Senior News · 2021. 1. 1. · The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the...

In This Issue - Editor Notes

Page 2 - From the Chair Book Club Notice

Page 3 ndashCapitol Corner

Page 4 - G Sobola C Rike Page 5 - Covid-19 Do You

Know Page 6 - Meet Dwayne King

Page 7 - Purpose of the Senior Caucus

Page 8 - Endorsement Task Force

Page 9 - MAGA Trump Page 10 - Annual Membership

Meeting Page 11 - Chapters Contacts

Page 12 - Calendar

Executive Committee Chair Don Bye

Vice Chair Karla Sand

Secretary Jim Reed

Treasurer John Larva

Membership Director

Position Vacant

DFL Executive Committee member Kay Hendrikson

Board of Directors Earl Bower Julianne Johnston

Dwayne King Joe Mullery Georgiana Ruzich

Tony Scallon Don Slaten

Russell Warren Chapter Chairs Mel Aanerud Lyn Burton Bonnie Lokenvitz

Richard Chambers Roger Gehrke Norm Hanson Kay Hendrikson Pat Mann Sandra Trudeau Kenneth Vreeland

Prepared and paid for by the DFL Senior Caucus Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee

Senior News Official Publication of the

DFL Senior January 2021 Volume 14 Number 4

IMPORTANT NOTICE If you change your address or email or add an email that you did not have before please contact John Larva Treasurer of the DFL Senior Caucus at 1424 Woodhill Drive Burnsville MN 55337 Or email Kay Hendrikson at dflseniorsgmailcom as soon as possible so you can continue to receive this newsletter on a quarterly basis If you do not wish to continue to receive this newsletter please contact Larva or Hendrikson using the same contact information Thank you

Editor Notes Welcome to the January issue of your Senior News the first issue of the year 2021 May 2021 be so much more forgettable than the year 2020 was for all of us This is a very full issue We encourage your comments

Senior Caucus Chair Don Bye reflects on his optimism regarding the new Biden presidency and his hope that our former vice-president will be able to get the American Democracy back on track after four disastrous years under Trump Most importantly Bye hopes Biden will bring America as well as

democracy back to where and what we think that they both should be by reinstating a government for all people by the people and of the people Don acknowledges that the damage done to both cannot be corrected and resolved overnight but that it can and it has to be done

Read about two active DFL activists and Senior Caucus members Georgiana Sobola and Charlie Rike who passed away during 2020 Their contributions to the DFL will be missed

Julianne Johnston PHN (public health nurse) retired provides another informative update on the COVID-19 crisis including an explanation of the difference between efficacy and effectiveness two terms that are now in use with the availability of several COVID-19 vaccines

Meet one of the original founders of the Senior Caucus Dwayne King Read his thoughts about our organization today

Did you know that the Senior Caucus has always been about being a visible and credible organization that would be listened to by legislators and policy makers This was the intent of its founders DFL activists all going back to 2006 They were concerned that seniors and their concerns were not being heard in the decision-making arenas See what was and has been done to make a small group membership wise a big group in the form of advocacy for senior issues Read about the work of the Endorsements Task Force during the 2020 election cycle and the people who did the hard work to make nearly forty endorsements by the Senior Caucus happen before the primaries last year

Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman offers her observations and comments regarding the actions of the legislature including the challenges from COVID-19 on the 2021 legislative session that began on January 5 2021

If you missed the Senior Caucus Annual Meeting in December by ZOOM you can read about what happened at this meeting in this issue as well

And as always do not miss the chapter contact meeting information and the calendar of pending Senior Caucus events in the issue

We must continue to wash our hands socially distance and wear masks until maybe late spring

Norm Hanson

January 2021 page 2

From the Chair Don Bye

This is the year that was The greatest part of the year was that Joe Biden wonmdashand Trump lost Trump lost as his unholy collection

of angry dissident groupings dwindled awaymdashor did they Joe Biden won his campaign for the Presidency on a positive approach to government from beginning to endmdashand he did so in convincing numbers Biden said he was running to save our democracy and I truly believe that was the case Now it is up to all of us to strive toward the Biden promise of building back a better America The goals are lofty and not realistically attainable overnight The most immediate responsibility is to survive the pandemic then then restore our deflating economy Everyone has a list of priorities which vary in order and degree There is so much work to do There is also much to undo from the damage of the past four years and from what has been left in limbo and the huge number of challenges that need to be met to truly become a better nation for all We can each only do a little bit but enough little bits from every one can make a much better community

Like it or not as we conclude the successful 2020 campaigns we are also embarking on the 2022 State campaigns And if you live in a larger municipality you are or should be thinking election 2021 Somdashnow that yoursquove had a little blip over the Holidays keep on rolling onward and upward toward our next Novembers This comparatively quiet time is excellent time for persuasion as our new governments are settling into place There are constant and continued opportunities to point out to those persuadable why every Senior should be voting for Democrats in every election Remind those within your reach of this whenever they receive their Social Security check and whenever they receive good health care at an Obamacare price Remind them whenever a grandchild does well at a public school or whenever they have just driven on a public roadway or taken public transportation that for all of that all along the way Republicans have resisted or threatened to take away much of what is needed and depended on and they will continue to resist most progressive changes in the future

Herersquos to a happier 2021 New Year for all of us Survive the pandemic GOODBYE Trump

