American Legion Post 577, 1129 Arcade St, St Paul MN 55106
What:Legislative Update from Elected Republican Legislators
Hear from our Republican State Legislators regarding what happened at this last legislative session, and have the opportunity to ask them questions.
When:June 11, 2024. 6:30 to 8:00 pm Where: American Legion Post 577, 1129 Arcade St, St Paul MN 55106Map Cost: At Will Donation (Suggested Donation $10) Misc:A light dinner will be served. Bottled water will be provided, but other drinks are available for purchase at the American Legion bar. Featured Speakers Senator Mark Koran, Endorsed CD4 Republican Candidate May Lor Xiong, and others
Hosted by House District 66B Republicans
The last week of the Minnesota Legislative Session brought out all sorts of last minute “gotcha” bills that pass on party line votes usually. There was one “garbage” bill that was 2800 pages long dropped on the legislature about 90 minutes to the End of Session on May 19th. It could have been the last week of the DFL Trifecta, where they control both Bodies of the Legislature, plus the Governor’s Office. Frankly they also control the State Supreme Court as well. The last Republican leaning Justice is Barry Anderson who just retired.
Please honor our event host site by keeping politics out of the bar area outside of the event room. Thank you
This event and this post were not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, the CD4 Republicans, nor the MN GOP. If you would like to check out who our current endorsed candidates are check out the top menu for our Candidates Page or go directly to it by typing in mnhd66brepublicans.org/candidates. — admin
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.
Peanut Butter with Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips CookiesHealthified Chocolate Chip Cookies have less fat, and have whole wheat flour instead of regular white flour. Tastes like a Chips Ahoy cookieChewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip CookiesOatmeal 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.
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.
Minnesota House District 66B Republicans 