City Grants Available for Public Service Projects

Proposal Conference: November 12 Letter of intent due: November 19 Completed application due: December 5 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/rfp.asp On October 30, 2008, the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support will issue a Request for Proposals for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Service funds to serve eligible individuals for the period of June 2009 through May 2011. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agencies, for profit agencies, or governmental agencies providing health services, human services, and community development services benefiting low and moderate income Minneapolis residents. The RFP funding priorities were developed by the City's Public Health Advisory Committee and approved by City Council. Successful proposals must address one of the following three (3) community priority areas:

1. Youth Violence Prevention. Provide education programs for parents, guardians, or caregivers of youth ages 8-18 years who are at risk for engaging in violence.
2. Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Provide programs to prevent initial or repeat teen pregnancies.
3. Assure Maintenance of Health Safety Net for Underserved/Vulnerable Seniors. Provide programs that increase the ability of underserved and vulnerable seniors to live independently and be connected with others in their community to reduce social isolation (including those who are culturally or linguistically isolated).

Proposal requirements are detailed in the full Request for Proposals that will be available no later than the end of day on October 30, and can be obtained by:

• Downloading the RFP from the City website at: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/procurement/professional-services.asp or http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs
• Emailing your request for an electronic copy to the Department of Health and Family Support at: health.familysupport@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
• Picking-up a copy at the Department of Health and Family Support at 250 South 4th Street (Public Service Center), Room 510, Minneapolis, Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or call 612-673-2301 to have a copy mailed to you.

For more information, go to: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/rfp.asp
Letter of Intent to Issue Request for Proposals (pdf)
Request for Proposals (pdf)
Proposal Documents in Word (doc)

Minneapolis is ready for record-high voter turnout on Nov. 4

Date: Tuesday, November 4 url: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections Minneapolis is gearing up for a large voter turnout on Election Day. Minnesota's Secretary of State says the number of registered voters has reached an all-time high, with about 84 percent of eligible voters in the state registered. Minneapolis is also seeing high voter registration numbers, and is set for what may be the city's highest voter turnout ever. To ensure that no one is turned away, Minneapolis has enough ballots printed for every single eligible voter in Minneapolis if they show up on Election Day. Voter turnout was 70 percent in the city for the 2004 election, and it is likely to be even higher this year. Voters may encounter some lines at the polls, especially at peak times during the day. While election officials will do what they can to keep wait times down, voters can also help by casting their ballots at off-peak hours. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the peak times are normally before people head to work and when they're returning home at the end of the day. Another way to save yourself and others time spent at the polls is to review your sample ballot ahead of time. To see your sample ballot, visit the City's Web site at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections. Absentee balloting under way For voters who can't make it to their polling places on Election Day, absentee voting is now under way. In Minnesota you can cast an absentee ballot if:

• you'll be absent from your precinct on Election Day,
• you are ill or disabled,
• you'll be serving as an election judge in another precinct, or
• you are unable to go to their polling places due to a religious holiday or belief.

Cast your absentee ballot by mail or in-person People who are eligible to vote absentee can complete the process by mail, or in-person by coming to Minneapolis City Hall. Ballots returned by mail can be received on Election Day. In-person absentee voting ends at 5 p.m. on November 3, the day before the election. Voting by mail is quick and convenient. Download an absentee ballot application from our Web site or call Minneapolis 311. The completed application can be faxed or mailed in, and an absentee ballot will be mailed to your residence. Please allow up to five days for delivery. In-person voters can come to City Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and also on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-person absentee voting can be done until 5 p.m. November 3. For more information, visit the City's Web site at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections or call Minneapolis 311

Mentors Needed! Training November 8th

Date: November 8 Time: 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Hennepin Co. Adult Corrections Facility - Men’s Building Address: 1145 Shenandoah Lane, Plymouth Contact: Hillary Freeman at 612-721-8687 ext 332 or hfreeman@gmcc.org Four Hours of your time a month can change a life forever! You are invited to participate in IN-DEPTH MENTOR TRAINING to Help Ex-Offenders Returning to the Community Why mentor? The difference mentoring makes is measurable. In 2007, those offenders who were mentored had been arrested 760 times in the two years prior to their incarceration and only 133 times in the year after release from prison. Of those who stayed connected with their mentors following release, there were only 10 total arrests. Snacks/Lunch will be served Directions: The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Adult Correction Facility 494 north to Co. Rd. 6 – turn left on Co. Rd. 6 to Shenandoah Lane (west side of Parker's Lake) Register for this free training Please contact Hillary Freeman at 612-721-8687 ext 332
Email: hfreeman@gmcc.org
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Minneapolis’ five-week fall street sweep begins Tuesday, Oct. 21

