Thursday April 24, 2025, at 7pm
Location: Canceled (see below)
The Winneshiek County Democrats regular monthly meeting scheduled for April 24th has been canceled to give people an opportunity to attend the Town Hall at PIVO Brewery sponsored by Indivisible of Northeast Iowa.
NORTHEAST IOWA TOWN HALL
Thursday April 24, 2025
6:30pm
PIVO Brewery – Event Room
This room seats 400 max. No food or beverages are allowed in the event room. The Pivo Brewery public dining space will be open as usual.)
Bring your questions and concerns to this Town Hall.
National leaders who have been formally invited:
Sen. Chuck Grassey, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Rep. Ashley Hinson
Iowa State legislators: Rep. Michael Bergan, Rep. Jason Gearheart, and Sen. Michael Klimesh.
If these leaders cannot make it, you may still ask your questions to their empty chair.
Masking Optional
The Winneshiek County Democrats have a new Facebook presence. It is a public group called The Winneshiek County Democrats. Click on the link below to join.
The Winneshiek County Democrats Facebook Group
Join The Events CommitteeJoin a fun and important committee! Due to Georgie Klevar stepping away from the Events(Fundraising and Fun) Committee, the remaining hardworking members, Donna Rasmussen and Joyce Becker, are hoping to get one or two people to step up to join them. Thanks go out to Georgie who has done so many jobs for the Winn Dems for so many years. This committee is responsible for finding venues, organizing food donations, setting up decorations, and, of course, tear down and clean up. Many volunteers are always around to help at the events, but the organizing beforehand is essential. This committee is also responsible for the very profitable used Book Sale in the summer.
Contact Donna Rasmussen ([email protected]) if interested.
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (IA CCI) Meeting
Tim Glaza, of Iowa CCI has set up a coffee meeting with Melanie Tietz for Wednesday, April 2nd to talk about our Public School Strong campaign.Interested persons are invited to join us. We will be at Impact Coffee (101 W Water St, Decorah) Wednesday, April 2 at 9:00am.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Tim at the email below. The purpose for meeting is to get to know each other and to see if there are ways to deepen and expand Public School Strong in your community. I’m curious to hear your thoughts and ideas about what’s happening with public education but also with Iowa in general.
Tim Glaza (he/him)
Special Projects Director
515-282-0484
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
2001 Forest Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311
Candidate Recruitment Committee
The Winneshiek County Democrats have formed a candidate recruitment committee for the purpose of developing and recruiting candidates for city, county, and legislative offices. If you are interested in participating, please contact Melissa O’Rourke at [email protected].
| Indivisible Northeast Iowa A local chapter of the nationwide Indivisible Movement, headquartered in Decorah, Iowa, but serving a larger area of the Driftless region. This local group will utilize the Indivisible Guide to resist the unconstitutional and immoral agenda of the Trump administration. The Indivisible Guide is a compilation by former congressional staffers of the best practices to make Congress listen to us. Links below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisibleneiowa/ https://x.com/indivisibleneia |
Given the unprecedented events that are happening to our federal government, it is important for us to contact our legislators. We need to voice our opposition to the actions being taken by the president and his unelected and unappointed minions. Below is a link to a document containing the contact information of our legislators.
Legislators Contact Information
Harvey Window Messaging
Thanks to the efforts of the messaging committee, we have a first post-election display in the Harvey window, “Thank You, Joe Biden”. Special thanks to: Shirley Vermace for securing the window, Ellen Rockne and the Story People staff, with Mary Hoffman, Donna Rasmussen, John Beard, and Peter and Becky Olafsen assisting.
Messaging will continue. The committee will gather suggestions and ideas from anyone who wishes to contribute. Send those ideas and suggestions to [email protected] for consideration. Watch the window space for further displays.
The Winneshiek County Democrats continue in their efforts to preserve democracy, Putting People First.
Reliable News Sources
During these uncertain times we need news sources we can trust. Below is a list some of those sources.
Name Website
The Guardian theguardian.com
Heather Cox Richardson heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
The Economist economist.com
The Atlantic theatlantic.com
The Contrarian contrarian.substack.com
Smart News smartnews.com
Joyce Vance joycevance.substack.com/
1440 join1440.com
Red, Wine, and Blue redwine.blue
Apple News apple.com/apple-news/
Iowa Starting Line iowastartingline.com
Bleeding Heartland bleedingheartland.com
Iowa Capital Dispatch iowadispatch.com
Iowa County Magazine
Here is a link to the Iowa County Magazine (PDF form). In this issue, are the ‘legislative priorities’ as agreed upon by the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC).
https://www.iowacounties.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IA-CTY_Jan2025_OPT.pdf
This is good material for the Winn Dems to have and to know about. There are many areas where we can find common ground with ISAC.
Understanding Residents’ Values & Priorities.
Winneshiek County’s Natural & Historic Resources:
Residents of Winneshiek County (including you!) are invited to view the results of a multi-year study on Winneshiek County’s Natural & Historic Resources: Understanding Residents’ Values & Priorities. The study draws together the views of over 1,100 residents of the county who shared the resources they most value and want to protect. The study was contracted by the Winneshiek Zoning Commission and was completed with the support from Luther College. To view the study, click on the link below:
Understanding Residents’ Values & Priorities.
Winneshiek County’s Natural & Historic Resources
Lyle Otte has provided us a link to “ChopWoodCarryWater”, a weekday newsletter that gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, affect positive change, and elect more Democrats. Below is a link where you may sign up for the newsletter.
https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com
Becky Burland has provided a list of 198 things one can do to affect change. The list is linked below. For further information and activities go to parent website: www.aeinstein.org
198 METHODS OF NONVIOLENT ACTION
Since 1979, Alliance For Justice has been the leader in advocating for a fair and independent justice system, and they have changed the conversation around the critical importance of our courts. They are shaping a tomorrow where rights are safeguarded, and justice prevails. To follow them on Facebook, click on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/AllianceforJustice
To donate to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors charity fund, which helps local immigrant families with various needs, go to this site:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Decorah UCC
Please note: When you have accessed the site, which is the Decorah UCC, please change the first pull-down menu choice to “Give to Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund.”
Indivisible Northeast Iowa
A local chapter of the nationwide Indivisible Movement, headquartered in Decorah, Iowa, but serving a larger area of the Driftless region. This local group will utilize the Indivisible Guide to resist the unconstitutional and immoral agenda of the Trump administration. The Indivisible Guide is a compilation by former congressional staffers of the best practices to make Congress listen to us. Links below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisibleneiowa/
https://x.com/indivisibleneia