Recap of the Evening

Event Program (2019)

Inaugural Program (1919)

Evening Program & Speakers Video

Gallery of Photos

Event Details

What:

Join us for our special fundraising gala, celebrating LWV Minnesota’s 100th birthday and the first night of our second century.

When:

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Where:

Union Depot
214 4th Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55101

Time:

5:30 PM

• Registration

• Reception with cash bar and hors d’oeuvres

• Exhibit: “A Century of Civic Engagement: The League of Women Voters Minnesota”

7:00 PM

• Dinner

• Welcome // Laura Helmer, President

• Program & Honorees // Jodi Ritacca Carlini, Emcee

• Live Auction // Sarah Jean Knox, Auctioneer

• The Apollo Male Chorus // Aaron Humble, Artistic Director
  “Hail! Minnesota” by Truman Rickard 
  “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor” by Irving Berlin
  “America the Beautiful” by Samuel A. Ward, arranged by Aaron Humble

  Founded in 1895, the Apollo Club was featured in the October 1919 program that inaugurated the League of Women Voters Minnesota!

Attire:

Black tie admired but not required.

Who:

We will be honoring “Minnesota Firsts” for women, illustrating our ongoing work to build an inclusive democracy. Meet our honorees/speakers below.

Emcee

Margaret H. Chutich

Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
1st openly gay state supreme court justice

Edwina Garcia

Richfield City Council Member
1st Latina elected to the Minnesota Legislature

Maria Regan Gonzalez

Mayor of Richfield
1st Latina Mayor in Minnesota

Kaohly Her

Minnesota State Representative
1st Hmong American woman elected to the Minnesota House, along with Rep. Vang

Andrea Jenkins

Minneapolis City Council Member
1st African American openly trans woman elected to office in the US

Emily Larson

Mayor of Duluth
1st woman mayor of Duluth

Anne K. McKeig

Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
1st Native American state supreme court justice

Kim Norton

Mayor of Rochester
1st woman mayor of Rochester

Patricia Torres Ray

Minnesota State Senator
1st Latina elected to the Minnesota Senate

Samantha Vang

Minnesota State Representative
1st Hmong American woman elected to the Minnesota House, along with Rep. Her

Food Menu

hors d’oeuvres

Warm Turkey & Stuffing Mini Muffins
Turkey, stuffing and gravy muffins topped with cranberry sauce

Roasted Tomato Mozzarella Bites
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Fresh mozzarella, roasted tomato, and basil skewered with balsamic reduction

Dinner

Simple Salad
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan
Spring mix, tomato, shaved carrot, balsamic vinaigrette

Beef Entree: Slow Roasted Beef Short Ribs
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free
Certified Angus boneless beef short ribs with red wine demi glaze, roasted rosemary red potatoes, roasted tri-colored carrots

Chicken Entree: Bone-In Chicken Breast
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free
Citrus marinated bone-in breast, served with fresh herbs and stone ground mustard sauce, roasted rosemary red potatoes, roasted tri-colored carrots

Vegetarian Entree: Quinoa Mushroom Stuffed Acorn Squash
Vegan, Gluten-Free
Quartered acorn squash stuffed with mushrooms, quinoa, onions, cranberries, garlic and kale, and drizzled with a honey maple sauce

At each table…
Artisan breads and butter
Iced water carafes
Complimentary wine pour
Locally-roasted regular and decaf coffee, served with cream and sugar

Dessert

Cake Pops
Either lemon cake with lemon yellow exterior or blackberry cake with a classic purple exterior

Live Auction

We would like to thank all the people and companies who donated their time, talents and treasures to our live auction. Their generosity makes a real difference! The winning bids will be acknowledged on our Centennial Honor Roll and in our annual report.

Champagne for your Table of 8

Start the night off with a bottle of bubbly for your table guests. We’ll deliver a magnum-sized chilled bottle of champagne to your table at the start of dinner for a grand kick-off to your Gala experience!

An Almanac Experience at Twin Cities Public Television

Bring up to 6 people to the TPT Studio in St. Paul, and watch a live taping of the Almanac show! Almanac is Minnesota’s longest-running public affairs show. When it debuted in 1984, Almanac upended the traditional public affairs format by combining balanced reporting, thoughtful analysis and a one-of-a-kind mix of Midwest quirkiness. Look for Almanac every Friday at 7pm on your local PBS station. What a great opportunity to watch the news of the day come to life! 

A Night at the Theatre (or 6!)

Take in the full breadth and depth of Minnesota’s amazing theatre scene with 2 tickets each to 6 of our local theatre companies: Penumbra, a theatre committed to creating a forum for African American expression that helped launch Pulitzer-prize winning playwright August Wilson’s career; Mixed Blood Theatre Company, a leader in social justice-focused theatre in the Twin Cities; Park Square Theatre in St. Paul; Stages Theatre in Hopkins; the famed and beloved Guthrie Theater; and tickets with dinner at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres!

