LWV UMRR Board Retreat in Winona - August 2026

The LWV UMRR Board meets virtually five times a year (second Tuesday of even-numbered months), getting together in person only a year for the annual Board retreat.   The retreats are held in cities along the Mississippi where we have a local member League to partner with on activities.   2024's retreat was in the Quad Cities, 2025 saw the Board in Alton/ St. Louis, and in 2026, the Board retreat was in Winona, Minnesota.   This post on the LWV UMRR Blog outlines the retreat.    The retreats help the Board members to build relationships and work together which is vital since their homes are spread across five states and all other meetings are virtual.

The 2026 retreat started with a public reception co-hosted with LWV Winona at the Winona History Center.   Here, we had a great discussion with folks who care about the Mississippi River, highlighting the work that's going on to build community around the river and the people who live in the watershed.  We met leaders from the Izaak Walton League, the Minnesota Well Owners Organization, LWV Winona and others.  The display "Declaration 1776: the Big Bang of Democracy" was up at the History Center and then moved to the Winona Library for a period of time.  Thanks to LWV Wheaton (IL) and Catherine Franczyk for bringing this display to Winona!  

During the retreat, the Board onboarded six new board members and conducted two half-day formal board meetings chewing over the priority issues to study in the coming year.  These issues affect the Mississippi River and are the planned program priorities for LWV UMRR Action.   In the year to come, look for LWV UMRR to tie educational programs and on-line resources to these issues so folks who follow us can be informed and participate in actions to help keep enhance and protect the river.  ​

The retreat also offered time to get to know one another informally, through a tour on the river, a visit to the Minnesota Museum of Marine Art and other interactions.   And to get to know members of LWV Winona, a charter member of our ILO!  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the LWV Winona League for their help in planning the retreat.  LWV Winona is a powerful League doing the good work of protecting democracy in Winona County and beyond!  

​Working with affiliate organizations is also very important to LWV UMRR.  The closing day of the retreat was when the Board reviewed their external affiliate relationships since collaboration with other organizations on the Mississippi River concerns is important to LWV UMRR's success.  

At the retreat, we met with Anne Conway, President of the Izaak Walton League's Will Dilg chapter, based in Winona, and Steven Marking, representing the Izaak Walton League's Upper Mississippi Chapter, based in La Crosse.  These chapters are involved in protecting the river by working to build a community of people who use the river for recreation, commerce and more.   Given the alignment of our two organizations' missions, we agreed to begin to find ways to work together.    Steven Marking is also an entertainer working on riverboat cruises and other venues to share stories and songs about the Mississippi River.  Learn more about Steven here.  

Winona has many interesting personalities.  At the public reception, we meet Billy X Curmano an artist and musician who (in addition to many other adventures) swam the length of the Mississippi over ten years.