Midwinter Conference

VFW Midwinter Conference in Minnesota

January 12 - 14, 2024: The Department of Minnesota Midwinter Conference was held at the JW Marriott NW in Brooklyn Park, MN. Eight Brainerd VFW members were there. Dignitaries included VFW National Quartermaster General Marc Garduno and Auxiliary National Chaplain Donna Mills. There were many good Buddy Poppy displays, as seen below. Those honored this year included Lisa Fabre, Grade 1-3 Teacher of the Year, Michael Bass-Smith, Grade 6-8 Teacher of the Year and David Leppke, and Grade 9-12 Teacher of the Year. The Patriot's Pen first place winner was Sreshna Patange from Eden Prairie, MN. Taking first place in the Voice of Democracy competition was Lydia Prout from Burtram, MN, a junior in the Melrose Area High School. Lots to learn at the many sessions.

(l-r) Mark and Paula Persons, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, Kari and Brainerd VFW Commander Chip Borle, Sr. Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Brainerd VFW Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin and Brainerd VFW Quartermaster Pat Wing.

Report by Sue Sterling, Brainerd VFW Auxiliary President: Minnesota Mid-Winter Conference that was held January 12-14 in Brooklyn Park. The winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen contests from the nine MN districts were announced. This year a more formal banquet was held in their honor in the grand ballroom of the hotel.
Those from the Brainerd post who attended were Commander Chip Borle and Kari, Sr. Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Quartermaster Pat Wing, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, along with Webmaster Mark Persons and Paula.

January 13 - 15, 2023: The Annual Minnesota VFW Midwinter Conference was held at the Marriott NW in Brooklyn Park. Nine Brainerd VFW post and auxiliary members Went to dinner the first night at Pittsburgh Blue.

The Brainerd crew. (l-r) Kevin Jensen, Kari Borle, Dawn Garin, Chuck Hanson, Commander Chip Borle, Pat Wing, Mark Persons, Paula Persons and Sue Sterling.

Lots of good conversation over two days of conference. Plenty to learn at the sessions too.

Thanks to Lynda Hummel for all the hats she made for us to donate to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterens. MACV supports Veterans to prevent homelessness and hunger and other necessities. (l-r) Brainerd Auxiliary Trustee Paula Persons (wearing poppies) and Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin (wearing stars).

(l-r) Brainerd Commander Chip Borle, his wife Kari, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, Chaplain Mark Persons, his wife Paula, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin and Post Quartermaster Pat Wing at the banquet.

The head table.

Reenactors, The 1st Minnesota Regiment from the American Civil War.

Voice of Democracy winner, Siri Corson, 11th grade, Preston, MN.

Patriot's Pen 1st place, Nolan Green 6th grade, Big Lake, MN.

Gordon Kirk, a black soldier in WWII, was congratulated on his upcoming 100th birthday in February. He landed on the beaches of Normandy and was in General Patton's Army in the Battle of the Bulge.

Brainerd VFW Auxiliary President Sue Sterling (in the center) donated a check for $100 in the "Parade of Checks."

Brainerd Commander Chip Borle (in the center) donated a check for $5000.

January 21-23, 2022, The Department of Minnesota VFW Midwinter Conference was be held at the Minneapolis City Center Marriott. In attendance from Brainerd Post 1647 were Commander Chip Borle, his wife Kari, Quartermaster Pat Wing, Kevin Jensen, Chuck Hanson, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling and Dawn Garin. Thanks to Chip Borle and Sue Sterling for the photos.

The Brainerd VFW Auxiliary donated $225, and the Post donated a check for $5000. Brainerd Commander Chip Borle is seen, in the center of the photo.

Ashley Homme of Rochester, MN, was first place winner in the 2021-2022 Minnesota VFW Voice of Democracy competition. She is a junior in high school.

7th grader Eva Kolomyski of Woodbury was the 2021-2022 Minnesota VFW Patriot's Pen competition winner.

The Brainerd VFW Auxiliary (President Sue Sterling in photo) took first place in the Poppy Display Competition, Category Three. Well done!

January 17-19, 2020: Minnesota VFW Midwinter Conference in downtown Minneapolis. Present from the Brainerd VFW were Commander Chip Borle, Senior Vice Commander Dave Meyer, Quartermaster Pat Wing, Chaplain/Webmaster Mark Persons, Gambling Manager Chuck Hanson, Yvette Stoliker and Tim Brastrup, along with Auxiliary members Kari Borle and Paula Persons. State winners of Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy were honored. Lots of interesting sessions. The Brainerd VFW gave a check for $6000 and the Auxiliary $425 to Minnesota VFW.