Gackle, ND

District #28 voters from the region enjoyed beautiful weather Saturday, July 26^th when Gackle’s A.F. Lehr Park became the setting for an open-air “open conversation” about political possibilities and alternatives. Over thirty residents from Gackle, Jud and Fredonia, plus several from Lehr, turned out for the 5:00-6:30 PM get-together under the trees. The event was sponsored and co-hosted by Mary Jo Fries, Marilyn Entzminger and Mary Conrad.

April Fairfield, formerly of Eldridge and now living in Bismarck, served as guest facilitator for the unprecedented discussion among local Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The group focused on the most important issues legislators need to address during the coming four years.

Ms. Fairfield launched the conversation by asking participants how they would use a “Willie Wonka golden ticket”–if they had one–to improve what our government is doing for us. Her ten years of experience in the North Dakota House and Senate were an extremely helpful backdrop for the Q&A that followed. Participants were introduced to Senate candidate Alan Bergman from Jud, and House candidates Kristen Vetter from Linton and Isadore Gross from Kintyre, all running on the 2008 Dem-NPL ticket. Along with Ms. Fairfield, they fielded questions and then mingled with participants.

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDE SHOW

During the final half hour, everyone enjoyed refreshments of meat, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit and veggies. Guests and many residents lingered for an extra half hour to continue their conversations with candidates and enjoy chatting with friends and neighbors from the region.

At the end of the evening there was general agreement among participants that this type of conversation about issues can be both enjoyable and productive, especially as it offers opportunities to listen and engage each other in the political process. Candidates Bergman, Vetter and Gross joined the three hostesses and guest facilitator at Dani’s Place afterwards to end the evening with conversation over delicious grilled steak dinners.

If you would have told me I could get more than 20 people to come to a drawing classon a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Gackle, North Dakota I would have said-”dream-on.” But Gackle proved me wrong and that was my hope! They said they wanted arts opportunities and cultural activities and thanks to a North Dakota Council on the Arts grant some Gackle “artists” enjoyed a drawing lesson with Linda Whitney from Valley City State University. Here are some photos.

I can’t wait till next week!