The first chapter meeting and potluck of the Twin Cities Chapter was held at the Powderhorn Park community center in Minneapolis on Monday, August 9.  Fifty enthusiastic members attended the meeting and ate great homemade food.

Josh Syrjamaki, national coordinator of the Associate Member Program, welcomed the new members to the union.  Hennepin County Attorney and Associate Member Amy Klobuchar spoke about the value of organizing and stressed the necessity to take action around the upcoming elections.

Report on activities:  Associate Member staffer Merdieth Cleary reported on the programs' actions to grow and mobilize the Blue Green Alliance, knock on doors, and ask Minnesotans to sign petitions asking the President to stop outsourcing American jobs and end our country's dependece on foreign oil.

Volunteering:  Associate Members Elizabeth Nadeau and Diedrich Wiess spoke about why they have pledged to volunteer with the Steelworkers and encouraged others in the room to do so.  As a result nearly everyone pledged to volunteer 20 hours between now and the election by either door knocking, phone banking, speaking to people about issues at the state fair, office work or writing letters to the editor.

Organizing the chapter:  Steelworker staff member Tara Widner briefed the group about traditional local union structures.  Everyone brainstormed how to organize the chapter and when to meet.  The chapter decided to meet twice a month until the elections and then once a month after November.

The meeting was concluded with a wonderful musical performance by a local band called Sister Gin.

For a listing of dates and times of future Chapter meetings, click here.

For more information about the Twin Cities Chapter, contact Merideth Cleary with the Associate Member program at (612) 623-7936 Ext. 160 or by e-mail at mcleary@usw.org.