## Join Us for Our Monthly Gathering & Potluck — Help Shape MSUP’s Future
Our next Monthly Gathering & Potluck is coming up, and this one is an important milestone for Mat-Su United for Progress. We're asking everyone who can make it to join us at **6:30 p.m.** for a short business meeting before we roll into a fun, themed potluck.
This month we’ll take two big steps forward:
### 1. Voting to Adopt Our Bylaws
After months of collaborative work, edits, and discussion, our bylaws are ready for final approval. These bylaws lay the foundation for how MSUP will operate — how we make decisions, how our Board functions, and how we stay accountable to each other.
[Here are the draft Bylaws for you perusal.](
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iLaXp7hGrWY7dIOb3GqZ35eS6PQA19PcHxsv6w_fNUY/edit?usp=sharing)
### 2. Electing Officers Under the New Bylaws
Once the bylaws pass, we’ll hold elections for the officer positions outlined in the document:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Three (3) At-Large Board Seats
Whether you’re new to MSUP or have been here since the beginning, **you are welcome to run**.
Nominations are open now — including self-nominations. If you’d like to nominate yourself included for review ahead of time.or someone else, please reach out so we can include them in the process.
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## And Then… It’s Potluck Time!
After the short business meeting, we’ll move right into a themed potluck and a holiday cookie swap — because building community should also be joyful (and delicious).
### Potluck Challenge: Bring a Dish Starting With the First Letter of Your First Name
Have fun with it!
- Dave might bring *dumplings*.
- Lynn might show up with *lasagna*.
- Pete could appear with *potato salad*.
Feel free to be creative, chaotic, or classic — it’s all welcome.
### Holiday Cookie Swap (Optional but Highly Encouraged!)
If you love having an assortment of cookies around the holidays, join in:
- Bring **three dozen** of one kind of cookie.
- Leave with **three dozen** of all different kinds.
It’s a sweet way to share traditions — and go home with treats.
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## Why This Night Matters
This past year, we’ve rallied, organized, showed up for local issues, and built a community that supports one another. Now we’re putting structure behind that energy so we can keep growing and be ready for the work ahead.
Approving our bylaws and electing officers strengthens MSUP.
Sharing food strengthens our community.
I hope you’ll join us — to vote, to nominate, to run, to eat, or simply to be part of what we’re building together.
**See you at 6:30 p.m. — and don’t forget the dish that starts with your name!**
Also check out other Food & Drink events in Norfolk, Meetups in Norfolk, Contests in Norfolk.
