SD31 DFL News
April 2025
VoteBlueMN.org
http://dflneighborhoodnetwork.net
Greetings DFL Friends— It is Business Meeting Conference Time!
Every year our local Senate District has a Business Meeting Conference/Convention, with different tasks for even-numbered years and odd-numbered years. This year we elect officers for the 2025-2026 cycle. See below for the Invite material— but PLAN TO ATTEND on TUESDAY APRIL 8!
Also check out our next Movie night— March 28— when we will get a break from all the pain and enjoy the heartfelt comedy of Mike Birbiglia!
Then read on for other events, alerts, and links.
___________________________________________________________________________
MOVIE NIGHT and Potluck this FRIDAY March 28!
We are aiming for a little relief and happiness this month— and have selected a comedy routine by the amazing Mike Birbiglia— “The Old Man and the Pool.” As before, we will gather at the Andover Community Center in the Teem Room. The potlucks have been working well, so that is the plan again this month— bring a dish or dessert to share, or come as you are! No worries, there is always plenty to go around.
Please sign up by Thursday, March 27th so we can get a count on the number of people to expect. And remember we depend on small voluntary donations— we appreciate it if you are able to help.
Mobilize Link:
What: COMEDY: Mike Birbiglia— The Old Man and the Pool
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: Meet at 5:30PM for the potluck. Movie starts at 6:00PM
Location: Andover Community Center, Teem Room
15200 Hanson Blvd. NW, Andover, MN 55304
Enter using door #13 located on the NE corner of the building
https://mobilize.us/s/KwgOkU
________________________________________________________________________________________
CONFERENCE INFO for TUESDAY APRIL 8
You are invited to our annual
LOCAL Senate District Conference/Business Conference
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
All Democrats who live in our District are welcome at the conference to attend and to run for any of the open offices for the next 2-year cycle.
This conference/meeting will be the kick-off for the political activities of this critical year. If you only come to one DFL meeting this year, make this the one!
Official voting Delegates were elected in 2024, and will receive a separate invitation. Even if you are not an official Delegate, we hope you will attend and will consider serving as a district officer.
Open Positions include:
Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Outreach & Inclusion Officer. There are also open positions for Director. The SD31 Constitution will be reviewed, and resolutions will be considered.
Please respond to this email (to info@VoteBlueMN.org) if you wish to be considered for one of these positions, or contact us at the same email if you have questions.
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm: Registration begins
6:30 pm: Meeting starts —(meeting expected to take 90 minutes- 2 hours)
Place: Andover Community Center
Community Room A
15200 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304
Accommodations: If you will need accessibility accommodations for the conference, please contact: Vice Chair Leslie Pendergast at (763)442-8986.
____________________________________________________________________
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION— “HANDS OFF!” PROTEST
SATURDAY, April 5, at 12 NOON to 2 PM CDT
handsoff2025.com
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!”
A major national protest will take place in Washington DC. There will also be marches in every state capital, including St Paul.
“Indivisible National along with many other civic organizations has designated April 5th HANDS OFF DAY! Many of you will be heading to the state Capitol, but others will have an opportunity to rally a little closer to home!
Once you’ve registered, the location will be emailed to you.
We’ll make some signs, but please feel free to bring your own. We’re focusing on the theme of “HANDS OFF __”! Some ideas: PUBLIC EDUCATION, VETERANS’ BENEFITS, OUR JOBS, PUBLIC LANDS, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, OUR LABOR UNIONS, IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES, OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR DEMOCRACY, UKRAINE, PANAMA, GREENLAND, MEXICO, CANADA, NATO….”
Register here: https://mobilize.us/s/EEfhiu
This is a national mass activation in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities. Hands Off! is an all-in moment for the pro-democracy, pro-worker movement—a demand, a warning, and a rallying cry that responds to the primary reasons for our mobilization:
• Trump and Musk are attempting an illegal power grab is a crisis we must stop. • Trump, Musk, and congressional Republicans are gutting services, raising prices, and racing towards slashing Medicaid, Social Security, and more. • Trump, Musk, and congressional Republicans are on this path of destruction for the benefit of their billionaire allies.
Whether you are mobilized by the attacks on our democracy, the slashing of jobs, the invasion of privacy, or the assault on our services—this moment is for you. We’ll be part of a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis. Our goal is to show that the people—the majority—are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab.
Bring your signs, and meet us for this inspiring, peaceful, and mobilizing show of solidarity.
