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147th NGAUS Conference - Milwaukee, WI
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NGAUS 147th General Conference & Expo
August 22 – 25, 2025
Baird Center, Milwaukee, WI
America’s National Guard: Affordable, Accessible, Lethal
Hotel Information
The Drury Plaza Hotel Milwaukee Downtown, located at 700N. Water Street, Milwaukee, is the NGAKS host hotel.
The block room rate is $202.99 per night inclusive of taxes and fees (17.9%).
The hotel provides guests a free hot breakfast served 6AM-9:30AM M-F and 7AM-10AM on weekends. Free snacks and cold beverages are available at the daily 5:30 kickback.
Check is 3PM with a 11:30AM check out. Hotel parking is $28 per night plus tax.
Room block closes June 30, 2025.
THE CONFERENCE EVENTS
Social events and activities are always a big part of the conference agenda and Milwaukee will be no different.
GOLF
The Brown Deer Golf Club in the city will host the sponsors’ tournament Aug. 21, while the attendees’ tournament will be held at The Bog in nearby Saukville on Aug. 22. Brown Deer is where Tiger Woods made his professional debut at the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1996. The Bog is an Arnold Palmer-designed course that has been named in Golf Digest’s Best in State rankings.
HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE RIDE
That same day, the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Ride is scheduled for the surrounding area. The conference in 2011 hosted the first NGAUS motorcycle ride in 2011. Several host states have since included it in their social agenda.
Harley-Davidson is headquartered in Milwaukee, but you can ride whatever you please. Bring your own or a local shop will have bikes available for rent on the day of the ride. Riders will head to Lake Geneva and the scenic hills of southeast Wisconsin.
SPORT FISHING
Sport fishing is also on the menu for the first time. Take advantage of the waterfront for a day of salmon fishing on a charter boat. You may catch lake trout. too. Space on the boat will be limited.
MIXERS
The popular mixers are set for that evening. The company-grade/warrant officer event is scheduled for the MECCA and Beer Garden, while the senior warrant officers will be in the Gather. Both establishments are downtown in the Deer District, an entertainment complex across the street from Fiserv Forum, the home of the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
While the Bucks’ season will be over in August, the Milwaukee Brewers MLB franchise will play at American Family Field during the conference. They play the San Francisco Giants over the weekend and the Arizona Diamondbacks are coming to town if you plan to stick around after the conference.
FUN RUN
The annual Fun Run is set for early Aug. 23. It starts and finishes at Veterans Park. The course follows a bike and running trail along the waterfront.
MEETINGS
The area meetings and caucuses are scheduled for 9 a.m. that morning. The ribbon-cutting for the exhibition is set for 10 a.m., followed by free brunch on the tradeshow floor. NGAUS continues to seek more health and leisure exhibitors. An expanded schedule for the Minuteman Stage inside the exhibit hall is also in the works.
OPD
Officer professional development for company-grade officers is scheduled throughout the conference. The first session begins the morning before the First Business/Professional Session, which begins at noon. As always, NGAUS will invite key lawmakers and defense leaders to speak.
ROLL CALL OF STATES
The Roll Call of States will take place shortly after the opening ceremonies. A crowd favorite, the roll call exudes state pride with its unique presentations. Country-music artist Rockie Lynne will perform at the opening ceremony.
GOVERNOR’S RECEPTION
All are invited to attend the Governor’s Reception at Discovery World. The 120,000-square-foot interactive science center with high-tech exhibits, such as a flight simulator, 3D tour of planet Earth, Les Paul’s House of Sound and a touch tank filled with sharks and stingrays. Conference attendees will have the place to themselves with music, food and beverage set up throughout. Stick around until the end. There will be fireworks after dark.
RETIREE & SPOUSE LUNCHEONS
The Retiree Caucus and the Spouses luncheon are set for that afternoon. Retirees will meet at the Harley-Davidson Museum, while the spouses will gather at the restored Pritzlaff Building in the Third Ward Historic District.
HOSPITALITY NIGHT
Later that evening is Hospitality Night, historically held in several state hotel suites or nearby bars and restaurants. The hotels are all within walking distance so it will be easy to visit with old friends and make new ones.
STATES DINNER
The final event of the conference, the States Dinner, will be back in the Baird Center ballroom. It’ll be themed as a traditional supper club environment with “come as you are” dress code. After dinner, comedian Charlie Berens, creator of the funny Manitowac Minute video series, will entertain.