The 2012 DFL caucuses are less than a month away!

The 2012 DFL caucuses are less than a month away!

Even though we probably won’t know what the political district boundaries will be for 2012 until late in February, the state is moving forward and having the February 7 Caucuses as if there were no district changes.

The Caucuses will be February 7, 2012 starting at 7:00, with registration beginning at 6:30. 

Where will you Caucus?

The Secretary of State will have a caucus finder up and running soon:

SOS Caucus Finder

If you know what precinct you are in:

• Lakeville precincts 1 through 14 will meet at Lakeville South High School. 
• All Farmington precincts, along with Castle Rock, Empire Eureka and Coates will meet at Farmington High School. 
• Douglas, Hampton, Marshan, Miesville, New Trier, Randolph, Ravenna, Vermillion and Welch will meet at the Black Stallion Grill in Hampton. 
• Greenvale, Scotia, Waterford, Dennison, Stanton, Warsaw and Northfield W-3, Precinct 3, will meet in conjunction with Senate District 25 at Northfield Middle School. 

We are scheduling a convention planning and committee meeting on February 11, 2012.  If you plan to attend the convention, please consider attending that meeting and helping on a committee. 
Committees include:

• Arrangements and Credentials –Convention setup, registration sign-in of Delegates, Alternates, Visitors. Prepares convention delegate reports during the convention.
• Resolutions – Organizes and report on the resolutions passed at the caucuses.
• Rules -Proposes the rules of the district convention
• Constitution -Recommends changes to the existing district constitution
• Nominations -Sets up a series of interviews for candidates wanting to screen for positions such as officers, board, state committees.
• In addition, we will need Tellers and Sergeant of Arms.

We will also need volunteers to help with mailings and calling delegates in late February and the first week of March.  If you would like to participate in anything above, or have questions about participating, contact Steve Quist via email at DFLSD36@gmail.com.

Caucuses, Conventions and Changes in Senate District 36

Things are humming along as we get ready for 2012.  Even though we don’t know what the political district boundaries will be for 2012, we are moving forward and planning for the February Caucuses and the March District Organizing Unit Convention as if nothing is going to change.

One thing that is changing for sure is our description.  We currently are called Senate District 36.  It is possible, even likely that our number will change, but the term Senate District is changing to Organizing Unit.  So instead of SDs, we will use the abbreviation OUs.

Organizing Unit boundaries are expected to be set after the caucuses, but before the district conventions.  If you attend a caucus in one unit, are elected to go to the district convention, and redistricting forces you to another district, it sounds like the DFL will account for allowing you to serve in the new unit.

Caucuses will be February 7, 2012.  All Lakeville precincts will meet at Lakeville South High School.  All Farmington precincts, along with Castle Rock, Empire Eureka and Coates will meet at Farmington High School.  Douglas, Hampton, Marshan, Miesville, New Trier, Randolph, Ravenna, Vermillion and Welch will meet at the Black Stallion Grill in Hampton.  And Greenvale, Scotia, Waterford, Dennison, Stanton, Warsaw and Northfield W-3, Precinct 3, will meet in conjunction with Senate District 25 at Northfield Middle School.  I think the only change is Randolph and Randolph Township moving to the Hampton location.

We are scheduling a convention planning and committee meeting on February 11, 2012.  If you plan to attend the convention, please plan on attending that meeting and helping on a committee.  Committees include:

• Arrangements and Credentials –Convention setup, registration sign-in of Delegates, Alternates, Visitors. Prepares convention delegate reports during the convention.
• Resolutions – Organizes and report on the resolutions passed at the caucuses.
• Rules -Proposes the rules of the district convention
• Constitution -Recommends changes to the existing district constitution
• Nominations -Sets up a series of interviews for candidates wanting to screen for positions such as officers, board, state committees.
• In addition, we will need Tellers and Sergeant of Arms.

The next official meeting of our local DFL is set for January 5, 2012, 6:30pm at Lakeville Heritage Library.  We will likely be discussing caucuses, conventions and finances.  We will also have a volunteering opportunity in mid-January to stuff envelopes to send out caucus information to likely attendees.  Finally, on December 5 we are having a holiday potluck get-together.  If you are on our email list you should have received an invitation, if you are not on the list and would like to attend, contact Steve Quist via email.

