September 29, 2015
Update From the Executive Director

One month ago at the Red Cow Happy Hour, many of you welcomed me as the new MCC Executive Director. Since then, names have been connected to faces, new relationships have taken hold and, thank goodness, the amount of "what I don't know" has lessened. It has been a good month filled with learning, growing, sharing and giving; my enthusiasm for both my job and MCC's mission to provide a community of place and purpose, continues. Thanks to all!

Today's 5-6pm Happy Hour at Vic's, hosted by Peg and Dick Kavaney, provides a beautiful setting along the riverfront with an added benefit of fabulous fall weather. I hope to see you there - no reservations are required. Vic's Happy Hour

Want to know more about - or something about - Facebook? There is still room in next week's Technology Workshop. Check it out! Technology Workshop

Next week's Peruvian Textiles Demonstration looks fascinating! Learn about this ancient Peruvian art form from Pasquala and Engracia, two Peruvian back-strap weavers Peruvian Textiles

See you in the neighborhood!
                                                                                                        
~ Joan Wright                                                                      
Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, September 29, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Vic's, 201 Main St SE
Join us for the Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Vic's hosted by Dick and Peg Kavaney.  Catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites.  Dutch treat - no reservations required!  Consider staying for dinner to enjoy one of Vic's featured menu items.  Vic's has made an exception for our group and will accept dinner reservations - simply call 612-312-2000 and tell them you're with MCC and will be staying for dinner after Happy Hour.

No reservations required!
Social Bridge
Wednesday, September 30, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts Community Room, 700 S 2nd St
Join advanced or intermediate bridge players for a round of social bridge. You are expected to come with a partner at your level. (Advanced players play all the major conventions comfortably.)  If you need help finding a partner, contact Carol Jordan at 612-817-0466 or caroljordan@millcitycommons.org and she will assist you. 

MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, October 1, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Fifth Avenue Lofts (enter on 2nd St), 401 N 2nd St, #302 
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  This group meets every other Thursday alternating between morning and afternoon times.  Locations and topics will change each time. Susan Hartman hosts on the topic of "STUFF"  A recent book suggests that we purge our belongings and keep only what brings us joy.  Do you go through periods of "purging" your stuff?  Do you have a philosophy or guiding principle that helps you determine what to keep?  Clothes?  Family heirlooms?  Knick-knacks? Where do you give/donate those items you part with?  And do you have organizational tricks for the "stuff" you keep?

Women MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Technology Workshop: Facebook
Monday, October 5, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room A
Facebook is a great tool for keeping in contact with friends and family, but there are also a lot of layers built into the system that can be overwhelming and cause confusion. In this session we'll cover an overview of Facebook - from account creation to maintaining your existing account.  We'll also discuss privacy and security on Facebook, including how to protect your information and limit who can see certain items.  The session will include a live Facebook demonstration, so feel comfortable to bring your portable devices to make changes at the session.  We will have an open format to allow for questions throughout the conversation.  Joel Barker from Backpack Tactics will lead this informative workshop.  
 
MCC members sign up here.
Peruvian Textiles Demonstration
Tuesday, October 6, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Humboldt, 750 S 2nd St, #901
Join us for a reception to welcome Pascuala and Engracia, two Peruvian Back-Strap Weavers from Chinchero, Peru.  The weavers are a part of Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, which has been successful in preserving indigenous culture through the production and marketing of their fine weavings.  Peruvian textile craft represents their identity and national heritage, dating back to pre-Incan times.  The weavers will demonstrate their rich Quechua culture and will have a selection of textiles for sale.  Melanie Ebertz, founder of ArtAndes and designer of Andean Textiles and Travel, has been working with their founder since 2001 and is sponsoring their visit.  Check out ArtAndes for other fall events planned around their stay.  MCC members Mary Racciatti and Peggy Lucas co-host.

MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, October 7, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express, 818 S 2nd St
Join us to discuss The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  The book illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war during World War II. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.  Come for the chat whether you've read the book or not.
 
Want to read ahead?  November's book will be A Chosen Exile by Allyson Hobbs (subject to change).

