2012 STATE CONVENTION

Officer’s Training School, Auxiliary Leadership Officer’s Training & Recruiter Training/Certification

Rochester, Minnesota

June 21-24, 2012

OTI& ALOT: Thursday, June 21st & Convention Friday-Sunday, June 22nd-24th

Rochester will be the site of the Department of Minnesota, VFW State Convention. The 2012 State Convention will be hosted by the Department Headquarters.  As in the past, this promises to be an interesting and educational State Convention.

The Annual Convention allows all VFW members in the State of Minnesota to have a voice in the decision-making processes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. By-Law changes on the State and National levels are acted upon during the Committee meetings and General Sessions of the Convention. All members are urged to attend this very important gathering of Post, District and Department members and officers. Please come and see YOUR VFW at work! The State Convention has always been a GREAT place to meet up with your friends and share in the camaraderie of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Many good times and memories have been formed at functions like the VFW State Convention.

Look for a Recruiter’s Training/Certification Course to be offered as well as Inspector’s Training.  In addition, we hope to continue the Auxiliary Leadership Officer’s Training Program of ALOT that was added in 2011. These training sessions take place on the Thursday prior to Convention and the Convention will run Friday to Sunday.  The new, tentative schedules can be accessed through the link below.

Pre-Convention events will get underway with Officers Training School, Auxiliary Leadership Officer’s Training and Recruiter Training/Certification during the day Thursday and the Council of Administration meeting on Thursday evening prior to convention. There will be early registration available Wednesday night for OTI attendees- please arrive early to avoid the rush before morning classes.

Convention sessions begin on Friday as State Commander Ray Trebus and State President Debbie Tweet open the 2012 Joint Awards Session. For most Posts and Auxiliaries, this is the highlight of the State Convention.

This session is where our VFW Posts and Auxiliaries are recognized for their hard work over the past year. Awards will be presented in the areas of Community Service, Citizenship Education, Publications, Youth/Senior Activities, Buddy Poppies, Blood Donor/Hospital, Membership and much more. As in the past years, the finale of the Joint Session, is the naming of the ALL-STATE POST COMMANDERS and QUARTERMASTERS.

This portion of the Awards Session usually keeps everyone glued to their seats until ALL the Commanders and Quartermasters are named.

On Friday afternoon, all Committees will have their Resolutions, meet and act upon those Resolutions. Meeting rooms will be posted at the Convention site. All Committee chairmen should have excellent meetings, but of special interest, should be the Legislative and the Veterans Benefit Committee.

Friday afternoon usually includes a seminar on Charitable Gambling. It is recommended that each Post have one representative at this meeting to get caught up on the latest changes to the Gambling laws.

The General Business Session of the 2012 VFW State Convention will open Saturday morning. At this session, the REAL business of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is reported, discussed, debated and voted on. All Committee Chairmen report on the Resolutions brought before their committees, recommendations are made and action taken by the Convention delegates. At these sessions, one can truly see the VFW in Action! At the end of Saturday’s business, there will be Nomination of officers and District Caucuses.

The Department Convention Banquet will be held on Saturday evening. This is an event that should be attended by all Post and Auxiliary members, especially Post Commanders and Auxiliary Presidents. State Commander Ray Trebus and State President Debbie Tweet will at this time have their final words for the jointly assembled convention delegates. 

The VFW State Convention will conclude with the election of the new State Commander and State President on Sunday morning. The Joint Installation of the State Commander, State President and their corps of Officers will follow the close of their respective Conventions on Sunday at 12 noon.

The links below will be available to give you the information as indicated.  (*** requires Adobe PDF to open)                                  
 

Convention

What to do in Rochester

● Tentative Schedule  as of 4-23-12

● Housing Reservation Form  Fill-in on your computer, save & then either email in or print

● Banquet Reservation Form

          BANQUET NOTE: ALL Banquet tickets will be available for pick-up at the VFW Registration Table under the name of the person requesting the tickets.

● Convention Book Ad Form

Inside the Kahler:

Meeting Spaces and guest rooms in the Kahler have recently been renovated.  Enjoy your stay, visit the domed pool and explore the great shopping.

Meeting Rooms:  For maps of the meeting Areas, Click Here and look for the options halfway down under ‘Capacity Chart’

The Grand Shopping Mall (Located in the Subway Level of the Kahler and Marriott Hotels)

 

Plan your Vacation Today!

Rochester Maps & More

 

Information on additional area attractions and restaurants will be available at the VFW Registration area compliments of the Rochester CVB

● Officer’s Training School  (OTI)

Basic Schedule is included in the above Convention Schedule-

·      District Officers and Post/District Inspectors are required to come in on Wednesday night, June 20th for training and will continue on Thursday.

·      All other OTI attendees will start Thursday morning, June 21st with Commander’s and Quartermaster’s Sessions. 

·      This year there is expected to be format changes with focus on Leadership and Membership… don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to effectively work within your Post & District.

Post Officer & Member OTI Registration Form

Men’s Auxiliary OTI Registration Form

(In addition to regular OTI sessions there will be a separate Men’s Auxiliary Breakout in the afternoon)

District Officer’s OTI Registration Form- Available at District Conventions

● Auxiliary Leadership Officer Training A.L.O.T.

Don’t miss this new, great opportunity to learn the ‘Ins & Outs’ of the Auxiliary

ALOT Registration Form

Schedule Available Soon

● Recruiter Training/Certification Class

Registration Form – Watch for Future Training Opportunities

 

 
 

***download at no charge