Missing your cohorts from Minneapolis? Or stuck in the far upper left corner of the country and bummed that you missed NN11? Well, have I got a solution for you. Head into Seattle for the annual 2011 NWRoots Conference, held July 11, 2011.
Organizer Robert Sargent, along with the good folks at Northwest Progressive Institute have put together a great one-day lineup:
Former Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, Congressman Jim McDermott, Congressman Jay Inslee, and Washington State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson will speak at NWroots, a one-day conference for liberal leaning political activists and citizens interested in progressive public policy on Saturday, July 9th, at Swannies Comedy Underground in Seattle's Pioneer Square district.
Mr. Dosanjh, who announced his retirement from politics after losing his seat in Parliament last month, was Canada's Health Minister during the Paul Martin Administration. In addition to being a member of Parliament for most of the past ten years, Dosanjh, born and raised in India, was previously Premier of British Columbia following stints as BC's Attorney General and member of the Province's Parliament. Dosanjh will address the subject of single payer universal health care....
The conference, organized by political activist Rob Sargent in conjunction with the NW Progressive Institute, will feature sessions on health care, labor, the media, Afghanistan, the mortgage crisis, and electronic voting. Lavidalocavore.org's [and Daily Kos's] Jill Richardson will present a session on our broken food system, and another on Monsanto's nocuous worldwide influence on agriculture. Two documentaries will also be screened. The conference will feature a candidates social for attendees to meet and hear from local candidates that have filed for the 2011 election. The Total Experience Gospel Choir will close out the event with a special performance. An after-party will take place at the historic Central Saloon.
The conference will be held at the Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square. The registration price of $50 ($25 students) includes a buffet breakfast at the Comedy Underground and lunch at nearby Fx McRory's
There are late-breaking rumors that Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the maybe-carpetbagger, is planning on attending. Now that could get interesting.
Registration is now open right here. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend because of family obligations, but it promises to be an interesting and informative session.
Besides, who's cooler to hang out with than Pacific NWerners?
Oh, and by the way, if you missed navajo's NN11 Photo Diary or sterno's and Julie Gulden's pub quiz diaries, go read them. If you were at NN11, you'll appreciate the memories. If you missed it, it'll convince you to go next year.