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Update from the Executive Director
The history of health care in our country is long and complicated. Today, many continue to struggle with high cost, lack of good coverage and fewer and fewer medical options to consider. Senator David Durenberger will offer his thoughts on some positive ways forward, gleaned from his 50-plus-year journey immersed in the topic, at tomorrow night's program. More information is available below. Guests are welcome and may register with
Betsy Wray
. Members may
register here.
Yesterday's email sent to members inviting them to attend the Mill City Commons 10th Anniversary Celebration on May 7 has already received a strong response.
RSVP here
no later than April 20. We hope you can join us!
Please extend a hearty welcome to our newest MCC members, Pat & Tom Grossman!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, April 4, 9:30 - 10:30 am 
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 2nd St S
Join us to discuss
Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard. At the age of 24, Winston Churchill was utterly convinced it was his destiny to become prime minister of England. He arrived in South Africa in 1899, valet and crates of vintage wine in tow, to cover the brutal colonial war the British were fighting with Boer rebels and jumpstart his political career. But just two weeks later, Churchill was taken prisoner. Remarkably, he pulled off a daring escape--traversing hundreds of miles of enemy territory, alone, with nothing but a crumpled wad of cash, four slabs of chocolate, and his wits to guide him. Millard spins an epic story of bravery, savagery and chance encounters with a cast of historical characters--including Rudyard Kipling, Lord Kitchener and Mohandas Gandhi--with whom Churchill would later share the world stage. The lessons Churchill took from the Boer War would profoundly affect 20th century history.
If you'd like to read ahead, May's book is
Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email
[email protected].
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
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Senator Dave Durenberger: A Way Forward in Health Care?
Wednesday, April 4, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 A year after the 1965 passage of Medicare and Medicaid, David Durenberger began a 50-plus-year journey through state and national health financing policy and health system reform, including 12 years as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota. After retiring from the Senate, he spent 20 years teaching health policy and chairing the National Institute of Health Policy at the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. Because of his journey, he's very familiar with the history of health care in America and its current issues, as well as the players involved, and he has some thoughts on a positive way forward.
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Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, April 5, 7:30 - 8:30 am 
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE
It's caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going. Please register by the Monday prior to Men's Coffee and Conversation. This week, MCC member Ken Searl will talk about his involvement with Friends of the Mill District, a community organization founded by a group of downtown residents, including Ken and MCC member Claudia Kittock. Ken then will introduce James Burroughs, Minnesota's Chief Inclusion Officer. His colleagues David Collier and C.J. Hallman also will join us.
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The King of Skid Row
Monday, April 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Bridgewater Community Room, 8th fl, 215 10th Ave S
 Join us as author James Eli Shiffer takes us into a time when the heart of downtown Minneapolis was a densely packed neighborhood of bars, flophouses, liquor stores, rescue missions and second-hand shops catering to the last generation of seasonal laborers that had been part of the city's history from the beginning. It was all cleared away in a massive urban renewal project in the Gateway District that started in 1959 and ended in 1963. Shiffer has been a professional journalist for 25 years and is currently a columnist and editor at the Star Tribune. His book, The King of Skid Row, was published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2016.
NOTE: We've been given permission to park for free in the MS Society parking lot on 2nd St. S., just south of 11th Ave. S. The parking lot entry is almost directly across from the main entry to Stonebridge Condos. There are some double parking spaces in the lot; please do not park someone in if they're in a double parking space.
MCC members sign up here. |
Waterfowl Walk
Tuesday, April 10, 8:00 - 9:30 am 
Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4235 E Lake Harriet Blvd
Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds stream through Minnesota on their annual migrations. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is a great place to observe them. In this walk led by Jamie McBride, lead naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, we'll be watching for geese, ducks, swans, pelicans and more. Bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them (we'll also have some to borrow). The April 10 session will meet at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.
