Make Your Voice Heard!

On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Minnesotans will gather together in their local schools and government centers to exercise one of our most important rights: to organize and express ourselves politically through the precinct caucus system.  Whether you have never attended a caucus or are a long-time activist, we want to want to encourage you to attend neighborhood Republican caucus. Precinct caucuses mark the beginning of the campaign season in our great state and form the foundation of our Party.

2010 - Important Dates

• Tue., Feb. 2: SD-45 Precinct Caucuses Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7:00 pm - Cooper High School - New Hope
  8240 47th Avenue (just off Winnetka Avenue)
  Not sure what district you're in? Go to the MNGOP's Precinct Finder.

• Sat., March 6: SD-45 BPOU Convention - Robbinsdale Middle School, 9:00 am
• Tue., March 9: Hennepin County Convention - South View Middle School, Edina
  
• Sat., April 10: CD-5 Convention - Information coming soon
• Sat., April 17 CD-3 Convention - South View Middle School, Edina
  
• April 29-May 1: State Convention - Minneapolis Convention Center
• Tue., November 2: Election Day

Republican Party of Minnesota Documents (PDF files)

1. Republican Party of Minnesota 2008 Platform
2. Resolution Form (fill in and bring to Caucus to vote on changing the party platform)

Caucus FAQs - your questions answered!

• Who can attend the caucuses?
• What if I work or have school that evening?
• What do I do when I show up?
• What's happening at the caucuses?
• How do I become a delegate?

> Get answers and more

Roles and responsibilities

DELEGATE

• Attend conventions
• Pre-register when possible, arrive early to read packet of registration materials and stay as long as needed to finish the business of the day
• Notify precinct chair for either “yes” or “no” attendance at the BPOU Convention
• Help to elect BPOU (senate/house district) officers
• Endorse candidates and work to get them elected
• Help to elect delegates/alternates to Congressional District and State Conventions and to State Central
• Vote on resolutions to help the process of developing the State Party Platform

ALTERNATE

• Attend BPOU Convention if delegate is unable to attend and fulfill the above tasks
• May attend convention even if not serving in place of a delegate
• Endorse candidates and work to get them elected

VICE-CHAIRS / DISTRICT CHAIRS

• Serve as grass roots leader of the precinct for Senate District 45 Republicans
• Maintain contact with precinct delegates and alternates, and coordinate (or assist in execution of) volunteer activities of delegates, alternates, and volunteers in the precinct
• Contribute to the Senate district organization via the following activities
  • identifying volunteers (phoning / door knocking)
  • coordinating or assisting with voter contact activities (Letters to the Editor, public forums)
  • performing get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts
  • financial support for the senate district
• Serve on SD45 committees that promote getting Republicans elected; identify Republican voters in the district
• Attend BPOU meetings
• Faithfully carry out the jobs for which you volunteer

PRECINCT CHAIRS

As a Precinct Chair, you are one of the leaders of the Republican Party in your Senate District for the next two years after an election. You have an opportunity to make a difference for your Senate District, the state, and the country. You can be involved in the political process and have fun at the same time with peers in your neighborhood! What you can do:

• Fill the delegation for the BPOU conventions during your 2-year term. There is usually one convention per year however during the even years, there may be two conventions - one for endorsing and one for electing delegates, alternates and voting on resolutions.
• Attend precinct leader training session provided by SD-45 for which an invitation will be sent or be handed out to you at the precinct caucuses.
• Assist with Republican Party activities by serving on committees, event planning, voter identification, etc. We welcome your ideas!
• Support your endorsed Republican candidates
• Attend your BPOU meetings as invited.

Speaking the Language

First time caucus-goers can sometimes be confused by the jargon used during the meeting. Here is a quick translation of some of the most common bits of political jargon:

BPOU - Basic Political Organizational Unit (in a House/Senate District. Ours is 45)

Call -  The official notice of a party convention or meeting.

Caucus -  A party meeting.

Delegate -  A person elected to represent their group at higher party meetings. Delegates are usually elected based on the candidates or positions that they support.

Endorsement -  When the delegates vote as a party unit to support a candidate. The candidate may then receive party resources to support his or her election efforts. However, endorsed candidates must still win the party's nomination at the primary election

Election Judge -  A person nominated by a major party and appointed by a city or township to administer voting at a precinct polling place.

Major Party -  A party receiving the support of 5% of the number of people voting at the last state general election and a vote in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties.

Nomination -  Candidates must be nominated before their names will be listed on the November election ballot. Major party candidates are nominated at the state primary election in September.

Party Platform -  The list of principles and issues positions that guide candidates, workers and members of a political party.

Precinct -  A voting district containing one polling place.

Resolution -  A written statement of an idea, issue, concern or action for people to consider at a caucus for possible addition to the party platform.