BETTER WITH BIDEN

SENIOR NEWS The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the DFL Senior Caucus 255 E Plato Blvd St Paul MN 55107 to provide news items of DFL Senior Caucus events and other items of interest to Minnesota seniors Readers are encouraged to submit articles for publication on subjects of interest to Minnesota DFL seniors Accepted articles may be edited to meet these goals and space requirements Submit articles and comments to Norm Hanson Editor 651-484-8926 or norsan45hotmailcom or Julianne Johnston 651-486-7120 juliannetjmsncom Thank you in advance for your participation in this goal

Don Bye

Book Club via Zoom

January 18 2021 1100 ndash 100 Monday

Join our Discussion on Zoom

The Relentless Business of Treaties How Indigenous Land Became US Property written by Martin Case

This book explains how the property system of the United States was foisted on indigenous peoples through the mendacity of traders speculators and politicians commercial family and political ties among US treaty signers and negotiators ensured corrupt bargains and the tragic loss of tribal lands

httpsus02webzoomusj86446648933

Meeting ID 864 4664 8933

Phone +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Senior Caucus small group discussion on issues and policies 2008

January 2021 Page 3

House DFLers focused on COVID-19

recovery building a Minnesota that works better for

everyone Melissa Hortman Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives represents District 36B which includes portions of Anoka and Hennepin counties Prior to the 2018 elections she served as Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives

The Minnesota 2021 legislative session began on

January 5 and faces significant challenges including the

COVID-19 pandemic an economy impacted by the

public health crisis and a projected budget deficit As we

confront these challenges Democrats in the majority in

the Minnesota House of Representatives remain focused

on building a state that works better for everyone

Democrats are focused on recovering and rebuilding

from COVID-19 affordable health care good schools

job training and economic security We must invest in

the areas that will help Minnesotans make it through this

crisis and thrive after it

2020 was a heart-wrenching year COVID-19 has cost

the lives of more than 4000 Minnesotans We have lost

people we love years before their time from this virus

Family members have lost loved ones without being able

to hold their hands comfort them and say goodbye

Students and educators have had to adapt to distance

learning and too many people have lost jobs or had to

close or scale back their businesses

I am pleased the Minnesota Legislature provided

assistance to workers and businesses in the December

Special Session Our economic assistance package

provided some help ndash but Minnesotans need more

substantial resources that only the federal government

can provide Workers and businesses need help from the

federal government to get through what we hope are the

last difficult weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic until

vaccines are widely distributed and available to everyone

In the upcoming 2021 budget session we will continue

our work to rebuild Minnesotarsquos economy

Minnesotans mdash no matter where we live what we

look like or where we come from mdash deserve affordable

and accessible health care The House DFL successfully

worked to protect health care for 12 million Minnesotans

in the last budget and worked to make prescription drugs

more affordable We will continue our work to make sure

every Minnesotan has access to the health care they need

at a price they can afford

Every Minnesotan deserves high-quality education

and job training opportunities We need to do more to

close the opportunity gap and to help Minnesotans get the

training they need to get jobs with wages and benefits

that will support their families There are many pathways

to successful careers Connecting students with better

options for a variety of career and technical education

options can lead to more personal fulfillment and less

time and money spent by individuals and the state on

educational options that do not lead to good paying jobs

and satisfying careers

Finally Minnesotans deserve economic security

COVID-19 has further highlighted the need for all

Minnesotans to have time to care for themselves and their

families To ensure their economic security and well-

being as well as to protect public health every

Minnesotan needs paid family leave and earned sick and

ldquosaferdquo time

As Minnesota faces the challenges ahead legislators

are working in the only legislature in the country with

divided partisan control Majority House Democrats are

ready to find common ground We need Republicans

who hold the majority in the Senate to join with us and

leave the divisive rhetoric of the campaign season

behind Irsquom hopeful we will replicate the productive

partnerships we established over the last two years and

find agreement on the issues that matter most to

Minnesotans

Minnesotans care about each other ndash we want good

lives for our families and for our neighbors as well Our

shared values bring us together and serve as a foundation

for us to move forward together to build a better future

for all Minnesotans

Melissa Hortman

January 2021 Page 4

Memories of long-time DFL supporter Georgiana Sobola

Georgiana was born into an immigrant Czech family and entered grade school speaking

English as her second language After she graduated from high school she went on to earn a MA

degree in Library Science

She was a member of the Roseville League of Women Voters for more than 50 years and a

member of the League over all for sixty-nine years Georgiana was selected to be the League

representative for the Roseville Charter Commission and was also a regular League Monitor of the Roseville City

Council attending every meeting and reporting back to the League with issues and concerns

She was a translated old Czech handwritten documents into English for the Bohemian Czech Inc in Wisconsin

For many years Georgiana served as an election judge for every election held in Roseville She believed in voting

rights and citizen responsibilities For the 20 years in the previous DFL Senate District 54 she served on the

newsletter committee and submitted many well-researched articles which included city charter options income

disparity runoff voting election judges candidate forums voter ID and the importance of voting that were of

interest for the many readers She was an involved member of the DFL Senior Caucus and attended the North Metro

Chapter She was an active participant in our society Georgiana was mentally clear and up-to-date on Democratic

Party issues when she died at the age of 94 after a very short-term illness

Welcomed into this country in an immigrant family Georgiana exemplifies what a contribution she and others

have made in this country in significant ways

We have lost a good friend

Charles (Charlie Chuck Union Brother Gramps) Rike Sr was a dedicated union member

serving as union board member corresponding secretary for the State Retiree Council

member and former treasurer of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7200

and its retiree group and the Minnesota AFL-CIO His greatest love was politics and he was a

very strong Democrat We of the DFL Senior Caucus knew him to be a very friendly person

who attended many DFL Senior Caucus events usually with a camera around his neck taking

pictures of all that was going on around him He was an active member of the Pine County DFL former chair of the

