Department Convention

                                                     DEPARTMENT  2025 CONVENTION PROGRAM

                 The 106^th Annual Convention of The American Legion – Department of Minnesota

WILLMAR, MINNESOTA* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, 

3-7:00 P.M.        REGISTRATION, Austin F. Hanscom Post 167, 220 19^th Avenue SW, Willmar, MN

THURSDAY MORNING, 

6:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon               REGISTRATION, Willmar Conference Center, Main Entrance

7-8:00 A.M.      CAUCUS OF ALL DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES BY DISTRICTS

8:30 A.M.          DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, Gallery 5-7
Annual Report of Corporations

1. Brain Science – President
2. Convention – Chairman
3. Department MN – Treasurer
4. Foundation – President
5. Hospital Assoc. – President
6. Legionnaire – Editor
7. Legionville – President

10:00 A.M.         AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION SESSIONS – Willmar Conference Center, Gallery 5-7

CALL TO ORDER:  Carl Moon, Department Commander, Walker

ADVANCEMENT OF THE COLORS – Zimmerman Post 560

INVOCATION:  Kelley Ackerman, Department Chaplain, Pine Island

POW/MIA FLAG:  Gary Olson, NS/FR Committee, Moorhead

Betty Jass, Department Sergeant at Arms, Lake Crystal

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

“THE PREAMBLE” — Recital by Commander and Delegates

GREETINGS:     Carl Moon, Department Commander, Walker

The Honorable Doug Reese, Mayor, Willmar

John Christenson, Commander, Austin F. Hanscom Post 167

Carl Wilson, Seventh District Commander, Elbow Lake

Pam Krill, Department Vice Commander, Blue Earth

Jon Olson, General Convention Chairman, Willmar

10:25 A.M.         READING OF THE CONVENTION CALL:  Michael J. Maxa, Department Adjutant, St. Paul

APPROVAL OF DEPT CONVENTION PUBLISHED PROGRAM BY CONVENTION                                                            ATTENDEES

REPORT OF CONVENTION CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

REPORT OF CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE

ADVANCE READING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RESOLUTIONS:

Greg Colby, Department Judge Advocate, Burnsville

10:40 A.M.          ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEPARTMENT CONVENTION COMMITTEES AND INSTRUCTIONS

Michael J. Maxa, Department Adjutant, St. Paul

11:00 A.M.          RECESS

11:20 A.M.          JOINT MEMORIAL SERVICE – Willmar Conference Center, Gallery 5-7

THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 

1:00 P.M.            MEETINGS OF ALL CONVENTION COMMITTEES.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Members serving on Convention Committees will please be prompt in attendance at assigned committee meetings.
2. Each committee will elect its own Chairman and Secretary. When work is finished, the Chairman or Secretary, (or both) will report to the Convention Department Headquarters at the Willmar Conference Center, Legion Headquarters Office, for assistance in preparing a typewritten report for presentation to the Convention assembled on Friday, July 12, 2024.
3.  Convention Committee reports should be presented and accepted in final form before adjournment on Friday, July 12, 2024, thus disposing of all business other than that which has been scheduled for Saturday morning.

1. 1. THURSDAY AFTERNOON,                                                                                                      2:00 P.M.            GAMBLING SEMINAR, Willmar Conference Center, Gallery 5-7Moderator:  Kristy Janigo, Legislative Committee Chairman, Maple GroveFRIDAY MORNING, 

      6:30 A.M. to 12:00 Noon               REGISTRATION, Willmar Conference Center, Main Entrance

      7-8:00 A.M.       CAUCUS OF ALL DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES BY DISTRICTS

      8:30 A.M.          CALL TO ORDER:  Carl Moon, Department Commander, Walker

      RESPECT TO COLORS

      INVOCATION:  Kelley Ackerman, Department Chaplain, Pine Island

      PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

      8:35 A.M.          REPORT:  Credentials Committee, Lynne Nottage, Chairman, Minneapolis

      REPORT:  Finance Committee, Richard Wog, Chairman, Willmar

      REPORT:  Legislative Committee, Kristy Janigo, Chairman, Maple Grove

      REPORT:  Training Committee, Jennifer Havlick Chairman, Two Harbors

      9:05 A.M.          SAL REPORT:  John Weiss, 2024-2025 SAL Detachment Commander, Woodbury

      9:10 A.M.          YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES:

      2024 EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR – Ryan Kuehn:  Chip Manson, Boy Scout                                                                                                                                     Chairman, Spicer

      2024 LEGION BOYS STATE REPRESENTATIVE:  Kyle Oldre, Director, Luverne

      2024 ORATORICAL CONTEST WINNER – Elijah Cox:  Jamie Brooks, Chairman,                                                      Minneapolis

      2024 JUNIOR SHOOTING SPORTS:  Carl Wilson, Chairman, Elbow Lake

      9:30 A.M.          UPDATE:  Commissioner, MN Department of Veterans Affairs

      9:45 A.M.          AWARDS and PRESENTATIONS:

      Gary Weaver, President, American Legion Hospital Assn.,                                                                                   La Crescent

      Karen Welander, Children and Youth Chairman, Sunburg

      Paul Orson, Americanism Chairman, Circle Pines

      Don Skow, Education Chairman, Lindstrom

      Rod Reifsteck, Safety-School Patrol Chairman, Elysian

      Pat Logan, Law and Order Chairman, Bloomington

      Zachery Gruver, Law Officer of the Year

      Shaun Heiderscheidt, Firefighter of the Year

      Terry Larson, Blood Chairman, Shafer

      Tom Clabo, Community Service Chairman, Hutchinson

      David Wendt, Bowling Chairman, St. Michael

      Luis Campero, Employment Chairman, Sauk Rapids

      10:10 A.M.         NATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICE AWARDS & UPDATE:

      Janet Lorenzo, Department Service Officer, St. Paul

      PAT CLIFF AWARD to Outstanding Post Service Officer

      10:30 A.M.         REPORT:  Baseball Committee:  Randy Schaub, Director, Danube

      REPORT:  Softball Committee:  Mike Arvidson, Director, Parkers Prairie

      REPORT: Veterans 4 Veterans: Don Pankake, Hutchinson

      Report: Armed Forces Service Center, Joe Jansen, New Brighton

10:45 A.M.         CONVENTION COMMITTEE REPORTS – in order listed

-Americanism

-Children & Youth

-Constitution & By-Laws

11:30 A.M.          Recess

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

1:30 P.M.           REMAINING CONVENTION COMMITTEE REPORTS (as listed above & below)

-Employment

-Energy & Conservation

-Finance

-Legislative

-Membership

-National Security/Foreign Relations

-Public Relations

-Recreation-Sports

-Rehabilitation

-Resolutions

-Safety-School Patrol

-Internal Affairs Ad Hoc Committee

-Time & Place (Convention Corp)

2:00 P.M.           GREETINGS:     Judy Ackerman, Department President, American Legion Auxiliary,                                                                    Fairmont

Christie Avant, Dept. Secretary, American Legion Auxiliary, St. Paul

2:30 P.M.           FINAL MEMBERSHIP AWARDS:  Carla Tappainer, Department Membership Director,                                                                                           Apple Valley

Gold Brigade Winners – Other Membership Awards

2:45 P.M.           NOMINATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OFFICE

3:30 P.M.           VOTING RULES:  Greg Colby, Department Judge Advocate, Burnsville

3:40 P.M.           RECESS

**  Installation Ceremony Practice following recess – to include:  Dept Commander, Sgt at Arms, Chaplain, Nominated Dept Commander, Nominated Sgt at Arms, Nominated Chaplain, Installing Officer and Outgoing District Commanders.

VOTING AT WILLMAR CONFERENCE CENTER FOR ONE HALF HOUR (30 MINUTES) FROM TIME OF RECESS IN CHAMBER BOARDROOM.

SATURDAY MORNING

7-10:00 A.M.    REGISTRATION, Willmar Conference Center, Main Entrance

8:30-9:00 A.M.   9^th District Band, Gallery 5-7

8:00 A.M. –        POLLS OPEN for voting at Willmar Conference Center, Chamber Boardroom

8:30 A.M.          POLLS CLOSE

9:00 A.M.          CALL TO ORDER:  Carl Moon, Department Commander, Walker

PAY RESPECT TO COLORS

INVOCATION:  Kelley Ackerman, Department Chaplain, Pine Island

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

9:05 A.M.          “CONVENTION MEMORIAL SERVICE”: Kelley Ackerman, Department Chaplain, Pine Island

9:30 A.M.          REPORT:  Legion Riders:  Jody Hassing, Director, Montgomery

NATIONAL REPORT:  William C. Barbknecht, National Executive Committeeman,                                                                                Battle Lake

REPORT:  Legionnaire Insurance Trust:  William C. Barbknecht, Chairman,                                                                                                                         Battle Lake

9:40 A.M.          FINAL REPORT:  Credentials Committee

FINAL REPORT:  Resolutions Assignment Committee

9:45 A.M.          Mike Maxa, Department Adjutant, St. Paul

Voting of Delegates at Large

Caucus

9:50 A.M.          REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS:  Carl Moon, Department Commander,                                                                                                                 Walker

DONATIONS accepted at this time for Commander Carl’s project.

10:05 A.M.         ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS AND INTRODUCTION OF NEWLY                                                    ELECTED OFFICERS

DEPARTMENT COMMANDER

FIVE DEPARTMENT VICE COMMANDERS – without numerical designation

CHAPLAIN

HISTORIAN

SERGEANT AT ARMS

MEMBER OF PUBLICATION BOARD – for three-year term

FOUR DELEGATES-AT-LARGE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

NOTE:

The Department is entitled to five (5) Delegates-at-Large as determined by the national organization. The Department Constitution provides, under Article 8, Section 1, that:  “The Delegates-at-Large to which the Department is entitled in the National Convention shall be elected by the Convention and shall include the incoming Commander, the incoming Department representative on the National Executive Committee, and the outgoing Commander.”  The National Constitution provides, under Article 7, Section 3, that the National Executive Committeeman shall be a delegate with vote, which shall be exercised with their Respective Departments.

District eleven has two authorized delegates which the Department Membership is an automatic attendee to the National Convention. The second delegate from district eleven will be elected by convention. This was authorized by the officers of Post 1982 and District Eleven at their annual meeting at the National Membership workshop 2024.

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS ELECT

11:25 A.M.         ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Mike Maxa, Department Adjutant, St. Paul

11:30 A.M.         BENEDICTION

SECURE POW/MIA DRAPE

RETIREMENT OF THE COLORS

ADJOURNMENT

** The Department Executive Committee meeting with the newly elected officers will commence thirty (30) minutes at the close of the 106^th Department of Minnesota convention. Gallery 5-7. **