Starts: October 21 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20081015FallStreetSweep.asp Watch for temporary "No Parking" signs starting Oct. 20 Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the five weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean up about 1,100 miles of city streets. To make sure the sweepers can do the best job possible, temporary "No Parking" signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of cars when they're swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 20, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow street sweep parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed. Making it easy to follow parking rules!

• "No Parking signs" -- City crews will post "No Parking" signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. The "No Parking" signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking. Vehicles not in compliance with "No Parking" signs will be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
• Phone calls to residents -- In addition to the "No Parking" signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about 3,500 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day.
• Interactive Web feature -- Starting a few days before the sweep, folks will be able to use a feature on the City's Web site to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The tool will be available at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/streetsweep.

The fall street sweep takes five weeks, and visitors to the Web site will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the five weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept. Clean streets mean a healthier environment Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That's why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City's top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable. Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb once in the spring and once in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets -- it's bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.

Halloween – keep it safe and fun!

Date: October 31 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20081021HalloweenTips.asp Everyone wants to have a happy and safe Halloween. Using safety tips and common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season and make it as enjoyable for your kids and neighbors as it is for you. Keep these tips in mind as you get ready for Halloween:

• Have kids draw, not cut the jack-o-lantern. Let small kids help with the pumpkin carving by drawing or painting the face instead of letting them use a knife. It's best to let kids clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it, which an adult can carve for them.
• Select a safe costume. Help children pick out or make a costume that will be safe by avoiding masks that obscure vision or breathing, props that might cause injury, and clothes that are hard to see at night or that drag on the ground.
• Stay with the group, plan the route. Make sure kids go trick-or-treating with other kids or parents. Parents should know the route kids will take if not going with them. Make sure kids know to stay in populated places, not to cut through alleys and to cross streets only at corners.
• Lights at night. If you're giving treats, turn on your porch lights. Trick-or-treaters should go only to well-lighted houses, stay at the door and never go into the home of someone you don't know. Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries, so you can see where you are going and so that drivers see you.
• Make your home safe for trick-or-treaters. Remove anything that a child could trip over from your porch and front yard. Garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations could be potentially hazardous. Check outdoor lights, replace burned-out bulbs. Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps. Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
• Place pumpkins in a safe spot. If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids' costumes can't accidentally catch fire. Votive candles are safer and flameless candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
• Treats only, please. Explain to teens the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs or spray painting may seem like fun, but they need to know the consequences: clean up, damages or legal considerations could ruin everyone's Halloween.
• Be healthy. Encourage kids to eat a balanced meal before trick-or-treating. Check and sort candy when they get home. Though tampering is extremely rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items and call 911.

Minneapolis offers resources for dislocated workers

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20081021DislocatedWorkerassistance.asp Minneapolis residents who have lost their job during the current downturn in the economy can take advantage of resources designed to help them transition to a new job. Dislocated workers can turn to resources being offered by the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Central Library and the State of Minnesota. Employment & Training Assistance for Workers

• Dislocated Worker Program – The City provides employment and training services to individual workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own due to closings, reorganizations, or other permanent layoffs and who need assistance with the transition to new employment. Services are free to eligible workers and include career counseling, skill updating, retraining and job search assistance. For service locations, see: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/docs/METPBrochure.pdf. For more information contact: Catherine Christian at (612) 673-6230, or by e-mail at Catherine.christian@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.
• A variety of resources for individuals seeking employment can be found on the City's website at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/metp.asp.
• The Minneapolis Central Library also offers workshops on job searching, resume writing and other employment assistance. Information can be found at www.hclib.org/pub/events/AllEventsAction.cfm and search for "employment."

