The following tours and events have been planned for the Rebild members attending the 2010 Annual Memberhip Conference. Guests and non-members are also invited to attend the Queen's Ball Gala, an event held annually at the Minneapolis Club.

Arrival and check-in at the Marquette Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Pick up a welcome bag containing detailed information on the program events and meetings, including times and locations, transportation, local attractions, restaurants and more.  

Dinner Dine-A-Round
Small, pre-assigned groups will depart from the hotel at approximately 5:15-5:30 PM and travel to the home of an Upper Midwest Chapter member for dinner. Transportation will be provided. Cost is $10. In order to ensure availability, please sign-up no later than March 20th, 2010. After March 20th, reservations will not be accepted for this event.

Tour A: St. Paul and St. Croix River Valley Tour
This tour has been modified slightly to enhance the day. The tour will depart from the Marquette at 9:00 AM and return by 5:00 PM. The first stop is the James J. Hill House in St. Paul, home of the railroad magnate built to symbolize his success. After the tour, the group will travel along Summit Avenue towards the Mississippi River, passing the Governor's Mansion, the F. Scott Fitzgerald House and the Cathedral of St. Paul. A stop will be made at the Minnesota State Capital building for an informal tour. The group then heads east to the St. Croix River Valley (area made famous in the ‘Emigrants’ by Vilhelm Moberg) and the historic river town of Stillwater, often called “the birthplace of Minnesota”. Lunch is included at the lovely Dock Cafe with amazing views of the St. Croix riverfront. After lunch there will be time to further explore the area. Next, we travel along the scenic St. Croix River to the St. Croix Vineyards to enjoy a wine tasting and tour and to stroll through their picturesque vineyards. The bus will then depart for the hotel. Cost is $75.

Lunch Options: Dock Burger (Black Angus Beef) with or without cheese, Soup and Sandwich Combination, or Mixed Green Salad with Grilled Chicken.

Dinner: Enjoy a local restaurant on your own or with friends. A list of convenient options will be included in the welcome bag.

Meetings
8:00-10:00 PM: Chapter President Meeting
8:00-10:00 PM: Board of Directors Meeting

Meeting
8:00-10:00 AM: Joint Chapter Presidents and Board of Directors Meeting

Tour B: Exploring Minneapolis
(This tour is limited to 65 guests.) Depart from the Marquette at 10:30 AM and return by 4:00 PM. Start with a guided tour to explore Minneapolis, including the mighty Mississippi River, and witness the cities re-vitalization. Sites include the Guthrie Theater, the Weisman Art Museum (designed by Frank Gehry), the Mississippi River locks and waterfalls, and other river highlights. Next is a stop in at the Mill City Museum, which chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis. The museum is built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark, the Washburn ‘A’ Mill. Lunch is provided. We will explore the museum and re-connect for the ‘Flour Tower’ multimedia show and the ‘Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat’ movie. If you prefer, walk next door to the Endless Bridge at the Guthrie for one of the best views of the major bridge that collapsed in August 2007. Next, we head downriver for a tour of the vital lock system before departing back to the hotel. The cost is $50. 

Lunch Options: Mahi Mahi Sandwich, Free-Range Turkey Sandwich, or Grass-Fed Beef Soup/Caesar Salad Combo.

Evening Event: Mississippi Jazz at the Red Barn
(This event is limited to 110 guests.) Depart from the Marquette at 5:15 PM and travel to a large hobby farm south of the Twin Cities in Rosemount owned by Kurt and Patricia Walter-Hansen. Guests can make the 30-45 minutes drive on their own for a reduced cost. The celebration begins at 6:00 PM in an old, historic red barn with its original wooden floor. Danish Master Chef, Kaj Sørensen, will be preparing a variety of foods frequently enjoyed by people living close to the Mississippi River, starting from its origin in Minnesota all the way to the Delta in New Orleans.

Live music will be provided by Haakon Poulsen and a small group of young, talented musicians. Haakon is the son of local Rebild members, Sue and Steen Poulsen and has spent a year studying in Denmark.

People are welcome to bring their own beverages. Wine can be purchased locally and transported to the event by bus. Beer will also be available for a donation. Additional information will be provided in the welcome bag.

Cost is $35 for the event and $10 for a bus ticket.

Meetings
9:00 AM – Noon: Board of Directors Meeting
1:30-3:30 PM: Annual Membership Meeting
3:30-4:30 PM: Board of Directors Organizational Meeting
 
Morning/Afternoon: Free time to explore Minneapolis, shop, visit one of the many lakes, parks or museums, or enjoy a leisurely lunch.

Queen’s Ball Gala
The Queen’s Ball Gala is an annual event held at the stately and elegant Minneapolis Club in honor of the birthday of Queen Margrethe. The event is semi-formal to formal and a jacket and tie or tuxedo is requested. At this time we are expecting a special guest from the Royal Danish Opera, Soprano Anne Kleinstrup. Anne has performed at the Queen’s Ball in the past and we guarantee that this will be an evening you will remember for years to come! Cost is $95 for registered Rebild guests and $115 for all other guests.
 
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Welcome Reception. Cash Bar.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dinner and Entertainment. Wine Included.
8:30 PM: Grand March followed by live music and dancing. Cash Bar. 

Menu:
Northern Lights Blue Cheese Salad, Choice of Entrée and Dessert. Wine is included with dinner.

Entrée Choices: Herb Seared Canadian Walleye with Saffron Risotto, Sautéed Spinach and Roasted Tomato Clam Broth; Tournedos of Beef, Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Sautéed Zucchini, Tomatoes and Chasseur Sauce; Mesquite Smoked Breast of Chicken, Ragout of Gnocchi, Mushrooms, Leeks, Foie Gras, Spinach and Dried Tomatoes. Vegetarian option available upon request.

Sunday Brunch, 11:00 AM
A Brunch Buffet will be available at the beautiful and historic Woman’s Club of Minneapolis (www.womansclub.org), a short cab ride or drive from the hotel. Free parking is available. The brunch includes an extensive assortment of meats, seafood and breakfast items and includes unlimited wine and champagne. Cost is $30.