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Dear Envision Minnesota supporter,

We are disappointed to let you know that the Envision Minnesota Debate and Convention has been postponed. I know that this is a great disappointment to many of the guests and citizens that had committed to come to this event. The reality is that, in the end, we can not get all three gubernatorial candidates to agree to come this Saturday. After careful review of all our options we have decided to develop a different strategy for building citizen awareness around the issues identified by Envision Minnesota. We are still hopeful that the Envision Minnesota Debate will occur, but not this Saturday. These issues are important and demand that we continue to come together and move forward.

Below you will find a press release with more details.

With great regret,

Jeff Heegaard

For Immediate Release

For further information: contact Jeff Heegaard, 651-312-1000 

ENVISION MINNESOTA WEBSITE: www.envisionminnesota.org

EVENT POSTPONED
ENVISION MINNESOTA
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AND CITIZENS’ CONVENTION
SEPTEMBER 16th
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

(St. Paul, Minnesota) The Gubernatorial Debate and Citizens’ Convention scheduled for Saturday, September 16th has been postponed. Because we have been unable to finalize participation agreements with all three of the major candidates we will need to reschedule the event, reports Jeff Heegaard, Envision Minnesota spokesperson. We are currently reviewing options and we will do so during the fall campaign if candidate participation is secured. Updates will be posted on the Envision Minnesota website www.envisionminnesota.org.

"This is an unfortunate development, politicians and campaigns don’t always lend themselves to the in-depth discussion of our state’s future that we would like" said Jeff Heegaard, an Envision Minnesota organizer, "but the 50 partner organizations and hundreds of participants in Envision Minnesota will work throughout the fall to make sure state and local candidates address the issues of conservation, economic growth, energy security and clean air & water that are critical to our future."

People who have pre-registered for the event will be contacted and their registration fees refunded. They will be notified when the event is rescheduled.

ABOUT ENVISION MINNESOTA
Envision Minnesota is to create a partnership of dozens of non-profit, business, and community organizations. The goal of Envision Minnesota is to elevate issues of rapid growth, energy, and conservation in the political and policy dialogue in the state and to create momentum for action.

The leadership of Envision Minnesota has produced an "Envision Statement", a document that outlines Minnesota’s vision for the future and includes recommendations for action in five issue areas:

• Taking Responsibility By Valuing True Environmental Costs and Benefits
• Leaving a Clean Water Legacy
• Creating New Energy Sources and Saving Energy
• Planning for Rapid Growth and Continued Prosperity
• Protecting Our Natural Heritage and Abundant Wildlife.

ENVISION MINNESOTA Leadership Circle:  Wendell R. Anderson, attorney, former Governor and US Senator; Rev. Bob Battle, Pastor, Berean Church in St. Paul; Mary Brainerd, CEO, Health Partners;  Mike Ciresi, attorney, RKMC Executive Committee Chair, US Senate candidate 2000; David Foster, United Steelworkers Vice President, "Blue-Green" Alliance; Duane Kell, architect, President, AKA; Tim Penny, consultant, HHH Institute Policy Forum Co Director, former State Senator, US Congressman, independent  candidate for governor 2002;  Tad Piper, Piper Jaffray & Company;  David Saggau, CEO, Great River Energy; Vin Weber,  Managing Partner. Clark & Weinstock, former US Congressman.