State Capitol Program Detail:
Emcee: Ms. Ngawang Dolker of Students for a Free Tibet
9:30 AM - Assemble at the Capitol
10:00 AM Welcome Announcement/Event Objectives
10:05 AM - Tibetan/American National Anthem
10:15 AM - Moment of Silence
10:16 AM - Dentsig Monlam / Prayer of Truth
10:20 AM - Meaning of Freedom Torch Relay
10:30 AM - Guest Speaker – Mayor Chris Coleman (TBD)
10:40 AM - Torch Lighting Ceremony flanked by Gyalshay dancers
Gen Gundun (Gyuto monk) to light the torch
10:42 AM - Pledge Remark by Kalsang Phuntsok of RTYC
10.50 AM - Hand off the Torch to Gen Gendun – first torch bearer.
March begins.
(Distance - 7.5 miles. Estimate of Time – 2.5 Hrs. Expected Arrival – 2:00PM.
Lunch to be served upon arrival)
Tibetan Community Cultural Center Program Detail:
Emcee: Ms. Ngodup Sangmo of TAFM
3:00 PM - Welcome Announcement
3:05 PM - Meaning and significance of Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay – Tsewang
Chokden of RTYC
3:10 PM - Moment of Silence
3:11 PM - Dentsig Monlam / Prayer of Truth
3:15 PM - Speech by SFT President
3:20 PM - Speech by RTWA President
3:25 PM - Speech by RTYC President
3:30 PM - Speech by TAFM President
3:35 PM Speech by GUEST SPEAKER
Edmund Lu of China Democracy Movement
3:40 PM - Speech by KEYNOTE SPEAKER
CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELLISON
4:00 PM - Cultural Dance and Freedom Songs – TAFM/Dotoe/Melong
4:55 PM - Vote of Thanks – Karma Wangchuk, TAFM ED
5:00PM - Sangsol (Fire Puja) with Namthar led by Tenzin Ngawang, TAFM music teacher.
The event is organized by:
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC)
Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM)
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)
Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA)
What You Need To Know About Saturday May 31, Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay
Program
1. State Capitol Program starts at 10:00AM sharp. Please arrive early.
2. March begins at 11:00AM
3. Route leaders and torch bearers will lead the procession
4. March ends at Tibetan Community Cultural Center (TCCC) around 2:00PM
5. TCCC Program starts at 3:00PM - Keynote Speaker - Rep Keith Ellison
6. Program ends at 5:00PM with Sangsol (Fire Puja)
7. For detailed program description, please visit www. rtycminnesota.org or www.tafm.org
Transportation
1. Organizers have booked 2 school buses. Bus pickup starts at 8:30AM in the cultural center parking lot. Each bus will make 2 roundtrips with the last pickup at 9:30AM. If you want to ride the bus, please come at least by 8:30AM. Others driving their own cars may head straight to the capitol. Please do not park cars in the (TCCC) parking lot. Designated parking areas are available with guided personnel. Please do not park anywhere not suggested by the staff. Please do not hang around in groups in these parking lots.
2. If you are driving and you have seats available please consider giving rides to others.
March - Route/Safety
1. March distance is about 7.5 miles and we expect to take around 2.5 hours.
2. March begins at the State Capitol at 11:00AM. Following through St. Paul downtown, we head straight down the University Ave. W until Raymond Ave. Turning Right will lead straight to the Tibetan Community Cultural Center.
2. Please wear appropriate attire. For Tibetans, traditional dress code is highly encouraged. We encourage everyone to buy and wear event specific T-shirt made available at the bus entrance. T-shirt and a flag is on sale for $10 only.
3. Please wear appropriate shoes - tennis shoes for walking are recommended to reduce the risk of injury.
4. Please exercise best judgments and follow traffic rules properly. Please be considerate and careful of small kids and seniors. It may be good to keep infants away or have some one to wait at TCCC instead. Anyone unable to walk lengths may join the morning and afternoon programs at the State Capitol and TCCC.
5. Given distance of walk we advise elders, disabled and small kids to not to take part in march or to limit participation only.
Security
As encountered during Human Rights Torch Relay on April 16, there may be counter-protest from the pro-China group. If such an incident occurs please refrain from confrontation. Event leaders are advised to keep check on everyone.
Refreshments
1. There will a team of volunteers providing bottle water along the route. You may want to bring along snacks to keep up your energy. Lunch (sandwich) will be served upon arrival at the TCCC.
Contact:
1. Kalsang Phuntsok - Event Coordinator - 612-281-7619 rtycminnesota@yahoo.com
2. Tsewang Chokden - Event Coordinator - 952-356-7359
2. Karma Wangchuk - TAFM - 651-917-9556
3. Tsering Dolma - RTWA - 763-502-7904
4. Thinly Woser - TAFM - 612-716-8608
5. Ngawang Dolker - SFT - 763-639-4616