Delegates elect Pam Krill the next department commander
WILLMAR — It’s running gag in the Minnesota American Legion: Call Jan Ekert “Pam’s mom,” and call Pam Krill, “Jan’s daughter.”
On July 11, Pam’s mom got to crown Jan’s daughter the 2026-27 department commander.
Pam Krill of Fairmont Post 36 in the 2nd District won a contested election to become the new commander on the final day of the 107th American Legion Department of Minnesota Convention, defeating Garylee Davenport of Spicer Post 545 in the 7th District.
Krill is a retired Air Force veteran, having served 21 years. She has served in Iraq and twice in Afghanistan. She lives in the countryside near Blue Earth.
She served as department vice commander 2024-25. She served as the department membership director in 2023-24. She was 2nd District commander 2022-23 and has served other various roles in the district and at her post.
Her theme is “You Matter.” She said her project will be partly to strengthen Fund 85 (Minnesota Veterans Assistance Fund) and partly to help fund a new kitchen for the Bravo Zulu House women’s home.
Krill named James Olson of Mankato Post 11 as the membership director.
Other elected department officers were:
- Vice Commander Carla Tappainer of Apple Valley Post 1776.
- Vice Commander Tom Behrends of Brewster Post 464.
- Vice Commander Carroll Partridge of St. Paul 3M Post 599.
- Vice Commander Frank Grittner of Zimmerman Post 560.
- Vice Commander Matt Berens of Hopkins Post 320.
- Chaplain Cindy Yanchury of Eagan Post 594, who won a contested race against Dean Knutson of Ashby Post 357.
- Historian Sandy Gessler of Austin Spam Post 570.
- Sergeant-at-Arms Joe Bares of Jordan Post 3.
- Board of Publications member Shawna Knutson of Pequot Lakes Post 49 for a three-year term.
Department and district officers and their email addresses are listed at mnlegion.org under the “About” tab.
At the DEC meeting following the convention, Tom Behrends of Brewster Post 464 announced he would run for department commander. Garylee Davenport of Spicer Post 545 announced he would run for department vice commander.
Carl Moon of Zimmerman Post 560 announced he would run again for NECman and said Paul Hassing of Bloomington Post 550 would run again for alternate NECman. NECman and alternate NECman have two-year terms.
Linda Kelly won the election for president of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota. Duane Mabon remains director of the Minnesota American Legion Riders. Chuck Stone of Owatonna Post & Squadron 77 is the new commander of the SAL Detachment of Minnesota.
The post-convention DEC hired Assistant Adjutant Janet Lorenzo of St. Paul Park Post 98 as the full-time adjutant for a three-year term. It appointed Brian Medinnus of Austin Post 91 to the Board of Publications for a three-year term.
Olson said he wants to let veterans statewide know who we are and what we do as part of an effort to reach 100 percent.
Committee appointments can be found at mnlegion.org.
Veterans Justice Act
Zimmerman Post 560 brought forth a resolution that would have The American Legion endorse veteran treatment courts. Now, to be sure, the Legion already has a resolution from the 2016 National Convention in Cincinnati showing support for veteran treatment courts.
This new resolution goes further, and it calls for endorsing the model established by Minnesota’s Veterans Restorative Justice Act that has been spreading to other states. It already has been adopted in Nebraska and is under consideration in Colorado, Kansas, Alaska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.
The Minnesota American Legion was instrumental in bringing the VRJA back to life in 2020 and getting it passed in 2021. Now, it’s a rising model for the nation.
In short, these veteran justice acts allow veterans in counties without treatment courts to move their case to a nearby county with one, along with setting up statewide standards.
The convention approved the resolution, and the Minnesota delegation will bring it to the 107th National Convention in Louisville in late August and early September.
Redistricting resolution
You needed to have your head on a swivel to follow what was going on with the redistricting debate. It was ruled out of order at the pre-convention DEC meeting. It was brought back to life during the convention. A resolution read incorrectly had to be amended.
In the end, the convention amended Article Three of the Department of Minnesota Constituion to remove language that locks the districts to the borders of congressional districts in 1930.
