I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I'm discovering that this municipal precinct caucus business is more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
My particular interest in recent years has been to help break down the barriers that have frequently separated Minneapolis public housing highrise residents from their surrounding neighborhoods and civic involvement generally. We had a terrific time in 2004, starting with the even-year caucuses and going on to voter registration, contact with candidates, GOTV, and especially person-to-person involvement thanks to non-partisan outreach on a grand scale. I recently learned that MHRC, the umbrella organization for the various highrise resident councils, received national recognition from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) for the sterling quality of our local civic effort viewed from their perspective in our nation's capital. This coming week, I'll have the privilege of discussing the ABCs of this year's municipal precinct caucuses - on a non-partisan basis - with a group of Somali elders who are particularly noteworthy for having been in line at 6:00 am November 4, 2004 - American citizens all and ready to vote that early morning at the Brian Coyle Community Center polling station in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. I'm also delighted to share my mapping skills with the NRP organization, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and the YWCA who are conducting municipal precinct caucus trainings this week and next around town. I've learned in my travels as a former redistricting commissioner that there are many folks who are still uncertain about the new ward and precinct lines and I feel like Johnny Appleseed or something passing out simple ward maps that have boundaries and precinct caucus locations spelled out precisely. This is community-building 101. Whatever the political weather this year, we are showing our regional neighbors - suburban, metro region, state, federal - our civic coat of many colors. Ain't it grand! Fred Markus, Philips West, Ward 6 --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! --- REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
