Please welcome Ken Hafften as the new volunteer Archivist for the Aquatennial historic collection at the Hennepin History Museum. He has had over 47 years serving the festival, beginning in 1972, bringing his passion for Aquatennial to the public. He has served as: Vice Commodore; Vice Commodore of Skipper Pins; Vice Commodore of Parades; Vice Commodore of the Mississippi Showcase; and General Festival Chairman. For the past seventeen years Pam Albinson (1962 Queen of the Lak

AAO is pleased to announce that Camryn (Cammy) Nelson is the AAO Vice Commodore for Communications! From personal development to pursuing brave careers, Cammy has reached thousands of women and inspired them to believe in their power. Through her company "Brave Like Me" (www.bravelikeme.org) Cammy has spent the last decade travelling to speak to young women on a national level, in large groups and small, to remind them of one thing: they are enough. Cammy’s work has received

Commodore Dan Stoltz and SPIRE Credit Union recognized AAO volunteers and Timberwolves leadership for their contributions to the Twin Cities at Target Center on Saturday. A reception sponsored by SPIRE took place at the new Mayo Clinic Square Experience Center prior to the Timberwolves game versus the Utah Jazz. During a brief program, Stoltz (CEO of SPIRE Credit Union) gave his Commodore Medal to good friend Chris Wright, President of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ethan C

Considered the highest award an individual or organization can receive from the Boy Scouts of America, Dan Stoltz was the recipient of the William H Spurgeon III Award for community involvement and service. Though Stoltz was not a Boy Scout, he sees the honor as prestigious in that it recognizes the importance of giving back to one's community. Commodore Dan wrote, "I was honored and humbled to receive the Spurgeon Award." Commodore asked his good friend, Joe Schmit, Sports

As a first-time volunteer in 2016, Wayne Ellingson remembers seeing the Aquatennial represented in a parade when he was a kid back home is Southwestern Minnesota, "From that moment, I wanted to know more about what the Aquatennial and what Minneapolis was all about." Since then he has enjoyed watching the parades and Aquatennial events over the years. When his good friend, Brian Thomas May, became Captain in 2015, Wayne became interested in learning more about what is involv

Hazeltine National Golf Club and the Twin Cities Metro Area had the honor of hosting the 2016 Ryder Cup - the premiere event in professional golf - and AAO Volunteers were there in force! The Ryder Cup opened up its concession stands as fundraising opportunities for local non-profit and community organizations. Thanks to the efforts of AAO Volunteers Cindy Shanley and Terri Johnson, the AAO was among those organizations chosen to benefit from the Ryder Cup. AAO Volunteers se