Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of former United States Senator Rod Grams as the honorary Minnesota chair of United Nations (U.N.) Day.

Grams is currently the owner and president of Little Falls Radio Corporation and was recently a senior advisor with the Hecht, Spencer and Associates government relations firm. He served as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota from 1995 to 2001, and prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 1994, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. During his time in the Senate, Grams was twice appointed by then President Bill Clinton as the Congressional Representative to the U.N.

Prior to his election to the House in 1992, Grams was president and CEO of Sun Ridge Builders, Inc., and a television news anchor in Helena, Montana, Wausau, Wisconsin, Rockford, Illinois, and at KMSP-TV in the Twin Cities. He is a member of the Center for Victims of Torture Board of Directors and the Anoka County Sesquicentennial Board.

United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the date in 1945 when the United Nations Charter went into effect. U. N. Day is celebrated annually on October 24th. Each year, the nation’s Governors are invited to appoint a prominent citizen as honorary chair from their state.

United Nations Day is used by public officials, educators, students and civic groups across the country to hold activities to build public awareness and support for international cooperation through an even more effective United Nations. This year’s United Nations Day topic is “Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases”. United Nations Day celebrations are sponsored throughout the country by the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA).