My Point of View by Robin Brown

Robin Brown, a former District 27A representative, is a member of the Freeborn County DFL Party.

It has been said that elections have consequences, and I believe that is true. Regardless of who you may have voted for, I’m sure you’re observing with anticipation the consequences of your vote and that of your neighbors and community members as am I. I don’t see this as a bad thing. I see this as an opportunity to understand each other better. After all, administrations and elected officials come and go, but our family, friends and community remain.

Seeking to understand each other, combined with the attitude of service, is the first step. I still believe we all want to raise our families in a safe environment, work in a profession that we enjoy and will pay the bills and have reason for optimism for the future of our children and grandchildren. But it’s not enough to want these assets for ourselves and families alone. We must want those things for the families of our neighbors, our state and our nation.

My desire for each and every one of us is that we are inspired by this election to get involved and do what we see as best for our families, neighbors and our nation. And getting involved in the age of the internet is easier than ever before. The web is full of legitimate, respected, informational sites that are easy to navigate and are organized by news articles, legislation, service group, etc. Whether your inspiration is to volunteer for The United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society (or any of the other great community organizations), or if your passion is to become a highly involved political activist, there is lots of good work to be done, and lots of good people are needed to do it.

If you’re looking to improve the lives of others by promoting progressive policies, you may be interested in joining the Freeborn County DFL. Meetings take place the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Union Center in Albert Lea. Meetings generally run for about an hour with refreshments and conversation after adjournment.

For further information about upcoming events in local DFL politics, you can be added to the Freeborn County DFL Facebook page. Postcard or email reminders for monthly meetings can be requested by emailing our chairwoman, Julie Ackland, at jackland1976@yahoo.com.

If state politics is more your interest, Minnesota DFL has a fantastic web site at www.dfl.org. One of my favorite pages is the Daily Donkey, where you will find events, legislation and news of the day.  It’s kind of a one-stop-shop for DFL political information.

For more nonpartisan political information, you may want to check out our own state of Minnesota websites. The Minnesota House of Representatives can be found at www.house.leg.state.mn.us, while the Minnesota state Senate can be found at www.senate.mn. The sites are respected nationally and make it possible to follow legislation as it develops, easily contact your legislators, view calendars of events and acquire educational material for youth and adults alike.

Now is the time to become involved. On Nov. 6, 2018, we will be electing a new governor, senators and representatives.  Remember, elections really do have consequences. The election process is long, hard work for the candidates and for the volunteers behind the scenes. And volunteers are needed — even this far away from election day. Volunteers are needed to vet candidates, create policy, write letters and knock on doors. Volunteers are needed to organize opportunities for us to meet and get to know our future governor as well as other elected officials.

So, if your passion is politics, and you want to make a difference in your community, this is the time to get involved. It is my belief that caring friends, neighbors and community members seeking to understand each other and willing to work together for the common good can and will make a positive difference in the lives of others. Let’s work together. Let’s start today.