These concerns about secrecy are not surprising. I remember talking with you
personally, Fran, about Third Ward Neighbors In Action (TWNIA) and we were
both ignorant as to the identity of these people. It certainly was not
immediately apparent to me that they were open to new members. I knew they
were soliciting potential candidates, but not members. And along comes a
local newspaper, with more details than I ever knew about TWNIA, making
allegations of secrecy.
Regarding TWNIA inability to get a letter-to-the-editor published in
NorthNews/NorthEaster, there are other mediums of information exchange
available to them. How about paying for an ad in another paper? How about
the internet? What about this forum? This forum would be a good place to
raise people's awareness of TWNIA and its goals.
I am glad that you, Fran, have chosen to speak up, but I wish you or someone
else would have done so earlier. Then there could have been no complaints of
secrecy.
BTW, what a long answering machine message they have!
Scott McGerik
Hawthorne
Minneapolis
http://www.visi.com/~scottlm/
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fran Guminga" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mpls Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 11:13 PM
Subject: [Mpls] Third Ward Neighbors In Action
> It seems odd to me that Third Ward Neighbors In Action (TWNIA), the first
> serious grass roots opposition to an unresponsive Third Ward DFL
incumbent,
> in a DFL stronghold, working on a shoestring budget, using an innovative
> technique like advertising for candidates is seen as sinister because we
won
> �t turn over sign-in sheets to the NorthNews.
>
> Can we get real here? Anybody who wants to offer the Third Ward voters a
> choice is welcome to join TWNIA. It is fair to say that it is through the
> efforts of TWNIA that we now have some serious challengers. Call the
message
> line at 651-251-0545 and ask to be notified of the next meeting. You will
> have to give your name and address, but we promise not to turn you in to
the
> NorthNews.
>
> If you support a choice in the Third Ward, don�t sit around reading about
> it, get involved like I did. Just call `em and get on the mailing list
> (651-251-0545). Meetings are open to the public. People at the meetings
> identify themselves, and I have yet to see people walk in with a paper bag
> over their heads.
>
> One needs to be careful about believing everything one reads in what
passes
> for community newspapers in north and northeast Minneapolis. They ain�t
the
> SW Journal. I am a member of TWNIA who joined after seeing their ads in
> the Northeaster and NorthNews and attending a couple of their meetings. I
> did not find it difficult to contact them by telephone and had no problem
in
> finding out when their meetings were held. I talked with the president and
> asked some questions, which she freely answered.
>
> The group is nonpartisan and includes people from both north and northeast
> Minneapolis from various political affiliations. We are clear that our
> mission is to elect a Third Ward Council Member who is more responsive to
> the needs of the ward. We expect to act as a resource for anyone coming
> forward to seek the seat. While there has been some discussion about
> screening candidates, it is more likely now that we will act as a catalyst
> for bringing candidates to the people rather than supporting one candidate
> over another.
>
> This �secretive� group has appeared on KMOJ�s north side forums at Lucille
�s
> Kitchen, and attended at least two Minneapolis Property Rights Group (may
> have the name wrong) meetings. They published several ads in both the
> NorthNews and Northeaster. Several residents have come forward indicating
> their interest in becoming candidates. Two candidates have made their
> candidacy public. One appeared at the Third Ward DFL Convention and was
> nominated by me, a TWNIA member. A public forum is being planned. Not much
> secrecy there.
>
> TWNIA has been trying for two months to get a letter to the editor
published
> that would provide more details on the organization�s purpose and would
> solicit public participation. Unfortunately, the Northeaster has declined
to
> publish the letter.
>
> Incidentally, the NorthNews was able to find out that the �secret� TWNIA
> raised $650 (all from small, individual contributions) in 2000. How about
a
> story about how much incumbent Joe Biernat raised and from whom?
>
> Fran Guminga
> Bottineau, Ward 3
>
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