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Exploring Meditation
Tuesday, April 10, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Mill City Quarter, 322 2nd St S
 Spring Into Meditation! All members are welcome to join--experienced or not--our Spring Series on Happiness. What better time to blossom our innate happiness and chase away the winter blues. Why should the students in Harvard's most popular class, "Happiness," have all the fun? We'll meet on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Mill City Quarter, across the parking lot from Abiitan. There's comfortable seating or, if you like, bring a meditation cushion or floor mat. Pay $10 for each session you attend, collected at the end of all sessions. This series runs 7 weeks--April 10 to May 22. You're welcome at any session that your schedule permits. When you register for the class you'll receive class reminders and notes with helpful tips and links. Questions? Email
[email protected].
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
Social Bridge
Wednesday, April 11, 3:00 - 5:00 pm 
Washburn Lofts, 700 S 2nd St
Join bridge players for a round of social bridge; levels of expertise and experience vary. Bring a partner if you can, and remember to register both yourself and your partner. Questions? Contact Carol Jordan at [email protected].
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
Our Turn
Thursday, April 12, 10:00 - 11:30 am
The Landings, 510 River St (**Note the location)
 MCC women, you're invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Sylvia Kaplan hosts on the topic of "TV: What's good, what's bad and why?" What do you watch and what don't you watch? What would you like to see? What did you love in the old days? If you don't watch TV, when did you stop and why?
Our Turn meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Hosts and topics change each time.
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC.
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Grandparents' Role in Children's Mental Health
Friday, April 13, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Washburn Center for Children, 1100 Glenwood Ave 
Peer pressure, bullying, anxiety, depression--these are a few of the mental health-related challenges that one out of five children experience during their childhood. Learn how the Washburn Center for Children, our region's leading children's mental health provider, is helping children reach their full potential. MCC member Michael Brennan, a member of Washburn Center's Board of Trustees, will open the program, where we'll meet several of the Center's professional team who will discuss the role family members, particularly grandparents, can have in supporting their children and grandchildren through the struggles of social, emotional and behavioral challenges. Join us for this informative and inspirational session!
MCC members sign up here. |
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Great Decisions: U.S. Global Engagement and the Military
Monday, April 16, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 The global power balance is rapidly evolving, leaving the United States at a turning point with respect to its level of engagement and the role of its military. Some argue for an "America First" paradigm, with a large military to ensure security, while others call for a more assertive posture overseas. Some advocate for a restoration of American multilateral leadership and a strengthened role for diplomacy. Still others envision a restrained U.S. role, involving a more limited military. How does the military function in today's international order, and how might it be balanced with diplomatic and foreign assistance capabilities? Speaker Jon Olson, a retired U.S. Navy commander, is an adjunct professor in Carleton College's Political Science Department and in the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University. The courses he leads include "The U.S. Intelligence Community," "Terrorism and Counterterrorism," "Intelligence, Policy and Strategy, and Conflict," and "Studies in Weapons of Mass Destruction."
Registration on the MCC website is required for Great Decisions members. Sorry, not open to guests; to join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, email Betsy Wray at [email protected].
MCC GD members sign up here. |
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Waterfowl Walk
Tuesday, April 17, 8:00 - 9:30 am
Meeting location to be announced 
Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds stream through Minnesota on their annual migrations. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is a great place to observe them. In this walk led by Jamie McBride, lead naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, we'll be watching for geese, ducks, swans, pelicans and more. Bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them (we'll also have some to borrow). Location for the April 17 session will be announced soon.
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10 Years...Time to Celebrate!
Monday, May 7, 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Surly Brewing Co, 520 Malcolm Ave SE
 Mill City Commons is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with lots to remember and even more to look forward to! An evening of revelry is "on tap" to kick off our 10th anniversary year at Surly Brewing. View an amazing slideshow of photos old and new, order a signature beer cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage, enjoy an array of delectable appetizers and sit back to enjoy some fun facts about our amazing organization from emcees Bill Davnie and Allan Burdick. Cash bar, with beer and soft drinks only; the fun, food and frolic are free! Carpooling is encouraged. RSVP no later than April 20.
MCC members sign up here. |
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MCC Program Calendar
Plan ahead! View the full calendar of MCC's April events
here.