The Ultimate Twin Cities Experience

Explore the beautiful and historic Twin Cities with this collection of experiences in the metro area. Spend a night at the Saint Paul Hotel, a place that a century ago hosted a post-19th Amendment ratification party attended by scores of jubilant suffragists, including our founder Clara Ueland. Then head over to the iconic W.A. Frost with your $100 gift certificate for a meal before a night for 2 at the Minnesota Opera or the Minnesota Orchestra or after a day for 2 at the St. Paul Saints ballpark.

Lunch with Peggy Lucas and Joan Growe

Long-time League members and leaders, and former elected officials, Peggy Lucas and Joan Growe would like to invite 4 people to join them for lunch on Monday, November 18! Peggy can share stories from the trenches as a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents that hired the first woman U of M President. Joan can share her experiences as both a Minnesota State Legislator and Secretary of State, where she served for 24 years, helping to support voter participation and making Minnesota #1 in the nation for voter turnout. This is a great opportunity to lunch and learn with amazing Leaguers!

Brunch at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis with Secretary of State Steve Simon

Bring a party of 6 to Sunday brunch at the historic Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, and dine and dish with Secretary of State Steve Simon. Secretary Simon is a huge supporter of the League of Women Voters, as we share a mission to register and empower voters. We also share a wonderful history with the Woman’s Club, as Clara Ueland helped found both of our organizations! Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your friends or family to this wonderful morning to celebrate 100 years of women voting and serving in our communities.

Make Democracy Work: An Evening with Author Lori Sturdevant and Senator Dave Durenberger

Enjoy a very special evening with editorial writer, columnist and author Lori Sturdevant and former Senator Dave Durenberger, as they join your League or book club to discuss their book, “When Republicans were Progressive.” Lori and Dave are delighted to come to your event for an hour, to answer questions and to sign books. As Republican US Senator Bob Dole writes,”Dave and Lori show how progressive Republicans made Minnesota a state that works – and how Republican US Senate leaders found policy space between right and left to make the country better during challenging times. Politics is not a dirty word; it’s the way we figure out how to build a better world together. Minnesotans did it, and this country can do it again.”

Nature & Science in Minnesota: Wolves, Rivers & Raptors, Oh My!

Take advantage of Minnesota’s wealth of natural wonders and scientific accomplishments (while honoring LWV Minnesota’s long history of cherishing and protecting our environment) with this collection of items and experiences. Visit the wolves at The International Wolf Center with 5 admission and program passes. Wander the 1,200 acres of the MN Landscape Arboretum using your 4 VIP passes. Drop by the Science Museum of Minnesota with 2 tickets to browse their exhibits and catch a film at the Omnitheater. Search the stars at the Bell Museum and Planetarium with your 4 passes. Learn about the glorious Minnesota River in the newly-released book “For Love of a River: The Minnesota,” by our own LWV ABC League member Darby Nelson! And meet some of the strongest and most stunning predators in the animal kingdom with your 4 tickets to The Raptor Center.

Go Twins!

This one’s for all you sports fans (or friends of sports fans!). Enjoy 4 tickets to a Twins game in gorgeous Target Field, plus take home a baseball bat autographed by our hometown hero, Joe Mauer! And don’t let the recent playoff tragedy get you down – they’ll be back and better than ever next season!

A Taste of Lanesboro

Lanesboro is one of Minnesota’s most beautiful small towns, a bustling hotbed of art, culture and history. Curated by our very own Anne Marie Flynn of LWV Fillmore County, this collection of items and experiences highlights the incredible creative work happening in Lanesboro, including 2 necklaces from jewelry designer Robbie Brokken, 2 specialty jewelry pins, a handmade purse from fiber artist Jane K. Grevstad, a “Come Follow Me” limited edition print by Mike Capser (donated by Lanesboro Arts Collection), 2 cookbooks written by League member Mary Bell, 2 dozen cupcakes from Joellen Hamann, Cupcake Lady, 1 original autumn water color by Lanesboro artist Jennifer Woods, and 5 watercolor greeting cards by Lanesboro artist ReNee Bergstrom. Enjoy a community variety show with your free tickets and T-shirt from Lanesboro Arts, and then stay the night at the beautiful Cottage House Inn. 

Trapped Puzzle Rooms: The Most Fun Escape

Enjoy a private puzzle room experience for 8 at one of Trapped’s two locations! Escape a temp agency-themed room full of work-related terrors, solve a variety of magical missions in “A Very Potter Escape Room,” execute a daring heist, or choose from any of their many other exciting and brain-teasing experiences.

Commemorate the 19th Amendment through the Arts at the Northrop

Receive 4 tickets and 1 parking voucher to the celebrated Eve Project by the Martha Graham Dance Company, performing on the Carlson Family Stage on April 4, 2020. Along with Martha Graham works featuring female protagonists, the program spotlights work by some of today’s most important female choreographers. And, receive 10 reserved seats and 2 parking vouchers for the Northrop Film Series screening of “Iron Jawed Angels” on March 25, 2020 at 6:30pm in Northrop’s Best Buy Theater. It is the true story of suffragist and so-called “new woman” Alice Paul and the defiant young activists who re-invigorated the women’s suffrage movement before the passing of the 19th Amendment. What a great way to share suffrage stories with your friends or League members!

Parking & Hotels