Location:
Minnesota State Capitol
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/767090
_____________________________________________________
DON’T FORGET our other regular weekly and monthly SD31 meetings:Weekly:
DFL Coffee Break
Every Saturday in March
Starbucks in Andover Target on Bunker Lk Blvd
8:30-11:00 AM
Monthly:
SD31 DFL Social and Business Meeting
These meetings are as much about getting together for mutual support as they are for business. So please brave the elements and come out to join your friends!
Time: 6:00 pm Social / 6:30 pm call to order
Place: Andover Community Center — Community Room A
Next regular meeting (after the conference): May 13, 2025
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: Saturdays 11 am- Noon
Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 pm
__________________________________________________________________________
ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS — ST FRANCIS AND ANOKA-HENNEPIN
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Meetings
Work Sessions— 4th Mondays, 5:30 pm Education Services Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka. Next Regular Board Meetings: Mar 24, April 28, May 27
Regular School Board Meetings— Mondays, 6:30 pm, Sandburg Ed. Center, Anoka 1902 2nd Ave. Next Work Sessions: Apr 14, May 12.
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.
St Francis School Board Meetings
2nd and 4th Mondays
6:30 PM
Community Room, District Office
4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW, St Francis MN 55070
Next Meetings: March 24, April 14, April 28, May 12
_______________________________________________________________________________
ANOKA COUNTY DFL SENIOR CAUCUS
Contact: Mel Aanerud (aanerud4@comcast.net):
Date: Every Second Wednesday (April 9, May 14, June 11)
Place: Davanni’s Coon Rapids 3430 129 Ave NW
Time: Order food— room opens at 12:30; Meeting starts: 1:00 PM
NOTE: Senior Caucus Day on the Hill— April 15
_______________________________________________________________________________
Check out the “FIGHTING OLIGARCHY TOUR”
https://berniesanders.com/oligarchy/
The tour started on February 21 in Omaha, Nebraska, and has visited Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona. Bernie Sanders has been joined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) in several sites. They have been visiting places that voted for Joe Biden in 2020 but for Republican House candidates in 2024.
The message: The Oligarchs who want to run our lives have wealth over $200 billion each, while 60% of families live paycheck to paycheck, and 85 million in the US live without adequate health insurance. Just short of a million people are homeless in this, the so-called richest country on earth.
“The oligarchs’ nightmare is that we will not allow ourselves to be divided up by race, religion, sexual orientation or country of origin, and will together have the courage to take them on.”
__________________________________________________________________
Other Links worth Checking Out
Heather Cox Richardsonon the connections between this time and the McCarthyism of the “great” 1950’s:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-22-2025?isFreemail=true&post_id=159660808&publication_id=20533&r=3x1uaj&triedRedirect=true
Mary Hartnett of Clean Elections Minnesota on Finding Refuge Amidst Turmoil: Minnesota’s Stand for Democracy:”
https://mailchi.mp/589bff509b88/march-22-2025-cem-weekly-update-19877437?e=d6010f16a4
Thom Hartmann on The Backlash of the Oligarchs— ending in Democracy being either Renewed or Erased:
https://hartmannreport.com/p/were-in-the-final-act-of-americas-931?isFreemail=true&post_id=159701039&publication_id=302288&r=3x1uaj&triedRedirect=true
_________________________________________________________________________________
And keep checking our ever-changing home website, VoteBlueMN.org
Here are some of the good things you can find there:
On our Home Page:
Keep writing to our State and National Representatives!
On our page “Posts, Blogs & Links:”See Posts like…
Minnesota’s Healthcare Crisis
End Oligarchy, Fight for Working Families
Government is Too Small!
Why do they hate America?– why MAGA only pretend to be patriots
On our Calendar Page: MOVIE NIGHT– Friday, March 28, 5:30 pm
_______________________________________________________________________
Contribute to SD31-DFL and get a REFUND before the legislature takes it away!
The cycle has started again for 2025, and is being threatened in the legislature this year: Contribute whatever you can to SD31 DFL–
GET A FULL REFUND for any amount up to $75 per person.
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:
________________________________________________________
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.
__________________________________________________________________________
As always, Thanks for your efforts and PLEASE stay connected at the movies, our conference, protests, and all the other ways we can support each other and this state and country.
SD31 Communications
info@VoteBlueMN.org
____________________________________________________________________________
Our Core Values:
A Good Economy for Working Families— Fighting Hatred and Racism— Liberty and Justice for ALL, Including Health Care, 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
And because they seem to have forgotten:
The Rule of Law
and
The Constitution of the United States of America!