East Central Chapter Senior Caucus Board member volunteer at the State Fair DFL Senior Caucus Day table and the

Union booth across the street and prolific writer of Letters to the Editor in local and state newspapers about political

and labor concerns He was definitely not afraid to express his opinions He ran for political office twice once for

Anoka County Auditor and once for state representative however he was never elected to office He had recently

sold his house and car and moved into Lake Side Assisted Living Home in Pine City He was worried that he hadnrsquot

paid his Senior Caucus dues and wrote a check just weeks before he died on November 7 2020 He was a victim of

COVID-19 We will all miss his contributions to seniors to the DFL and to the unions to which he belonged But

most of all we will miss being with Charlie Rike (The Senior News interviewed Charlie for an article about him

You can read that article in the January 2019 Edition Charliersquos name has appeared in every issue of this newsletter

going as far back as January 2011 and before)

Charlie Rike

Georgiana Sobola

Charlie Rike with Dick Bernard and Judy Berglund at a training session State Fair Annual Picnic and Annual Meeting circa 2008

January 2021 Page 5

Important information for seniors on the COVID-19 Virus Julianne Johnston Public Health Nurse retired

As I write this ldquoessentialrdquo workers including hospital and nursing home staff are receiving one of the vaccines which have been granted emergency approval (early) from the US Food and Drug Administration The approval for Pfizer and the Germany company BioNTech and the Moderna Company have produced vaccines which have an efficacy rating of about 90 percent Efficacy means that the vaccine in clinical studies under best scientific controlled studies will produce that desired effect The vaccines prompts your body to develop antibodies against the virus You are not fully protected right away It takes your body time to develop immunity to the virus That can take weeks to develop after receiving the vaccine and a second immunization injection would be required to achieve full protection It also means that a small number of folks will not develop immunity Exactly how the vaccine will perform in the real world will depend on factors that do not have answers yet There will be a lag time in determing the actual effectiveness (success rate)

of the vaccine program and that will take months to determine Effectiveness is determined by the response in large populations in the real world Effectiveness is usually less than the original stated efficacy Experts are predicting that people who are vaccinated and have asymptomatic disease may still spread the virus to others though at a lesser rate So even if vaccinated everyone will have to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing until at least 90 percent of the population is vaccinated producing the desired ldquoherd immunityrdquo By slowing the spread of the virus vaccinated people help to protect themselves and those around them In other words if few people chose to complete the vaccine series of two injections and do not practice social distancing and mask wearing the virus will continue to spread uncontrolled It is anticipated that the vaccine will be available to everyone by June and the effectiveness of the vaccine will be determined sometime in the fall of 2021 The success of the vaccine is dependent on every one of us being part of the solution to end the COVID pandemic For more information on COVID-19 go to the Minnesota Department of Health at Minnesota Department of Health (statemnus) (hold down the CTRL key and then click on the web address)

Did you know

The Senior Caucus has a contract with Zoom Did you know that even if you do not have a computer you can join a Zoom meeting with your home telephone Or if you do not have a computer camera you can still join a meeting Any group or business within the Senior Caucus can be conducted with a Zoom meeting To get you into or organize a Zoom meeting contact Kay

Hendrikson dfleastmetrocaucusgmailcom or Earl Bower earlbowergmailcom (they are on our Technology Committee) and request that they set up a meeting for your group or meeting They can also give you instructions on how to use Zoom What Do Dues Do

The DFL Senior Caucus dues cover the expenses of events such as the Day on the Hill Annual Picnic Annual Meeting State Fair Senior Day information table at the DFL Pavilion and the Annual Gala The Senior Caucus has purchased contract with Zoom to use for meetings including the Board Meeting Chapter Chairs Group PIC book club discussions event planning and the Annual meeting It also has a paid contract with Mail Chimp for sending out important notices Dues support the start-up of chapters All printing for distribution of information to the public including this newsletter is done at a Union Printer including the hard copies of this newsletter The Senior News The Senior Caucus used its financial resources to purchase a public address system in a conference room It will also use that address system at the Annual Picnic Use of the PA system for other authorized Senior Caucus activities will be allowed

In addition according to the Senior Caucus Charter seniors who pay dues are considered voting members and are eligible to become officers in chapters and at the state Senior Caucus level

Please consider paying annual dues of $1000 annually to the Senior Caucus You can do so by following the instructions below The DFL Senior Caucus also uses an online payment system for dues You can access it by going to httpsdflseniorscom Choose JoinDonate ndash the big red button You have options You can donate your $10 annual dues payment all at once Or you can choose ongoing dues at $1 per month You can choose any amount of donation that you want You can also send a check for $10 or more made out to DFL Senior Caucus and send to

