Fall Conference

Register online with Eventbrite by clicking here. (Scroll down if paying by check.)

Download the printable registration found in the Legionnaire here.

Blood Drive: 23 October 2025, 12:00-5:00p.m., State Room. Sign-up to donate at Red-CrossBlood.org and enter “Legion Conference” or zip code “56301”. If you prefer to call and reserve your spot call; 866.236.3276

The Fall Conference is one of our most important gatherings of the year. It is our annual school of instruction. There is discussion, patriotism and camaraderie. We hope it’s the kind of event you can talk about when you return to your post home and your fellow Legionnaires.

Your attendance at the annual Fall Conference shows your dedication to our great organizations and the four pillars of The American Legion.

  • “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.” — Herbert Spencer

What: 2025 Fall Conference

Where: River’s Edge Convention Center, 10 4th Ave S. St Cloud, MN 56301

When: Oct. 24-25, 2025, with committee meetings and DEC Oct. 23.

There will be some committee meetings on Thursday afternoon with the DEC meeting Thursday evening. General training sessions begin Friday, Oct. 24, and finish Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Who: Hosted by the Department Convention Corp.

Pay by check: Use the form from the Legionnaire by clicking here. Registration received by Oct. 13 is $20, checks can be made out to “Minnesota American Legion Convention Corp.” and mailed to Minnesota American Legion Convention Corp., P.O. Box 166, Princeton, MN 55371

Pay online: Registration with Eventbrite is $20 plus a $2.85 service fee. Online registration ends at noon Friday, Oct. 17.

Pay at the door: Registration at the door is $30.

Meals: Pre-purchased meals are available for TBD each. The meals are breakfasts on Friday and Saturday and a lunch on Friday. Please indicate with your check which meals you desire. Or you can purchase your meals with Eventbrite by clicking here.

Memories: Last a lifetime

We look forward to seeing all of you wonderful Legion Family Members at the Fall Conference. You will need to book your lodging yourself.

Headquarters hotel: 
Best Western Plus Kelly Inn St. Cloud: 320-253-0606

Nearby hotels:
Courtyard by Marriott St. Cloud: 320-654-1661
GrandStay Residential Suites Hotel St. Cloud: 320-251-5400

Program for the 2025 Fall Conference, 23-25 October 2025

This was the program for the 2024 Fall Conference for reference only. The 2025 program will post as it develops.

THURSDAY – 23 Oct

12:00 – 5:00 P.M                                          Blood Drive                                                      Room: State

2:00 P.M.                                                     Gambling Seminar                                           Ballroom/Sunwood

3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.                                   Committee Meetings

3:00 P.M.                Convention Corp./Committee                                                               Room: University “A”

3:30 P.M.                LIT                                                                                                          Room: Poolside

4:00 P.M.                Americanism                                                                                          Room: Senate

4:00 P.M.                Children & Youth                                                                                   Room: Poolside

4:00 P.M.                National Security & Foreign Relations                                                  Room: Congress

4:00 P.M.                Strategic Planning                                                                                 Room: Sunwood

4:00 P.M.                American Legion Foundation                                                                Room: Boardroom

5:00 P.M.                Training Committee                                                                              Room: University “B”

6:30 P.M.                Membership Seminar                                         Convention Center Auxiliary Meeting Ballroom
National President

7:00 P.M.                Department Executive Committee                                                   Room: Ballroom/Sunwood

FRIDAY – 24 Oct

8:00 A.M. – 8:20 A.M.                                  Opening Ceremonies and Greetings               Room: Ballroom

Commander
Sixth District Commander
Area Department Vice Commander
Mayor of St Cloud
St Cloud Convention & Visitors Bureau

8:30 A.M – 10:25 A.M.                                   Breakout Training Sessions

                                                                     MyLegion Help

8:30 A.M. – 9:25 A.M.                                    Instructor: Carla Tappainer                          Room: Senate

                                                                     Be the One

Instructor: Kelley Adelsman                        Room: University “A”

Janet Lorenzo

                                                                     Protect your Post

Instructor: Judge Advocate Greg Colby        Room: Congress

                                                                     The American Legion {revitalization-resources-engage}

Instructor: Training Committee                     Room: University “B”

Breakout Training Sessions

9:30 A.M. – 10:25 A.M.                                   Voter Outreach

Instructors: Secretary of State                       Room: Senate

                                                                      Resolutions

Instructor: Paul Edwards                               Room: University “B”

                                                                      Cannabis-Know the Law

Instructor: JA Greg Colby                             Room: Congress

                                                                       Post Service Officer Responsibilities

Instructor: Janet Lorenzo                             Room: University “A”

1030 A.M.                                                   General Session                                              Room: Ballroom

10:35 A.M. – 11:20 A.M.                              NSFR Outstanding Enlisted Service Members

11:20 A.M. – 11:35 A.M.                              NEC Reporting Nationally and Introduction

11:35 A.M. – 11:55 A.M.                              Leading candidate for National Commander

11:55 A.M – 12:00 Noon                             Announcements

NOON                                                         LUNCH BREAK

1:00 P.M. – 2:55 P.M.                                    Breakout Training Sessions

1:00 P.M. – 1:55 P.M.

