The 57th Annual Department of Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary Junior Conference was held Saturday, April 10, 2021, in St. Augusta. The conference was hosted by the 6th District American Legion Auxiliary.
Greetings from the St. Augusta Post 621 Commander Mike Zenzen and St. Augusta Unit 621 President Elaine Taufen, 6th District Commander Paul Edwards, 6th District President Roberta Elvecrog, 6th District Honorary Junior President Chloe Dragan and 6th District Junior Activities Chairman Abby Zenzen. Special guests were: American Legin Riders Paul Hassing, Sons of the American Legion Detachment Commander David Vulcan, The American Legion Department Commander Mark Dvorak, and American Legion Auxiliary Department President Mary Hendrickson.
American Legion Honorary Department Junior President Emily Suess appointed Convention Committee assignments. Every junior member was involved and to each committee one senior member was assigned. There was a break and the committees met. During this time the judging of the Poppy contests took place. After the break, the conference reconvened and the juniors gave their committee reports. This is just amazing what a wonderful job each girl did. Some of the girls were so little that one of the older girls would help them up on a chair so they could speak into the microphone. After the committee reports the juniors were given instructions on how to vote. They broke for lunch and during this time they voted for the new officers. After lunch their was a graduation ceremony. Two juniors became senior members because of their age. Some of the juniors performed the Flag Folding Ceremony. The announcement of Trophy and Award Winners was next. Those who won from Unit 261 were: Class 3 Poppy Corsage – 2nd place Piper Dragan; Class 1 Poppy Memorial Day Wreath – 1st place Amber Mertens. (See photo on page 8.) All of the girls did a wonderful job on their entries.
Next year the 7th District will host the Junior Conference. It will be held April 8 and 9, 2022, in Willmar.
The newly elected officers for 2021-2022 are:
President – Ashley Stai
1st Vice President – Sydney Borntrager
2nd Vice President – Chloe Dragan
Secretary – Eva Burket
Treasurer – Bree England
Chaplain – Violet Morgan
Sergeant-At-Arms – Taylor McElroy
President Ashley’s theme is: Helping Homeless Veterans. Her symbol is the butterfly.
The meeting was adjourned.
The juniors from the Kimball Unit who attended the conference were: Chloe Dragan, Piper Dragan, Elizabeth Spoden, Brooke Mertens, Shania Mertens, Amber Mertens, and Amelia Zenzen.
Senior members were: Renee Berscheid, Teresa Mertens, Shelly Spoden, Andrea Dragan, Abby Zenzen, and LuAnn Marschel. Dori Hamilton and Alyssa Mertens were there on Friday night to help with the events at the Legion Club.