Introductions

Minutes from last meeting approved

Debrief of 2016 election

• –  Presidential campaign

  • –  Increase from 13k in 2012 to 37k in 2016

  • –  Improvement in every county over 2012 (20 counties over 200% growth)

  • –  State organizing efforts largely fell on the CC

  • –  Many potential volunteers but didnʼt have staff and location for organizing

    them

• –  MN

  • –  Three Soil and Water candidate races won

  • –  Other races included MN House, County Commissioner and City Council

  • –  Q: How should candidates seek endorsement for 2017/2018 races?

– A: Endorsements happen at the most local organization (e.g. 6th CD), announcing and holding a local endorsing meeting with potential candidates invited. If there is no local, the state CC can interview and endorse a candidate.

– [ACTION] Need to ensure minor party status is submitted to MN SOS

Membership Committee [Kristen, Jim, Barbara Postema]

• –  Discussion by Johnny Akzam of the need to support formation of many new

  small locals

• –  Proposal for paid staffer for administrative duties

  • –  [APPROVED] Agreement on proposal, initially at 8 hrs/week at $15/hour

  • –  Next steps

    • –  Draft contract

    • –  Offer to Betsy Barnum

    • –  Long-term plan for managing staff

• –  [ACTION] Check for MN State Fair form

  Finance Committee [Barb Huning]

• –  Treasurerʼs Report

• –  Fundraising Plan

  • –  Upcoming phone banks for recruiting sustaining donors

  • –  Discussion of “thank you gifts” for sustaining donors

    • –  Use other kinds of swag as gifts (t-shirts, buttons, mugs, etc.)

    • –  In the past mailed Sunflower print newspapers to sustaining donors

races

– Budget for 2017
– [ACTION] Need committee proposals by December 15 –

Organization Committee [Andy] – Locals Report

• –  Great progress/potential in 1st CD (Rochester, Winona, Mankato)

• –  6th CD local now officially recognized by Campaign Finance Board

  Communications Committee [Brandon]

• –  Significant increase in Facebook “likes” and engagement due to paid

  advertising near end of campaign

• –  Adding Instagram and YouTube accounts to regular social media

  communications

  Politics [Lena, Mel]

• –  Lena will continue as Politics Chair, and will organize 2017 plans for lobbying

  and recruiting candidates

• –  Priority will be to focus on recruiting candidates instead of lobbying

• –  Some lobbying for third-party issues (ballot access, party status, etc.) can be

  done in coordination with Libertarian Party of Minnesota

• –  Discussion of how to attract candidates and how to respond to requests for

  cross-endorsement

• –  Currently researching races in 2017

• –  How to engage with other left/independent parties in MN (Legal Marijuana,

  Ecology Democracy)
  Next meeting - December 10 - 10 am-1 pm