Legislative Action Day a great success!

Our fifth annual GMPT Legislative Action Day on Feb. 13 was undoubtedly our most successful yet!

With record attendance and an outstanding list of presenters, this action-packed day was a great experience for all attendees and helped move our legislative agenda forward. For the first time, we invited a group of Minnesota State Mankato students from the Park, Recreation and Leisure Services Department to join us. Their presence and thoughtful questions added much to the discussion.

The day began with introductions, followed by an overview of our legislative agenda and tips on how to lobby from Flaherty & Hood lobbyists Elizabeth Wefel and Scott McMahon. Then Minnesota’s new DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen joined us to talk about what she hopes to accomplish in her new role and how state parks and trails fit together with our members’ parks and trails. Over lunch, Greater Minnesota Regional Parks & Trails Commission Executive Director Renee Mattson discussed the progress the commission has made with increased designations across the state and an improved application system.

In the afternoon, Legislative Action Day attendees headed to the Senate Office Building to meet with Sen. Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point), chair of the Senate Legacy Committee and a long-time champion of parks and trails. The day closed off with optional tours of the Capitol and a meeting with Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato).

Thank you to all who attended, and if you didn’t, we hope you can come next year!