Minneapolis seeks to fill two vacancies on Arts Commission

Deadline: November 14, 2008 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/boards-and-commissions/Arts-Comsn.asp The City of Minneapolis is seeking two advocates for the arts to serve on the Arts Commission for a term beginning Feb. 1, 2009 and ending Jan. 31, 2011. Both appointments are made by the City Council President and applicants from currently underrepresented wards 1, 4, 5, 9, 11 and 13 will be given preference. Current vacancies include one vacancy for an administrative staff or board member of an arts organization and one vacancy for a lay person. Both individuals have to be residents or property tax payers of Minneapolis. Members of the Minneapolis Arts Commission help develop a vision for the arts for the City and serve as liaisons with the community, City Council, art administrators and others. The Commission meets on the third Wednesday of every month. Additional time may be required for attending community meetings and events as representatives of the Commission. The deadline for application is Nov. 14, 2008. For complete information on how to apply, residency requirements and position description, click on link below. Minneapolis Art Commission Vacancies (Oct. 2008) - PDF

Anti-Idling Ordinance Info for Neighborhood Groups

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/airquality/AntiIdling_home.asp Dear Neighborhood Leaders,   As part of continued efforts to protect our air and the health of our more vulnerable residents, especially children, the City has passed a new idling ordinance.  We need your help to spread the word on the ordinance and the impact idling has upon our air and our health.     We’ve designed a flyer letting drivers know about the new ordinance.   Please download this flyer from our website and help post and distribute.  Let me know if you want additional copies and I can send them out.  Additionally, I’ve attached a fact sheet on idling that you may find interesting.     To download the flyer and get more details on the ordinance, please check out our website. http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/airquality/AntiIdling_home.asp   Thank you,   Dan   Daniel Huff Supervisor, Environmental Services Department of Regulatory Services City of Minneapolis 250 South 4th St., Room 414 Minneapolis, MN 55415 office:  612-673-5863 cell:    612-386-4810 fax:     612-673-2635

City of Minneapolis is now accepting applications for Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission

Deadline: November 19, 2008 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/WhatsNews_CE.asp October 2008: The City of Minneapolis is now accepting applications from residents for seven positions on the newly created Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. The role of the commission will be to shape how the City engages its residents and works with neighborhood and community organizations, as well as oversee programming details and funding for neighborhood revitalization work. The deadline for submitting an application is Nov. 19, 2008. For additional details about how to apply please visit:
Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission vacancy notice September 2008: On Sep. 26, 2008 the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved establishing a Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and a Neighborhood and Community Relations Department. Together the new commission and City department will collaborate to support the ongoing work of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), partner with neighborhoods to promote resident participation in City decision-making, and support the community engagement work of City departments. Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission The new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, a group of 16 residents will be appointed to oversee the City’s relationship with neighborhoods and community organizations. The commission’s charge is to provide direction to the next phase of NRP and be primarily responsible for the review of neighborhood plans. The commission will also make recommendations to the City Council on allocation of a variety of types of funding to neighborhoods.  Neighborhoods will have significant representation on the commission with eight residents selected by neighborhood organizations, five residents appointed by the City Council, two appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Through the input and work of the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, residents and neighborhood organizations will play a key role in enhancing and shaping how the City engages its residents. Neighborhood and Community Relations Department The approval of a new City department, the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department, is designed to bring existing staff from different departments together to leverage their expertise to jointly serve residents and promote community participation through the work of neighborhoods and City departments.  Department staff will help neighborhood organizations navigate City processes and continue developing partnerships with City departments.  Plans call for the department to offer leadership training to residents and develop opportunities for all residents of the City to learn more about civic participation in the City of Minneapolis.  Additionally, department staff, in cooperation with community crime prevention, would work to promote more collaboration between neighborhood groups and block clubs.  The department will also be situated to create a forum for neighborhood organizations to share lessons learned and best practices and similarly for City departments to learn from one another’s experiences.  The department will begin in January 2009 and will use much of the year as a transition period to establish staffing and programming details. Many successful components of NRP will continue under the new system. Neighborhoods will continue to receive City funding for operations and programs, and as independent organizations, neighborhoods will retain control over their goals, budgets, and work plans.  The department will administer the new State authorized funds available for neighborhood operations and programming that will support the next phase of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). Another of the department’s duties is to provide staff support to the new resident-controlled Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. Together the commission and department staff will collaborate to oversee and support programming details and funding of the next phase of NRP.  Please visit the Related Council Actions tab for more information about the City Council and Committee actions related to community engagement and the continuation of NRP. Sign up to receive e-mail updates on Community Engagement Sign up to receive e-mail notifications for Council and Committee Agendas

