District Convention

Join Us For:

Minnesota Dakotas 108th District Convention Willmar MN August 8-10 2025

Registration is open and you can register here: https://k13.site.kiwanis.org/district-convention-registration/

Join us in Willmar for our 108th Annual Convention. It’s a great time to re-connect with friends from around the district and meet new ones. It’s the one time of year we come together to:

  • connect with each other,
  • celebrate sucesses,
  • elect leadership,
  • do the business of the district,
  • learn new ways to strengthen our clubs and
  • have a lot of fun.

If you have never been to a district convention before, plan to attend the First Timers Luncheon where you will get a brief orientation to convention and meet some people so that you won’t feel alone. If you are a veteran convention goer, reach out to a First Timer and make them feel at home.


HOTEL INFO: Best Western Plus Willmar

Call 320-235-6060 or register online at: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.24139.html?groupId=S64ED1I0 under “Kiwanis”

Cost: $139 plus tax and fees per night

Reservations must be made by July 7th to get this rate.


DELEGATE CERTIFICATION

In accordance with Article VIII Section 6 of the Minnesota-Dakotas Kiwanis District Bylaws: Each chartered club in * good standing in the district shall be entitled in any convention to three (3) delegates; recommendation is that two of whom shall be the President or President Designate. Each club can also designate two or more alternates, designated as alternate number one (1) and alternate number two (2). Such alternates will serve, in the numerical order certified, in the absence of the delegates. (*This refers to all indebtedness having been paid to the District and International).

Certification of Election of Delegates Form

FRIDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP EVENT

Get together with friends and Kiwanians from around the District Friday night at this EXCLUSIVE event at the Willmar Community Theater. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and fellowship galore will be served. If you would like, tickets for that evenings theater performance can be purchased at https://square.link/u/RHuWbdZz

NOTE: Times are subject to change as the program is finalized

FRIDAY AUGUST 8TH

  • 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Club Leadership Education (CLE) Training
  • 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. First Timers Luncheon
  • 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Attendee Lunch
  • 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Opening Session with Keynote address
  • Break: Take time to visit the Used Book Sale, Children’s Fund and District Silent Auctions
  • 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Breakout sessions
  • 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Have some fun with Kiwanis Trivia (there will be prizes)
  • 4:00p.m. MNDAK Educational Foundation Board Meeting
  • 6:00 p.m. Reception at the Willmar Community Theater (More Info above on this page)

SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH

  • 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Past District Officers Association Meeting
  • 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Division meetings and Caucuses
  • 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. General Assembly – All Attendees
  • 11:00 -11:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions
  • 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Awards Luncheon Message from Kiwanis International and presentation of awards
  • 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
  • 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. House of Delegates
  • 5:30 p.m. Governor’s Banquet followed by Post Convention Party

SUNDAY AUGUST 10TH

  • 8:00 a.m. Memorial Service in memory of friends and colleagues who have passed this year

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN AT THIS CONVENTION

  1. Brad Boyd Regional Director from Kiwanis International will do two forums
    • Are you a club or a clique
    • Recruiting new members
  2. Dawn Puterbaugh Hodges, Kiwanis International Trustee will
    • Meet with First Time attendees at the First Timers Luncheon
    • Present her message from Kiwanis International
    • do two forums: How to make meetings fun and how your club can support your service leadership programs
  3. Cindy Braseth, District Secretary Treasurer, will
    • Do a session on the new Kiwanis online reporting and administration site, Engage
    • Present her Annual Report
  4. Key Club and Circle K members will talk with you about how to recruit and engage younger members
  5. Craig Evenson, District Risk Manager, will discuss how to minimize risk and liability for your events and when working with youth
  6. Governor Carol Nitschke will
    • Present her State of the District address
    • Interview the Key Club and Circle Governors about their Kiwanis journeys
  7. AND SO MUCH MORE!!

Convention was a success and below are the highlights:

We were joined this year by Scott Sims, International Trustee, as our Counselor for the next year. Scott is from Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., was elected to a three-year term as a trustee of Kiwanis International during the 2024 Kiwanis International Convention in Denver, Colorado, U.S. He serves as a trustee for the United States and Pacific Canada regions of Kiwanis. He presented two forums during the convention, one about working with Service Leadership Programs and one on building new clubs. When he was Governor of Alabama District, he worked with his team to build one new club in each division. He challenged us to do the same and Governor Carol Nitschke and her team of Lt Governors accepted that challenge. You will hear more in the near future.

Our Keynote Speaker on Friday, Ty Eschembaum hit a real cord with many of us when he talked about his life experiences with life threatening illnesses and losing people close to him. Many in the audience were moved to tears.

The Ty Eschembaum Foundation helps child survivors of cancer with college scholarships so his mission is a real fit for Kiwanis. The Mitchell club’s shirt sale proceeds are being donated to his foundation along with additional funds from the district. You can learn more about the great work they do at tyefoundation.org.

Division Star Awards were distributed at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday.

Steve Handegaard, 2022-23 Governor awarded 20 clubs the Distinguished Club Award for his year as Governor. These clubs met the following criteria:

o Timely submission of Club Monthly and other
reports
o Membership stability efforts
o Improving the club experience
o Support of Service Leadership Programs
o Financial support of the KI Children’s Fund and
Minnesota-Dakotas Outreach Fund

  • Kiwanis Club of Albert Lea Golden K
  • Kiwanis Club of Austin Early Risers
  • Kiwanis Club of Carrinton
  • Kiwanis Club of Clear Lake
  • Kiwanis Club of Early Risers of Worthington
  • Kiwanis Club of Grafton
  • Kiwanis Club of Harvey
  • Kiwanis Club of Hendricks
  • Kiwanis Club of Hibbing
  • Kiwanis Club of Huron
  • Kiwanis Club of Jackson
  • Kiwanis Club of Madison
  • Kiwanis Club of Mankato
  • Kiwanis Club of Mitchell
  • Kiwanis Club of North Suburban St Paul
  • Kiwanis Club of Redwing Dawn Breakers
  • Kiwanis Club of Rochester Golden K
  • Kiwanis Club of Stillwater Area
  • Kiwanis Club of Sturgis Golden K
  • Kiwanis Club of Valley City

There was also district business conducted which is mandated by Kiwanis International. The Boards for both the current year (2023-24) and next year (2024-25) met. The minutes for both are available for your review HERE scroll down to District Governance.

And finally on Sunday the Annual Memorial Service honored all those Kiwanians we lost over this last year.

Below are some pictures of the FUN and business proceedings. Enjoy! NOTE: If you have some pictures you want to share, email them to [email protected] we’d love to see them.

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