Learn about upcoming speakers, events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
July 27 -Kris Howland, Chanhassen Dinner Theaters
August
3: Jennifer Glickstein, Dress Up to Calm Down
10: Carver County Commissioners Panel: Degler, Fahey, Udermann
17: Dan Kohler, St. John’s Bible
Upcoming Events
July
23, 29, 30 River City Days at Lions Park
August
September
20: Community Foundation for Carver County Dinner
Invocation: John Roebke
Club Announcements
Gretchen Oppriecht thanked the volunteers who helped at the Prior Lake Music Festival. She also shared two Thank You notes from scholarship recipients Ava Bartz (Biology @ UW Madison) and Emelyn Valencia (International Studies @ St. Thomas).
Cindy Anderson is still accepting volunteers and time slots for staffing our wine Tent at River City Days on July 28, 29 and especially Sunday the 30th.
PRESENTATION: Regina Olono and Jose Alvillar, Driver’s Licenses for All
Greg Anderson introduced representatives from UNIDOS-MN, “a grassroots organization that builds power with Minnesota's working families to advance social, racial and economic justice. As an organization born from the DREAMER movement, the topics of immigration, education, and climate justice are at the core of our work. We are an intersectional, intergenerational, women, Latine-led organization.”
Regina Olono provided the organizational background of UNIDOS and the legislative history of the Driver’s License for All initiative.
The recently enacted Driver's License for All law will allow Minnesotans to begin the process of getting a standard class D instruction permit or driver's license or a standard identification card. The law eliminates the need to show proof of legal presence in the United States to get a standard Minnesota class D driver's license, instruction permit or standard identification (ID) card. UNIDOS is working with groups throughout the state to educate Latino communities.
Locally, Chaska’s Human Rights Commission has partnered with UNIDOS, the non-profit organization Mi Casa, and the Moravian Church to arrange information sessions. The HRC Chair Sarah Carlson discussed her group’s efforts and distributed a handout listing the sessions. Comments from Jose Alvillar and Regina helped answer questions from attendees.
More information is available from the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services website DVS Home - Driver’s License for All (mn.gov). Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions on that website.
When will Driver’s License for All (DL for All) begin?
All Minnesota residents can apply for a license under the new DL for All law beginning Oct. 1. The law allows immigrants lacking permanent legal status to obtain a standard Minnesota driver’s license or identification card.
What are the benefits of allowing anyone, regardless of citizenship status, to obtain a driver’s license or ID card in Minnesota?
The intent of DL for All was to create safer roads and communities.
Drivers are tested to know the rules of the road and to know how to drive a vehicle safely.
Drivers are more likely to stay at a crash scene to help police/EMT or exchange insurance information if they have identification.
Law enforcement can more accurately check an identity and traffic/license records of people who remain on the scene.
This law will allow undocumented residents, many of whom drive to work and school, to get a driver’s license to prove they’re safe drivers and qualify for car insurance.
Insurance rates will possibly decrease due to fewer uninsured motorist costs.
Will people be able to register or vote with their DL For All standard license?
Driver’s license for all does not change the requirements to register to vote. You must meet all requirements to register to vote, including being a U.S. citizen. Under existing law, it is a felony offense if you vote when you are not eligible to vote.
Will DL for All make undocumented persons legal? Is it a backdoor way of giving citizenship?
No. A Minnesota ID or driver’s license is not proof of citizenship and will not be when DL for All is implemented Oct. 1. The law allows Minnesota residents to obtain identification by providing a primary and secondary document (or two primary documents). DL for All updated the primary and secondary requirements that an individual is allowed to provide and removes the requirement of proof of legal presence.
.png)
