President: Working our programs promotes ALA
Welcome to the 2025-2026 American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota year!
I am honored to represent the members of the Department of Minnesota. This organization, and you the members, have given me opportunities to grow, learn and contribute in ways I never thought possible. We need to continue to encourage each other, support new ideas, and celebrate both individual achievements and collective success of our department.
Our theme this year is “Promoting Our Mission by Working Our Programs.”
The Department President’s Project (our Minnesota Project) this year will be Honor Flight. Participation in an Honor Flight trip gives our veterans the opportunity to share this significant occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen, and share their stories and experiences with other veterans.
The goal is to raise $35,000 to split evenly between the six hubs and Lone Eagle Honor Flight that support our Minnesota veterans, so that each gets $5,000. There is a flier in the unit mailing, and it will be on the website about the project and what hubs support the surrounding counties.
Let’s talk about Fall Conference Oct. 24-25, with committee meetings Oct. 23, in St Cloud. Plans are being made, and the conference will have a different look this year, but with some favorites. More information will be in the unit mailings. We will add some outside speakers, and our program chairman will have a focus for their reports. Resource information will be available.
There will be a Poppy Making Contest again this year between sister districts on Friday night. What an opportunity to volunteer and give back! We are asking all of the American Legion Family to come over on Friday night to help. There is a continued poppy shortage. Poppy distribution helps with donating funds back to our veterans. Poppy Chairman Hope Wilson will have more information in the unit mailing.
The American Legion Family will have a service project this year for the St. Cloud Stand Down. The St. Cloud Stand Down assists veterans in Minnesota with resources and needed items free of charge. They provide food, clothing, accessories, footwear, job connections, and housing information and resources for veterans in need, at risk, or homeless.
We will be collecting new (not used) men’s and women’s underwear, men’s and women’s socks, men’s and women’s winter jackets, hats, scarves and gloves, full-size toiletries including body wash, deodorants, razors, lotions, brushes/combs, tampons and sanitary pads (light/medium).
Congratulations to American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak, Sons of the American Legion Commander Jeremy Copher, American Legion Riders Director Duane Mabon and our Honorary Junior President Anastasia Donnelly. I am looking forward to working with you this year.
To our outgoing leadership, thank you for your tireless service and the strong foundation you have built this past year. We are grateful for your service and the positive changes you have brought about during your year. A special thank you to Past President Judy Ackerman for your leadership and service this past year.
To our incoming leadership congratulations on your election. I look forward to serving with you. Your dedication, skills, and fresh perspectives will be invaluable in guiding us toward a brighter future for our department. Let us remember that our strength lies in our shared commitment to our mission.
Leadership is not always easy. We may face challenges and tough decisions. But we need to keep in mind we are here to serve our mission. We have the support of fellow members, and the experience of those who came before us.
Thank you again for this honor. I promise to continue working hard, supporting our members and representing our department with pride. Together, we will keep building something special that makes a real difference for our veterans, military and their families.
Robin Dorf of Monticello Unit 260 is the president of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota. Her theme is “Promoting Our Mission by Working Our Programs.”