Okay, it's official: Saturday 11/13, the Local, 5-7PM

[Lydia Leftcoast]

Come meet your fellow DUers!

(By the way, the Local is in downtown Minneapolis. Here's their website:

http://www.the-local.com/home.html

Watch the glasses of ale fill up!)

If we do say so ourselves, we are one of the most active state subgroups on all of DU.

Sign in if you're coming (even if you have already signed in.)

[no name no slogan]

1. Rock &/or Roll!!!!

I'll be in town this weekend. And I'll plan on attending, too.

:hi: :thumbsup:

[shockingelk]

2. A MN victory celebration!

I'll try to join the festivities!

[dpbrown]

3. I put it on my schedule

Thanks for the heads-up.

I would add that one of the reasons we delivered Minnesota and picked up 13 seats in the Minnesota House is because we are so active.

;-)

DPB

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. I just sent out about 20 PMs to nearby DUers, so we shall see what happens

And yes, of course, I'll be there. :-)

[MinnesotaMike31]

5. Count me in!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. I should add, of course, that spouses, paramours, and other

family members are welcome.

In the past, we have met Mrs. dpbrown, Mrs. No Name No Slogan, Mama Indigo, Brother-in-Law Leftist Rebel, and Sister Minx.

[GAspnes]

18. anyone have a paramour I can borrow?

I've bagged my limit of spouse.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. There will be a lot of new people, I think

Maybe one of them will agree to be your paramour. :-)

[GAspnes]

34. snort!

Upon further consideration, I think I just need a monomour.

[dpbrown]

40. Quadamours are so passe

Not to mention extraneously extra.

[Supormom]

7. If I can get a babysitter

Then count me in!

[dodger501]

8. I will plan on being there, too

along with Mrs. Dodger.

I volunteer for event photographer.

I haven't been to a DU gathering since that place in Richfield a couple years ago. That was fun, too.

[scarletwoman]

12. Hooray! I've been hoping you and Mrs. D would be able to join us again!

Yeah, that very first gathering was really great. Really looking forward to seeing both of you again!

sw
:hi:

[MrsMatt]

9. tentative check in

I just consulted MrMatt's schedule for the day, and it looks reasonably free (he's pretty busy with school & free-lance work), so he might be available to watch our young one (she's seven, and has never had a babysitter other than relatives or extremely close friends - MrMatt is a little funny about putting her in the care of a stranger who isn't a licensed daycare provider).

I'll try to contact him via phone or e-mail in the next couple of days (he has tech rehearsals all week, so our schedules are currently out of synch until Thursday).

Maybe in the summer we could plan a family friendly MNDU picnic - one of the parks, perhaps?

[scarletwoman]

10. A picnic! What a WONDERFUL idea!

Excellent suggestion!

I do hope it works out that you can join us this Saturday, it's so absolutely delightful to meet other DUers in person!

sw
:hi:

[bvar22]

11. Count me IN:

Hungry already.
10th and Nicollet.
Anyone need a ride from St. Paul?

[scarletwoman]

13. I'm there!

See y'all soon!

sw

[lakeguy]

14. I'll be there...

always up for a pint or two:evilgrin:

[katinmn]

15. I'll be there.

:)

[Shananigans]

16. Argh! It's always on a weekend!

Those struggling non-profit workers with weekend jobs can't keep up. I would absolutely LOVE to join ya'll, but I need to make some extra cash to pay the bills! :)

Next time let's do a happy hour!

[indigo32]

17. Alright!

Sat it is :bounce:

[dflprincess]

19. I'll be there!

I better call and make sure they stock up on Jameson

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. Wow, with all these people coming, maybe we should reserve

an alcove!

:7

[dpbrown]

22. Better plan for a substantial turnout....

And get a party room or something!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Should I do that, or has someone else already done it?

:shrug:

[dpbrown]

39. Take me to your leader!

Or maybe it is you!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. Okay, I'll appoint myself Leader for Life (or was that MnFats?)

and make a reservation at the Local for space for 15-20 people. How's that?

[question everything]

20. Urggg... will be out of town this weekend. Maybe, someday

will be able to make it.

Have a Guinness on me.

[Krupskaya]

23. I won't be there.

I'm surprised and disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm for meeting at a union restaurant. You have a chance to actually support businesses that do what we say we believe in, and yet when it comes down to it, you pick something else. I don't understand and frankly, it pisses me off.

[no name no slogan]

25. Sorry you feel that way.

I am a dues-paying union member myself (MAPE Local 0201). However, try as we might, we can't please all of the people all of the time.

