Department Convention

                                                     DEPARTMENT  2026 CONVENTION PROGRAM

                 The 107^th Annual Convention of The American Legion – Department of Minnesota

WILLMAR, MINNESOTA* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9-11 July 2026

THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS INFORMATIONAL ONLY AND NOT THE 2026 PROGRAM

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

Brain Science – President                                                                                                                                              Convention – Chairman                                                                                                                                                Department MN – Treasurer                                                                                                                                          Foundation – President                                                                                                                                                Hospital Assoc. – President                                                                                                                                          Legionnaire – Editor                                                                                                                                                      Legionville – President
Ad-hoc Committee on Boys State

10:00 A.M.      AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION SESSION – 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 10, 2026.
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.
4.  Per rule 18 of the convention rules all convention committees will meet at the 2025 convention; Mandates of the Convention shall be reviewed every five years to determine if said mandates are still applicable and relevant. Mandates shall be reviewed by the applicable standing committees of the convention. The first review shall be conducted in 2025 and every five years thereafter, beginning in 2030.

1. 1. THURSDAY AFTERNOON,                                                                                                                    2:00 P.M.            GAMBLING SEMINAR, Willmar Conference Center, Gallery 5-7                                                                 Moderator
   2.   7:00 P.M.           Strategic Planning Committee Presentation, Five-Year Plan, Gallery 5-7                  FRIDAY MORNING,                                                                                                                                 7:30 A.M. to 12:00 Noon.     REGISTRATION, Willmar Conference Center,                                                                                              Main Entrance
   3. 7:00-8:00 A.M.       CAUCUS OF ALL DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES BY DISTRICTS
   4. 8:30 A.M.       CALL TO ORDER:  Carl Moon, Department Commander, Walker                                                                RESPECT TO COLORS: Betty Jass, Department Sgt-at-Arms, Lake Crystal                                                  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, Paul Hassing, Montgomery
                            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:                                                                                            2025 EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR – Ryan Kuehn:  Chip Manson, Boy Scout, Chairman, Spicer

      2025 LEGION BOYS STATE REPRESENTATIVE:  Kyle Oldre, Director, Luverne

      2025 ORATORICAL CONTEST WINNER – Elijah Cox:  Jamie Brooks, Chairman, Minneapolis

      2025 JUNIOR SHOOTING SPORTS:  Carl Wilson, Chairman, Elbow Lake

      9:30 A.M.          UPDATE:  Commissioner Brad Lindsay, 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

      ** Commanders Presentation to Veterans Defense Project.**

      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

-Time & Place (Convention Corp)

2:00 P.M.           GREETINGS:   Debra Alders, Northwestern Division National Vice President,                                                                                    American Legion Auxiliary, Davenport Nebraska

                                                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

                          NOMINATIONS FOR NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN {NEC} & ALTERNATE NEC 

                          NOMINATION FOR BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS

                          NOMINATIONS FOR SIX {6} DELEGTAES AT LARGE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

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, Vice Commanders, Sgt at Arms, Chaplain, Nominated Dept Commander & Vice Commanders, 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

7:00-9:30 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: Betty Jass, Department Sgt-at-Arms, Lake Crystal

                         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 {6}

                        Caucus

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 Director 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.

Any district that does not fulfill their number of authorized delegates to the National Convention will become Department Delegates-at-Large and shall be elected by convention. {2014 Mandate}

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

                                                       Six {6} DELEGATES-AT-LARGE TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

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. **