We are just 24 hours away from the start of the Netroots Minnesota. Some of the best state and national experts will be joining us to plan and strategize how to expand and strengthen the progressive community in 2010 and beyond.
Tomorrow night, Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund is sponsoring what's sure to be one of the most interactive and engaging Governor's forum to date. If you have questions for the gubernatorial candidates, you can ask them on Facebook or on Twitter (#nmn09gov or #nmn09). Or ask in person (register at NetrootsMinnesota.org).
Please make sure that your friends don't miss this great opportunity. Pass this message on to let them know that they can register online until 5 pm tonight or at the door. The conference starts at 1 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Hotel in downtown St. Paul (411 Minnesota Street). To find out more details, like parking, visit www.netrootsminnesota.org.
We just released the information about our closing keynote -- Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will talk about the importance of a strong progressive movement on Saturday evening to get us fired up and ready to go.
This conference is going to be an interactive conversation with our participants. Please remember that you can ask some of our presenters questions through twitter.
For Secretary of State Mark Ritchie include #nmn09sos in your tweet
For the gubernatorial candidates include #nmn09gov in your tweet
For Congressman Tim Walz include #nmn09walz in your tweet
We look forward to seeing you soon. Check the program for the latest schedule information at www.netrootsminnesota.org.
To get the latest updates, be sure to follow @NetrootsMN on Twitter!
One of the goals of the Netroots Minnesota is to provide an online and in-person campus for progressives to exchange ideas and learn how to use technology to influence the public debate. We're happy to be partnering with Democracy for America, the nation's largest progressive political action community.
Mary Rickles, the Communications Director for DFA, emailed DFA activists in Minnesota to share how a conference like Netroots Minnestoa is exactly what the progressive community needs:
Friend--
When I left Pittsburgh after this year's Netroots Nation, I felt re-energized, connected and engaged with a booming online progressive community. Packed with crowds of buzzing progressive minds, invaluable workshops and the best bloggers from across the nation, I wouldn't have changed a thing about this year's Netroots Nation - except that I'd have them more often.
That's right, you heard me, Netroots Minnesota -- a convention with the same incredible progressive panels, keynotes, training sessions and networking opportunities -- all just a short drive away.
With the Governor's seat to fill in 2010 and countless other issues to take action on, Netroots Minnesota is the place to be. You'll have the chance to speak with our nation's leaders and engage in the campaigns that matter to you.
Come get your political fill before you hit the dinner table with your in-laws at Thanksgiving. Make Netroots Minnesota your first step towards planning progressive change in 2010.
I'll see you there,
-Mary
Mary Rickles, Communications Director Democracy for America
In two weeks, progressives from across Minnesota will gather in St. Paul for a day and a half of panels, trainings, networking opportunities and keynotes--all in an effort to strategize and organize around progressive change.
Netroots Minnesota will be the premier kickoff to the critical conversations progressives will be having as we approach 2010, and today, Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director announced a forum for Netroots Minnesota attendees to start the conversation with the candidates running for governor.
The Minnesota 2010 gubernatorial race will be one of the most-watched in the nation.
What should the race be about? How can a progressive win? What role will the Netroots play in the campaign?
These vital questions will be answered by some of the gubernatorial candidates themselves at Netroots Minnesota.
On Friday evening, November 20, DFL candidates for governor will join us at Netroots Minnesota to take questions directly from you. Get all the details and register at:
During a discussion moderated by Star Tribune writer Lori Sturdevant, the candidates will be asked questions solicited online via Twitter (using the hashtag #nmn09gov), Facebook, email, and in person.
This forum, sponsored by Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund, is going to be one of the most interactive and engaging forums for the candidates to date -- be sure toregister for Netroots Minnesota to get a front-row seat at this must-see-for-yourself political event.
The Washington Times (a.ka. Fox News in print) took notice and griped about our efforts to give regular folks a chance to engage more deeply on the topics that matter most to them:
Progressives have announced plans for a social-media offensive, geared to "our new reality", says Xavier Lopez-Ayala of the Alliance for a Better Minnesota. The progressive group is one of several across the country that are honing the Twittering, blogging, videography and advocacy prowess of grass-roots types to "further change" as 2010 approaches.
Uh-oh. There's that old "c" word, Mr. Obama's onetime mantra. Progressives are hot to Tweet, and they still recall the Web-based victories of Howard Dean well over 100 years ago. Wait. It was 2004. It only seems like a century ago.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lopez-Ayala calls the dicey art of social media "impact journalism." So, Republicans: Log in and get thee to thy Tweet board.
We've just started rolling out the agenda for Netroots Minnesota and I'm sure The Washington Times will be thrilled by the panels, training sessions, and issue discussions we have on tap, including:
New Organizing: A Better Model to Engage Volunteers and Truly Build a Movement
The last thing the right-wing wants is Netroots Minnesota to be as successful as Netroots Nation in helping progressive influence the public debate. But that's exactly what Netroots Minnesota is going to be. The conference agenda is designed to get progressives trained on the new tactics that will help us step up our current organizing.
If you read Denise's email on Monday and asked yourself what a "netroot" was and why you'd want more than one -- don't worry. When I went to my first Netroots Nation two years ago, I didn't know what to expect.
I quickly learned that "the Netroots" referred to a community of progressives committed to discussing important issues and using technology to empower regular people to influence the public debate. From blogging to texting and tweeting, the Netroots is helping the progressive movement adapt to our new media reality.
Denise was really excited this morning to announce the first-ever Netroots Minnesota, a regional conference of the very successful Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos). Netroots Minnesota will include panels, workshops, caucuses, keynote speakers, and other creative sessions designed to educate, stimulate, and inspire the nation’s next generation of progressive leaders.
Check out the email announcement below:
Friend--
You know you're not alone in wanting to build progressive power in the state.
Over the next 12 months, we will be working hard to advocate for progressive policies. But in order to be effective, we're going to need to get the progressive grassroots and Netroots together to network and organize.
Join us, along with progressives from all over Minnesota, in St. Paul on November 20th and 21st for the first ever Netroots Minnesota conference.
We'll have captivating panels led by national and state experts, practical training sessions and workshops, and a gubernatorial candidate forum. This conference is the premier kickoff to the critical conversations progressives will be having as we approach 2010.
Netroots Minnesota is modeled after the Netroots Nation conference (formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention). The Netroots have played a critical role in helping shape a progressive agenda over the last several years.
We hope to build upon that same success in Minnesota, and with the hotly contested 2010 gubernatorial race on the horizon, now is the time to start this important conversation. Through this conference we hope to strengthen our community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.
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