No districts changed. The congressional lines Minnesota had for 1913-1931 remain alive and well in the map of the Minnesota American Legion today.
However, the new language does require a review of district boundaries every 10 years — following the U.S. Census — and the Department Constitution no longer states whether new boundaries must follow specific cartography, such as congressional or county lines.
In April 2031, data from the 2030 Census will be released to the states for reapportionment and to the American public, and it is likely that in 2032 the American Legion Department of Minnesota will have to review districts again.
Recall that the DEC in Bloomington on March 15 passed a resolution allowing the Redistricting Committee to continue beyond Commander Linda Dvorak’s term until its review of the districts was over. But at the DEC meeting on July 11, immediately following the convention and after her term, NECman Carl Moon motioned to rescind the March 15 resolution and dissolve the committee. The motion carried.
Senior vice commander
A resolution committee recommended to the DEC on July 9 to reject a resolution to change the Department Constitution to have the convention delegates elect a senior vice commander, who then would spend a year training to be the commander but not guaranteed to have the spot.
Without DEC support, that initiative also met its end.
First DEC meeting
At the post-convention DEC, NECman Carl Moon made a motion to have the DEC no longer meet immediately following the convention and return to what it did in 2021 and prior. That is, meet after the department leadership had attended the Membership Workshop in Indianapolis.
After some debate, the motion carried. That means, starting in 2027, the first meeting of a new DEC will happen in early August instead of after conventions.
Charter turn-in
The DEC accepted charter turn-ins for Perham Post 61, Battle Lake Post 289 and Beltrami Post 626.
Convention Corp.
It was the third of a five-year commitment to have the Department Convention in Willmar. Next summer it happens July 8-10.
The Fall Conference is slated for Oct. 22-24 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. It will be the fifth of a five-year commitment.
Convention Corp. chairman Tom Fernlund said greater attendance would help offset costs.
Terrence Quinn
In the winter, a $150,000 donation from deceased Navy veteran Terence M. Quinn of Grand Marais Post 413 to the Department of Minnesota greatly assisted finances this year. The Finance Committee allocated $30,000 of the donation to Legionville.
After the legal work was finished, another $32,855 came from Quinn estate arrived.
Quinn was born in Chicago. His family moved to Grand Marais when he was young. He graduated from Cook County High School in 1964 and enrolled at the junior college in Ely, graduating in 1968. He entered the Navy and retired in 1989. He worked hard at various places in the Grand Marais area and was known for his knowledge of gas prices and would share stock market knowledge.
He was known to many as “The Mighty Quinn.”
“The Department of Minnesota recognizes his service to the nation and appreciates his service to the state,” said Adjutant Mike Maxa.
Suicide Prevention
Kristi Stites is the veteran suicide prevention coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
She let the convention delegates know that the Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention Summit takes place 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Bloomington’s Veterans Center.
It is the site of Bloomington American Legion Post 550 and VFW Post 1296, 311 W. 84th St.
The flier says, “Attendees will explore strategies, resources and collaborative approaches to strengthen the network of care available to those who have served.”
She hopes for improved attendance than last year, when it was in Marshall.
SAL
Commander Jeremy Copher announced the Detachment of Minnesota finished in second place in the Midwest and 14th in the nation. Minnesota is the largest detachment in the Midwest Region.
His project raised about $10,000 for Helping Paws.
Americanism
Chairman Paul Orson and the various chairs of the Americanism subcommittee announced the following:
- Elijah Cox of Walker Post 134 won the Oratorical Contest for the third year in a row. At the National Contest, he made it to the round of 16 and earned additional scholarship money.
- Minnesota’s Eagle Scout of the Year Michael Korf of Woodbury came in second in national judging to a Scout from Illinois.
- The governor of Minnesota Boys State was Carter Klein of Bloomington Post 550.
- Americanism winners, in district order, were Adams Post 146, Fairmont Post 36, Forest Lake Post 225, St. Paul Post 8, Viking Post 493, Big Lake Post 147, Willmar Post 167, Moose Lake Post 379, East Grand Forks Post 157 and St. Michael Post 567.