City Resources for Businesses Workshop on October 28

Day: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Address: Crown Roller Mill, 2nd Floor 105 Fifth Avenue South Minneapolis, MN  55401 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/great_streets_home.asp Did you know the City of Minneapolis offers a wide array of financing programs ranging from $1,000 to $10 million? Do want to be able to effectively communicate the City's loan programs with businesses? You're invited to a workshop on the City's resources for businesses. This is an opportunity to get an overview of business finance programs and ask questions! Coffee and pastries will be served. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Kelly Hoffman by phone (612-673-5079) or email kelly.hoffman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Help keep emerald ash borer from devastating Minneapolis trees

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20081010AshBorer.asp Help stem the advance of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis or Agrilus marcopoli), an invasive pest that attacks ash trees and could cause serious damage to Minneapolis’ urban forest. Emerald ash borer (EAB) has already killed more than 40 million ash trees nationwide, primarily in southeast Michigan and has been discovered in Wisconsin. Although the EAB has not reached Minnesota yet, the state has the potential to lose 867 million trees, because it has one of the nation’s highest volumes of forestland ash on public property. Minneapolis’ 200,000 ash trees make up 20 percent of all trees on public and private land in the city, which makes it especially important to take steps to protect against EAB. How to delay or minimize damage to Minneapolis’ ash trees While it is likely that EAB will eventually reach Minnesota, residents can play a part in delaying and minimizing the damage to our trees. EAB adults can’t fly far, so the most likely way the pest will reach Minnesota is by people moving ash logs, ash firewood or infested ash trees from nurseries. You can help slow the spread of EAB by:

• Buying or harvesting your wood near the area where you are going to burn the wood. If you are buying firewood, ask where it came from. Avoid moving firewood from its area of origination; especially avoid bringing wood into Minnesota from out of state. In Minneapolis, firewood dealers are required to be licensed by the City, so ask firewood peddlers for their City license.
• Watching ash trees carefully. EAB kills trees over a period of one to four years. As many as one half of a tree’s branches potentially die during the first year of infestation. The larvae live under the bark of the tree and feed in the tissue layer directly beneath the bark, which disrupts water from reaching all sections of the tree. Examine ash trees in the neighborhood for major thinning of a tree’s canopy. Trees generally try to compensate for the loss of limbs by sprouting new growth below the level of infestation. At this time the bark may begin to split. Eventually the adult beetles emerge from the bark. In the process of emerging as adults, they leave a “D” shaped exit hole that is about 1/8 inch wide.

Call the state if you suspect an EAB infestation The earlier the pest is discovered, the sooner it can be addressed. If there is any suspicion that a tree is infested with EAB, contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s "Arrest the Pest" Hotline at 651-201-6684 for the Metro Area or 1-888-545-6684 for Greater Minnesota. For more information on the EAB, visit http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab.htm

Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour nominations open

The 2009 Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour is looking for homeowners and home improvement professionals considering putting their homes on the Tour. The Tour, in its 22nd year, will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, 2009. Nomination/applications are due Friday, January 23, 2009, and early inquiries are encouraged.   “I would recommend to others that they open their homes, it’s an amazing ego boost,” said one of last year’s participating homeowners, “we enjoyed most, chatting with a zillion people.” Others said they liked the push to get their home improvement projects done in time for the tour.   “During fall and winter gatherings, homeowners can ask their families and friends to save a few hours on that last weekend in April,” said Margo Ashmore, Tour coordinator. “A good support network hosting the home makes it fun. Community leaders also should start now, identifying clusters of well-kept and remodeled homes to ask to participate.”   Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) manages the tour as a celebration of city living that encourages homeowners to improve existing housing stock. Many organizations and businesses sponsor the tour. Contractors and other vendors may nominate homes they have worked on, and are encouraged to call for more information. Green, energy efficient, and  historically-sensitive remodels and expansions get special notice.   For more information, call Tour Coordinator Margo Ashmore at 612-673-5103 or email her at link@nrp.org. The application can be downloaded from www.MSPHomeTour.com under “nominate.”

