Convention 2025:

LWV at the Confluence

June 6-7, 2025 • Hastings, MN

Please join us for our biennial Convention in Hastings, MN, hosted by our LWV Dakota County League. We are proud to offer this exclusive location at the new Confluence Hotel which sits alongside the Mississippi River, at the confluence of the Mississippi and the St. Croix Rivers. This special water legacy also expands downstream to include the Minnesota River, which is one of the most historically significant landscapes in Minnesota, known to many Dakota people as Bdote. It is a place where rivers and people have come together for at least 10,000 years. Let us also come together in this sacred confluence of rivers and history, the homeland of the Dakota people, to learn and plan together - what is around the next river bend for LWV in Minnesota? What is our story, and where do we go next in our mission to empower voters and defend democracy? We are quite literally at the confluence of our journey - come join us June 6 and 7 to share your hopes and dreams and enjoy fellowship with fellow League members.

Our top priority is ensuring that every league has at least one representative in attendance, and we're here to support you in making that happen. If your league needs additional assistance to help cover the costs for a member to attend, please don't hesitate to reach out to Michelle.

🏆 Congratulations to Jean McMenimen, winner of the drawing for a free night at the Confluence for the Convention!

Rooms at The Confluence are now sold out. Other accommodations in Hastings:

Hotel

Agenda

Draft Convention Agenda

Friday, June 6, 2025

Optional Social Events

  • 1:00 - 2:30 pm: Hastings Area Historical Society & Suffrage Tour

    Learn about the fascinating history of Hastings, with stories of how the Women's Suffrage Movement operated in Dakota County, on this guide-hosted walking tour, which ends at the Spiral Brewery. 

  • 3:30-4:30 pm: LWV UMRR Waterfront Tour and Water Tasting

Registration/Plenary 1

  • 3:00 pm: Hotel check-in begins (main floor) Convention Registration (2nd floor landing)

  • 4:00 - 5:45 pm: Welcome reception dinner on the patio

  • 6:00 pm - Convention Opening

 

We look forward to welcoming & learning from Shelley Buck, an enrolled member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, serving 12 years on the Prairie Island Tribal Council, including six years as president. Shelley is currently the President of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, a Dakota-led non-profit creating a future where Dakota culture has a vital presence and Dakota values – such as mni wičóni, or water is life – are embedded into our communal existence. They are currently working to transform five acres of land at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls) into a place of restoration, education, healing and connection.

  • 6:45 pm - LWV Upper Mississippi River Region - Water Days of Action Overview

  • 7:00 pm - Call to order; Organization of Convention; Credentials Report; Convention Rules Adopted; Final Agenda adopted

  • 7:10 pm - Recognize and thank Board, Staff, Membership Committee

  • 7:15 pm - Bylaws Committee Report and Vote

  • 8:15 pm - Presentation of Program for Action/Non-recommended items 

  • 8:40 pm - Adjourn 

  • 8:45 pm - Q&A for Budget & Program for Action Votes on Saturday

Saturday, June 7, 2025

  • 7:30 - 9:30 am: Breakfast buffet open

  • 8:00 - 9:00 am:  Registration open, with themed breakfast tables for conversations

  • 9:00 am - Welcome - Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender 

    A lifelong resident of the Hastings community, Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender has devoted her life to serving the public in multiple ways - as a private business owner, community volunteer, city commission member, and elected official.

  • 9:15 am - Call to order; Announcements

  • 9:20 am - Presentation of League Member Awards

  • 9:40 -10:15 am- Local League Highlights (aka Parade of Leagues)

  • 10:15am - Board and Staff Reports

  • 10:45 - 11:00 am Break; Room Check Out

  • 11:00 am - 12:30pm - Working Session - Membership Growth & Sustainability 

  • 12:30-1:30 pm - Lunch & Social Time 

  • 1:30 pm - Credentials Report; Video Greetings from LWVUS 

  • 1:45 pm - Presentation on FY 24-25 Financials and Budget for FY 25-26; Debate/Vote on Budget  

  • 2:15 pm  - Debate and Vote on Program for Action/Non-recommended items

  • 3:45 pm  - Report of Nominating Committee & Election of Officers

  • 4:00 pm  - Directions to the State Board

  • 4:30 pm - Announcements and Wrap Up 

  • 4:45 pm - Adjournment 

  • 5:00-5:30 pm - Short new board meeting to elect Nominations Committee for next biennium in hospitality suite, appoint directors

 

Convention Packet

Registration

 

Cost: $120 per person

Pre-Convention Preparation

Delegates

determining delegate counts

We have 185 possible delegates - let’s get to 140 attending!

  • ABC ~ 6

  • *Bemidji Area ~ 1

  • Bloomington ~ 5

  • Brainerd Lakes Area ~ 3

  • BPOMG ~ 3

  • CNHEPR ~ 5

  • Dakota County ~ 6

  • Detroit Lakes Area ~ 4

  • Duluth ~ 13

  • ECC ~ 5

  • Edina ~ 10

  • *Fillmore County ~ 3

  • Golden Valley ~ 4

  • LMPA ~ 6

  • Minneapolis ~ 16

  • MEPH ~ 5

  • New Brighton Area ~ 4

  • New Ulm ~ 4

  • NCF ~ 6

  • Park Rapids Area ~ 3

  • Red Wing ~ 4

  • Richfield ~ 3

  • Red Wing ~ 4

  • Richfield ~ 3

  • Rochester ~ 7

  • Roseville Area ~ 9

  • St Cloud Area ~ 5

  • St Louis Park ~ 4

  • St Paul ~ 8

  • St Peter ~ 4

  • WBLA ~ 6

  • Willmar Area ~ 6

  • Winona ~ 4

  • WCGA ~ 6

 

If you don’t plan to send a full delegation and are open to letting another League use those seats, let us know. Likewise, if you wish to send a larger delegation than allotted, check with us for available options.
*The at-large members delegate pool is shared across all state units. For 2025, this number is 4.

Member
Awards

Nominations for the Platinum and 21st Century awards opened on February 3, and closed on April 4, 2025.

Past winners:

Platinum Award ~ 21st Century Award

nominations are now closed

updated 2025-04-24