- Receiving a Certificate of Distinguished Service were North St. Paul Post 39 and Paynesville Post 271.
- Sixth District Commander Frank Grittner received the George J. Kaisersatt Award for his support of Legionville.
Pop-Up Veteran Food Pantry
Amy Archer, chief experience officer for the Minneapolis VA, said the Pop-Up Veteran Food Pantry has served over 2,500 veterans. Now, the VA aims to expand it to the CBOCs around the region.
There are 22 CBOCs in Minnesota.
She praised 4th District Commander Jon Haworth for holding monthly ruck marches to the VA, where participants pack backpacks with nonperishable food and bring the contents to the VA. They have donated about 800 pounds of food so far.
The rucks are on the fourth Sunday of each month. The next one is at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, starting at the Minnehaha Depot in Minneapolis.
The Pop-Up Veteran Food Pantry is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the VA Medical Center Auditorium.
The nonprofit called Minnesota Veterans Food Pantry raises funds to purchase the food at the Pop-Up Veteran Food Pantry. Visit mnvp.org to donate.
Archer said there were over 30,000 volunteer hours at the hospital and noted how American Legion Auxiliary President Pam Ray toured the hospital.
“We’re proud of our partnership with the American Legion Family,” Archer said.
On the horizon is a mental health clinic, and, in May 2027, the facility will transition to a new electronic health record.
Pat Cliff Award
Department Service Officer Jason Storm announced that Red Wing Post 54 is the recipient of the Pat Cliff Award. This is given to a post for its work with assisting veterans.
“They have partnered with their Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, and they have helped over 25 veterans become un-homeless, and, on top of that, what they have done is they also provide resources for them to be employed,” Storm said.
What’s more, Goodhue County veteran nonprofits pool some of their charitable gambling money at the County Veteran Service Office that allows the service officer to act fast.
LIT
Since its inception, the American Legion Department of Minnesota has received $4,724,479 from Legionnaire Insurance Trust. It has given out more than $102.7 million to the 49 participating departments. It has paid out more than $1 billion in benefits to members of the Legion Family.
See the new ad on Page 2.
Membership
Membership Director Joe Bares discussed membership efforts: eblasts, attending events such as military unit open houses, and the National Commander’s Tour, where he gained the nickname “95 Percent Joe.” He thanked staff, members and posts for their efforts.
As of the convention, Minnesota was at 94.67 percent renewals, which was 35th place nationally, even though the state held the No. 1 slot during the Army-Navy game in December.
The 6th District won the Premier Race, defeating the 10th and 3rd by less than a half percent, he said. Bares awarded bats to the 6th District’s Frank Grittner and Jim Lucas, to Vice Commander for Districts 6 & 9 Steve NaSalle and to Commander Linda Dvorak.
Law & Order
The last issue of The Minnesota Legionnaire recognized Alex Hallin of the Lino Lakes Police Department as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Eric Purves of the Eagan Fire Department as the Firefighter of the Year.
After the article, the committee changed course, and at the convention they announced two Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. The other is patrol officer Ryan Winegardner of the Eagan Police Department.
Winegardner grew up in Northfield and graduated from St. Mary’s in Winona. His patrol sergeant, in nominating him, said he was one of the most active officers in the department while needing the least supervision. He is also field training officer, drug recognition evaluator and provides instruction on certifications. He is a chemical munitions specialist on the SWAT team and is responsible for the inventory of distraction devises and chemical munitions.
He serves on the department honor guard and is a crime scene technician, active shooter instructor, mentor for new officers and vice president of the Patrol Union.
“Ryan exemplifies the qualities of a model employee and consistently sets a high standard of performance for his peers,” his supervisor wrote.
Consolidated Post Reports
Sy Fix of La Crescent Post 595 led the charge to gather CPR reports and turn them in to National HQ. He announced Minnesota has achieved 100 percent turn-in again.