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News from Members
MCC member Linnea Olesen wants members to know about the Mental Health Monday Speaker Series held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (4100 Lyndale Ave S) in South Minneapolis. On Monday, April 9, 5:45 - 8:00 pm, John Moe will be speaking on "The Hilarious World of Depression." The Hilarious World of Depression is a podcast with a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny conversations with top comedians who have dealt with this disease, hosted by veteran humorist and public radio host John Moe. There is a light supper at 5:45 pm, followed by the program from 6:30-8:00 pm. All are welcome!
MCC member Karla Ekdahl shares that the 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival returns with over 250 films from over 70 countries around the world. Featuring the opening night film RBG, the acclaimed documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and with a special focus this year on Women & Film (with over fifty feature and short films directed by women.) Narratives, documentaries, music videos, short films and titles from around the globe and right here in Minnesota. Tickets available here.
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Around Town
The New Tax Bill: Who Wins, Who Loses?
April 3, 6:30-8:00 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Join Congressman Ellison and others to learn about how the new tax bill will affect Minnesota residents, businesses and the economy as a whole. Come prepared to share your questions or concerns about the tax bill. Learn more here.
AIGA Minnesota: Step Away from the Screen
April 11, 7:00 pm, American Craft Council, 1224 Marshall St NE, Suite 200, Library
Join this panel and exhibition showcasing professional designers who also have side practices in craft and work with materials like clay, glass, wood, fiber and metal. The conversation will center around the value of working in three dimensions, the importance of the tangible as part of the design process and the creative boost that comes from picking up a tool as a method of creative expression and problem solving - instead of using a mouse and monitor. No RSVP is necessary, but space is limited. Learn more here.
Cantus Performance: For the Beauty of the Earth
April 12, 7:30 pm, MacPhail Center for Music, 501 2nd St S, Antonello Hall
We can all too easily find ourselves detached from the natural world. Even so, the Earth always remains integral to our lives, providing not only life-sustaining resources but also artistic inspiration. Though we may be imperfect stewards of our planet, we can share an appreciation of its profound beauty and fragility. Join Cantus for a celebration of the majesty of this planet that we share. For information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Mill City Times
is a local website devoted specifically to our neighborhood and a place to go to find out what's happening, whether it's a new restaurant opening, a local event, proposed construction, volunteer opportunities and more.
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Please Welcome MCC's Newest Members!
Pat & Tom Grossman
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Volunteer Opportunities
Click
here
for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!
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MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities
Dutch Treat
Social Hour
Mondays, 4:00-5:00 pm
Jefe Urban Hacienda
219 Main St SE
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
Guthrie Play Reading
RiverWest Group
Tuesday, 4/10,
6:30-9:30 pm
North Star Group
Wednesday, 4/18,
6:30-9:30 pm
Groups will be reading "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month, 9:30-10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
No reservations required.
Hero of the Empire
by Candice Millard
Rendezvous on 5
Wednesdays, 9-10 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
Drop in and join your friends and neighbors for fellowship at this neighborhood haunt. This weekly adventure requires no reservations!
Social Bridge
Every other Wednesday, 3:00-5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts,
700 2nd St S
Enjoy a round of social bridge. Be sure to register on the website!
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall Street NE
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday at 7:30 am and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Relax and chat with other MCC women. This group meets every other Thursday and alternates between morning and afternoon times. Look for details in the body of this newsletter.
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| Mill City Commons Ongoing Fitness Opportunities
G-Werx Fitness,
An exclusive opportunity for members, this weekly class focuses on strength, balance
and stretching to keep you fit and strong.
First time participants, please contact G-Werx Fitness at (612) 767-4415 and arrive 20 minutes early to complete paperwork. Cost varies depending on commitment.
River Walkers Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 am Stone Arch Lofts Riverside Parking Lot
All levels of walkers are welcome for this early morning walk along the banks of the Mississippi River. An MCC volunteer leads each walk.
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Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
January - April,
10:30 am-12:00 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are or have been in a caregiving role. For more information, contact
Betsy Wray.
Exploring Meditation
Mill City Quarter,
322 2nd St S
Every Tuesday,
9:30-10:30 am
Clear the clutter in your mind, reduce stress and increase the feeling of calm in your life.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
April 12 & 26
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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