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Update from the Executive Director
Mill City Commons' Trial Membership period has just ended. Fifteen people capitalized on the opportunity to "try on" membership for three months, of which seven have converted to full membership. Fantastic news!
Along with new members James & Maureen Bruce and Mary Moos, please welcome Pat Gannon, Stewart Hudnut, Ken Hartung, Judy Cohn, Cheryl Coughlan, Gustavo Gomez & Jim Schmit, and Jane Liepold. We look forward to greeting and getting to know each one of you!
Membership organizations have both the delight and the challenge of welcoming and integrating new members. Staff coordinates "event buddies" for all new members for the first 3 months of membership. In addition to a New Member label on their name tag, whole-group introductions are made at the beginning of each program, and an email is sent to existing members when a new member has moved into their building.
The Membership Committee welcomes any and all suggestions to enhance the integration of new members. We thank you for your kindness in reaching out, introducing yourself and making a concerted effort to include these new members in feeling part of this wonderful organization!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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MN Orchestra: Sharing Humanity and Music in South Africa
Tuesday, October 2, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 S 2nd St, #61
 The Minnesota Orchestra's trip to South Africa in August marked the first tour by a professional U.S. orchestra to that country. Join us for a recap of this historic journey. Minnesota Orchestra musicians Kristen Bruya (principal bass) and Andy Chappell (trombone) and new CEO Michelle Miller Burns will share their joys, challenges and memories. Margee & Will Bracken and Dave & Peggy Lucas host. South African wine will be served.
MCC members sign up here.
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, October 3, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 S 2nd St 
Join us to discuss
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward. Jojo and his toddler sister, Kayla, live with their grandparents, Mam and Pop, and the occasional presence of their drug-addicted mother, Leonie, on a farm on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Leonie is simultaneously tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she's high; Mam is dying of cancer; and quiet, steady Pop tries to run the household and teach Jojo how to be a man. When the white father of Leonie's children is released from prison, she packs her kids and a friend into her car and sets out across the state for Parchman farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, on a journey rife with danger and promise.
Sing, Unburied, Sing grapples with the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power, and limitations, of the bonds of family.
If you'd like to read ahead, November's book is
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Marsha Blumenthal at
[email protected].
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
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Technology Help Desk
Wednesday, October 3, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
MCC Office, 125 Main St SE, Ste 339
 Schedule time with a tech support guru and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Help Desk. Support for both Apple products and PCs is available. After you register, MCC will confirm the time of your 20-minute one-on-one session. Reminder: Installing or upgrading software and creating accounts cannot be included in the Help Desk session, as they exceed the allotted appointment time.
The Tech Help Desk is now filled. Please contact [email protected] if you need to cancel your appointment so others can take your place. Thank you!
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, October 3, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 2nd St S
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].
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M
en's Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, October 4, 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 Bud Hayden hosts an open forum. This is an opportunity for you to give the group your elevator speech on something you're passionate about, such as a volunteer gig you participate in, a board you serve on, a political event you've hosted or something else that gives you satisfaction. Bud will kick things off by sharing what he's doing with Think Small and Growth & Justice and why he feels these are worth his time.
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A Day at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Monday, October 8, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3575 Arboretum Dr, Chaska 
Join us for an outing to one of the best botanical gardens in the country, as voted by readers of USA Today. This day at the "Arb" will include lunch, a narrated tram tour around the gardens, as well as time to browse the gift shop or grounds on your own. Members pay their own charges for lunch at the Arboretum Cafe and the tram ($5). Carpools will be arranged.
MCC members sign up here.
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, October 9, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Mill City Quarter, 322 2nd St S
 Mill City Commons members are invited to join in a weekly drop-in meditation hour. This is a time for self-guided meditation; if you're new to meditation, we'll provide a brief explanation to help you get started. Our hope is that meditating with each other may help each of our practices and create a shared energy among participants. Drop-in sessions are on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 am at Mill City Quarter, across the parking lot from Abiitan. An MCC member will be there to greet you at 9:30 a.m. Please register for sessions you plan to attend so we have an idea of how many to expect. All sessions are free.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Eric Dayton: Identity and Entrepreneurship in the North
Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104 
Over the past five years, the North has grown from a knit hat into a movement built around adventure, creativity and the embrace of our cold winters. Eric Dayton, CEO of Askov Finlayson, will discuss his vision for the North and his commitment to making it a movement for good.
MCC members sign up here.
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, October 11, 1:30 - 3:00 pm
212 Lofts, 212 N 1st St, #609
 MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This weeks Ginny Craig hosts in her home at 212 Lofts. Many of us feel downhearted by the way the "world" seems to be going at this point in time. Ginny will share what she's learned reading a book called Factfulness by Hans Rosling, with Ola Rosling and Ann Rosling Rönnlund. We'll do a short quiz to see if our perceptions match up with others. Are our perceptions correct? If not, why? How is our way of looking at the world wrong? Or if correct, why? A hopeful (mostly) and eyeopening look at world progress.
Our Turn meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Hosts and topics change each time.
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Dinner for 5
Sunday, October 14, 6:00 - 7:30 pm 
Smith & Porter Restaurant, 428 2nd St S
If connecting with and getting to know other MCC members in a smaller, more intimate social setting interests you, this new 10th Anniversary program idea just might be for you! Join other MCC members for a casual evening of dining in Abiitan's Smith & Porter Restaurant. The meal is dutch treat. Space is limited to five people, so register early!
