Monthly Archives: May 2024

Action, HD66B

2024 End of Session Cookie Drop May 17th

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If you watch the end of the Minnesota Legislative Session drama on public tv or some streaming website, you’ll see a lot of last minute debates, some last minute trickery, and a lot of “gotcha” politicking. No matter what party is in the majority there is sometimes a lot of unnecessary drama and demonstrating in the hallways of the State Capitol.

This can be very stressful on all parties involved in the end of session marathon. In passed years some groups have brought their party’s legislators treats and comfort food for the breaks they have in these marathon sessions. This is where the idea of a Cookie Drop started.

Our last chair, Tom Polachek (2017-23), commented to Rep Pam Altendorf a week prior to May 17th of the ability to make a bunch of cookies from the recipes on our website posted some years ago during the lockdown conventions of 2020. Since he and our current Chair, Donna Liew weren’t attending the State Convention occurring at the same time, they decided to bring a bunch of cookies to both the MN House Republicans and the MN Senate Republicans. That’s a total of 97 Legislators to bake cookies for.

The cookie recipes from our site Tom Polachek made were Peanut Butter Chip, Healthified Chocolate Chip, Chewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin with Molasses.

Peanut Butter with Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips Cookies
Healthified Chocolate Chip Cookies have less fat, and have whole wheat flour instead of regular white flour. Tastes like a Chips Ahoy cookie
Chewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin with Molasses Cookies

Chair Donna Liew made some Gingerbread Cookies, and Blueberry Crumble Bars.

Chair Donna Liew made Gingerbread Cookies on the left and Blueberry Crumble Bars on the right of the tray

Distribution of the 6 kinds of Cookies to the MN House Republicans took place first with the help of Rep Pam Altendorf of Red Wing MN. She left the House Chambers and met Donna & Tom in the Capitol Rotunda and then escorted them to a room the MN House Republicans use for recesses, or breaks just off the floor of the House Chambers. Afterwards they went to the MN Senate Office Building just north of the State Capitol Building and met with a Legislative Assistant in the MN Senate Republicans Wing of the building.

Baking for just 33 Senators was a lot easier and the cookies were put into an old candy box in rows of 3 and an over flow of the Chewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie into an old Folgers Jar.

An old Folgers Jar can contain quite a few dozen cookies.

Why did we do this?

There was a need and because we still live in a society that free will reigns.  Americans can still rise to a challenge and say I CAN.

Veterans

Celebrate Armed Forces Day by Giving to Every Third Saturday

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In December 2023 I had the chance to visit a Charitable Veterans Resource near the VA Minneapolis Hospital, called Every Third Saturday. I had enrolled in Yoga at the VA’s Center for Integrative Health & Healing (an article for another day). I had a need for some sweatpants so I took the bus to the Blue Line and got off at the VA Hospital Station at 1 Veterans Drive in Minneapolis. I walked through the acres of the parking lot there and walked down 54th Avenue to 43rd St, 5402 43rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417, Map

Upon arrival there was a main desk with a man seated behind it. I had been told to bring some form of Veteran ID and I showed him my VA Identification Card (VIC) and he proceeded to make an Every Third Saturday Membership Card. It was completely free. I was photographed in my Packers Winter Jacket. On the card there is the US Army Seal on it indicating my branch of service.

I was given a ticket by the man behind the desk. Then a tall gentleman who came by (as seen in the video above), ripped the ticket in half and gave me the other half. I followed him to a room full of clothes and donated stuff. I mentioned to him I need some sweatpants for the Yoga class I signed up for.

He gave me a black garbage bag and we proceeded around the room stopping at different stages. He would ask me if I needed something. I said yes or no depending on what it was. I got a pair of sweatpants, but upon closer inspection they are warm-up pants for the MN Gophers Basketball team. At the knees they have a zipper that runs down to the ankle.  After about 20 minutes of saying yes to this and occasionally saying no I had a full garbage bag of stuff I needed and some stuff I didn’t know I needed.

I thanked them profusely.

Donate to Every Third Saturday

Understanding Those Who Serve in our Military

The US Military Active Duty and Veterans make up 1% of the US Population.  Serving in the military can be hard on a single Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Sailor as they are far from home facing challenges that are difficult physically, mentally, and often emotionally.  A different set of circumstances are faced for those who serve who are married and have children on base.  Many combat arms jobs can lead to high divorce rates.

Most civilians can’t relate to military service members as the culture and living conditions are quite divergent. Imagine living with your co-workers and bosses in the same building on base and even closer in the field. One doesn’t enjoy the same freedoms as civilians do. Your job doesn’t have finite hours like the civilian world either.  You don’t have freedom of speech, nor the option of wearing something different than the uniform of the day.

After separation from the military, also known as End Tour of Service (ETS), Vets can find it difficult to readjust to civilian life and find a job, housing, and operate as an individual. In Basic Training your individuality is stripped from you and replaced with a concern for the team and to complete missions.

Just thanking a Veteran for their service is not enough. you should ask them how they are doing and also if you can help them out. I say this because according to the Shawn Ryan Show Podcast, 44 Vets commit suicide every day. Your brief encounter with a Vet is important because you might be the last person they run into before they go and plan to kill themselves.

My name is Tom Polachek, and I’m a US Army Veteran from the Reagan Era.

Politics

President Donald Trump to be Keynote Speaker at MNGOP Lincoln Reagan Dinner May 17th

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Within the last week an announcement was made by MNGOP Chair David Hann that President Donald J Trump would be the keynote speaker at the Lincoln-Reagan Fundraising Dinner.

However the cost of the tickets even at a 50% discount are $250 and to the average Joe & Jane of the Republican Party of Minnesota that’s a bit outside of their budget. Though it’s a once in a lifetime kind of event and it’s a fundraiser.

The venue is a mystery and one has to believe it’s somewhat close to the State Convention site in Downtown St Paul. The Dinner starts at 5 pm and the Friday segment of the State Convention will adjourn prior to that time.  If you signed up to attend you’ll find out where it’s at.