At the Cross Cultural Workshop, August 14, 2023, Waihon Liew mentioned some books to read about. An attendee named Jason said he is a mailman and there are some Kareni or Hmong on the block he delivers to. When he has to interact with them their kids run inside the house to hide and close the shades. Jason asked how he could let them know he is friendly and the mail carrier is not the police.
Waihon, the instructor, told some key ways to bridge the gap, as the Kareni were a persecuted people in Myanmar (formerly Burma). They learned to be leery of anyone in a uniform.
Waihon gave him a book called, “The Fred Factor,” by Mark Sanborn. The book was inspired by a mailman named Fred Shay.
Do You Know a “Fred” Who Needs to be Recognized?
While eating lunch at the Roseville MN Chick-fil-A, I spotted a “Fred,” named Conrad. He is a Senior Citizen Black Man who is a store Ambassador who makes sure people feel welcome and kids have fun especially when he MOOs out loud so everyone inside hears him. He also takes trays when customers are done and gives out mints and hand cleaning wipes. Conrad goes above and beyond the job to earn the title of a “Fred.”
If you would like to recognize a “Fred” you can let us know at our Twitter/X Account @HD66BGOP and use the hashtag#FredFactor, then explain why he or she is a“Fred.”
The Cross Cultural Workshop on August 14th was a success. We had several members of our bpou as well as other bpous across the Metro and even Linwood, MN. Thanks to Mikki Murray and Tawn Johnson and others in promoting the event to other local party units.
Presentations by May Lor Xiong & Waihon Liew
The first presentation was by Asian American Republicans Chair May Lor Xiong, who was the endorsed MN CD4 Republican candidate in 2022 talked about some of the lessons learned when she ran for office. One might think the Karen of Myanmar (formerly Burma) would have the same cultural ties to Hmong but they are completely different cultures.
May Lor Xiong stressed that people in general want to be part of the solution to problems that present themselves. The best practice is to listen to people and find common values you share and start from there.
May Lor Xiong, the endorsed 2022 CD4 Republican Candidate
Next Waihon Liew, Chair Donna Liew’s husband has many accolades in connecting those from other cultures
Waihon Liew’s Background
Originally from Malaysia, Waihon has his M Sc in Education Leadership and Masters in Cross Cultural Studies. Waihon taught comparative religions and cross cultural studies at St Mary’s University, Winona, as well as similar courses at North Central University, Minneapolis . He has taught under the American Degree Transfer Program at two major universities in Malaysia and has been teaching / mentoring Karen immigrant students at Sejong Academy (K-12), St Paul since 2016.
Through his alma mater, Winona State University, Waihon started a Continuing Education program for schools in Malaysia in March 2023. Because of his work with immigrants and efforts to improve education in Malaysia, he was named Distinguished Alumni of the Decade by Winona State in 2023.
3 Core Values We Share
Freedom
Faith
Family
Waihon talked about the 3 Core Values Karen Immigrants from Myanmar have in common with us. They are Freedom, Faith, and their Families.
In Myanmar they had no concept of politics but they would get dictates from their government what they were supposed to do. So when someone in a uniform shows up at their house there is an element of fear. Jason a BPOU leader from SD 33 Stillwater is a mailman and he expressed how when he shows up at houses were Karens live at, the children run and hide and they close the shades.
Waihon Liew said how they were taught by experience to fear anyone in a government uniform. They were targeted for their Christian Faith and they were forced to flee their homeland for the safety of their families. The Hmong were no different when they fled the country of Laos pursued by the Communists.
Malaysian Flag. See how close to the US Flag this is.The Karen of Myanmar Flag
Books and Movies
Waihon talked of different books and movies to learn valuable lessons from. Here are two of them.
The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn (there’s an audiobook at the Ramsey County Library using the Libby App). Also probably available at Half Price Books. It’s about a mailman named Fred who gives the best possible customer service to those on his route in Denver.
McFarland USA (Movie). It’s about Coach Jim White
Mark Sanborn has several videos online that cover the exceptional service by Fred Shay his mailman for over a decade in Denver.
