A few days ago there was a policy summit for Michigan progressives in Lansing. I wasn’t able to attend, but, thankfully, two MM.com readers were. Following are their notes. The first comes from Chuck Warpehoski, the Director of the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice:

Number one thing that rocked: The best part of the summit was the way it brought the Michigan progressive community together.

When 800 people from all over Michigan and all areas of the progressive movement come together, you know that’s a good thing.

I had the chance to hear what ACCESS is doing about immigrant rights and what Transit Rider United is doing to promote rail transit Michigan. I also had the chance to tell the Unitarian Universalist Social Action Network about the Torture is Wrong banner campaign.

It was a great chance to build a stronger, more cohesive Progressive movement in Michigan.

Number one thing that sucked: For all this great group of people, they didn’t find a good way to get people connecting with each other. Most of the summit was based around the people listening: listening to Amy Goodman, listening to the workshop leaders, listening to Jim Hightower.

There’s not a lot of chance to make connections there.

Next year when I go (and I am definitely going), I may just skip the workshops and use that time to talk to people.

Other things that rocked:
• Amy Goodman was incredible! She was magnetic in the way she presented the need for progressive change.
• Jim Hightower was also incredible. He was also funny, and we could use more funny in progressive politics.
• The afterglow at the end of the conference was a highpoint for me. I really enjoyed the chance to re-connect with friends from across the state.
• Some of the workshops were excellent. I attended the “Putting it all together” workshop on options for healthcare reform, which was an excellent primer on the different models of health care reform in the U.S. I learned a lot there. I also heard very good things about the communications workshop by Dan Farough of Progress Michigan.
• I enjoyed visiting the information tables by various groups across the state. Since the agenda didn’t promote much conversation, this was my best chance to connect with partners and potential partners across the state.

Other things that sucked.
• I’m glad that the regional breakouts tried to create a space for discussion, but the groups were so large and the structure so weak that we never got to real dialogue, only serial monologues.
• Some of the issue workshops were painful. I don’t need you to read me PowerPoint slides that I could read myself telling me statistics I won’t remember trying to convince me of something I already agree with.
• The organizers try hard to promote racial diversity, but as with the progressive movement as a whole, they still have some work to do.

The Policy Summit has a bold goal: to unite the progressive movement in Michigan across issue silos. That’s a tall order, especially for just an eight-hour summit.

So while I have my complaints, I think they are doing an excellent job, and I’ll definitely be back next year.

The second report comes from David Palmer, the owner of UG Consulting and cofounder of MIimpeach. You can read his blog here.

It was an interesting event. I sat at the “Bloggers Table” with writers from MichiganLiberal, DailyKos, and Jeffrey Feldman of frameshopisopen.com. Consistent with activist tradition, registration was un-organized and the day’s agenda ran about 45 minutes behind schedule.

Sen. Levin invited himself to give a quickie and go speech. Levin, one of the good folks who gave us the MI Primary mess, touted the importance of the coming debates between Clinton/Obama and McCain on the floor of the US Senate. After fluffing the Senate ego for a moment he stated, “the only real prospect we have to end this war is to elect a Democrat in November.”

Predictably, a healthy round of applause was given. I quietly smiled as the Summit’s “independent” affiliation officially washed away. After that, he quickly waved and exited stage right.

Amy Goodman (www.democracynow.org), ever so diligent, literally ran out the door after him to the amazement of Lynn Jondahl (www.michiganprospect.org) who was about to announce her as the key note speaker.

Once Amy Goodman returned her opening remarks proved to be the most riveting moments of the day. She walked to the podium quietly, with her Mac in hand.

“We are building an independent media infrastructure in this country,” stated Goodman. She spoke deliberately and often quickly as per her M.O.

“People are hungry for independent voices. They are tired of the pundits who explain the world and get it so wrong.

The most powerful part of her speech dealt with the effects of the Iraq War on the United States. She referenced “The Three Trillion Dollar War” by Blimes & Stiglitz.

If the audience was not shaken by the unfathomable amount of money spent on cowboy diplomacy, which could bankrupt our nation, her description of the human costs paid by our soldiers visibly altered the disposition of the 400+ person audience: “The estimated number of suicides of Vets is 120 a week. This is outrageous. We have to understand the true costs of war.”

After a long and heart-felt standing ovation, workshops began for the participants. I attended the Blogger workshop where Goodman and Jim Hightower (www.jimhightower.com) stopped in for Q&A. Because everything was so far behind schedule, they could only stay for about 15 minutes.

Hightower’s speech during lunch was funny and full of his trademark wit. He plugged his new book, and people laughed, it was nice.

Over lunch I talked with Feldman about the lack of strategy, will power and leadership within the upper levels of the Democrat Party. While he didn’t endorse the proliferation of independent and third party candidates, he did note their importance and that they should have a seat at the table.

Overall, I thought the conference was a step in the right direction. Participants had opportunities to network and acquire training and resources from veteran Democrat operatives and organizers. It was a bit surprising how freely some 501c3 employees would comment on the use of “progressive” instead of “Democrat” for the purpose of tax reporting, but so goes life in the sound-bit driven world of duopoly politics.

The networking opportunity alone was worth the drive. I recommend this event to all concerned citizens next year, but just like with Amtrak, don’t expect good food or to stay on schedule.

I’d like to thank Chuck and David for taking the time… And, next year, I give them full permission to kick my ass up and down Michigan Avenue if I don’t go myself.