John Larva Treasurer

DFL Senior Caucus

1424 Woodhill Drive

Burnsville MN 55337

January 2021 Page 6

Getting to know Dwayne King Norm Hanson and Julianne Johnston

Dwayne was raised in Caselton North Dakota (ND) on a share-crop one half section (320 acre) farm with his parents and he was one of their six children The farm produced and sold oats barley corn wheat popcorn and also raised pigs milked ten cows sold chickens and kept two horses to pull the manure spreader The farm did not have electricity until 1948 Dwayne raised and sold pigs to help pay for his college education At the age of twelve he definitely decided that he did not want to be a farmer His parents encouraged further education for all their children As a freshman at North Dakota Agricultural College now North Dakota State University Dwayne worked in the local creamery and received a scholarship from the farm where his dad worked He joined Sigma Chi an engineering fraternity and credits his fraternity for enabling him to become more outgoing He ran for the student senate while a sophomore in college and became comfortable speaking to large and small groups a good experience even though he was not elected Because it was a land grant university students were required to serve in the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) during their first two years Dwayne opted to complete the ROTC program and he became an Army officer He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and worked for IBM spending much of his twenty-five years of employment with IBM as a systemrsquos engineer and a trainer for customers until he took an early retirement in 1990 Early on he made up three lists of what he hoped to achieve 1 What he wanted 2 What he thought he could achieve 3 What he did not think would be possible for him to achieve He says he has achieved three of the goals in list 3 in his lifetime Dwaynersquos mother developed Multiple Sclerosis at age fifty five and the family had to rely on Social Security Disability benefits for assistance Dwayne was aware of what the Democratic Party and Franklin Delano Roosevelt had done for people like his mother and his father helping people in difficult situations beyond their control or making When he had an opportunity to be at a rally for Jack Kennedy for president he was hooked Dwayne became involved with the Golden Valley DFL Club helping campaigns in his area He became a state delegate to a DFL convention and signed up for the Constitution Committee He traveled the state for two years getting input on the first revision of the DFL Partyrsquos constitution and then had to scramble at the last moment to produce the findings of that two-year effort He gave the report of the Constitution Committee to the DFL Central Committee and the recommendations were adopted thanks to his hard work in preparing the final report The revised DFL Constitution included proportional voting for candidates rather than the ldquosmoke

filled roomsrdquo Dwayne was named the chair of the newly formed Constitution Committee of the Minnesota DFL He ran for the House seat in his district and won election on his first try in a Republican indexed district He found that he had much to learn about being in office including how to get committee assignments learning about fellow office holders representing everyone in his district and knowing who his ldquoenemiesrdquo were in the House and in his district He learned how to ldquoread between the linesrdquo for constraints and calculations when politicians speak He was able to pass ten of eleven of his bills to the Senate They included a 40 increase in the Personal Needs Allowance for the disabled and others in nursing Homes and a payment for college students performing tasks for seniors in their homes These were difficult votes and ultimately the decision was up to the legislators regardless of what the voters may have wanted He lost in a re-election bid during the ldquoDFL Massacrerdquo (DFL lost 34 seats) when the Republicans took control of the House The Republicans had a strong get-out-the-vote strategy that was highly effective and the DFL was caught off-guard In 2006 Linda Fiest asked him to join the group that would soon create the DFL Senior Caucus Because of his experience on the Constitution Committee Dwayne was asked to write the Charter for the Senior Caucus using the DFL Constitution as an example He presented the Charter that he wrote to the DFL Constitution Committee and State DFL Convention where it was adopted in May of 2006 Dwayne then traveled all around the state with Linda Fiest recruiting seniors for the Senior Caucus Dwayne and Earl Bower also formed a team that talked to groups all over the state interested in becoming chapters of the Senior Caucus ndash a new concept for caucuses Earl and Dwayne were and remain strong proponents of developing chapters to increase the membership visibility and the importance of the Senior Caucus Dwayne reminds us that the DFL is a coalition of disparate groups who can always win when the groups pull together Dwayne would like the Senior Caucus to have more involvement in the political process He wants the endorsements from the Caucus to be fair and should endorse politicians who can and will further Senior Caucus issues He hopes that State Senior Caucus will avoid the risk of renegade actions by individuals andor committees and avoid the risk of a few people making decisions for everyone He would like the membership to be more aware of how the DFL works and learn from it and utilize core groups who know how politics should work No one chapter should have the major voice All chapters should participate equally The Senior Caucus should focus on statewide issues and its chapters should focus on local issues And since the beginning the Senior Caucus needs to continue to attract and have active membership to impact legislation that promote senior

Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7

issues Age discriminations is rampant both within the Party and in our state and nation He notes that in general the DFL Party does not understand senior issues The Senior Caucus must raise awareness in the DFL Party raise awareness in State legislation raise awareness in national issues It would be wonderful to develop more senior caucuses in other states and then senior voting would have a greater impact

Other issues to address are the need for more awareness in Senior Caucus on health care coverage concerns for everyone ndash it is a right not a privilegemdash everyone should be eligible for coverage for the health care services that they need There is a need to consider legislative effects on our children and grandchildren as well He strongly endorses the education of the public on the needs of seniors for broadband and safe senior residential living

