Kris Nelson, of Baxter, Minn., was elected national vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 90th National Convention in Milwaukee Aug. 28 – Sept. 2.
 
Nelson is eligible for Auxiliary membership through her husband Terry (Vietnam Era, Army Reserves), stepfather Arthur Tarnowski (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Navy) and brother Rick Tarnowski (Air Force, retired 2008).
 
Nelson has held a number of leadership roles in the Auxiliary at the unit, district and department levels.  Her Unit awarded her a life membership in 1995. At the national level, she served as National Executive Committeewoman, Northwest Division Girls State Committee, Northwestern Division Membership Committee, Girls State committee member, and chairman of the following committees: Girls State, Education, Americanism, Children & Youth and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation. She is a current board member of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation, and a member of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee and the Human Resource Adhoc Committee.
 
Retired as director of human resources after 37 years with Consolidated Telephone Co. in 2008, Nelson has two children, Troy and Sarah, and grandchildren Sydney, Myah and Ty. She is a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church and is past board chairman of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Education and Human Resource Committee. She also is a past board president of the Crow Wing County United Way and currently serves on their Women’s Health Initiative. She serves as editor of the SOLT Haiti Mission newsletter and as a member of the City of Brainerd Memorial Committee.  She is a partner of the 8&40 Salon 85.