Prairie Liberals Meeting (for FM area DFLers from the Democratic Wing)

[markus]

If you need to ask where FM is, you're probably too far away. Unless your the person I was standing next too at the Dean event last Spring who can all the way from St Cloud.


Monday, January 10, 2005
7:00 - 9:00 pm (cash bar opens at 6:30 for mingling time)
Howard Johnson Inn - Downtown Fargo
301 3rd Ave. North - across the street from the Civic Center

Speakers/Panelists:
* US Rep. Earl Pomeroy
* Deb Mathern, former ND Senator and Lieutenant Governor Candidate
* Rev. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller

Topic: "Have We Lost Our Way?"

US Rep. Earl Pomeroy was first elected in 1992 as North Dakota's member of the House of Representatives. Pomeroy earned a spot on the powerful Ways and Means Committee where, in 2002, was named the Ranking Member, the most senior Democrat, of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. At the beginning of the 108th Congress, Pomeroy was elected Co-Chair of the bipartisan Rural Health Care Coalition. In addition to his seat on Ways and Means, Pomeroy serves on the House Agriculture Committee. Rep. Pomeroy was born in 1952 in Valley City. He attended Valley City State University before transferring to UND where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and his law degree in 1979. He then returned to his hometown and practiced law for five years. In 1980, he was elected to the State House of Representatives and elected State Insurance Commissioner in 1984. Pomeroy makes his home in Bismarck with his two children, Kathryn and Scott.

Deb Mathern is President of the Fargo Public Schools Credit Union. She is the former ND State Senator from District 45 in north Fargo, and this year was the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. She serves as Chair of the Arc of Cass County and as a member of the North Dakota Arc Board, Vice-Chair of Youth Works Board, and Co-Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee of North Dakota Credit Unions. She is an advocate for people with disabilities and serves on the Fargo Business Leaders Network to create an awareness of disabilities and encourage employment for people with disabilities. Deb has two grown sons and two grandchildren.

Rev. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller is the mother of three, the wife of one and the pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moorhead, Minnesota. Although her divinity degree is from Yale, Shawnthea is a native of South Dakota and is proud to call the Midwest home. As a liberal Christian feminist, she believes faith and intelligence are not opposing forces, but compatible tools essential for the betterment of society.

Here's what to expect:

Feel free to show up as early as 6:30 to grab a glass of wine, beer or soda, mingle for some chit-chat time with friends and stake out your chair. The program will start at 7:00 with each panelist speaking for 20 minutes. Then we will have an hour of Q&A/discussion. After the close at 9:00, you are welcome to adjourn to the adjoining SideStreet Pub for more conversation if you like. Also, if you would like to avoid cooking that evening, I highly recommend Ristorante Isabella (also located within Howard Johnson) which serves exceptional contemporary Italian cuisine.

About the future:

I anticipate a gathering like this once a month for the next few months and we'll see where it leads. Already many top liberal minds of our region have expressed interest in participating as panelists. We will either meet at Howard Johnson or Radisson, depending on availability. As for the group's name, there will be cards distributed at the first meeting with choices for you to vote. Here are the choices thus far - drop me an e-mail if you have an idea for an addition:
o Prairie Liberals
o Prairie Progressives
o Prairie Non-Partisan League
o Prairie Populists

Spread the word:

At this point, e-mail is the only means of advertising this group. In these early stages, I am not interested in alerting the usual disruptive characters who might show up. Please forward this as an invitation to people who may be interested in attending.

See you a week from Monday!
Linda Coates

"Common Sense for the Common Good"

[katinmn]

1. Great line up for your meeting!

Hope you have a good turnout.