Town Meeting on the Mayor's 2009 Proposed Budget On October 16

Minneapolis 2009 -- What's in the City Budget; What's Not Date: October 16 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Keewaydin Community Center Address: 3030 East 53rd Street Nokomis East Neighborhood Association invites all Minneapolis residents to a Town Meeting on the Mayor's Proposed Budget for 2009. The meeting will be Thursday, October 16, 7:00 p.m, at Keewaydin Community Center (3030 East 53rd Street). The meeting will begin with a brief presentation and Q & A by former State Senator Wes Skoglund on the Strong Schools, Strong City referendum. The budget portion of the meeting is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m. City Budget staff will begin with an overview of the budget and follow with Questions and Answers. If you want to learn where your taxes are going, or how much your taxes will go up, this is your chance to ask. We have asked that the presentation address questions about neighborhood funding: How much money will be available to invest in neighborhood priorities? How much will the new Department of Neighborhood and Community Relations cost? How will the $8 million per year for neighborhood revitalization in the Mayor's budget be allocated between the department, the Community Investment Fund (for City priorities), and the Neighborhood Investment Fund (for neighborhood priorities)? What impact will the financial crisis have on the City budget? Will it cost more to service the Target Center debt? Come and ask your own questions! Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Get Out The Vote Training on October 15

Day: Wednesday, October 15 Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Location: Lyndale Neighborhood Association Office Address: 3537 Nicollet Ave S Contact: Mark Hinds at (612) 824-9402, ext 16 or by email at mark@lyndale.org url: www.lyndale.org This year the Lyndale Neighborhood Association is working with the Minnesota Participation Project to help turn people out to vote.  The Minnesota Participation Project is run by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and works with 501 C 3 organizations on how to conduct nonpartisan voter turnout efforts.  We will be hosting a training on Wednesday, October 15th at our offices (3537 Nicollet Avenue) From 5:30 to 6:30 pm.  Training topics will include:

• Absentee voting
• Same Day Registration
• Tips and Tactics for planning for Get Out the Vote activities (doors and phones)
• How to be Nonpartisan (What a 501(c)(3) can do for the elections)

I would like to invite you or any staff or volunteers from your organization who are interested in attending the training. Our hope is to encourage other neighborhood organizations and community organizations to participate in turning people in their communities out to vote. I'm also including an email that we sent out to our community members asking them to volunteer to help turn people out to vote that describes some of what we're hoping to do. Please let me know if you have any questions or if someone from your organization is planning on attending. Thanks, Mark

Mark Hinds Executive Director Lyndale Neighborhood Association 3537 Nicollet Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55408 612.824.9402 ext 16 mark@lyndale.org www.lyndale.org

---

All, This election year LNA is going to be working on turning out as many Lyndale community members as possible.  As you all know voting is an important part of a healthy, stable democracy and that turnout is an important component to having our neighborhood be heard by our elected officials.  All of LNA's GOTV efforts will be nonpartisan and will not advocate for any candidate or issue. To this end we're looking for volunteers to help.  Between now and the election we will have lots of opportunities for people to volunteer.  The main activities we're going to be doing are:

• Doorknocking - which is easy, all you have to do is knock on your neighbors door, ask them if they're planning on voting, and if they have any questions.
• Phone calling - we will also be organizing several phone banks out of the LNA office and have lists for people to call from home. 

Once again this is all about answering people's questions about voting and finding out if they need a ride to the polls, which we'll be providing on election day.  This is much easier work than trying to convince people about who they should vote for.  We also want to use this opportunity to ask people about any issues or concerns they have about the neighborhood. We will be providing all volunteers with all the information they need about where to vote, what the rules are, how to register on the election, etc.  We are also hosting a training by the Minnesota Participation Project, which is organized by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, to help people learn how to register voters. The training will be on Wednesday, October 15th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the LNA offices (3537 Nicollet Avenue).  This training is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about how to register voters and election rules and is something we would definitely encourage volunteers to attend.  Please plan on attending this training and helping to get as many Lyndale residents as we can out to vote this year.  If you know you're attending RSVP to Mark at mark@lyndale.org or 612.824.9402 ext 16. Sincerely, Mark

"Dreams of Change" Commemoration of March on Washington on November 13

Date: November 13th, 2008, 5:30pm - cpm Time: 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Location: Downtown Minneapolis-Pohlad Hall/Auditorium Address: 300 Nicollet Mall url: http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/c6q4xyy5vtf6x6k7p Join us in commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Program begins at 5:30pm with Appetizers, Art Reception and Live Jazz. 
"A Conversation" with Star Tribune columnist, author and playwrite Syl Jones and long time Civil Rights Activist, President of Minnesota NAACP Matt Little. Q&A. Concludes with Anniversary cake and coffee To register go to: http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/c6q4xyy5vtf6x6k7p

