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:

http://allianceminnesota.org/NetrootsForum

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 to register for Netroots Minnesota to get a front-row seat at this must-see-for-yourself political event.

We just released an updated conference agenda this morning, so take a minute to check out the sessions we have on tap and click here to reserve your spot at Netroots Minnesota.

Last week, we announced the first-ever Netroots Minnesota, two days of panels, keynotes, training sessions, and networking opportunities for progressives to come together to strategize and organize around progressive change in Minnesota.

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
• Tools to Hold Conservatives Accountable
• Federal Health Care Reform - Now or Never
• Blog-a-sota: A Map of Minnesota's Blogosphere
• ...and many, many more!

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.

Click here to check out the agenda for Netroots Minnesota.

While the right-wing is busy poking fun of our efforts, progressives will be coming together at Netroots Minnesota to build real change. We hope you'll be able to join us in St. Paul on November 20-21?.

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.

That's why I'm so excited that Netroots Nation is holding a regional conference here in St. Paul on November 20-21. Netroots Minnesota will offer panels, keynotes, training sessions, and networking opportunities for progressives to come together to exchange ideas.

The full agenda hasn't been set, but check out some of what's taking shape:

• Our New Reality - Why Social Media is Key to Building a Progressive Movement
• Read My Lips: We Need Fair Taxes: How Progressives Can Save the Budget
• Point, Shoot, Post: Why Online Video Matters & How to Do It
• Impact Journalism: Bringing together bloggers and advocacy organizations to further progressive change

I hope you'll join us at Netroots Minnesota -- it's going to be awesome. If you haven't already, you can click here to register.