I'm sure many of us (myself included) do our part in other ways, like buying union-made goods whenever possible, not buying sweatshop-made clothing, and buying our food from local producers and organic farmers whenever possible. Not to mention the countless hours we've devoted to the Democrats and progressive organizations.

[MinnesotaMike31]

28. Coming from a family of many union workers... I agree with you no name.

[Krupskaya]

30. Your phrase "whenever possible"

...seems to apply here, no?

And I would argue that countless hours devoted to the Democrats and progressive organizations doesn't necessarily mean countless hours devoted to Labor. In fact, it often means working aginst Labor.

[no name no slogan]

32. In a perfect world, every place would be a union shop

Like I said before, I'm a proud union member and activist in my local. And believe it or not, I HAVE spent hours organizing for labor AND other progressive groups. Many here who know who I am (and what I've done) can vouch for that. Damn, the main reason I voted Green in 1996 and 2000 was because of their unquestioning support of NAFTA and the WTO.

But I'm not here to question anybody's union creds (no, I don't care if you have a union card or not). The crowd has spoken, and they chose a non-union shop. That's just how some things go sometimes. I will not hold it against them because they did this-- it would be like turning our backs on fellow activists who didn't pass our own personal litmus tests.

Like I said, I'm sorry you feel the way you do. I'm sure we'll miss you Saturday night. :hi:

[carpenter]

42. So, you hope to achieve this world by not supporting a Union shop.

You might want to recheck your logic.

I’ve been reading DU for a long time, but have never posted until now. I was looking for an opportunity to meet up with others who might be looking for what I am, but, like Krupskaya, I won’t be attending.

I’ve followed this link from the other thread, and what I see makes me angry, but I know this isn’t the place for that. (I’d be happy to meet anyone face-to-face to discuss this. I’m in the metro area.) Duers like to look at Bush voters and ask themselves “All the information is there. What don’t they understand?” The same question applies here. When we have the opportunity to stand and support those who stood up for themselves, we must take it.

“…chose a non-union shop. That’s just how some things go sometimes.” What?! An activist?! I hope I never meet you on the picket line, buddy.




edited for grammar

[no name no slogan]

56. Then give up your car, your leather, your wood houses...

If you want to play "who's more ideologically pure and more self-reightous", congratulations, you win. If, like me, you just want to see some friends you haven't talked to since last summer (and support a locally-owned business, owned by fairly progressive owners in the process), then I guess I win. :shrug:

[carpenter]

79. Interesting concept of "winning" for a self-described union activist

This is the defensive attitude I usually get from nervous non-union workers.

I’m not that interested in playing word games with you. Union activism isn’t about being ideologically pure, it’s about doing what’s right for people.

You style yourself a union organizer. This should be obvious. There was an opportunity to introduce people (many already sympathetic to union goals) to union shops in the Twin Cities. As I'm sure you know, public visibility is the prime difficulty in organizing. Many people don't know that a choice exists. We simply let an opportunity pass us by.

I think where my concern begins is your claim that your past actions speak for themselves...apparently, you've even been to farmer's markets. However, supporting those who choose to stand up for themselves through a union is only related by convenience to progressive causes. Progressives tend to ignore this. With this attitude, I start to see why union political endorsements hold so little weight these days, and why the DFL and democrats find it so easy to take organized labor for granted. Going to the Local is fine if that's what you want to do. Hell, Keiran's is one of my favorite establishments. But please don't justify going there by saying that, in the past, you've done enough for unions.

Just because your actions don’t match your words doesn’t make me self- righteous. We all do what we can.

By the way — Vehicle — UAW Local 862, Kentucky
Engine — UAW Local 2911, Indiana
Leather boots — UFCW Local 335, Minnesota
Leather briefcase — AMCBWNA, Illinois
As for houses, mine dates from before the birth of the UBC, but there are approx. 4,000 Union Carpenters in this state who support their families, communities, and the jobs of MAPE members by building wood houses.

This is difficult stuff on e-mail. I can't write it off with a cute little computer shrug. I would be willing to continue this in another format if you wish, but don't ever again call me names without speaking to me face-to-face.

[no name no slogan]

82. Where did I say I was a "union organizer"?

You style yourself a union organizer. This should be obvious. There was an opportunity to introduce people (many already sympathetic to union goals) to union shops in the Twin Cities. As I'm sure you know, public visibility is the prime difficulty in organizing. Many people don't know that a choice exists. We simply let an opportunity pass us by.