MCC members and guests.  No registration required.
Caregiver Support Group Launch
Wednesday, October 7, 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Cobalt Condos 2nd Fl Conference Room, 45 University Ave SE
Mill City Commons members have created a Caregiver Support Group and invite other caregivers to join them.  This guided discussion group with professional facilitation was created to support individuals who are or have been in a caregiving role.  Caregiver Support Group members will share experiences, issues and concerns about caregiving as well as give and receive support around this critical role.  Today's meeting will launch a three month series, meeting the first and third Wednesday each month.  Participants will be asked to pay $60 for the three month series (six sessions) regardless of how many sessions they are able to attend. Confidential scholarships are available - contact Membership Coordinator Mary Texidor.  To enter Cobalt, buzz Tamra Nelson at the Cobalt Security Phone, take the elevator to the 2nd fl, turn right and walk to the end of the hallway.

MCC members sign up here; Non-MCC members are welcome and can email MCC to register.
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, October 8, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE    
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests!  This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.  Please register by the Monday prior to Men's Coffee and Conversation. Tyrone Bujold will lead the conversation on this topic: "My memories of my youth tend to be self-congratulatory.  But as I approach my 80's I find that I am forced to surrender to that irksome demon known as candor.  In 1955, I was able to make life-changing decisions on my own.  And so I did.  In that year of my life I won a generous scholarship to Harvard.  But in less than two months I rejected the offer and took a competing offer from Marquette University.  How about you?  Has your life been marked by youthful choices that if you had to make them now you would choose a different path?"

Men MCC members sign up here; Guests email MCC.
Great Decisions: Sectarianism in the Middle East
Monday, October 12, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
Many of the current conflicts in the Middle East have been attributed to sectarianism, a politicization of ethnic and religious identity.  The struggle between Sunni and Shi'i groups for dominance is tearing apart the region and shows no signs of abating. But for all the religious discourse permeating the conflict, much of its roots are political, not religious. How does sectarianism fit into a larger narrative of the Middle East? How have governments manipulated sectarian differences? And finally, what is the U.S. doing about it?  GD guest speaker Jay Shahidi speaks from a personal perspective as well as from astute observation of today's events in the Middle East.  He is a board member of the United Nations Association-Minnesota and the American Refugee Committee (ARC), as well as co-founder and current President of the Iranian-American Society of Minnesota.  Elisabeth Bennett hosts at La Rive's Party Room.
 
Sorry, not open to guests; to join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, email the MCC office at info@millcitycommons.org.  Registration on the MCC website is required for Great Decisions members.

MCC Great Decisions members sign up here.
Mia's Collection of American Modernism
Tuesday, October 13, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave S 
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is celebrating its centennial year with an incredible exhibit of American Modernist art.  Members will have a docent-led tour of paintings and sculptures on long-term loan from the Kunin family, which includes works by Georgia O'Keefe, Marsden Harley and Paul Cadmus.  The Kunin Collection is widely considered to be one of the most important privately held collections of American art in the world.  The artworks span the diverse artistic styles and movements of the early 20th century, from abstraction to American realism.  

MCC members sign up here.
News from Members

MCC member Carol Jordan shares that there is an interesting speaker coming to the Minneapolis Central Library on October 15, from 7-8 pm in the Doty Board Room.  The program title is Given Life Twice - The Story of Holocaust Survivor Hinda Kibort.  Joni Sussman will be sharing stories gleaned from interviewing her mother, Hinda Kibort, for the Steven Spielberg Shoan Foundation Midwest Holocaust survivor's project.  Kibort was a survivor of Stuthof Concentration Camp and a human rights activist in Minnesota.

Around Town

Westminster Town Hall Forum
October 2, 12:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nicollet Mall & 12th St
Join Dan Buettner, an explorer, educator and founder of Blue Zones, an organization helping Americans live longer, healthier, and happier lives.  Buettner will speak on
Blue Zones City:  Living Like the World's Healthiest People.

Mississippi River Gorge Park
October 3, 2:00-3:00 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Join park historian Dave Smith as he discusses how and why nearly the entire length of the Mississippi River Gorge in Minneapolis is a city park.  Free and open to the public in the Doty Board Room. 

