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MFT Legislative Committee - Minutes of the Meeting - September 1st.
At the last MFT Legislative Committee, discussions centered on the current School Board, legislative and the gubernatorial races.
School Board Race Discussion - Fundraisers
We decided it was important to help our endorsed school board candidates by co-sponsoring several fundraisers.
The first fundraiser will be for Jenny Arneson. It will be an Open House Ice Cream Social Kick-off event. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 6:00-7:30; Audubon Park, 1320 29th Ave NE and is open to teachers, families, community members. Jenny is honored to be endorsed by teachers and really wants to connect with them so this is a good opportunity for that. Jenny said donations will be accepted at the door and there will also be a chance to sign up for a literature drop if anyone wants to help out.
The second fundraiser is set for September 16th from 4-5:30 at the Regional Labor Federation, 312 Central Ave SE, 55414.
Lynn contacted Anna at RLF and worked through the details. This fundraiser will be for all the endorsed school board candidates: Samatar, Monserrate, Mammen, and Arneson. The MFT will be contributing beverages for the event out of the voluntary COPE funds and RLF will pick up the food. We need members to participate so that the candidates can hear from the MPS educators and for educators to hear from the candidates. Other labor unions will be participating as well.
Planning for the third fundraiser is underway.
Candidate Screening
At Large school board candidate Rebecca Gagnon screened with the committee for 90 minutes. The committee was impressed with her answers and enthusiasm but is withholding endorsement and staying with the current endorsed candidates.
Gubernatorial Race Discussion
The committee discussed all the candidates running for governor. It was clear after looking at each of their messages about education that Mark Dayton is the only one who truly supports education, educators and unions. The other two candidates (Emmer and Horner) will bring deep cuts or continue the shifts of Pawlenty's era. Both will also be unfriendly towards our union. Neither will be good for education. Since this is going to be a messy race, we need all supporters we can get to help out. Therefore, the MFT is holding three phone banking sessions at the MFT offices over the next three Thursdays. Sandy Sevre will be in charge. The dates of the Dayton phone banking will be: Sept. 9. Sept. 16 and Sept. 23 from 5:00 on. Members can phone bank for any amount of time they wish up until 8:30. Volunteers need to contact Sandy at skm@gail.com or call her cell at 612-245-3748 to sign up for the phone bank. Sandy will bring a light dinner for everyone.
Education MN sent Dayton flyers over to be distributed to teachers. This should happen over the next week.
Contributions
We continue to get a few members asking about whether or not their dues are spent on political activities. It is important to remind them
that only voluntary COPE contributions are used for political action - not member dues. Lynn will remind the stewards at the next meeting.
And, maybe we can get out a Legislative newsletter to members and explain it in more depth.
It will be important for the committee to meet more frequently over the next two months - Anne will coordinate calendars.
Respectfully Submitted,
Anne Lewerenz and Ken Vreeland
Co-Chairs
MFT Legislative Committee
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