DFL Progressive Caucus Organizational Meeting Schedule

DFL Progressives:

In the past year, the progressive movement has made great strides into electoral politics. Although many of us didn't see our candidate win the Democratic Party nomination, the movement is still strong! In the pursuit of progressive ideals, the best means to reach that end is to engage the DFL so we can elect the right people and advance our issues. The Democratic Party holds a tremendous amount of potential power by becoming a true opposition party. To this end, many new DFL participants are starting a DFL Progressive Caucus to better organize for progressive issues inside the DFL and within the realm of electoral politics.

Recently, there have been a couple brainstorming sessions to hash out what a DFL Progressive Caucus could do. Some of the ways to gain influence include recruiting candidates for elective office, supporting progressive candidates, electing progressives into DFL party leadership, bringing more progressives into the party, offering new ways to organize within the DFL.

We are at a juncture where we need more ideas, more people, more input. No matter your DFL background, no matter your political experience, please consider joining in the next stage of forming the organization. With a series of three meetings, we should come out with a clear picture of where the organization is going.

Mission Meeting: Developing a mission and objectives along with pinpointing the values for which we stand.
August 4, 2004
6:30-8:30 PM
Great River Regional Library
405 W. St. Germain
St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-650-2500.
Meeting Room C.
Across from the St. Cloud Civic Center

Constitution Meeting: Generating of a draft of the constitution
August 11, 2004
6:30-8:30 PM
Holy Trinity Church
2730 E. 31 St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 729-8358

Charter Meeting: Finalizing the draft of mission and constitution.
Also, we will make a timeline for formal establishment of the organization.
August 18, 2004
6:30-8:30 PM
Burnsville Library
1101 County Road 42 W
Burnsville, MN 55306
(651) 688-1555

If you plan on attending any meeting or want to receive future DFL Progressive Caucus announcements, send an email to
dflprogressive-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The list will average no more than 1 email per week.

For any questions, please contact
Alex Eaton
alexeaton01@yahoo.com
612-695-8852

Dan Brown
daniel_p_brown@yahoo.com
651-690-5349

:kick:

We are moving forward in organizing our DFL Progressive Caucus!  In an effort to engage progressives outside of the Cities, seven of us gathered in St. Cloud to develop our mission and objectives, and to specifically determine the values for which we stand.  In attendance were:

Alex Eaton
Elizabeth
Bob Brandel
Dan Brown
Dan Ballek
Rebekah Smith
Donna Cassutt

While we did not attract new members, we successfully created a first draft of our vision, strategy and plan.  It was exciting to begin formalizing our work in MN, just as others are doing across the nation, many under the banner of Progressive Democrats of America www.pdamerica.org .  Please review the following drafts, and feel free to send your comments to me.  This is a work in process, and we need your input!
_______________________________________

VISION  The DFL Progressive Caucus is part of a movement that believes in an interdependent world that respects and upholds human rights, democratic processes, economic justice, peaceful resolutions to conflicts and environmental preservation and protection.

STRATEGY  Building this world requires a representative democracy founded upon deeply valuing the voice of an informed, grassroots electorate including the underrepresented and disaffected, and provides a counterweight to corporate control of the political process.

PLAN  Toward this end, the DFL Progressive Caucus dedicates itself to working within the general framework of the DFL to educate ourselves and our neighbors, to mobilize our fellow voters and to recruit, support and elect progressive candidates.

We will train progressive advocates, conduct teach-ins, register voters, identify progressive party leaders and build coalitions particularly during the lull between elections cycles.
_______________________________________
 
Hope to see you at our next two meetings:

Constitution Meeting:  Generating a draft of the constitution of the organization
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
6:30-8:30 PM
Holy Trinity Church
2730 E 31st Street
Minneapolis, MN  55406
(612)-729-8358
 
Charter Meeting:  Finalizing the draft of mission and constitution.  Also, we will make a timeline for formal establishment of the organization.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
6:30-8:30 PM
Burnsville Library
1101 County Road 42 W
Burnsville, MN  55306
(651)688-1555
 
Thanks!
 
Donna

:kick:

:shrug:

For anyone else who is and has not been to the Burnsville Library - here are the directions (the address is County Rd 42 - but you can't get into it from 42)

Coming from the north on 35W. Take the County Rd 42 exit and go right (west). Make a left at Burnhaven Drive (on the west side of Burnsville Center - you'll see a Macaroni Grill there). Take the first right off of Burnhaven - you'll think you're heading in the KMart parking lot, but the library entrance is there as well.