The purpose of the DFL Senior Caucus Yesterday and Today

Norm Hanson and Julianne Johnston

The DFL Senior Caucus was founded in 2006 by

politically experienced and concerned DFL activists to

establish a statewide DFL organization that would focus

on and promote senior issues and concerns Its founders

believed that with a strong and unified voice the Senior

Caucus would influence candidates and elected officials

to address the needs of older Americans in Minnesota

through policy and law Its unified voice would assure

that the needs of older Minnesotans and their families

would be addressed in our statersquos policies and laws The

many experienced DFL party activists who founded the

Senior Caucus strongly believed that their efforts could

in fact influence voters and their choice of elected

officials

Many of the founders of the Senior Caucus were

active and engaged party activists including Linda Feist

and her husband Roger Junnila Dwayne King

Georgiana Ruzich Earl Bower James Reed Dick

Bernard Mary Ann Beneke Jim Poradek Ed Mars John

Martin and others initially or within the first couple of

years of its existence They recognized the increase in

baby boomers becoming seniors and that seniors were

living longer Their financial resources had to stretch

further than actuaries had predicted The founders also

recognized that there needed to be advocacy for this

growing senior population The founders of the DFL

Senior Caucus were pioneers in supporting senior issues

and making the Senior Caucus organization visible and

important to legislators policy makers and voters

The Senior Caucus held its first Annual Meeting in

2007 and made plans to staff an information table in the

DFL pavilion at the annual State Fair and it has done so

every year since save for 2020 when that annual event

was cancelled because of the pandemic Participants were

encouraged to contact everyone that they thought might

be interested in becoming members informing them of the

purpose of the Senior Caucus and asking them to join

Issues discussed at that initial Annual Meeting included

increasing membership developing an action plan for the

next year determining the best ways to be influential

visible and to be taken seriously by legislators and the

voters and how to decide which issues would be most

important to seniors They were developing the Senior

Caucus platform for the next year

It was determined that the priorities for research

study recommendations and resolutions were affordable

health care fair and equitable tax policies sound

transportation fair and reasonable prescription drug

prices affordable housing and safe and livable

communities Access to highspeed broadband internet

services has since been added to that initial priority list

The Senior Caucus determined that it should limit itself to

achievable goals and that it should develop a set of goals

that include the needs of non-seniors as well as those of

seniors Subsequent Annual Meetings set aside time for

the participants to brainstorm in small groups to

determine the most important issues to research and focus

and included planning sessions led by Dick Bernard and

Judy Berglund

A retreat led by Lynn VanDervort resulted in the

following recommendations shared leadership amongst

all the members assigning responsibilities and holding

assignees accountable avoiding the possibility of

developing internal factions causing dysfunction

developing intergenerational planning and programing

having shared goals recognizing gaps in membership by

age groups and using the Mission Statement to promote

shared values Those recommendations regarding the

operation of the Senior Caucus remain just as valid today

The founders of the Senior Caucus emphasized the

importance of using all available means of

communication to extend the interest in and the visibility

January 2021 Page 8

2020 Senior Caucus Endorsement Task Force Norm Hanson and Julianne Johnston together with Jim Reed Joe

Mullery and Karla Sand

Since its founding in 2006 by several dedicated committed and experienced DFL activists the Senior Caucus has always been intent on becoming visible and

credible in its support of issues affecting seniors throughout the state The founders knew that that was the only way to leverage its rather small number of members

into a force that legislators and other policy makers would listen to and who would be willing to support senior issues Senior Caucus members have worked on campaigns they had and continue to have information

tables at the annual Minnesota State Fair they have information tables at DFL conventions they proudly wear t-shirts with Senior Caucus emblazoned across the front

The founders developed a state-wide newsletter early on to let seniors across the state know that the Senior Caucus exists and what it does and can do for seniors All these

efforts and activities have made legislators policy makers and the public at large aware of the Senior Caucus and see it as a visible and credible organization that cannot be

ignored The continuation of these efforts to be both visible and credible with respect to bringing senior issues and concerns to policy makers is now handled by the

important Political Involvement Committee (PIC)

A recent example of successful visibility and credibility was the Endorsement Task Force working under the auspices of the PIC that was convened to review requests for endorsement by the Senior Caucus prior to the August 2020 primary

This group handled the endorsement screenings for

candidates in districts where there were no chapters that covered the whole district Note While all chapters were invited to participate in the Senior Caucus endorsement

process not all of them met that criteria Some chapters did however and recommended endorsements for some local offices as well as for the state legislature Volunteers

included Mel Aanerud (Anoka) Bonnie Lokenvitz (East Central) Tony Scallon (greater Minneapolis) and Roger

Gehrke (South Metro)

Chapters were encouraged to set up an endorsements committee which would interview and screen all the

candidates in the districts totally within the chapter area They were then supposed to review the candidates written answers to the questionnaire and then interview the

candidates in person or on the phone or electronically for about an hour about the answers on the questionnaires and on other topics the members deemed appropriate They

would also explain the Senior Caucus views when candidates did not know or understand the issues

The questionnaire ideas came from many people Each person on a screening committee could ask pertinent questions at the screening The screeners determined in advance what additional questions they would ask and if

there was still time they could ask further questions The fact that nearly forty prospective candidates all

but four of them running for Congress or the State House or the State Senate asked for endorsement by the Senior Caucus just confirmed the recognition by those

candidates of the value placed upon that recognition and support from the Senior Caucus If they did not think that endorsement by the Senior Caucus would add value to

their campaigns they would not have sought it

Only three of the nearly forty candidates who requested endorsement by the Senior Caucus lost their

primary election bids which is quite a remarkable statement about the value as well as the credibility of the Senior Caucus endorsement The fact that they sought

endorsement by the Senior Caucus is a tribute to all the members who have worked so hard going all the way back to 2006 to make sure that the organization was

