MINNESOTA FOCUS

Blogging Minnesota:

Lefty Blogs Minnesota: Liberal News Roundup in Minnesota

Minnesota Progressive Project. : Updates on campaigns in Minnesota. The combined efforts of the Minnesota Campaign Report and MN Blue.

MNDem.com brings commonsense, family-oriented, and slightly left leaning observations to Minnesota voters. "The future will belong to those who have passion and are willing to work hard to make our country better." -- Paul Wellstone

Hindsight from Minnesota 2020: Hindsight gives the run down on the news that jumps out at us on the issues that matter. Often times these stories show us how much further we need to go to have the progressive policy realized in Minnesota. Another thing we want to try here is opening up the discussion to everyone who wants to contribute. Commenting on our posts is highly encouraged, and we’ll join in as well. As always, be sure to check out our main site www.mn2020.org.

MN Moderate to Liberal Political Roundtable: I believe Democrats pay now; while Republicans argue for what will eventually be paying more, later.


PROGRESSIVE RADIO MINNESOTA: AM950 KNTF
http://www.am950ktnf.com

Radio station AM950 KNTF, “The Progressive Voice of Minnesota” reflects the values and concerns of our Midwestern community.

In 2003, former Minnesota Congressman Bill Luther and Janet Robert became concerned that Minnesotans did not have a radio station where talk show hosts would be dedicated to telling the truth while engaging listeners. They built a station committed to those values and a place where listeners can talk back and engage in a truthful and respectful community conversation about issues.

From the first broadcast on WMNN-AM 1330 (the Minnesota News Network), in November 2003, through the launch of the Al Franken Show in April 2004 and the purchase of its own station KTNF in October 2004, the station has sought out the best programming from a variety of news sources including CNN (news), NBC (Meet the Press) and Jones Radio Network as well as other independent networks.

We have been developing AM950 into a Minnesota community radio station where our listeners engage over issues that matter to them, both locally and around the world.

CHECK OUT THEIR PROGRAM SCHEDULE HERE.

CHECK OUT THEIR CALENDER OF EVENTS HERE


CURRENT TV:
Current TV, founded by Al Gore, includes some of the best journalism in America today. In particular their Vanguard series is amazing and should not be missed by ANYONE who wants to know in depth coverage of some of the major stories in the world. And now CurrentTV has Keith Olbermann as well.

In most areas Current TV is available on:
DIRECTV Channel 358
DISH Network Channel 196
Comcast Digital: Channel 107
AT&T U-Verse: Channel 189

Check out their program schedule here.


Some regular Democratic-Farm-Labor Party related events:

MONDAYS:

Veterans Caucus
Second Monday of each month, 2011, 6pm – 8pm
\Conference Room, DFL Office
DescriptionMembership meeting starts at 6pm, montly meeting starts at 6:30pm. Contact: Trista Matascastillo, trista2000@msn.com

Drinking Liberally
Third Monday of each month, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Hopkins VFW, 100 Shady Oak Road
An informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space - build democracy one drink at a time.

Waseca Co DFL Mtg
Third Monday of each month, 7pm – 8pm
Waseca Sr. Citizens Ctr., 308 N. State


TUESDAYS:

Otter Tail County DFL Party Monthly Meeting
Third Tuesday of each month, Jan 18, 2011
Shoreline Reataurant and Lanes, 505 North Lake Ave., Battle Lake, MN (map)
Meet for Dinner with friends at 6 pm with our Monthly Meeting at 7 pm.

Olmsted Co. DFL Mtg
Third Tuesday of each month, 7pm – 9pm
Rochester DFL Office
"Olmsted County DFL Central Committee Meeting Tuesday, November 17 7 pm - 9 pm Democratic Party Office 401 16th Ave NW Rochester, MN Guests are welcome to attend, for more information please contact Lynn Wilson, Chair at lwilson154@charter.net or (507) 259-5162.

Mower Co. DFL Mtg
Third Tuesday of each month, 7pm – 8pm
Austin Union Hall

Maple Grove Links Forum
Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6pm – 8pm
13588 80th Circle, Maple Grove, MN 55369 (map)
THE MAPLE GROVE DFL LINKS Joint Meeting with the Brooklyns DFL Community Houlihan's, 12725 Elm Creek Blvd., Maple Grove, MN 6 p.m. Dinner, 7 p.m. Program Houlihan's which provides a private room for our forum requires everyone to order food. We need to send in a minimum number of reservations in order to reserve the room so please RSVP soon to John DeSantis. Host: John DeSantis, john.desantis@charter.net


WEDNESDAYS:

Carlton County DFL monthly meeting
Second Wed of each month, 6:15pm – 8:15pm
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, 2101 14th Street, Cloquet, MN
The Carlton County DFL meeting schedule: the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:15 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, 2101 14th Street, Cloquet, MN in the open theater area of the main entrance. Lisa Anderson, Chair (218-878-0953)

Pine County DFL meeting
Third Wed of each month, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Hinckley, MN
Monthly meetings in Hinckley 3rd Wednesday every month Contact Tom Kurhajetz for details (612-423-3612 or thomaskurhajetz@frontiernet.net)

Senior Caucus Luncheon
Fourth Wed of each month, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Riverside Perkins Family Restaurant, I-94 & Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, 55401
Join a group of like-minded DFL seniors for lunch, a few laughs and whatever. No RSVP required, just show up. More info, contact: Karla Sand, karlaviolets@hotmail.com or Joy Swanson, jes2118@yahoo.com.