Financial Management Network: Using Lines of Credit, Loans,and Mortgages on October 22

Date: October 22, 2008 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 p.m. (Add to your calendar) Location: Nonprofits Assistance Fund Office Address: 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 210 Contact: Ashley Schweitzer (612) 278-7187 Email: registration@nonprofitsassistancefund.org url: Nonprofits Assistance Fund Join us for this free gathering of nonprofit leaders. Nonprofits thrive when they have healthy professional networks. Join us for Nonprofits Assistance Fund's Financial Management Network at our office in Minneapolis on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Our discussion runs from noon until 1:00pm - although you are welcome to stay later to continue to network or explore specific questions with our knowledgeable staff.

Minneapolis Public Schools referendum on Nov. 4 ballot

Date: November 4 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20081007SchoolReferendum.asp On Nov. 4, Minneapolis residents are being asked to consider a ‘Strong Schools Strong City’ referendum introduced by the Minneapolis Public Schools on the General Election ballot. If approved, referendum funds would support education essentials – such as early literacy, math, science, technology and textbooks – to raise student achievement, close racial and income achievement gaps and help ensure every student who graduates from the Minneapolis Public Schools is college ready. If the measure does not pass, Minneapolis Schools will have to readjust its budget by making additional cuts.

Kingfield Second Sunday Pumpkin Bake-off and Farmers' Market on October 12

Day: Sunday, October 12th, 2008 Time: 9:00 AM - 1:30PM Location: Nicollet and 43rd St. Contact: Joanna S. Hallstrom at 612-823-5980 x3 The final Kingfield Farmers' Market of the season will be held on this Sunday. For more information, including a list of Market vendors and summer events, visit www.kingfield.org.

Linden Hills Park Good Energy Fair on October 11

Day: Saturday, October 11th, 2008 Time: 11AM - 3PM Location: Linden Hills Park Address: 3100 43rd St. W Contact: Deb Pierce or visit www.coffeetableproductions.com Celebrate solutions to global warming while you save energy, money and the planet. The Good Energy Fair is a lively, family-friendly event that encourages community and educates the neighborhood about energy conservation with FREE exhibits, kid's activities, local food, workshops, music, and games. Lots of great giveaways like free bus passes, CFL's, low flo faucet adapters, bike stuff and more! Carbon neutral & Zero Waste Event!

2008 Third Ward Neighborhood Summit on October 15

The Impact Of The Proposed Transit/Transporation Systems On Our Third Ward Date: October 15 Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Location: Ritz Theater Address: 345 13th Avenue N.E. Hosted by: Council Member Diane Hofstede Food and beverages provided from 5:00 to 10:00 P.M. Presentations from key transportation planners who are willing to hear from Third Ward residents and businesses!

• Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Deputy Commissioner Khani Sahebjam
• University of Minnesota’s School of Design Dean Thomas Fisher
• Hennepin County’s Administrative Engineer Joe Gladke
• City of Minneapolis Department Heads
• And Others

SPONSORED BY: Beltrami, Bottineau, Hawthorne, Marcy Holmes, McKinley, Nicollet Island/East Bank, Sheridan, St. Anthony East and St. Anthony West Neighborhood Groups. Third Ward Businesses & Business Associations: Dinkytown Business Association, Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, North East Business Association, West Broadway Area Coalition, Chank Co., Comcast, Cub Foods Broadway, Discount 70, Elsie’s, Falk/Duffey Paper, Graco, Lund’s, Northeast Bank, Sigma Nu Fraternity, The Sample Room and Wells Fargo. The meeting site is wheelchair accessible. If you need other disability related accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, or materials in alternative format, contact the office of Council Member Diane Hofstede. For more information contact Council Member Diane Hofstede’s office at 612-673-2203 or diane.hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us RSVP Please: 612-925-7769 PLEASE MAKE COPIES AND DISTRIBUTE!

