Department Convention | The American Legion Department of MN

107th American Legion Department of Minnesota Convention

When: July 9 - 11 (pre-convention committee meetings on July 8), 2026

Where: Willmar Conference Center in Willmar, Minnesota

Register online: The easiest way is to register online with Zeffy. There are no processing fees. Click here to register online with Zeffy. Problems? Contact Carrie Werner at carrielwerner@gmail.com.

Register offline: Click here to download the 2026 Convention Registration Form and follow the instructions on the form.

Lodging: You must make your own lodging reservations directly with your hotel of choice. Please ask for “The American Legion block.”

Best Western Plus: 320-235-6060

Holiday Inn Express: 320-231-2601

Country Inn & Suites: 320-214-0300

AmericInn: 320-365-1995

The Days Inn doesn't have a Legion block, but it is only about three city blocks away: 320-403-2334.

There are other lodging options in the Willmar but are father from the convention site. Here is a Google Maps search of the Willmar hotels.

Official

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION PROGRAM

The 107th Annual Convention of The American Legion - Department of Minnesota

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

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 8, 2026

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

THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 9, 2026

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

7:00 A.M. to 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

a. Brain Science – President

b. Convention – Chairman

c. Department MN – Treasurer

d. Foundation – President

e. Hospital Assoc. – President

f. Legionnaire – Editor

g. Legionville – President

h. AD-HOC Redistricting Committee Chair

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

CALL TO ORDER: Linda Dvorak, Department Commander, New Prague

ADVANCEMENT OF THE COLORS – New Prague Post 45

INVOCATION: Jim Mead, Department Chaplain, Bloomington

POW/MIA FLAG: Jim Kellogg, NS/FR Committee &

Gary Richardson, Department Sergeant at Arms

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

THE PREAMBLE" -- Recital by Commander and Delegates

GREETINGS:
- Linda Dvorak, Department Commander, New Prague
- The Honorable Doug Reese, Mayor, Willmar
- John Christenson, Commander, Austin F. Hanscom Post 167
- Pete Flannery, Seventh District Commander
- Karen Welander, Department Vice Commander
- Jon Olson, Host Post General Convention Chairman, Atwater

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: Lyndsey Olson, Department Judge Advocate,

St. Paul

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, JULY 9, 2026

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

INSTRUCTIONS:

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. All Convention Committee reports should be presented and accepted in final form before adjournment on Friday, July 10, 2026, thus disposing of all business other than that which has been scheduled for Saturday morning.

2:00 P.M. GAMBLING SEMINAR, Willmar Conference Center, Gallery 5-7

Moderator: Paul Hassing, Legislative Committee Chairman, Montgomery

4:30 P.M. Membership Meeting, Legion Room 3

FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 10, 2026

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: Linda Dvorak, Department Commander, New Prague

RESPECT TO COLORS; Gary Richardson, Department Sgt-at-Arms,

INVOCATION Jim Mead, Department Chaplain, Bloomington

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

8:35 A.M. REPORT:

Credentials Committee, Lynne Nottage, Chairman, Minneapolis

Finance Committee, Carl Moon, Chairman, Willmar

Legislative Committee, Paul Hassing, Montgomery

Training Committee, Beth Medeiros, Chairman, Pequot Lakes

9:05 A.M. SAL REPORT: Jeremy Copher, 2025-2026 SAL Detachment

Commander, Mound

9:10 A.M. YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES:

2026 EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR Michael Korf:

Chip Manson, Scout Chairman, Spicer

2026 LEGION BOYS STATE GOVERNOR: TBD

2026 ORATORICAL CONTEST WINNER Elijah Cox:

Jamie Brooks, Chairman, Minneapolis

2026 JUNIOR SHOOTING SPORTS: Carl Wilson, Chairman, Elbow Lake

9:30 A.M. UPDATE: VETERAN AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

Director Patrick J. Kelley

9:45 A.M. AWARDS and PRESENTATIONS:

Gary Weaver, President, American Legion Hospital Assn.,

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
- Law Officer of the Year
- 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

Tim Engstrom, National Media and Communication, Bloomington

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

PROGRAMS UPDATE:

Jason Storm, Department Service Officer, St. Paul

PAT CLIFF AWARD to Outstanding Post Service Officer

10:30 A.M. REPORT:

Baseball Committee: Randy Schaub, Director, Danube
Softball Committee: Mike Arvidson, Director, Parkers Prairie
Veterans 4Veterans: Don Pankake, Hutchinson
Armed Forces Service Center: Joe Jansen, New Brighton

11:00 A.M. CONVENTION COMMITTEE REPORTS – in order listed

Americanism
Children & Youth
Constitution & By-Laws

11:30 A.M. RECESS

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 10, 2026

1:30 p.m. Legionnaire Insurance Trust: William C. Barbknecht, Battle Lake

1:45 P.M. REMAINING CONVENTION COMMITTEE REPORTS

-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:

Robin Dorf, Department President, American Legion Auxiliary, Monticello

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

2:15 P.M. FINAL MEMBERSHIP AWARDS:

Joe Bares, American Legion Department Membership Director, Jordan

Gold & Silver Brigade Winners - Other Membership Awards

2:45 P.M. NOMINATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

3:30 P.M. VOTING RULES:

Lyndsey Olson, Department Judge Advocate, St. Paul

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 THE CHAMBER BOARDROOM.

SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 11, 2026

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

8:00 A.M. POLLS OPEN Chamber Boardroom

8:30 A.M. POLLS CLOSE

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

9:00 A.M. CALL TO ORDER: Linda Dvorak, Department Commander, New Prague

RESPECT TO COLORS; Gary Richardson, Department Sgt-at-Arms,

INVOCATION: Jim Mead, Department Chaplain, Bloomington

9:05 A.M. "CONVENTION MEMORIAL SERVICE": Jim Mead,

Department Chaplain, Bloomington

9:10 A.M. REPORT:

Legion Riders: Duane Mabon, Director, Pipe Stone

NATIONAL REPORT: Carl Moon, National Executive

Committeeman, Walker

9:20 A.M. FINAL REPORT: Credentials Committee

FINAL REPORT: Resolutions Assignment Committee

9:30 A.M. Voting of Delegates at Large, Mike Maxa, Department

Adjutant, St. Paul (See note below) Caucus

10:00 A.M. REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS: Linda Dvorak,

Department Commander, New Prague

DONATIONS accepted at this time

10:15 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 a three-year term

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 a vote, which shall be exercised with their Respective Departments.

District Eleven has two authorized delegates, of 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 its number of authorized delegates to the National Convention will become Department Delegates-at-Large and shall be elected by convention. {2014 Mandate}

11:00 A.M 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 DEC meeting with newly elected officers will commence 30 minutes after the close of the 107th Department of Minnesota Convention in Gallery 5-7 **