visible and credible The Senior Caucus wanted to make

of the Senior Caucus including Seniors Calling Seniors

the DFL data base telephone email and snail mail The

newsletter the Senior News was added it was published

periodically and then on a regular quarterly basis The

newsletter also produced an annual special state fair

recruitment edition to be distributed at the Senior Caucus

information table in the DFL pavilion on Senior Days at

the State Fair The founders of the Senior Caucus believed

that there was strength in numbers and building the

membership around the state would be needed to increase

the visibility of the organization By traveling around the

state Earl Bower Linda Feist and Roger Junnila

determined that chapters could be formed to increase that

membership numbers and caucus visibility Later Earl

and Dwayne King also traveled around the state

facilitating the development of chapters in both the rural

and urban parts of the state Currently there are eleven

Senior Caucus chapters throughout Minnesota

The importance of determining which issues are of

most concern and interest to seniors around the state

and informing the DFL legislators policy makers and

the public at large continues to be a major reason for

the existence of the DFL Senior Caucus today

January 2021 Page 9

sure that when it talked to legislators and policy makers and asked for support for a piece of legislation or policy

that its rationale for asking for support was credible and had been fully investigated Just offering an opinion in support of an important senior issue would not be

credible and The Senior Caucus knew that Being credible meant that it had to be supported by careful consideration and thorough research

That many DFL legislators and members of Congress

willingly provided Capitol Corner updates for the Senior

News the official newsletter of the Senior Caucus is yet

another recognition by those important folks of the

visibility and the credibility of the organization None of

the above would have happened had the Senior Caucus

not be seen as a visible and credible organization

representing senior views

Members of the Endorsements Task Force that must

be thanked for their efforts in 2020 included Chair Joe

Mullery Tony Scallon Jan Dietrich Milt Schoen and

Judy Corraro They deserve thanks for their dedication

and diligent work on this important matter a matter that

confirmed once again the visibility AND the credibility of

the Senior Caucus

How to MAGA ala Donald Trump Norm Hanson

Proclaim yourself as the smartest and

greatest president ever to reside in the White House

Denigrate all governmental institutions including

justice public health intelligence and (fill-in-the-blanks) and claim that you know more and better than all the experienced and skilled civil servants in those areas

Cozy up to the leaders of countries that are adversaries of the United States including Russia and North Korea and castigate and criticize the

leaders of countries that are friends of the United States

Pull the US from any treaties and agreements

negotiated by previous administrations especially those negotiated by President Obama

Do everything that you can to eliminate Obamacare

and claim to replace with your great health plan that does not exist

Claim that the 2016 and the 2020 elections were

rigged in favor of your opponents but then accept the results of 2016 when you won and refuse to accept them in 2020 when you lost

Do everything that you can to question the integrity of the election process no matter the lack of evidence that the elections were conducted other

than fairly and transparently Question criticize

and label all state election officials regardless of their party affiliation as being incompetent

stupid biased and trying to do everything that they could to get Biden elected

Denigrate the military by publicly referring to any

and all service men and women especially those who were wounded captured or killed as suckers and losers (despite being able to dodge

the draft five time and yet able to become commander-in-chief )

Pardon war criminals whose actions in the areas of conflict where US forces were involved placed servicemen and women in harmrsquos way

Do everything that you can with actions and words thereby able to divide the good citizens of the country facilitating the us (really me) against

them especially those Democrats liberals progressives and (fill-in-the-blanks)

Stack the SCOTUS with conservative justices that

will impact public policy for decades to come the real legacy that Trump will leave behind

And of course characteristically of who he is as a

man his inability to graciously concede that he lost his bid for re-election

And one more thingndash promote the storming of the Nations Capitol Building causing insurrection in order to prevent the confirmation of the vote for

president of someone other than you

January 2021 Page 10

DFL Senior Caucus Fourteenth Annual Membership Meeting December 10 2020 Jim Reed

Members and friends gathered for the Fourteenth Annual Membership Meeting which was held via Zoom on December 10 About fifty members attended which is a surprisingly large number in this year of COVID 19 Caucus members engaged openly on the topics presented Discussion centered on issues that the Senior Caucus could advance in 2021including caucus membership broadband communications aging in place specialized transportation and building coalitions to achieve greater influence Membership Director Josey Warren summarized efforts to increase membership across Greater Minnesota and to establish more Senior Caucus chapters The Minneapolis Chapter was recognized in the spring of 2020 and a St Paul chapter is just getting organized A Chapter Chairs Committee has been established with representatives from chapters to work together on programs member recruitment services communications and to share successes

Secretary Jim Reed reported on the development of broadband communications in Minnesota Some areas in Greater Minnesota still do not have broadband services which are needed by seniors to participate fully in our modern society Some federal and state funding has been made available to expand broadband service and the state has a task force to set objectives consider alternatives and review progress Advances have been made but technology presses forward and technology appeared first and sometimes only in urban centers Pressed by the 2020 pandemic government may only offer limited support for rural development The Senior Caucus will follow this progress and offer support as appropriate

Board Director Roger Gehrke reported on actions seniors should consider in order to continue to live in their own homes Actions include moving to a single level floor plan having railings attached where appropriate indoors and outdoors ensuring that appliances and vehicles are in good running order removing scatter rugs using delivery services and in-home health care He recommended discarding or donating objects no longer being used He recommended hobbies to suit a more limited lifestyle It is important to update wills trusts and health directives

Vice-chair Karla Sand gave an overview of legislative issues for specialized transportation Three issues now stand out commercial licenses for volunteer drivers high insurance costs for those drivers and taxation of reimbursement for volunteers Under current law individuals need expensive commercial licenses if they

sometimes drive a van or bus for a church or a non-profit service Insurance is expensive for covering the additional risk for disabled riders Legislation is needed to allow volunteers usually seniors to afford these extra costs The Senior Caucus will actively support legislation that will assist volunteer drivers for seniors

