On Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at 12:51 PM, wmmarks wrote:
Part of what is happening to the DFL is that it has, for what reasons I cannot say, lost it's ability to keep itself organized. It used to be that the DFL (or the Democrats in other states) had big picnics or fairs in the summer where everybody brought the kids, hung out, talked politics, and generally renewed their acquaintances. Those are the events that produce solidarity.
SSB held a barbecue every summer and it served her well on voting day.
In Cincinnati, one of the biggest summer events was "the Orphans Picnic." St. Joseph Orphanage held a massive fund-raiser every summer. Booths for food and games, kiddie rides, all that carnival stuff. Every politician and wanna be politician in town was there. The incumbents, of course, came in flashy convertibles, kissed babies, worked the crowd. All us kids in my family and in other families were volunteered by our relatives to work the booths for the sake of the orphans.
We still have the summer fairs and the politicians do come to as many as they can manage, but the picnics by democrats for democrats that happen every year, election or not, are gone and that's a loss. That loss is costing votes every election.
Wizard, thank you for bringing us back to some of the ways that the DFL can reach out to the community, and bring everyone together. Senate District 63 hosts a grand Bean Feed every year, and I hope that we can do the same throughout the city of Minneapolis--and I mean, everywhere. We should be bringing people from the south side over to the north side, and vice versa.
Although the SD63 event is located a few blocks outside of Minneapolis, everybody is welcome. We hold it in Veterans Memorial Park, at 64th and Portland. This year, it will be on September 19th, from 1-5. I know that many people are aware of big ticket fundraisers, but we try to have an event that everyone can join. We offer all you can eat beans, brats, and sides for $10 ($5 for kids). It's not so much a fundraiser as it is an opportunity for everyone to get together and cherish the values of the DFL.
Many people in Minneapolis are so busy working and raising kids that they don't have much time to get involved, but I hope that we can get people out to events such as this so that they can see how they can participate with what little time they have. Come join us in September, but look forward to other events throughout the city of this kind.
Politics should not be daunting--it should be fun and rewarding.
David Weinlick Armatage
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