Ways to Cross Cultures and Be an Influential Leader
Waihon said the best way to be an influential leader is to be a servant to others first. The best example of this is Jesus Christ. In his ministry he was first to serve others before he taught lessons.
In his ministry to the Karen of Myanmar Refugees he was welcomed into their community and given a robe of the Karen colors.
He suggests to listen to others as everyone has a story to tell. Once hearing them, you can relate a story of your own the people you are talking with can understand. Praise others and nurture their values.
If you would like to know more here are some assignments you can do until the next workshop:
Read Books
Support Groups
Servant Leadership
Go to Cultural Events with your kids
Find ways to volunteer
Be intentionally attentive
Learn to be patient (it sometimes takes time for people to catch on to understand the ideas you are putting forth)
Thank You to those who attended
We thank all those who attended our workshop. Initially there was a phone number in the first notice of the event to Chair Donna Liew that was in error. We had such a great showing that future events of this kind will be planned.
Thank you to Chair Donna Liew for the meal she made for the event. Thank you to Waihon Liew and also to May Lor Xiong for their great presentations.
Potholes are a nuisance in the Twin Cities Metro Area
Potholes are everywhere in Minnesota where there is an asphalt surface. They can form at any time of the year, but usually after Winter in the Springtime when a general thaw is in process.
We citizens complain about them, but if you don’t notify the proper city, county or state officials about a pothole you’re just as much the problem as the pothole is. We admit from the numerous potholes out there the Public Works crews in St Paul and other parts of the state can’t know where all the potholes are at all times. That is why your help is so vitally needed.
While we would love concrete roadways on priority streets everywhere in the State of Minnesota, concrete roads have issues too, just not always in the area of a pothole. They have cases where a slab of concrete will buckle upwards and ruin someone’s day.
Usually the pothole crews can fill in the potholes within a week after reporting them. Remember to fill out the proper form at the links provided, however if you are reporting St Paul potholes you need to say the closest address the depth of the pothole and photos help when you send an email to the address provided below.
Here are some resources below to do that in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and along MN State Highways and Interstate freeways.
Potholes Reporting
Make a note of where exactly the pothole is (street address, highway & nearest mile marker), what the shape of it is, how deep it is. If you can you can send a photo of it (if the web form allows you to send a photo).
Pothole reporting is something you can do when you go on walks around your neighborhood, or after you just hit a memorable pothole. If you do report it after you just drove over one, please pull to the side of the road then fill out the form, please do not drive and text.
Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Action,” will be our book club, 66Books, second book to be discussed on March 6, 2021
What: 66Books Book Club Discussion of Simon Sinek’s Book, “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Action.”
When: Saturday March 6, 2021, 6:00 pm
Where: On Zoom
Cost: FREE (though we take at will donations $20 and under)
Why do you do the activities you do? Why do you think the way you do?
Once you know your Why Statement you can start to connect to people to inspire them to action.
So why do people keep doing the same activities over and over again expecting different results? The answer is they don’t know their why.
Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle (Why How What) shows that if you communicate your why you grab your audience’s attention as you touch their emotions and the how and what will be heard fully. Whereas if you lead with What and How your audience might not stick around for your why. He uses Apple as an example on how they sell their computers and other devices. They sell their why and after seeing their How they do it they entice you to What they are selling.
Why is powerful and it can break down barriers you’ve set up in your organization. There is a follow up book called, “Find Your Why,” aimed at helping groups and organizations find out their Why, there are group activities in discovering the group’s Why.
Here is a resource to help you read the book:
Youtube Audiobook:
Sign Up For 66Books Book Club
Since we don’t currently have a list to send out to notify Book Club Members of the upcoming book, you’ll need to send an email to mnhd66brepublicans@gmail.com with the subject line of “66Books Sign Up List.” When we get a couple of days out from March 6th, an email will be sent out to those who sign up to confirm, and a link will be sent. Your email will be only used for the Book Club unless you opt-in to our other activities.
Minnesota House District 66B Republicans 