Minutes

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Minutes

DFLEC Executive Committee Meeting

MINUTES for October 3, 2021

 

  • The meeting was called to order via Zoom at 7:00 by Chair Megan Bond.
    • 14 members in attendance initially; 15 in attendance at the end.
  • Meeting agenda: Steve Johnson moved approval; 2nd by Veda Kanitz. Approved.
  • Minutes from Board meeting on September 13, 2021:  After correction of some spelling errors, approval moved by Steve Johnson, 2nd by Karl Forsberg. Approved.

 

  • REPORTS by Officer and Committee Chairs:
  • CHAIR Megan Bond: On October 13, will give a presentation on her work as an attorney for cases involving protestors against Line 3 to the National Lawyers Guild Convention, and on other environmental matters.
  • VICE CHAIR Matt Doll: Resolutions will include one about Line 3. Enbridge dug deeper than contracted in January, spilled tar sands oil into a local river, was discovered in the aquifer by DNR in May, and now will pay $3 million for cleanup. But this is only about one cent per gallon of water spoiled by the spill. As part of the cleanup, northern fens will be damaged. Matt invites DFLEC members to propose more resolutions for our consideration, and invites the board members to join his committee to consider them.
  • CHAIR EMERITUS Veda Kanitz: Nothing to report, except to note that all of the Environmental Caucus is proud of the work our chair and members continue to do to halt Line 3. 
  • OUTREACH CHAIR Molly MacGregor: sent her report. Gives thanks to Steve Johnson for great work setting up and chairing our PFAS FORUM. Invites members to join and assist Karl Forsberg at Open Streets on Sunday, October 10, in Minneapolis.
  • OUTREACH REPORT by Karl Forsberg: Karla Fuentes of the DFL Latino Caucus sent a note that she plans to help him October 10. More help will be welcome.
  • SECRETARY Lorraine Rovig: Minutes are up-to-date.
  • TREASURER Lawrence Sandoval gave his report, few changes: 

–Motion to approve treasurer’s report by Greg Laden, 2nd by Kristin Larsen. Approved.

  • COMMUNICATION OFFICER Kristin Larsen shared DFLEC’s  Google Drive folders,  including our newsletter as a Google Doc.  She invites us to write and post articles, photos, and announcements for the revised newsletter via Google Docs, sharing the link in an email. For easy access, Greg demonstrated clicking the lock icon in the Chrome navigation bar and dragging it to your preferred spot on your bookmark bar.  The newsletter is intended to increase our membership and increase members’ interaction with environmental issues and the caucus and to generally update our members.  The first issue is targeted for October 10 and we are hoping to publish at least once a month.  The process will be that the newsletter will go to Megan for content approval. We will aim for publishing a newsletter every month. Kristin and Greg Laden and Anne Uehling will edit. Kristin, Greg and Rich will coordinate advertising.  
    • CAMPAIGNS: In Minneapolis we have new requests for donations and doorknocking help from two DFLEC-endorsed candidates: Mayor Kate Knuth for mayor; Ward 9 candidate Jason Chavez. Megan will send a letter to members with requests from our five endorsed candidates. Comments and Likes on our Facebook Page and candidate’s Facebook Pages help move posts up in the algorithm, which helps the candidate be noticed more.  Kristin, Greg and Rich will coordinate advertising. 
    • — Motion by Kristin, 2nd by Greg.  In coordination with Greg and Rich, Kristin will place up to $125 worth of advertising on Google or Facebook for our 5 candidates in October. Motion passed.
    • ENDORSEMENTS COMMITTEE Chair Steve Johnson: Nothing to report yet.
    • RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE Co-Chairs Matt Doll and Elizabeth Hansel: The Resolutions Committee sifted through previous and newly submitted resolutions, added 8 new resolutions. URL for the complete list was shared. Board members are invited to note which resolution they will update or work on. Doodle pool sent to board members for dates this committee can meet to finalize our list. Deadline is Precinct Caucus Day on 2/1/22. We will post educational materials along with our resolutions on our website as decisions are made and material developed. Discussion: Sierra Club, MN360, and other environmental groups have more money than we do to post notices on social media and pursue other avenues to help good candidates be noticed, therefore we must do what we do best—especially provide members to show up in-person to help candidates. And we have feedback that other groups look to our researched and well-written resolutions to lead their resolution choices. 
    • Update on Ward 9 East Phillip’s area Roof Depot: the Minneapolis City Council voted 7 to 6  to destroy the depot against the wishes of the community; however a report at the end of the meeting gave high cost figures for this plan,therefore, they vote again on Wednesday.  
    • Nominations Committee: We need three non-male candidates to be appointed to this board for one year, until our January elections. Give names to Hallie by 10/28/21 and she will arrange interviews by the committee.  There is a form for candidates to fill out here:  https://forms.gle/JfWPJm5hYK8SvXCS9
    • DISCUSSION: It was suggested there be a DFLEC Forum on electric school buses, electric busses work very well in Europe, a firm is building them in MN (note: unionized by Sandy Sandoval). DFLEC Forum on railroads for transportation in MN, potential speakers were discussed.  No decision made.
    • We may have a Legislative Day in St. Paul in Feb/March for DFLEC members. Idea: include a ride on an electric bus.

 

  • MOTION TO ADJOURN by Lorraine Rovig; 2nd by Greg Laden. Passed 8:10 PM.

 

Minutes submitted by Secretary Lorraine Rovig, October 6, 2021