Event Details:
Midwest Wobfest is almost here.  If you’ve already registered, you’re golden.  If not, line up and send your registration form and fee today.  The sooner you return the form and fee, the better prepared we will all be for the festival.  Here are some details to help with your visit to the Twin Cities.

 MIDWEST WOBFEST ADVANCE SCHEDULE

 FRIDAY, JULY 14^th - 4 PM to MIDNIGHT - WOBFEST CHECK-IN

& BONFIRE OF DISCONTENT

JACK PINE COLLECTIVE (2815 East Lake Street, Minneapolis)

FWs are welcome to check-in and register from 4 to 9 PM at the Jack Pine Collective.  We’re going to have some music and refreshments throughout the evening.  After 9 PM, you’ll have the option to get shuttled to your place of lodging or head over to the bonfire of discontent, where more food and beverage awaits.  Friday evening is a chance for everyone to get acquainted before the discussion forums the following day.  Share your stories from the class war and bring literature you might have from your IWW activities.

 SATURDAY, JULY 15^th - 9 AM – 5:30 PM - DISCUSSION FORUMS

& KEYNOTE ADDRESS

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EAST BANK MINNEAPOLIS CAMPUS

NICHOLSON  HALL (216 Pillsbury Dr. SE)

At this point, the forum topics represent what Twin Cities GMB members find useful through discussions on IWW email lists and from conversations with Wobblies from around the Midwest.  The forums will likely change a bit from what you see below, but the general time line and the subject matter will be close, best we can judge.  We will be contacting several Wobs in the Midwest to help present and/or facilitate each forum.  Aside from the keynote address, sessions will be open only to those who have registered for Wobfest.

<!--[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->9 – 9:45 AM - BREAKFAST AND STATE OF THE UNION GENERAL DISCUSSION

Breakfast will be available during the general discussion on the state of the IWW, with representatives from all GMBs and organizing campaigns talking briefly about their agitating.  We’ll then have time for Q & A.  Also, bring your singing voices as a rousing round of ‘Hold the Fort’ will open our day.

 

10 – 10:45 AM - DISCUSSION FORUMS IA & IB

Discussion Forum IA - Regional Organizing & Intra-branch Communication Structures

Discussion Forum IB - Member Retention: Dues Structure or Increased Agitating?

These two forums will run concurrently.  You are free to attend one or some of each forum.

 

11 – 11:45 AM - DISCUSSION FORUMS IIA & IIB

Discussion Forum IIA - Building a Branch or Industrial Organizing Campaign

Discussion Forum IIB - Dual Card Direct Action – IWW in our ‘Unionized’ Workplaces

These two forums will run concurrently.  You are free to attend one or some of each forum.

 

12 – 12:45 PM - LUNCH

Lunch is provided for those registered for Wobfest. The local Food Not Bombs chapter will cook up some tasty dishes for all.

 

1 – 3 PM - KEYNOTE SPEECH AND GENERAL DISCUSSION

We’re really honored to have Fellow Worker Staughton Lynd in town to share his observations on the world of workers – where we’ve come from and a vision on how to move forward.  After the speech, there will be ample time for Q & A and discussion.  The keynote and discussion will be open to all interested workers, IWW members or otherwise.

 

3:30 – 4:15 PM - DISCUSSION FORUMS IIIA & IIIB

Discussion Forum IIIA - Collectives & Co-Ops – How to Start & Sustain Them

Discussion Forum IIIB - Solidarity Brigade – Ups and Downs of IWW Support for Other Groups

These two forums will run concurrently.  You are free to attend one or some of each forum.

 

4:30 – 5:30 PM - GENERAL DISCUSSION ON DAY’S FORUMS

<!--[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->During this general forum, we’ll discuss the day’s forums – what was helpful, what wasn’t?  After the discussion, we’ll divide up along GMB/geographic lines and compete in a sing-a-long of ‘Solidarity Forever’.

 

7 PM - MIDNIGHT - WORKERS UNITED REVUE

CRESCENT MOON BALLROOM (2337 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis)

There’s something for everybody in this fantastic show, which will be open to the public.  If you’ve registered for Wobfest, you won’t have to pay the $5 cover we’re charging to help defray the cost of hall rental fees.  There will be soda, beer, and food available at the show.  Here’s the line up:

7 – 7:30 PM - FRIENDLY, Local punk band including one of our own TC GMB members

7:45 – 8:15 - SHANNON MURRAY, Folk/Punk singer-songwriter and IWW member

8:30 – 8:45 - FARHEEN HAKEEM, Educator, community organizer, and comedian

9:00 – 10:00 PM - MOJO SPLEENS, Local kings of surfcore

10:15 – 11:15 - BIG QUARTERS, They make beats and rap, enough said

 

SUNDAY, JULY 16^th - NOON – 4:00 PM - FAREWELL BBQ

LOCATION TBA (BBQ info. will be provided Saturday)

This BBQ will be open to all fellow workers – food and beverage will be plentiful.  We’ll have the chance to show others how the IWW celebrates, including a bite-the-bag contest.

 

5 – 6:30 PM - TWIN CITIES IWW HISTORY TOUR CANCELLED!

Sorry everybody but our gracious tour guide is not available.  Hey, there’s already enough to keep you busy.

 

LODGING INFORMATION

If you opt to stay with a Twin Cities Wob, you’ll get hooked up with them when you arrive.  Some abodes will have beds available, but most accommodations will be a couch or floor, so please bring what you need to sleep comfortably (pillow, sleeping bag or bindle).                                                                  

<!--[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->If you’d prefer to book a hotel room, here’s a few options:

 

Holiday Inn Minneapolis-Metrodome « 1500 Washington Avenue - 612-333-4646

 

Four Points Hotel Minneapolis« 1330 Industrial Blvd. - 612-331-1900

 

Days Inn University of Minnesota « 2407 University Avenue SE - 1-800-375-3990

 

Minneapolis International Hostel « 2400 Stevens Ave. S. 1-888-250-3315

 

The Holiday Inn Metrodome and Four Points Hotel are both unionized joints.  The Days Inn isn’t organized, but it is quite close to the U of MN.  Whatever place you select, tell them that you’re attending a conference at the University of Minnesota and want the special U of M rate.

 

TRANSPORTATION/AREA INFORMATION

If you’re staying with a Wobbly, you shouldn’t have any problems with transportation between venues.  Your host will either have a vehicle or they’ll help with the Twin Cities mass transit system – a network of bus and light-rail routes.  

 

If you’re driving, we can provide detailed directions (with advice on avoiding road construction) if you ask.

 

If you’re flying into Minneapolis/St. Paul International, you can take the light-rail towards downtown Minneapolis and get off at the Lake Street/Midtown Station.  Jack Pine Collective is about three blocks east of the Midtown Station on Lake Street.  We’ll have a vehicle shuttling back and forth between the Midtown Station and other locations in the Twin Cities on Friday.  If you need a lift to Jack Pine when you arrive, please indicate this on the registration form where it asks about transportation needs.

 

Aside from what the Chicago Wobs will tell you, the Twin Cities are exciting – there’s always something going on, whatever your interests.  If you have any special needs or questions about anything, please call our branch hotline at (612) 339-4418 and leave a message or email us at twincities@iww.org.

Yours for the class war – the Twin Cities General Membership Branch

• Download this PDF Update
• Download this PDF Registration Form