The Human Touch: Selections from the RBC Wealth Management Art Collection
On exhibit October 10-January 3, Weisman Art Museum, 333 East River Rd
WAM is pleased to host this traveling exhibition, a beautiful and thought-provoking exhibition celebrating people and diversity.  Over thirty major works by national and international contemporary artists were chosen, in a range of size and media.
For more details, click here.

Mill City Times and River Hub
Mill City Times is a metro website devoted specifically to our neighborhood and a place to go to find out what's happening, whether it's a new restaurant opening, a local event, proposed construction, etc.  You can also check out River Hub, a comprehensive listing of events related to the Minneapolis Riverfront.
MCC Upcoming Events  
View the September calendar here
View the October calendar here

 

September 29:  Last Tuesday Happy Hour.  No reservations required.

September 30:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

September 30:  Social Bridge.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 1:  Our Turn: A Conversation for Women.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 5:  Dutch Treat Coffee Chat.  No reservations required.

October 5:  Technology Workshop: Facebook.  MCC members click here.

October 6:  Peruvian Textiles Demonstration.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 7:  Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat.  No reservations required.

October 7:  Caregiver Support Group Launch.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 8:  Men's Coffee and Conversation.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 12:  Dutch Treat Coffee Chat.  No reservations required.

October 12:  Great Decisions.  GD members click here.

October 13:  Program Committee Meeting. 

October 13:  Mia's Collection of American Modernism.  MCC members click here.

October 14:  Rendezvous on 5.  No reservations required.

October 14:  Social Bridge.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 14:  MCC BOD Meeting.  MCC members click here.

October 15:  Our Turn:  A Conversation for Women.  MCC members click here; Guests email MCC.

October 18:  Sunday Soiree.  MCC members click here.

October 19:  Dutch Treat Coffee Chat.  No reservations required.

October 19:  MN Public Policy:  Minneapolis Foundation.  MCC members click here.
 

Please Welcome MCC's Newest Members!

 

Jeff Wright

Kathy Christoffel

Roger Fitzgerald

 

 
MCC is Hiring! 

 Click here to see the Program Coordinator job posting!  Applications are due by September 30.
 

MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities

 

Dutch Treat

Coffee Chat

Mondays

Aster Cafe

Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat.  No reservations
 required.

 

Rendezvous

Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
   No reservations required.
The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

Rendezvous on 5

Wednesdays

Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express

Drop in and join your friends and neighbors for fellowship at this neighborhood haunt.  This weekly adventure requires no reservations!

 

Men's Coffee and Conversation  

Elsie's Restaurant,

729 Marshall Street NE

Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday morning and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

Our Turn: A Conversation for Women 

Relax and chat with other MCC women. This group meets every other week and alternates between morning and afternoon times. Look for details in the body of this newsletter.

 

 

 Mill City Commons

Ongoing Fitness Opportunities


SBS Class

                      Thursdays

2:00-3:00pm
501FIT,
501 Washington Avenue
Created exclusively for MCC, this class at 501F1T focuses on strength, balance, and stretching. 
First time participants, please contact 501F1T at 612-767-4415 and arrive 20 minutes early to complete paperwork. Cost varies depending on commitment.

  

  River Walkers

Tuesdays and Thursdays,

7:30-8:30am

Stone Arch Lofts Riverside Parking Lot

All level of walkers welcome for this early morning walk along the banks of the Mississippi River. An MCC volunteer leads each walk.

  

Hatha Yoga

Wednesdays and Fridays,

8:00-9:15am

Yoga Center of Minneapolis,

212 3rd Ave N, Ste 205

This is an alignment-based class. Purchase a 12-class pass for $132 directly from YCM to use as your schedule allows, or drop in on a class for $12.50. Contact Dena at 612-436-4700 for details.

Drop-ins welcome.

 
Volunteer Opportunities 
 
 Click here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC Website!  
 
Ongoing Member-Led Activities

 

Men's B&BS Lunch
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
 October 1 & 15
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact  Allan Burdick

MCC Caregiver Support Group
1st and 3rd Wednesdays
1:30-3:00 pm
A way to support members who are or have been in a caregiving role. For more information,   contact Tamra Nelson
 
Mill City Commons | 219 Main Street SE, Suite 401, Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.millcitycommons.org | info@millcitycommons.org  
612-455-3329