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MNGOP RELEASE: 4 PARTIES CELEBRATE ELECTIONS AND VOLUNTEERS

By Luke Hellier | November 19, 2009

State Chairs from Four Parties Come Together on Saturday to Celebrate Elections and Volunteers

St. Paul— Leaders from the DFL, Republican, Green, and Independence parties will come together on Saturday for the seventh annual Nonpartisan Party, which celebrates elections and volunteer political activism.

“It’s important to take the time to build relationships and nurture friendships across party lines and, each year, this event lets us set partisanship aside and bring volunteers together in our common love for politics. We need to remind ourselves from time to time that we are citizens first, partisans second” said DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “We’re glad to welcome for the first time the state chairs of all four parties, and we encourage Minnesotans from all parties to join in.”

The first Nonpartisan Party was held in 2003, when there were neither federal, state, legislative, nor municipal elections scheduled in Minneapolis.

“Politics is a contact sport but the Nonpartisan Party is a great idea because it gives hard working activists across the political spectrum a chance to get to know one another as fellow Minnesotans. This event promises to be a fun and worthwhile time,” Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton said.

The complete invitation is attached. The party will occur on Saturday the 21st, starting at 7 p.m., at Brian Melendez’s home in Minneapolis. This year’s co-hosts are:

Carleton Crawford

Elizabeth Dickinson

Andy Exley

Darrell Gerber

Brian Melendez

Gregg Sougstad

Tony Sutton

Jack Uldrich

David Weinlick

The Seventh Annual

Nonpartisan Party

From:   Carleton Crawford (R)

Elizabeth Dickinson (Green)

Andy Exley (Green)

Darrell Gerber (Green)

Dan Justesen (IP)

Brian Melendez (DFL)

Gregg Sougstad (R)

Tony Sutton (R)

David Weinlick (DFL)

You and your friends are cordially invited to the seventh annual “Nonpartisan Party” on Saturday 21 November 2009, from 7 p.m. until Whenever, at Brian Melendez’s home, 1777 Dupont Avenue South, Minneapolis. (Please see below for directions.)

The Concept

The inaugural Nonpartisan Party was held in 2003, when — for the first time in many years — there were neither federal, state, legislative, nor municipal elections scheduled in Minneapolis. The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November came and went without a general election.

The co-hosts — then as now — were volunteer activists in different political parties. (Well, okay, David Weinlick isn’t a volunteer anymore. But we’re keeping him anyway.) We spend practically all our volunteer time around politics, helping get our candidates elected. But some of the most decent and interesting folks that we have met in local politics are not necessarily members of the same party as we are. Unfortunately, those folks seldom deal with each other outside the partisan political context, so building relationships and actual friendships with each other is tough. But politics would be much more civil, and perhaps focused more on issues and less on personalities, if there were more opportunities for building relationships and friendships among volunteers across party lines.

To that end, we threw the first Nonpartisan Party as an opportunity for volunteer leaders in all the political parties to meet and mingle outside partisan politics. The event was a success, so we have turned it into an annual event — a chance for coming together after an actual election, taking off our hats as partisans for a moment and looking at the candidates and at each other as neighbors and fellow citizens.

The Rules

There will be a few ground rules:

1.         The party is a private event, hosted by individuals and not by political parties, organizations, or titles. Everyone who cares about local politics, regardless of partisan affiliation (or lack of affiliation), is welcome.

2.         No agenda or program.

3.         No handouts, leaflets, or other propaganda. It’s a party, ya know?

4.         The party is mostly in honor of volunteer activists. Publicly elected officers are more than welcome. So are candidates for those offices. But nobody gets a soapbox or a formal introduction.

5.         No campaigning allowed. (Gossip and speculation are okay.)

6.         No speeches!

We will supply some beverages and munchies. You don’t need to bring anything. But if you do want to bring something, you can bring a favorite beverage or snack for sharing.

The Directions

Brian’s house, 1777 Dupont Avenue, is a red-brick house with white and green trim in Lowry Hill, three blocks west of Hennepin Avenue, between Summit and Douglas (three blocks north of Franklin). You can park on the street.

We hope that you can come! Please write or call any co-host if you have any questions:

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