He said every member of the Legion in Minnesota donates 25 cents from their dues to the American Legion Family Hospital Association. Using this knowledge, he and his helpers, such as Tim Haugen from Moorhead Post 21, Joe Bares of Jordan Post 3 and Frank Grittner of Zimmerman Post 560, take the CPRs and adds the ALFHA donation if the post adjutant didn’t already factor them.
He recognized Moose Lake Post 1918, the post inside a prison.
“Let me tell you something: volunteer hours were 179,153. That was the Legion because their SAL put in 93,930 hours,” Fix said, later adding, “They are making blankets for kids, making beads, pushing people around in wheelchairs. These guys, I don’t know what else they got to do, but, still, it’s something.”
Baseball & Softball
Minnesota American Legion Baseball Director Randy Schaub announced the program has a record 385 teams this season, which is the most in the nation by a longshot. He said the program has received many bids to host tournaments, especially for the small towns, because they make good money for the sponsoring community.
Minnesota American Legion Fastpitch Softball Director Michael Arvidson said he has 34 teams again this year. He is proud the program has reached its fifth year. Legion Softball is community-based, and it’s been difficult to draw more teams away from Minnesota’s club-based travel softball teams. (Club teams can draw players from wherever to form mega-teams.)
Bowling
First place went to Litchfield Post 104. They went home with the traveling trophy. See the full results in this issue.
The Bowling Committee held a bowling ball raffle that raised $750 for the Department Commander’s Project, $750 for the Department President’s Project and $750 for the Detachment Commander’s Project.
Blood Donation
Blood Donation Chairman Terry Larson announced the top posts in each district for blood donating, with three categories based on size. Here they are:
1st District: 20 posts reporting total of 750 units.
- Winona Post 9: 390 units
- Waseca Post 228: 228 units
- Albert Lea Post 56: 65 units
2nd District: 13 posts reporting total of 1,189 units.
- Wells Post 210: 269 units
- Fairmont Post 36: 258 units
- Sanborn Post 286: 207 units
3rd District: 16 posts reporting total of 2,990 units.
- Chanhassen Post 580: 351 units
- Belle Plaine Post 144: 300 units
- Norwood Post 343: 287 units
4th District: Three posts reporting total of 63 units.
- Rosetown Memorial Post 542: 48 units
- Christie-DeParcq Post 406: 8 units
- Business & Professional Post 450: 7 units
5th District: Nine posts reporting total of 77 units.
- The Hellenic Post 129: 48 units
- North Side Post 230: 19 units
- Minneapolis Post 1: 10 units
6th District: 17 posts
reporting total of 594 units.
- Zimmerman Post 560: 394 units
- Pequot Lakes Post 49: 72 units
- Little Falls Post 49: 56 units
7th District: 11 posts reporting total of 704 units
- Willmar Post 167: 300 units
- Watkins Post 453: 126 units
- Olivia Post 186: 64 units
8th District: 5 posts reporting total of 35 units.
- Virginia Post 239: 10 units
- Chisholm Post 247: 9 units
- Grand Marais Post 413: 6 units
9th District: 7 posts reporting total of 419 units
- Bagley Post 16: 298 units
- Middle River Post 444: 78 units
- Roseau Post 24: 18 units
10th District: 11 posts reporting total of 855 units
- Anoka Post 102: 375 units
- Coon Rapids Post 334: 180 units
Other business
There were many other reports and items of note at the Department Convention, much of which has already been reported in the pages of The Minnesota Legionnaire in the past year.
Department staff
On Friday evening at Willmar Post 167, there was a surprise party for departing Adjutant Mike Maxa and departing Comptroller Rachael Hill. Gifts were exchanged and words were said.
Maxa retired and has a retirement gig as the gambling manager for Montgomery Post 79. Hill moved to Tennessee and remains available as an adviser. Her two sons attend college in Ohio and South Carolina.
The current lineup of Department of Minnesota staff now is:
Adjutant: Janet Lorenzo
Service Officer: Jason Storm
Assistant Service Officer: Alex Fleming
Program Coordinator: Jennifer Kelley
Membership Administrator: Misty Padilla
Comptroller: Vicki Thompson
Communications Director: Tim Engstrom
Find their contact information at mnlegion.org.
