Reflections: 2023 Intercultural Picnic
Author: Kathryn Linafelter Johnson, Vice Chair, DFL SD49
This week started out with amazing, clear, breezy weather for the re-boot of SD49’s annual Intercultural Picnic. The picnic had been on hold since the COVID 19 pandemic. Our tradition of free meals, local entertainment, and lawn games, also had resource opportunities like voter registration forms, candidate visits (a few speeches). Best of all, a few relaxing hours to meet and visit with friends and neighbors.
This blast back to Round Lake Park in Eden Prairie celebrated the end of summer, and all the social and cultural bonds we share, as each person weaves their part of the social fabric of the community. 60 guests were at the park pavilion, and 15% were new to the event!
I had a grand time, and am already looking forward to next fall’s picnic.
For this year, we had vegetarian, kosher, and halal meal choices, as well as colorful fruits, veggies, and the BEST hummus and pita chips around. Cookies, LOTS of cookies. The folks behind the scenes putting this together were a great team, and I’ll do my best to recognize them here.
Grillmeister Rotation, keeping it Hot, Hot, Hot: Andy Johnson, Katie White, Saoudy Saoudy
Planning Team, the know how, who, where, what, and when: Andy Johnson, Katie White, Riki Kravits, Natalie Valentino
Entertainment, bringing sunshine and smiles: Students from Twin Cities Odissi local dance school performed a traditional Indian dance.
Registration and Donations: David Thompson, Natalie Valentino, Riki Kravits
Set up and Take Down: Natalie Valentino, Riki Kravits, Jim Kunitz, Pam Scherling, David Thompson, Kat Johnson
Community Blood Donation Drive: Natalie Valentino got 6 new registrants, making the total 21.
There is time to donate before the October Central Committee meeting. On October 12th, the donors will get together at the Golden Nugget restaurant in Minnetonka at 5:30, before heading over to the Central Committee meeting at 7 PM at the Glen Lake Activity Center. To add this to your calendar and book your donation time, click here.
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): We had a team from Fair Vote MN on hand to build support and explain the benefits of this, the current voting system in communities like Minnetonka. With RCV, Minnetonka taxpayers save $30,000 - $40,000 by eliminating primaries on local races.
If you live in Minnetonka or Hopkins, RCV is on your November 7th ballot this year.
Among the guests were local and state elected officials, and several candidates for the Nov 7th ballot:
Hopkins School Board: Zhiming Zhao (candidate), Brooke Ann Roper (candidate), and Jen Westmorland, Hopkins School Board Chair and running for Hennepin County Commissioner for District 6
Eden Prairie School Board: Kim Ross
Eden Prairie Mayor and Council: Ron Case, Mayor and PG Narayanan, Council Member
Minnetonka City Council: Kissy Coakley, Ward 4 (incumbent!) and Patsy Foster Bolton, Ward 1 (candidate)
Minnetonka School Board: Dan Olson (candidate)
Hennepin County Attorney: Mary Moriarity
State Officials: MN Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthun, MN Rep. Laurie Pryor, and MN Sen. Steve Cwodzinski
Whenever groups of people gather together, and sit at a table to share a meal, there will be differing opinions, perspectives, cultural differences, age disparities, and skill varieties. This, friends, is our strength. We are not the same in all ways, but we share values that support one another in our communities. The fabric of a society is made of many kinds of fibers, twined together, then woven in cross-directions. We support each other when there is a damaged spot, and help with mending weak spots. This tapestry of humanity is woven of threads in our daily lives, with joys, tragedies, communion of activities and values holding us together.
I am honored to be a part of this multi-textured, patterned and vivid tapestry, very near the middle of North America.
Kathryn Linafelter Johnson, Vice Chair, SD 49