MCC members sign up here.
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Great Decisions: South Africa's Fragile Democracy
Monday, October 15, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D104
 The African National Congress (ANC) party has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. But the party today suffers from popular frustration over official corruption and economic stagnation. It faces growing threats from both left and right opposition parties, even as intraparty divisions surface. Given America's history of opportunistic engagement with Africa, there are few prospects for a closer relationship between the two countries. Meanwhile, a weaker ANC could lead to political fragmentation in this relatively new democracy. Speaker Gary Prevost is professor emeritus of political science at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and research associate in political and conflict studies at Nelson Mandela University in Port, Elizabeth, South Africa. He has published numerous articles on South African politics, with particular emphasis on the African National Congress and the political attitudes of South African university students.
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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Village to Village Conference: What We Learned
Tuesday, October 16, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
Join several Mill City Commons members and Executive Director Joan Wright for a panel discussion about what they experienced, learned and took away from this year's Village to Village Annual Gathering in San Diego.
MCC members sign up here.
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MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of MCC's October events
here.
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News from Members
MCC Executive Director Joan Wright invites those planning trips this fall to the Minnesota Arboretum to view the 11th Annual GRC Exhibition, "Inspired by Nature," in the Reedy Gallery. The opening reception will be held on November 4 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the Reedy Gallery; the exhibition runs through December 27. MCC member Katie Searl will have at least one piece featured in the exhibit.
MCC Executive Director Joan Wright wants members to know about a new exhibition,
Quilt, Not Quilt: The Afterlife, at Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), on view from October 12-December 2 in the Open Book Cowles Literary Commons. This exhibition features artwork that repurposes old, tattered quilts into new forms while still preserving the quilts' heritage, craftsmanship and legacy. The opening reception will take place on Wednesday, October 17 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception includes an artist talk and poetry reading from 7:00-8:00 pm, as well as a meet and greet with the artists and poets. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Learn more
here.
MCC member Merle Minda invites members to attend Out of the Box Opera's "Diva Cage Match 2.0." Last year's sell-out event will happen again on October 20 at 7:00 pm, at the Upper Cut Boxing Gym in North Minneapolis (1324 Quincy St NE). Six opera divas, in full concert dress, will climb into the boxing ring and belt their hearts out; judges will select a winner after the sing-off. Hosted by artistic director David Lefkowich. Great music and great fun. Free parking onsite and cash bar. Tickets can be purchased
here.
MCC members Scotty and Peter Gillette would like to encourage you to attend a FREE luncheon at the Depot (5th Ave and Washington) at noon on Tuesday October 30 to hear about an innovative and exciting public-private partnership on the Northside called the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). The mission of NAZ is to inspire and prepare 1,200 kids in a challenging geographical area on the Northside to be ready for college! You'll hear about the hurdles that these kids face on a daily basis and the tremendous progress they have made towards their goals. You can also sign up to take a free bus tour of the Northside on Thursday November 15 to see of yourself both the needs and positive happenings in North Minneapolis. RSVP for the luncheon and/or the bus tour to Kenneth Scales at 612-594-8294.
MCC member Claudia Kittock shares that the Salvation Army is looking for people who are interested in volunteering as Bell Ringers during the holiday season. If you are interested, you can sign up
here.
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Around Town
Light Art
October 6, 8:00-9:00 pm, riverside of the Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd St
Swiss Light Artist Gerry Hofstetter has chosen Mill City Museum as Minnesota's signature venue for his
Light Art Grand Tour USA. Hofstetter says he works around the globe "transforming monuments and landscapes into light art sculptures for a short moment in time, as a way to highlight their history and importance to the world." The Light Art will be shown on the river side of the museum, and the public is encouraged to watch from the Minneapolis riverfront, Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Main. Learn more
here.
Negotiating Tradition
October 10, 7:00-8:30 pm, Weisman Art Museum, 333 E River Rd
Attend a panel discussion about the transformation of traditional narratives and how gender politics and marginalized indigenous communities influence that transformation. The panel will include Anna Seastrand (University of Minnesota); Pika Gosh (Haverford College); Ananya Chatterjee (Ananya Dance Theatre); and Richa Nagar (University of Minnesota). For information and to register, click
here.
Westminster Town Hall Forum
October 16, 12:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave
Mona Hanna-Attisha will present on "What We Can Learn from Flint, Michigan." Hanna-Attisha has been acclaimed internationally for her research that exposed elevated levels of lead in the blood of the children of Flint. She directs the Michigan State University and Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, a public health program committed to researching, monitoring, and mitigating the impact of the Flint water crisis.
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 Member
James & Maureen Bruce
Mary Moos
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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
Aster Cafe
125 Main St SE
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
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.
September's book is
Sing, Unburied, Sing
by Jesmyn Ward
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.
Meditation Circle
Tuesdays
9:30-10:30 am
Join us for a weekly
self-guided meditation hour.
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Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
September-December,
10:30 am-12:00 pm & 1:00-2:30 pm*
A way to support members and non-members who are in a caregiving role.
*Note: There are still openings in the afternoon group. For more information, contact
Betsy Wray.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
October 11 & 25
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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