THURSDAYS:

Crow Wing County DFL monthly meeting
First Thursday of each month, 6pm – 7pm
Brainerd Library
Crow Wing County DFL monthly meeting The Crow Wing County DFL meets the first Thursday of each month at Brainerd Library (large meeting room). For more info: 218-833-2825 crowwingdfl@charter.net
Web site: http://dfl.org/crow-wing

SD54 DFL Meeting
Third Thursday of each month, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Roseville
SD54 meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Basswood Room of Fire Station No. 1 near the Roseville City Hall campus. Meeting starts at 6:30.

Todd County DFL
Third Thursday of each month, 7pm – 9pm
Long Prairie
Todd County DFL meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in Long Prairie at Randy Brown's Law Office, Highway 71.

Freeborn Co DFL Mtg
Third Thursday of each month, 7pm – 8pm
Albert Lea Union Center


SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL UNION:

Click here for the Minnesota AFL-CIO website to get involved in protecting your rights in the workplace. Click here to see what you can do now.

For more union info, contact:

175 Aurora Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55103 Phone: 651-227-7647 Fax: 651-227-3801


Minnesota Green Drinks Groups

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help it spread to other cities. Contact your local node to get the latest info about coming along.

Here are a couple of Green Drinks Groups in Minnesota: (click on the links to find out more info)

Duluth Superior

Minneapolis-St. Paul


MINNESOTA NAACP: The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

Here is a list of local NAACP branches in Minnesota:

St Cloud NAACP
PO BOX 7042
St Cloud, MN 56302
320-654-6222

St. Cloud NAACP Youth Council
PO BOX 7042
St. Cloud, MN 56302

St. Cloud State Univ. College NAACP
700 W ST. GERMAIN STREET
St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-654-622

Minneapolis NAACP
310 E. 38TH STREET
Minneapolis, MN 55409
612-822-8205

St. Paul NAACP
1060 W CENTRAL AVE
St Paul, MN 55104
651-649-0520

Minnesota State University (Mankato) NAACP
265 MORRIS HALL
Mankato, MN 56001

Rochester NAACP
PO BOX 6472
Rochester, MN 55903


The Aliveness Project
http://www.aliveness.org/

The Aliveness Project encourages self-empowerment and provides direct services for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

730 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612.824.LIFE (5433)


PROGRESSIVE GROUPS IN MINNESOTA:

The Minnesota Project is a nonprofit organization that connects people with policy to nurture collaborations that build strong local economies, vibrant communities and a healthy environment.

Our programs are focused on clean renewable energy and efficient use of energy; farm practice and policy that promote profitable farms that protect the environment; and the production and consumption of local and sustainably-produced foods.

The Minnesota Project works in ways that emphasize collaboration, community building, and capacity building. For over twenty-five years we have fostered local empowerment, bridged diverse interests, encouraged shared values, and initiated working dialogues that create positive action and policy.

Alternative Energy Resources in Minnesota: a short summary of alternative energy resources for Minnesota. For more information on each technology, visit the State Energy Alternatives Technology Options page.


And for those who like mixing fun and politics, here are a couple of Drinking Liberally groups in Minnesota:

Minneapolis
Every Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm
331 Club, 331 13th Ave NE (13th and University in Northeast Minneapolis)
Hosted by Robin Marty

Morris
First and Third Thursday of each month, 8:00 pm
Old #1, 412 Atlantic Avenue
Hosted by Jeff Lamberty


ALTERNATIVE FUELS:

There are two kinds of alternate fuels that are readily available that lower your carbon foot print and use AMERICAN resources and create AMERICAN jobs rather than supporting big oil companies and oil nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela.

ETHANOL: Cars labeled FlexFuel (now becoming common in some states) can use up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline). E85 burns cleaner than gasoline and is usually cheaper. I have used E85 in California and found it to be 10-40 cents cheaper than the cheapest gasoline at the same station. CLICK HERE TO FIND STATIONS IN MINNESOTA OFFERING E85. This can be a really good way to help the American economy, help the environment, AND save money.

BIODIESEL: Pretty much ANY diesel engine can use biodiesel. Biodiesel burns cleaner and in most engines is better for the engine. It can be more expensive than regular diesel depending on the location, but is better for the environment, is better for most diesel engines, and is good for the local economy. You can find nearby stations and cooperatives (often the best option) that offer biodiesel by clicking here and either clicking on your state on the map or entering your zip code. We used biodiesel in a rental car one year and loved it.


ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN MINNESOTA:


All Energy Solar
All Energy Solar is dedicated to preserving our planet through the use of renewable energy. Save money and the environment for the long term.

121 Orange Street
Prescott, WI 54021
800-620-3370
info@allenergysolar.com
www.allenergysolar.com


S & B Geothermal
The Midwest's Leading Ground Source Heat Pump Contractor since 1982

For more information call 763-434-5162
Or Visit online at SB Geothermal.com


LOCAL FOOD:

Minneapolis Farmers Market:
http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com/history.htm

Minneapolis Farmers Market has been a source for fresh produce and products for people all over the Twin Cities Area since 1937. Today, about 240 vendors alternate the use of 170 stalls. The Minneapolis Farmers Market is a great place to get great fresh local produce, meats, cheese, flowers and other great products... Check out the Vendors

Mother Earth Gardens
3738 42nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-724-2296
www.motherearthgarden.com

Home for sustainably grown organic gardening. Organic seeds, plants, native trees & shrubs, beneficial insects, locally made gifts & garden décor.


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