut the programs that prevent working families from going hungry. Congress is voting this week to cut SNAP benefits. This is for children and seniors in particular. They are taking food out of people’s mouths to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Find the graphic at dfl.org/post
- RADICAL RIGHT EXTREMIST RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR: Minnesotans don’t want Kendall Qualls or his far-right agenda anywhere near Minnesota government—which is why they’ve already rejected him twice before. See the graphic at dfl.org/post
Kendall Qualls is set to announce that he is running for Governor. Qualls is a culture warrior. He wants to defund public education. He opposes family planning.
- HEALTH CARE: 230,000 Minnesotans could lose their health insurance if the GOP Medicaid cuts pass. Representative Morrison is building a coalition to fight back.
- TARIFFS KILL MINNESOTA BUSINESSES: Small businesses across Minnesota are being devastated by Donald Trump’s chaotic trade wars. Minnesota’s jobs and businesses are on the line. Trump’s trade war and tariffs only help a few large businesses and billionaires. Our 4 Republican members of Congress are CHOOSING to help a few billionaires on the backs of MN small businesses.
Some of the recent suggested actions:
- Put this message on your social media and tag Reps. Finstad, Emmer, Fischbach and Stauber. Ask them why they want kids to be hungry.
- Use DFL.org/voteno to send letters to members of Congress about the cuts to SNAP benefits.
- Check out dfl.org/summerofaction kickoff May 27-31
- Join us at the Humphrey Mondale dinner June 13. Humphreymondale.com Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is the keynote speaker.
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SATURDAYS 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, and every Saturday
SD31 DFL Saturday Coffee Break
830-11 am
Starbucks inside Andover target
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TUESDAYS 5/20, 5/27, 6/3, 6/10
SATURDAYS 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, 6/14
Protest Emmer And Musk Every Tuesday And Saturday
at Emmer’s Otsego office— organized by Indivisible North Metro
Place:
Tom Emmer Office, 9201 Quaday Ave, Otsego (Elk River) MN
Times:
Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 pm
Saturdays 11 am- Noon
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Sunday 5/18
Indivisible North Metro Bridge Brigade
Champlin- 10-11 AM
Parking at Mann Theater in Champlin by the pedestrian bridge. Bring your American Flags!
This is a recurring event every week.
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MONDAY 5/19 and After
School Board Meetings — St Francis And Anoka-Hennepin
The students and faculty of our school districts need our continued support as the right-wing faction seeks to undo years of progress and stop anything related to equity or teaching history honestly without whitewashing.
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— 4th Mondays, 5:30 pm Education Services Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka. NEXT: 6/9
Regular School Board Meetings— Mondays, 6:30 pm, Sandburg Ed. Center, Anoka 1902 2nd Ave.
NEXT: 5/19, 6/23
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: 5/27 (special post-holiday date), 6/9, 6/23
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Monday. May 19
Anoka County DFL Meeting
Time: 7 pm
Place: 830 W Moore Lake Dr NE, Fridley, MN 55432
Please park across the street or in the nearby junior high parking lot.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bhmNFgZFXbg2vqgn8
Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HNxJWJT2ggbcAmF6FCOmfMGphoVWMPe-wR83yJJytLM/edit?usp=drivesdk
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WEDNESDAY 6/11
ANOKA COUNTY DFL SENIOR CAUCUS
Contact: Mel Aanerud (aanerud4@comcast.net):
Date: Every Second Wednesday (June 11, July 9)
Place: Davanni’s Coon Rapids 3430 129 Ave NW
Time: Order food— room opens at 12:30; Meeting starts: 1:00 PM
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Monday 5/19, 6/2, 6/16
Anoka City Council Meeting
@ 7 PM
Meetings are on 1st and 3rd Mondays every month.
Anoka City Hall
2015 First Avenue
Council Chambers
Anoka, MN 55303
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TUESDAY 5/20
Clean Elections Minnesota Webinar with Sec. of State Steve Simon:
“The Threat to Voting by the SAVE Act and President Trump’s Executive Order”
7 pm on Zoom
Register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WSJUQkiuQ2aSXDiT-WYPgQ#/registration
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Thursday 5/22
North Metro School Board Candidate Night & Community Fundraiser
(sponsored by School Board Integrity Project)
Starts at 6:00 PM
Alloy Brewing Company
2700 Coon Rapids Blvd NW
Coon Rapids, MN
Join us for a fun and energizing evening as we kick off the 2025 school board campaign season in the North Metro!
Meet local school board candidates from across districts like Anoka-Hennepin, Fridley, Mounds View, Spring Lake Park, and more. Enjoy great food, inspiring guest speakers, and meaningful conversations about how we can protect our public schools and support leaders who put students, educators, and integrity first.
Come for the conversation, stay for the community. Together, we can build a future where honesty, inclusion, and the freedom to learn are at the center of public education.
This event is hosted by the School Board Integrity Project (SBIP). Donations are welcome and will go directly toward supporting local candidates and our community engagement efforts.
Can’t make it but still want to contribute? You can donate here:
https://secure.actblue.com/…/schoolboardintegrityproject
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FRIDAY, June 13
State DFL Humphrey-Mondale Dinner
Minneapolis Hilton
The 13th annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner will be held the evening of Friday, June 13th, 2025 with keynote speaker, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. The Annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner is the largest DFL event of the year and tickets will sell out quickly. If you’re interested RSVP today to save your seat and hear from Governor Pritzker and our incredible Minnesota leaders!
If you are interested in attending click Reserve Tickets to sign up.
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Links and Notes You Can Use
Keep checking our SD31 DFL Website: VoteBlueMN.org
The Silence of Republicans on Trump defying the Constitution— Heather Cox Richardson:
Senator Tina Smith on Protecting the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park:
https://www.smith.senate.gov/environment
On “Disappearing” migrants and political opponents to El Salvador and Libya— Thom Hartmann:
Common Cause Minnesota
Brennan Center for Justice
https://www.brennancenter.org/
Clean Elections MN
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FREE! CONTRIBUTE to the 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
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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 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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As always, THANK YOU for every thing you are able to do— no matter how large or small—to help prevent tyranny in our country, and to make this state and country better. Please stay connected!
SD31 Communications
info@VoteBlueMN.org
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