Complete reports from Jim Reed Karla Sand and Roger Gehrke can be found on the DFL Senior Caucus website (wwwdflseniorsorg)

Karla also introduced Senior Caucus efforts to form coalitions with other DFL caucuses and non-profits and to combine these efforts with caucus chapters The Senior Caucus will expand these coalitions whenever and wherever they are possible and will be effective The Disability Rural and Veterans Caucuses would be good working partners The Senior Caucus already works with AARP and other nonprofits to the extent that the law allow for non-profits

DFL Chair Ken Martin made a special appearance and discussed the DFL results in 2020 and prospects for 2021 He listed the DFL Party successes and concerns from the 2020 elections The party held on to the US Senate seat held the second and third US House seats gained in 2018 and retained a majority in the Minnesota House However one rural US House seat was lost and the Minnesota Senate remained in Republican hands In 2021 the DFL must rebuild its importance in rural Minnesota The Senior Caucus can help to promote the DFL as seniors are a dominate voting bloc in Greater Minnesota

The Annual Membership Meeting then considered two motions One was to actively support and promote ldquoEnd of Liferdquo legislation in the Minnesota legislature The legislation would allow terminally ill individuals of sound mind to acquire ldquoend of liferdquo medication from their physician After considerable debate the motion was tabled and referred to the Senior Caucus Board Political Involvement Committee (PIC) for further study and recommendations to the Board

The second motion was for a minor change to the Senior Caucus Charter to allow passage of charter amendments at special membership meetings as well as the Annual Membership Meeting Previously only the Annual Membership Meeting could pass charter updates This motion passed

Jim Reed

2019 In-person Annual Meeting

DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

255 E Plato Blvd St Paul MN 55107

CONTACTS Email-dflseniorsgmailcom

Website httpdflseniorsorg

Don Bye Chair 218-568-5530 byelawofficehotmailcom Karla Sand Vice Chair 651-739-7397 karlavioletshotmailcom

Committees Documents Position open Events Chair Roger Gehrke 952-412-7171 rogergehrkeyahoocom Membership Position open Political Involvement Committee Coordinator Karla Sand karlavioletshotmailcom Technology Committee Kay Hendrikson dflseniorsgmailcom SENIOR NEWS The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the DFL Senior Caucus 255 E Plato Blvd St Paul MN 55107 to provide news items of DFL Senior Caucus events and other items of interest to Minnesota seniors Readers are encouraged to submit articles for publication on subjects of interest to Minnesota DFL seniors Accepted articles may be edited to meet these goals and space requirements Submit articles and comments to Norm Hanson Editor 651-484-8926 norsan45hotmailcom or Julianne Johnston 651-486-7120 juliannetjmsncom JOIN THE SENIOR CAUCUS Membership dues are $10 annually Join online or Send your check made out to DFL Senior Caucus and send to John Larva Treasurer DFL Senior Caucus 1424 Woodhill Drive Burnsville MN 55337

For waiver of dues please contact

Chair Don Bye or Vice-chair Karla Sand


Editors Norm Hanson newsletter editor norsan45hotmailcom 651-484-8926

Julianne Johnston design and layout editor juliannetjmsncom 651-486-7120

Columnists Norm Hanson Melissa Hortman Julianne Johnston Jim Reed

Photographs Dick Bernard Julianne Johnston Charlie Rike

Reviewer Sandy Hanson

DFL Senior Caucus Chapters January 2021 Note Chapter meetings are being held as Zoom Meetings

Persons without computers or cell phones can join with a landline phone Contact the chair to get further information about joining a meeting

Anoka Chapter - Anoka County Chair Mel Aanerud 763-434-3809 Aanerud4comcastnet East Central Chapter - SD 11 SD 15 amp Isanti County area Chair Bonnie Lokenvitz 320-679-8202 blokenvitzgmailcom East Metro Chapter - Maplewood and east Chair Kay Hendrikson 651-739-1080 dfleastmetrocaucus gmailcom Mankato Area Chapter Chair Richard Chambers 507-420-4030 gdthdraolcom Minneapolis Area Chapter Chair Kenneth Vreeland 612-722-8017 borderlord_oneyahoocom North East Minnesota Chapter - Duluth area Chair Gary Westorff 612-709-5342 nemndflsrsyahoocom North Metro Chapter ndash Northern Suburban Metropolitan area Chair Norm Hanson 651-484-8926 norsan45hotmailcom St Paul Chapter - St Paul area Chair Lyn Burton 651-336-4493 lburton612aolcom South East MN Chapter - Rochester area Chair Patricia Mann Mannpa1chartercom South Metro Chapter - CD 2 and Dakota County area Chair Roger Gehrke 952-412-7171 rogergehrkeyahoocom Tri-County Chapter ndash Washington County Chisago County and Kanabec County areas Chair Sandra Trudeau 651-492-1149 wmsandycomcastnet

DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class

All Meetings at this time will be

conducted via

Zoom

Contact the chair of the meeting for

more information

DFL Senior Caucus Calendar 2021 Events All Events are Handicapped Accessible

Social Luncheon - On Hold due to the COVID-19

Senior Caucus Board Meeting - Meetings will be held via Zoom at times determined by the Board Contact Vice Chair Karla Sand 651-739-7397 or karlavioletshotmailcom