Nonprofits Assistance Fund Offers Financial Management Workshops

Dates: Ongoing starting October 7 Location: Nonprofits Assistance Fund Office Address: 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 210 , in Minneapolis url: http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/pages/workshops The Nonprofits Assistance Fund is offering a series of low-cost workshops on the finance fundamentals for nonprofits, in addition to an ongoing series of financial management workshops. Upcoming Workshops:

Fundamentals of Financial Management Date: October 7, 2008 Time: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Strong financial management practices are an important component of creating a sustainable organization. This session provides a holistic introduction to nonprofit finance; topics include financial reports and reporting, roles and responsibilities, bookkeeping, and internal controls. Click here for more info and registration.

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Calculating True Program Cost Date: October 21, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Do you know what your programs cost? Are you sure they are fully funded? This workshop focuses on allocating direct and indirect expenses and calculating the true cost of your programs. This holistic approach to program budgeting will help your program staff be good managers, your development staff write effective grants, and is essential for compliance on your 990. The workshop is geared towards those needing an introduction and overview of allocations and program budgets. Click here for more info and registration.

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Financial Management Network: Using Lines of Credit, Loans,and Mortgages Date: October 22, 2008 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Nonprofits thrive when they have healthy professional networks. Join us for Nonprofits Assistance Fund's Financial Management Network at our office in Minneapolis on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Our discussion runs from noon until 1:00pm - although you are welcome to stay later to continue to network or explore specific questions with our knowledgeable staff. Click here for more info and registration.

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Financial Leadership for Executive Directors Date: November 4, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 am The Executive Director is an important member of the finance team and often functions as the organization’s key financial manager. Created specifically for executive directors of nonprofits with small budgets, participants will discuss how to establish a culture of financial responsibility and accountability and how to define and manage appropriate roles and responsibilities for financial functions. Key topics will include how to integrate realistic budgeting into annual and long-term plans, how to understand and interpret financial information for different stakeholders, and how to work with bookkeepers, auditors, the finance committee and boards. Please be prepared to share your experiences and to ask questions of peers. Click here for more info and registration.

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Understanding Nonprofit Financial Reports Date: November 18, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Learn how to make sense of nonprofit financial reports. Focusing on the income statement and balance sheet, this workshop will demystify key terminology, help you understand what the reports are telling you, and empower you to use financial information effectively. Using case studies, participants will learn to read financial reports, manage restricted funds, and understand audits and other required reports. Click here for more info and registration.

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Financial Management Network: Reserves - What Kind and How Much to Have Date: November 19, 2008 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Nonprofits thrive when they have healthy professional networks. Join us for Nonprofits Assistance Fund's Financial Management Network at our office in Minneapolis on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Our discussion runs from noon until 1:00pm - although you are welcome to stay later to continue to network or explore specific questions with our knowledgeable staff. Click here for more info and registration.

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Measuring Your Financial Health Date: December 2, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Understanding a financial statement is just the first step in assessing your nonprofit's financial health. In this workshop, you will learn to measure, analyze, and interpret information from financial reports to monitor financial strengths and weaknesses. Learn to identify key financial indicators and develop easy to use financial monitoring reports. A case study will be used for analysis, but bring your own audit with you for a hands-on exercise. Click here for more info and registration.

PALIO Festival on October 5th -- Fundraiser for Kenwood Park & Rec Center

Date: October 5 Time: 12:00 noon Location: Triangle Park Come on East Isles! Participate in the PALIO Parade & Festival!   Meet at Triangle Park at 12:00 and parade with us to Kenwood Park. We are the East Isles Blue Raccoons so wear something blue and “raccoonish.”   Let’s win the “Best Parade” award!   Kids- decorate your bikes and strollers Bring a musical instrument to help us show our neighborhood spirit   After the parade, assemble for at the soundstage to hear who won the parade awards.  Categories are:  Best Costume, Best Hat, Best Musical Participant, Best Thing on Wheels, Oldest & Youngest Participants, Best Animal Participant, Most Enthusiastic Parade and the coveted Best Parade Governor’s Award.   Then enjoy games, face painting, food, and more at the park.   PALIO Festival is October 5th from after the parade until 4pm in Kenwood Park

CARAG Architecture Tour-Lakewood Cemetery on October 4

Date: October 4 Time: 10:30 a.m. Location: Lakewood Cemetery Administration Building Join you neighbors on a walking tour of Lakewood Cemetery on Saturday, October 4, 10:30am- meet @ the Administration Bldg (Rain date: October 11). Tour guide Aaron Rubenstein will lead participants to historic monuments and buildings- including the beautiful Lakewood Cemetery Chapel.