With funding from the Bush Foundation, the Citizens League has been conducting a series of 25 statewide community workshops since the beginning of November, giving Minnesotans an opportunity to weigh in on the state budget crisis.  The workshops are informative and interactive—illuminating the current reality of the state budget, examining future trends, and asking participants to identify values and priorities they think should help frame state budget decisions for the coming decade and beyond.  Findings will be presented to our newly elected governor and Legislature in January 2011.  Although some of the workshops have already been held, you can still participate in any of the remaining workshops and take part in their online budget poll.

How to participate:
1.  Attend a workshop:  Nine remaining workshops will be held around Minnesota, November 29 - December 15. (See below for a full listing and links to register).
2.  Participate in the Common Cents state budget project on CitiZing^TM:  Go to the project website, where you can participate in the following:

• Take a quick, weekly budget poll
• Join the discussion:  What values and priorities should guide budget decisions? (Nov. 5 - Dec. 16)
• Weigh In:  Give your feedback on survey and discussion materials (Nov. 5 - Dec. 16)
• Preliminary Findings:  Have we heard you right? (Dec. 20-31)
• Conclusion:  Now help get the word out at the Capitol (Jan. 1-15)

Workshop schedule:
Click on the links below to register for the workshops.

Grand Rapids
Monday, November 29
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library St. NE

Willmar
Monday, November 29
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Willmar Public Library
410 5th St. SW

Bemidji
Tuesday, November 30
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Bemidji Public Library
509 America Ave. NW

Alexandria
Tuesday, November 30
5:45 - 7:45 p.m.
Douglas County Public Library
720 Fillmore St.

Thief River Falls
Wednesday, December 1
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Northland Community & Technical College, Room 601
1101 Highway One East

Brainerd
Wednesday, December 1
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Brainerd Public Library
416 S 5th St.

Detroit Lakes
Tuesday, December 7
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
1025 Roosevelt Ave.

Moorhead
Wednesday, December 8
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Moorhead Public Library
118 5th St. S

Worthington
Wednesday, December 15
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nobles County Government Center, Farmers Room
315 10th Street
*Note location change*

Find more information and join the discussion at www.citizing.org/commoncents.  Thanks to the Bush Foundation for their generous support!

Patti Cullen, CAE
952.851.2487
pcullen@careproviders.org

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