Senior Caucus Book Club - Meetings are being held by Zoom on third Mondays Contact Jim Reed jreed11665comcastnet for more information See January discussion January 18 11 am to 1 pm see page 2 page of this issue will be a ZOOM meeting

Inauguration Day on January 20 2021

Contacts for the Senior Caucus

Facebook at httpswwwfacebookcomgroupsDFLSeniorCaucus Email dflseniorsgmailcom Website httpdflseniorsorg Check out the calendar on the website for scheduled meetings and events as they

are scheduled through out each month

Standard The Senior News has the luxury that every newsletter would like to have and that is having more information submitted and ready than can be published in a ten to twelve page newsletter It is a challenge as we have to decide which articles and photos to include in each issue which ones to defer until the next issue and which ones that we have to save for a later issue We thank all of our readers for their continued support for their newsletter and the luxury as well as the challenges that this gives to US However we always welcome more articles from our readers to be sure we cover all the interests and concerns of DFL seniors

January 2021 page 2

From the Chair Don Bye

This is the year that was The greatest part of the year was that Joe Biden wonmdashand Trump lost Trump lost as his unholy collection

of angry dissident groupings dwindled awaymdashor did they Joe Biden won his campaign for the Presidency on a positive approach to government from beginning to endmdashand he did so in convincing numbers Biden said he was running to save our democracy and I truly believe that was the case Now it is up to all of us to strive toward the Biden promise of building back a better America The goals are lofty and not realistically attainable overnight The most immediate responsibility is to survive the pandemic then then restore our deflating economy Everyone has a list of priorities which vary in order and degree There is so much work to do There is also much to undo from the damage of the past four years and from what has been left in limbo and the huge number of challenges that need to be met to truly become a better nation for all We can each only do a little bit but enough little bits from every one can make a much better community

Like it or not as we conclude the successful 2020 campaigns we are also embarking on the 2022 State campaigns And if you live in a larger municipality you are or should be thinking election 2021 Somdashnow that yoursquove had a little blip over the Holidays keep on rolling onward and upward toward our next Novembers This comparatively quiet time is excellent time for persuasion as our new governments are settling into place There are constant and continued opportunities to point out to those persuadable why every Senior should be voting for Democrats in every election Remind those within your reach of this whenever they receive their Social Security check and whenever they receive good health care at an Obamacare price Remind them whenever a grandchild does well at a public school or whenever they have just driven on a public roadway or taken public transportation that for all of that all along the way Republicans have resisted or threatened to take away much of what is needed and depended on and they will continue to resist most progressive changes in the future

Herersquos to a happier 2021 New Year for all of us Survive the pandemic GOODBYE Trump

BETTER WITH BIDEN

SENIOR NEWS The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the DFL Senior Caucus 255 E Plato Blvd St Paul MN 55107 to provide news items of DFL Senior Caucus events and other items of interest to Minnesota seniors Readers are encouraged to submit articles for publication on subjects of interest to Minnesota DFL seniors Accepted articles may be edited to meet these goals and space requirements Submit articles and comments to Norm Hanson Editor 651-484-8926 or norsan45hotmailcom or Julianne Johnston 651-486-7120 juliannetjmsncom Thank you in advance for your participation in this goal

Don Bye

Book Club via Zoom

January 18 2021 1100 ndash 100 Monday

Join our Discussion on Zoom

The Relentless Business of Treaties How Indigenous Land Became US Property written by Martin Case

This book explains how the property system of the United States was foisted on indigenous peoples through the mendacity of traders speculators and politicians commercial family and political ties among US treaty signers and negotiators ensured corrupt bargains and the tragic loss of tribal lands

httpsus02webzoomusj86446648933

Meeting ID 864 4664 8933

Phone +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Senior Caucus small group discussion on issues and policies 2008

January 2021 Page 3




























































ldquosaferdquo time










Minnesotans





for all Minnesotans

Melissa Hortman

January 2021 Page 4





































Charlie Rike

Georgiana Sobola


January 2021 Page 5




Did you know







DFL Senior Caucus

1424 Woodhill Drive

Burnsville MN 55337

January 2021 Page 6




Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021




























































ldquosaferdquo time










Minnesotans





for all Minnesotans

Melissa Hortman

January 2021 Page 4





































Charlie Rike

Georgiana Sobola


January 2021 Page 5




Did you know







DFL Senior Caucus

1424 Woodhill Drive

Burnsville MN 55337

January 2021 Page 6




Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021





































Charlie Rike

Georgiana Sobola


January 2021 Page 5




Did you know







DFL Senior Caucus

1424 Woodhill Drive

Burnsville MN 55337

January 2021 Page 6




Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021




Did you know







DFL Senior Caucus

1424 Woodhill Drive

Burnsville MN 55337

January 2021 Page 6




Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021




Dwayne King

January 2021 Page 7


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021


















officials













































Judy Berglund














January 2021 Page 8





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021





















































January 2021 Page 9


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021


















the Senior Caucus










































Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










January 2021












Jim Reed


DFL SENIOR CAUCUS

















DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










DFL SENIOR CAUCUS








January 2021









DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










DFL Senior News

255 East Plato Blvd

Saint Paul MN 55107

First Class


conducted via

Zoom


more information










Senior News · 2021. 1. 1. · The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the...

Documents

Transcript of Senior News · 2021. 1. 1. · The DFL Senior News is published at least four times a year by the...