From Denise Cardinal, Executive Director here at Alliance for a Better Minnesota:
You'll love this.
A friend forwarded me a post written by radical right-wing blogger Mitch Berg about the Netroots Minnesota conference we organized last weekend. In it, he calls progressives "graying ex-hippies" and "perpetually outraged-looking women" who are "wandering the streets begging for cops to taze and teargas them."
He couldn't have been further from the truth. With the help of our allies in the progressive community, Alliance for a Better Minnesota brought together nearly 300 Minnesotans from across the stat to get trained, connect, and build on the tactics that will help progressives step up our organizing in 2010 and beyond.
Behind Berg's attempt to ridicule progressives, is his worried realization that what what started at Netroots Minnesota is just the beginning of ABM's efforts to strengthen the progressive community.
One thing is clear: we need to be prepared , and we can't afford to wait.
That's why I'm asking you to help make sure we're ready for 2010 and beyond by stepping up and making a contribution today:
We need a progressive voice in this state, and that's why we're here. You're contribution helps us provide issue and opinion research, develop winning messages, and give one-on-one technical assistance to progressive groups in their battles to build on progressive power.
Building a stronger progressive movement - and a better Minnesota - won't just happen on it's own. It's up to you to make it happen.
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!
There is a lot to get excited about at Netroots Minnesota. With two days of engaging panels and workshops, there is sure to be something for every progressive looking to learn how to grow our movement in Minnesota. In addition to all of the panels and trainings, attendees of the conference this weekend are going to have a unique opportunity to spend their lunch hour Saturday with Minnesota's 1st District--The Fightin' First!--Congressional Representative, Tim Walz.
Walz's dedication to people powered politics has been especially visible this summer. When John Kline turned down his offer for a bipartisan town hall and was still hiding from his own constituents, Representative Walz was out hearing what the people of his district had to say, even the ones who disagreed with him. Both on health care and the war in Afghanistan, Walz has impressed his constituents with his command of the issues and concern for their thoughts. From a letter to the Winona Daily News:
"I am proud to say Walz represents me in Washington, D.C. His vast knowledge about the subject and his willingness to hear the questions and concerns from his constituency are admirable.Walz wrote copious notes while numerous speakers spoke for and against the current policy toward Afghanistan. If these thoughtful conversations took place before invading Iraq, a rigorous policy solution could have been drafted...We need to have a serious conversation about U.S. involvement, and Tim Walz is the right person to lead the discussion."
Now you have your chance to hear from Tim Walz. On Saturday, folks at Netroots Minnesota will get the inside scoop on events in Washington from Representative Walz. He will be taking questions via twitter, facebook and in person, making this one of the most interactive congressional briefings around. You only have two days left to reserve your spot to hear Representative Walz and attend Netroots Minnesota, so head on over and sign up right away.
< Netroots Minnesota in Saint Paul Friday-Saturday
DFL Governor candidates, New Media Activists, Progressive Politics Take Center Stage at First Netroots Minnesota Conference
Saint Paul – More than 100 Minnesota-based netroots activists will be in Saint Paul Friday and Saturday for the first ever Netroots Minnesota conference. Modeled after, and partially hosted by Netroots Nation, the conference allows participants to learn about key issues, skills for advocacy and grassroots organizing and connect with other netroots activists.
As a regional gathering of Netroots Nation, Netroots Minnesota amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we strengthen community, inspire action and serve as a incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.
Netroots Minnesota will also feature a DFL gubernatorial forum moderated by Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Lori Sturdevant. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will kick off the event and Congressman Tim Walz will brief participants on the latest from Washington, D.C.
Members of the media are allowed to attend the conference and the gubernatorial forum if they pre-register or bring their press credentials. For more information, contact Denise Cardinal of Alliance for a Better Minnesota at 612.269.9276.
WHAT: Netroots Minnesota WHERE:
Hilton Garden Inn City Center 411 Minnesota Street Saint Paul
WHEN: Friday, November 20 - Saturday, November 21
KEY EVENTS:
Friday, November 20
Welcoming Speech Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
DFL Gubernatorial Forum 6-8 p.m.
Saturday November 21
Representative Tim Walz (MN-03) Congressional Briefing 12:30 p.m.
###
Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) is a grassroots lobbying and online communications organization that works with progressive groups and working families on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans. You can find out more at www.allianceminnesota.org.
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.
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