DFL Senate District 36

For those of you that missed the Senate District 36 Potluck, Speaker and Central/Executive Committee Meeting, you really missed out. 

We started the evening off with conversation and a potluck.  Fried chicken, sandwiches with all the fixings, a few salads, some hummus and pitas and some really good chocolate chip cookies in a container labeled “Thissen”, made for a delicious dinner.  The conversations, and meeting new progressives, and reacquainting with old friends was even better.

We had a few speakers.  Aaron Olson from the Minnesota Young DFL spoke about how successful the organization was in 2008,and how they plan to build on that success in 2010.  A challenge was put forth from one listener in the audience that if somebody else donated $100 to the Minnesota Young DFL, she would match it, and it was immediately met.  In fact Mr. Olson left with a few donations for MYDFL.

Dan Powers, challenger to John Kline for the MN Congressional District 2 seat, spoke next.  He introduced himself, and talked a little about his experience.

The main speaker, Representative Paul Thissen spoke next.  So that is where those cookies came from… Actually, the cookies came from Paul’s family.  Several members of Paul’s family live in SD36, it was great to have his family with us, and even better that his father asked him a campaign question.  Paul did a great job, and SD36 is appreciative that he came to speak to our little group.  He introduced himself, and did a nice job of summarizing why he is running and what his main agenda will be.  Rep. Thissen then spent a lot of time, more time than Chair Nichols had planned, answering a lot of great questions.  Chair Nichols had to stop the questions and go on with the business of the meeting, but it was a very good introduction for most of us to gubernatorial candidate Paul Thissen.

Before we started the meeting, Colin Lee, was given a couple minutes to announce his plans to challenge Mary Liz Holberg.  Some people will remember Colin Lee from 2008 when he challenged Representative Holberg as a Green Party candidate.

The meeting began by filling some open seats on the executive committee.  The election to fill the vacant Associate Chair position was won by Lisa Backer.  Three female Directors positions and one male Director position were filled.  That left one open female Director position open still.  That open position will be filled at the next meeting, which is scheduled for October 15th.  Please contact Chair Nichols if you are interested in the Director position.  Finally, open male and female State Central Committee Alternate positions were filled by a couple of DFL veterans.

Dakota County Fair volunteer time are available.  Senate District 36 is responsible for filling spots two days.  Contact Tony Olson if you are interested in helping out at the booth.

The Wellstone Dinner will be scheduled for October 24th, 2009.  Site and times are to be determined.  But the big news is that Senator Franken has accepted an invitation to speak to our group the day before the seventh anniversary of the death of his good friends Senator and Sheila Wellstone.  Save the date, and when tickets become available, get your tickets early, these will be in high demand.