Where oh where in my posts did I say I was a "union organizer"? I'm truly sorry if you got this impression, but what I said was that I was an active, contributing member of my local. I have also organized for progressive causes, too (most recently for Kucinich in Minnesota-- the only card-carrying union member who ran for president this year, incidentally), and continue to do so whenever I can.

I apologize for the hostility, but quite frankly when I'm attacked for not being "good enough" because of one simple incident, I tend to get a little irritated-- especially when the attacker(s) don't know a damn thing about anything I've done in the past.

And maybe an opportunity did pass us by on Saturday, but that's what the greater group decided upon, for their own reasons. I for one am glad they decided to patronize a local small business, owned by a progressive individual who has also done a lot for the local music community. Not everything is a zero-sum game: this past election in MN showed that even if you lose, you may still win in other ways.

And I do share your frustrations with what the DFL has done with organized labor. I too am very angry with the rightward drift of the party, and how it has forsaken working people to get corporate support. However I don't think that attacking people of good will who may be amenable to your message is a good way to win them over.

[Krupskaya]

80. Why is it...

...that when you talk about all you've done for progressive causes, that's a good and honorable thing to do, and when you're asked why you're NOT supporting Unions, that's somehow being "ideologically pure" and "self-righteous"? I don't see the difference.

ETA: And your call to "give up" leather and cars and wooden houses (??) illustrates your point. In each example, there is a Union option -- just like there is with choosing a restaurant for a group of people who supposedly support Union goals.

[Deja Q]

44. I agree with you too.

:thumbsup:

[Worst Username Ever]

24. Possibly, no guarantees n/t

[myrna minx]

26. I'll be there!

:bounce: :bounce:

[MinnesotaMike31]

29. This announcement will be on DU's home page tomorrow!

yay!

[no name no slogan]

31. Cool!

I wonder how big a crowd we'll get? :)

[Spike from MN]

35. Wish I could join you guys

but I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it. Unfortunately I got rear-ended on the way home from work Monday so I am wearing the ever-popular and very stylish whiplash collar at the moment. Hopefully, unlike the last time I got rear-ended*, I'll make a full recovery and that will be the end of the story. On the bright side, the doc gave me some good drugs so I guess that's something positive anyway. If I'm feeling better by Saturday I'll be there. If not, I'll be at home all drugged up. ;)

* The last time I was rear-ended it was at the same exact intersection under the same exact conditions. I was at a yield sign yielding to traffic (duh) but the person behind me didn't want to be bothered with that whole "yield to traffic that has the right-of-way" thingy. Monday's crash was even more fun in that the person behind me was afraid the pickup behind her was going to hit her so she gunned it and rammed me instead. Next time lady, do me a favor and take the hit yourself. ;)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. I've been there,

including the neck brace and drugs. Mmmm...muscle relaxants. :-)

It happened during a traffic jam on an Oregon freeway, and the other driver actually changed lanes to hit me!

[dodger501]

38. How much you want to bet that lady was a Repub?

"You take the pain and sacrifice, not me."

[dflprincess]

41. I've come to the conclusion that everytime a driver's license is renewed

the licensee should be shown pictures of yield and merge signs and asked to explain the diffrence. Anyone who can't answer the question doesn't get a new license.

[Love Bug]

37. I'll try to make it

My grandson's birthday party is Sat afternoon, so depending on how late it goes I may or may not be there. If not, quaff one for me!

:beer:

[hermetic]

43. Shout out to my fellow MN's

but I can't come. Mr. enufalready is undergoing chemo these days and I can't just go off and leave him on a Saturday nite. Plus I do not drive to Mpls at nite. I do like the picnic idea, maybe if this warm weather holds we can have one in December. Or anytime anyone wants to get together in downtown St. Paul for happy hour, say so, I'm in. Meanwhile, Happy Veteran's Day.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

45. Thanks for checking in, and here's hoping for

a speedy improvement in your husband's condition!

[northernsoul]

46. my chances of making it are low

I'll working on a research paper all day and I have to be somewhere at 7 - but maybe I can pop by in between crises

[Lydia Leftcoast]

47. Sure, take a crisis break!

Besides, unless you're working for someone in Asia, I can't believe that your paper is due on Sunday. :-)

[northernsoul]

48. the law is a cruel mistress, Lydia

If law school has taught me one thing, it's that I'm not smart enough leave big projects to the last minute. So, no, the paper's not due on Sunday, but I've got to keep a nose to the grindstone so I'll have something I can bear to look at when it is due. The good news is that my school is only a few blocks away, so it won't be hard to sneak away.

