Minnesota ONE members gathered in their State Capitol today to celebrate Minnesota officially becoming a “ONE State” united against global poverty and preventable disease.

Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the ONE State proclamation at an event held in the Governor’s Reception Room at the Capitol, which was also attended by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), local faith leaders and other officials from both political parties. Gov. Pawlenty and Sen. Klobuchar showcased the ways Minnesotans can get involved in efforts to save lives from extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa and poor regions around the world. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak (D-MN) and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (D-MN) also signed declarations earlier in the week making their respective cities official “ONE Cities.”

Check out Fox 9 Morning News’s fantastic clip about the morning’s celebration!

ONE Field Organizer Libby Crimmings will post soon about her experience on the ground in Minnesota!

-Chris Scott

On Wednesday we’re hosting a “ONE Minnesota” event at the State Capitol in St. Paul to celebrate Governor Pawlenty’s leadership in declaring Minnesota a “ONE State,” Mayor Rybak declaring Minneapolis and Mayor Coleman declaring Saint Paul “ONE Cities.”

The event will raise awareness for the issues important to the more than 28,000 ONE supporters in Minnesota and celebrate the leadership that Minnesota’s elected officials have demonstrated on both the state and federal levels.

Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Lutheran Bishop Peter Rogness, ONE member and leader of the Twin Cities ONE Group Rochelle Gibbs are all confirmed to speak. If you would like to join us for this event please RSVP here.

Way to go ONE Minnesota members!

-Libby Crimmings, MN ONE Field Organizer

This weekend, ONE members spoke with delegates from all over Minnesota at a booth during the Democratic Farmer Labor Party, State Convention in Rochester, MN. There were about 2,000 delegates and alternates present at the convention plus media, campaign staff and volunteers.

ONE hosted a booth in the exhibitor section and members spoke to people about the campaign, our successes, what our goals are, and of course how they can get involved! We were thrilled to meet many people who were already ONE members, and wearing their ONE bands! People were excited to hear about efforts and of course that their Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, as well as Republican presidential candidate John McCain, have both been supportive and participated in ONE’s On the Record challenge.

During the event, US Congressman Tim Walz stopped by the booth to thank ONE members for being at the convention as well as for the work they are doing. Congressman Walz said he has been a supporter of the campaign for years and is glad we could be there to spread the word about the campaign. He put on a band and took a photo with ONE members.
ONE members also took a photo with Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, or at least his cardboard cutout counterpart!

Overall the event was great and many of the delegates were very supportive, wore ONE stickers, bands and signed the ONE declaration!

-Kelly Wyveen, ONE member Stillwater, MN

Last week and this, ONE volunteers in New Jersey, Nebraska, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Minneapolis, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama are dropping of thousands of letters to congressman and senators asking them to co-sponsor the Global Child Survival Act. A volunteer in Minnesota sent me this email while she was preparing to go. I wanted to share.

Annisa Wanat

As I was writing a personal handwritten letter to Senator Coleman, this is what came out when I listened to my heart. I didn’t get all the talking points in but it doesn’t matter. I hope it reaches him.

Imagine saving the life of a child.
Imagine the joy in the mother’s eyes.
Imagine the gratitude.
Imagine what that child has to offer the world.
Imagine the possibilities.
Now multiply that by 10 million.
Every year.
Imagine THAT possibility.

That possibility can be reality, if you co-sponsor the Global Child Survival Act.

-Nadja Gale, ONE Member, Twin Cities, MN