The speaker at our May 20th meeting will be State Representative Mindy Greiling, who is retiring at the completion of her current term. In twenty years representing Roseville (District 54A), Greiling has been a consistent supporter of the separation of church and state, on issues such as abortion, science and history education standards, vouchers for religious schools, and recitation in public school of the Pledge of Allegiance. She has opposed imposition by the government of the views of any religion over others, or over non-religion.  In legislative debates she has marshaled arguments based upon scientific fact to rebut conservative Christian ideology.   

During her years of service, Greiling has earned a reputation for honesty and high principle. While other legislators privately stated their opposition to mandatory recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, some voted to uphold the exercise for fear of a political backlash. Greiling had the courage to vote her conscience, without regard for electoral consequences. Her efforts led the legislature to adopt some of the best protections in the country for students and teachers. Greiling also argued that religious schools should only be eligible to receive vouchers if they are held to the same requirements applied to the public schools in enrollment, testing and reporting.

Minnesota Atheists is proud to host Representative Greiling at the end of her distinguished legislative career. She will speak about the threats to the separation of church and state that she has faced, and that will come up in the next legislative session. There is much that we can learn from her about how we can be better activists, constituents and citizens.

Please join us!

If You Go...
When:
Sunday, May 20, 2012

Where:
Roseville Library
2180 Hamline Avenue North

Schedule:
1:00-1:15 p.m. – Social time
1:15-1:45 p.m. – Business Meeting
1:45-2:00 p.m. – Break
2:00-3:30 p.m. – Presentation
4:00-whenever – Panda Garden Buffet