Veterans Memorial, White Bear Lake

• Trolling For Troops
• 2013 Department Convention Information
• 2014 Membership Card Pickup
• 2013 Calendar Contest Underway

Trolling For Troops 2013

 We recognize that all Disabled Veterans and recently Deployed Soldiers who have served our country through the years deserve a day on the lake.  Here is your opportunity to get a chance to fish with some of the best anglers in the Midwest!  Well known professional fishermen and others will guide a Disabled Vet and a recently Deployed MN National Guard Soldier or Airmen for a day on Mille Lacs Lake or the Mississippi River!  This will be a fun, exciting, day of fishing in boats that make heads turn.  Trophies will be given out for the most successful teams!

Details: Trolling for the Troops

• Date: Thursday/Friday, June 6-7, 2013
• Headquarters: Camp Ripley, MN
• Fishing Locations: Mille Lacs Lake and Mississippi River

To apply: You must complete an application and obtain a copy of your DD214 form and send it via email to rtesdahl@mnlegion.org (Must be in a PDF format) or print the application form and send to Attn: Department Adjutant Randy Tesdahl, The American Legion, 20 West 12^th Street Rm 300A, St Paul, MN 55155.  Applications are due by April 1, 2013!  There is no application fee for the third annual Trolling for the Troops.  It is important that your application reflect your current mailing address.  A sponsor will select the participants.  Those most recently deployed will have preference.  Once selected, information such as billeting & meals will be mailed to you.  Applications will also be available on the Camp Ripley Web site at: http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/camp_ripley/environment/

Click here for entry form   

Membership Card Pickup Scheduled

June 22 - North St. Paul Post #39, North St. Paul, MN

The 2014 membership cards will be distributed at the Annual Membership Card Pickup on June 22, 2013 beginning at 9:00 AM.  Each District should plan to attend in order to pick up the card packets for their Posts.

2013 Department Convention

Information is now available on-line and in the Minnesota Legionnaire for registering for the 2013 Department Convention and booking your housing.  Department Convention is July 18-20, 2013 with the Executive Committee meeting the night of July 17th.

Convention Pre-Registration form in PDF format

Convention and Convention Housing information

2013 Convention Call in PDF format

2013 Calendar Contest Underway

The fifth annual Minnesota American Legion Photo Calendar Contest is now underway. Again this year, the contest will call for photographs that veterans shot while they were in the service. Entries will be due by July 1, and the 12 winners will have their photo printed in the annual state Legion calendar. There will also be cash prizes for the photos judged to be the top three winners. Top prize will be $250, second prize will be $150 and third prize will be $100. The winning photograph will be on the cover of the  calendar.

There is no restriction on the type of photo that is submitted. It can be a group shot, a scenery shot, a view of everyday life, or even an action/combat photo. Entrants can submit up to three photos. Please do not send originals. Scan or reprint the photos before submitting. Photos will not be returned. Resolution on photos submitted electronically should be at least 200 dpi.

Here are the rules:

1. All photos must have been taken while the veteran was serving in the Armed Forces. Family members can submit photos from an immediate family member, as long as the person submitting is a current member of the Legion, Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion. For instance, a Legion Family member can submit a photo taken by a grandfather in World War I.

2. Photos may be entered by mailing them to the Department: Room 300A, 20 West 12th Street, St. Paul, MN 55155. Or emailing to azdon@mnlegion.org. Again, do not send original photographs. Photos will not be returned. Please mark the outside of the envelope or the subject line as "Photo Contest."

3. Entries will be judged not only on the unique quality and interest in the photo, but also by its technical merit.

4. All entries must be postmarked by June 30, 2013, or have been emailed by July 1, 2013.

5. All photos must be original and copyright free and be available to be printed in the calendar without legal encumberment.

6. All entries must contain as much relevant data as possible, such as who, what, where and when. If there's a story that goes with the photo, please send it along.

7. Photographs may be from any war era.

8. The limit per person is three photographs.

9. Those submitting must include their name, which Legion organization they belong to, their Legion, Auxiliary or SAL ID number, their address, and their contact information including phone or email.

10. The person who took the photo should be identified by name, rank, unit, and any other information that is available.

Any questions, please call Al Zdon at 651-291-1800 or 1-866-259-9163. Or email: azdon@mnlegion.org.