                                                                    MyLegion Help

Instructor: Carla Tappainer                                Room: Senate

                                                                    Be the One

Instructor: Kelley Adelsman                               Room: University “A”

Janet Lorenzo

                                                                    Protect your Post

Instructor: Judge Advocate Greg Colby            Room: Congress

                                                                    The American Legion

Instructor: Training Committee                         Room: University “B”

2:00 P.M. – 2:55 P.M.                                   Breakout Training Sessions

                                                                    Programs & Awards Resources

Instructors: Training Committee                         Room: Senate

                                                                    Resolutions

Instructor: Paul Edwards                                   Room: University “B”

                                                                    Cannabis-Know the Law

Instructor: JA Greg Colby                                  Room: Congress

                                                                    Post Service Officer Responsibilities

Instructor: Janet Lorenzo                                  Room: University “A”

3:00 P.M.                                                      General Session                                               Room: Ballroom

3:05 P.M. – 3:25 P.M.                                    Keynote Speaker: Brock Hunter-Veterans Defense Project {VDP}

3:25 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.                                    Adjutant updates & Commanders comments

3:30 P.M.                                                      Recess

Meetings

10:00 A.M.                                                   Finance                                                               Room: Boardroom

4:00 P.M.                                                      Hospital Association Meeting                           Room: University “A”

4:00 P.M.                                                      Legislative Committee Meeting                        Room: Congress

5:30 P.M.                                                      SAL Detachment Finance & Executive Committee meetings                                                                                                                                                                 Room University “B”

SATURDAY – 25 Oct

9:00 A.M.                                                  Opening Ceremonies and Greetings                  Room: Ballroom

9:05 A.M.                                                   Legion Family Greetings

Department Auxiliary President

Honorary Department Jr. President

Sons of the American Legion Commander

Department American Legion Riders Director

9:25 A.M.                                                  Legislative Agenda 2025                                        Chair Kristy Janigo

9:45 A.M.                                                  Committee Chair Responsibilities                          Training Committee

10:00 A.M.                                                Fund 85 Application Post Involvement                  ADSO-Janet Lorenzo

10:20 A.M.                                                Why Legion College – MN & National                   Training Committee

10:35 A.M.                                                Department Membership updates                        Carla Tappainer

10:55 A.M.                                                Media Awards                                                        Tim Engstrom

11:15 A.M.                                                Why Should You Belong                                        Training Committee

11:45 A.M.                                                 Donations & Commander’s final comments         Carl Moon

12:00 Noon                                               ADJOURNMENT

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.                                SAL Detachment General Session              Room: University “A”

1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.                                 American Legion Riders Mtg                      Room: University “B”

Subject Synopsis:

 MyLegion:  For our members who need assistance on how to use MyLegion. How to find members that have not renewed and retain them or bring them back. Reports that are available to manage membership.

Be the One: An explanation of the national organizations suicide prevention program. How the districts and posts can bring awareness to their members. Resources available for awareness from the national website.

Voter Outreach: Resources available to get out the vote in your communities. Voter programs tailored for veterans and their families.             

Post Service Officer Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the post service officer to bring awareness to all veterans and their families on the rights and benefits granted to them. Resources available to help veterans in need.

Resolutions: How to write a resolution. The process, where to start, next level of approvals. The do’s and don’ts when writing a resolution.

Protect your Post: Why should your post incorporate. The constitution & bylaws are the governing documents on how the post operates. Record keeping and the accuracy of meeting minutes.             

The American Legion: Why revitalizations are important to your post. Promote The American Legion and your post. Resources available to make your post and membership successful. Engage veterans to join The American Legion and an active post in your community.

Cannabis: Know the laws and permits needed if your post is going to sell cannabis.

Committee Chair Responsibilities: The responsibilities of a department, district, and post committees and chairs. How to run a successful committee.

Legislative Agenda: The 2025 American Legion Department of Minnesota’s legislative agenda to take back to your posts. How to get involved and support the agenda.

Fund 85: Why it’s so important for the posts to be involved in assisting veterans in need. The process starts at the post level. An overview of the process.          

Why Legion College:  Why our Legionnaires should attend Minnesota American Legion college and the National college. Subject matter taught at the college. The application process for both Minnesota and National.

Why Belong: Why you should belong to The American Legion and the programs of The American Legion. Our four pillars and the importance of them.

Veterans Defense Project {VDP}: Their mission is to restore veterans involved in the criminal justice system to the communities they served. Along with The American Legion Department of Minnesota, VDP was key in the passage of the Veterans Restorative Justice Act by our state legislators in 2021. Commander Carl’s project for his year and goal of raising $60,000.

Blood Drive: The national blood supply has fallen by over 25% since July 1. Blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations, rapidly drawing down the blood supply. The Red Cross is working with hospitals around the clock to meet the blood needs of patients – but can’t do it alone. We need your help! This year at our Fall Conference we will have an opportunity to make a difference.  You can sign up to donate on Thursday, October 24th from 1200 to 1700.  Our drive goal is 35 units.  This amounts to 3.5 donors per district.  You can go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter legion conference or zip code 56301 or call 866-236-3276.  There’s an urgent need for blood donors of all blood types to give now.

United We Stand         

Terry Larson

Breakfast & Lunch: Served buffet style poolside. Breakfast starts @ 7:00 A.M…  Lunch Starts @ 1145 A.M… You must purchase meal tickets at time of registration or at registration check-in. 

Schedule of Upcoming Fall Conferences

2025: St. Cloud, Oct. 23-25
2026: St. Cloud, Oct. 22-24