Local Meeting for Democrats: October 6, 6:30pm at Lakeville Heritage Library

The next meeting of area Democrats, the Senate District 36 DFL Central Committee, will be on October 6, 2011 at Lakeville Heritage Library (20085 Heritage Drive, Lakeville) from 6:30 until 8:00.  After the meeting, feel free to join us at Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant for a little social hour.

The proposed agenda is below.

I think a lot of what we will be talking about over the next couple months will be the 2012 Caucus and Convention, 2012-2013 local party leadership, President Obama and Senator Klobuchar’s campaigns, constitutional amendments and hopefully some local candidates.  See you there!

1. Call to Order
2. Reading of the Affirmative Action Statement
3. Adoption of Agenda (with flexibility)
4. Candidate Roundup
5. Officer Reports
   1. Chair
   2. Associate Chair
   3. Secretary
   4. Treasurer
   5. Affirmative Action Officer – vacant
   6. Chair of the 2^nd Congressional District
6. Adoption of prior meeting minutes
7. Receive and File Treasurer’s Report
8. Speaker(s)
9. Elections
   1. Nominations and election of Affirmative Action Officer
   2. Affirmative Action Statement Reminder
10. Old Business
    1. Dakota County Fair
    2. Fundraiser Picnic
11. New Business
    1. 2012 Progressive Picnic in the Park
    2. Caucus and convention date and location planning
    3. 2/11/12 Meeting Change?
    4. Caucus Conveners
12. Next Meeting
    1. Executive Committee – Thursday November 10, 2011, 6:30-8:00 pm, Loc TBD
    2. Central Committee – Thursday January 5, 2012, 6:30-8:00 pm, Loc TBD
    3. Caucus – Tuesday February 7, Time and Loc. TBD
    4. Executive Committee – Saturday February 11, 2012, Time & Loc TBD
    5. Central Committee – Thursday March 8, 2012, 6:30-8:00 pm, Loc TBD
13. Last Call
14. Adjourn to Tersea’s

The Best Thing You Can Do To Win In Minnesota

If you care about social, political and economic change, maybe running for office would interest you.  City Council, School Board, County Commissioner, State House, State Senate, Governor.  Does that interest you?  If so, there are a couple opportunities for you to explore the idea of running, and what you can expect.

Here in Senate District 36, we will be hosting a meeting in October for people to explore the idea of either running themselves, or being an important part of helping to run a campaign.  The time and date have yet to be finalized, but if it is something you want to participate in, please go to the About page above and email Steve Quist.

There is another opportunity too.  The organization Progressive Majority and the organization MoveOn are working to help get people with a progressive ideology elected to local offices.  They are holding a conference call and webinar on September 20th at 7:00 pm.  To learn more about it, or even to sign up for the program click on the following link:

Move On: Progressive Candidates like you can save the American Dream

If you are interested in candidate information and resources, click on the following link:

Progressive Majority: A future worth fighting for

If you have any questions about running or want to talk to former candidates in the district or former legislators contact Steve Quist.

Dave Thompson Town Hall Meeting 9/24/11 10-11:30 Lakeville South

Senate District 36 state Senator and Republican Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dave Thompson is holding a town hall meeting at Lakeville South High School on Saturday, September 24, from 10:00am – 11:30am.

Of course just like his last meeting, he scheduled it on a day that many of the local progressives are already participating in another event, the Lakeville Friends of the Environment Peddle in the Park from 9:00-Noon.  Curious.

If you plan to attend it is located at:

Lakeville South – Lecture Hall
21135 Jacquard Avenue
Lakeville, MN 55044

 

Join Our DFL Email List

Democrats in Lakeville, Farmington and all of the Dakota County towns and townships to the east and south are invited to join our email list.  Announcements, news and information emails are generally sent out 2-3 times per month.  This email list is exclusive to the local DFL organization and will not be shared with other organizations. 

If you would like to sign up to begin receiving notices of events and information on what’s going on in the district from the Chair, please email your name and address to: DFLSD36@gmail.com.