:evilgrin:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. OOPS! POTENTIAL PROBLEM!

I was unable to reserve a room at the Local because half the restaurant is already reserved for a private party.

Only the bar area (about half the floor space) will be available. I'm not sure that this will be a problem if we all get there early enough, but things might get tight (aside from any DUers who might get tight.)

One possibility: some of us make sure to arrive early and snag some space, but if this is impossible, we send out scouts to other places that may have room?

Please advise.

[dpbrown]

51. Another location?

Looks like we might have a good turnout. Maybe having a place to sit down would be nice.

DPB

[dpbrown]

52. No one else seems concerned?

Oh, well.

[indigo32]

53. Uh Oh

I'm willing to get there early and help snag some space. We should be OK.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

54. So am I, if necessary

:shrug:

I think it's too cumbersome at this point to change locations, because people may not check back once they've given their RSVP.

[dpbrown]

55. Okay, so on the idea of snagging space

Are you thinking at the bar, or are there actually some tables at or near the bar area that we can occupy?

I believe I can show up early to occupy space, too, if that's the plan.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

57. You know, I've been there only once and that

was last spring, so I really don't know.

Anybody?:

[indigo32]

58. I've never been there.

[GAspnes]

59. how many rsvps do we have?

If it's more than a dozen, the couch/chair lounging area won't be big enough, even if we snag all the seats.

The bar is large, but chopped up into booths.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

60. I think we are over a dozen

depending on how many of the "maybes" show up.

:-(

[GAspnes]

61. The Local can fit in a dozen of us

easy. The area I'm thinking of will hold 20-30, and since we're showing up early...

on edit: I reserve the right to revise and extend my earlier remarks.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

62. Wait a minute--doesn't that contradict Post #59?

:shrug:

I mean, I really don't know, since I've been there only once, nearly six months ago.

But I can't imagine that a sunny Saturday afternoon before dark will be really crowded.

[GAspnes]

63. do I contradict myself? Then I contradict myself

I contain multitudes.


Didn't you catch my caveat? It'll work out fine.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. Whatever you say,....Walt.

:-)

[myrna minx]

65. I can show up early, too.

I think we should be fine. I think it would be more difficult if we were meeting on Friday, but early Sat. should be ok.

[MinnesotaMike31]

66. This will be my first DU get togehter... how will I know all you folks?

We are meeting in the bar area?

Will we have little name tag things that will say "Hello I'm... MinnesotaMike"? Hehehehe!

[scarletwoman]

67. Heh. We DID have nametags at our very first gathering, 2 years ago.

Don't worry. Several of us already DO know each other, so we'll be clumped together quite obviously, probably hugging and stuff.

Believe me, you'll know us by our vibe -- and if not, look for political buttons. (I'll be wearing my "no right turn" and "stand up keep fighting" buttons.)

See you tomorrow! :hi:

sw

[dpbrown]

68. Imagine a costume party based on DU aliases

Now that might be something...to require an amnesty.

[scarletwoman]

69. Hmmm....

And what would YOUR costume be? ;-)

sw

[dpbrown]

70. Since I'm so transparent?

;)

[scarletwoman]

73. I guess that means you'd go nekkid...

:7

[dflprincess]

77. Perhaps I'll wear my tiara

but I'll leave the robe and the scepter at home. I feel that would be over doing it. ;-)

[dflprincess]

76. I think I may still have some name tags left over from the first gathering

I'll scrounge around and see if I can find them. If a lot folks show up for the first time they may come in handy.

[scarletwoman]

78. That would be cool.

And if you wear your tiara, it will certainly help make the group easy to find! :7

sw

[Lydia Leftcoast]

71. A fellow translator wants to join the happy throng as well

He's good people, so I've told him okay.

Okay?

[scarletwoman]

72. Of course it's okay!

That is, provided that he's your paramour... :evilgrin:

sw

[Lydia Leftcoast]

74. He's not, although that's not a bad idea

:evilgrin:

[scarletwoman]

75. woooo hoooooo!

This could get VERY interesting... ;-)

sw

[scarletwoman]

81. Late update -- sorry, I won't be able to make it.

Something's come up. I'm really sorry I'll miss seeing you all. Hopefully I can make the next one.

I DO want to hear all about it, so I hope someone will post a wrap-up.

Have a great time, everyone! :hi:

sw