(A) Increase service to the veterans,
veterans families and their communities.
(B) Increase membership / stop decline of membership.
(C) Build a stronger membership base giving strength to our cause in
protecting Veteran benefits.
(D) Provide a strong Legion presence and influence in the local
community.
Phases Of Development:
(A) Site Selection:
(A I) New Post.
(1) Communities with no Post.
(2) Location where a Post Charter has been canceled.
(3) Communities with a Post that is has closed membership.
(4) Communities with a population of '30,000 or more.
(A2) Revitalize Post:
(1) Posts we no longer active in the Legion programs.
(2) Post leadership has lost interest and vision.
(3) Post is not holding scheduled meetings.
(4) Post membership has declined to 35 or less.
(5) The community is growing, Post membership is declining.
(6) Post has the same Officers year after year.
Goals:
(A) Determine number of recruited new members
or transfers required.
(1) Department's requirements for membership application on a temporary
Charter vary, always check with the Department Adjutant.
(B) Set a time frame for Chartering or
Revitalization of the Post.
(1) The process should not exceed (2) months from start to finish.
Site Preparation:
(A) News releases
(1) Use in local newspapers
(2) For radio
(3) For TV stations in area.
(4) Use in Church bulletins
(B) Place posters on bulletin boards
making announcement.
(1) Giving time, place, and purpose for the proposed meeting.
(C) Locate a possible meeting place.
(1) Town Hall
(2) Church annex
(3) Fire stations
(4) Library
(5) Senior Citizens Center
(6) Bank Building
(7) Community Activities Center
(D) Make arrangements for a recruiting
station.
(1) Grocery stores.
(2) Post Office.
(3) Barber shops.
(4) Places with a high traffic flow.
(5) Strip Mall
(6) Bank Lobby
(7) Hardware Stores
Recruiting For The Post:
(A) Recruiters should utilize the
information provided in the BASIC RECRUITING TECHNIQUES as taught in
this portion of the workshop.
(la) Building your tool kit for success (The Wagon)
(2a) Be certain you are familiar with all materials (tools) you we
loading into your Wagon. Good items for the wagon are as follows:
(a) Get What You Deserve
(b) Why Should Belong
(c) Examples of The Award Winning American Legion Magazine.
(d) A Recruiter Tool with (2) pads of membership applications.
(e) A copy of your Department Newspaper/Letter.
(f) A pad to use for listing referrals and leads you develop.
(g) A up to date map of the area you are working in.
(B) Fill out applications and collect the
dues from the new member.
(C) Provide information on time, purpose,
and location of the first meeting.
(D) Utilize any and all leads developed
by those individuals signing for membership, and those leads provided by
the DMZ membership list.
(E) Utilize leads developed from
announcements made through the local news media.
(F) Work with other organizations to
develop additional leads.
Organizational Meeting:
(A) Call all new members together.
(B) Department Officers are to be
included.
(C) Contact leads who did not sign on
during the recruiting effort.
(D) Inform the new members of The Legion
benefits.
(E) Inform the membership of the duties
of the Post Officers; if possible, hold an election for Post
officers.
(F) Set time, date, and place for the
next scheduled meeting.
(G) Cover information pertaining to
projects the Post can be involved with.
Follow-up:
(A) Recommend a follow-up meeting be held
within three to four weeks of the organizational meeting.
(B) The Department or District should
make certain knowledgeable Legionnaires are assigned to mentor the Post.
(C) Have a recruiter work with the Post
members to assure the Post continues to grow.
(1) Have
Post members work with the District recruiting team.
(2) When
possible, you should use the recruiting stations that were established
in the first stages of the project.
(3) Look
for new Recruiting Locations, there is nothing like new territory.
National Provides The Following:
(A) The number of known veterans in a
given zip code:
(1) This
information is useful in determining where a new Post might be
Chartered/Revitalized.
(2) Using
the information is helpful in determining if the Post warrants
revitalization.
(B) National Headquarters Personnel:
(1) Will
provide Class Room and Field Training for Department and District Post
development teams.
(2) Assist
in locating an area for the Post Development/ Revitalization program to
be worked.
(3) Work
with the Department and District teams until the required number of new
and reinstated members are recruited to satisfy the Department
requirements for a Charter or Revitalization of a Post.
(4) Provide
assistance and guidance, to ensure the Post is a success and becomes a
viable part of the community.
Departments Can Join The Post Development/Revitalization Program In The
Following Manor:
(A) Contact the National Adjutants Office
through the Department Adjutants Office making a request for the
training program.
(B) The Following information is required
when making a request for the Development/Revitalization training
program.
(1)
Location and date the Department has selected for the training session.
(2) An
approximate number of those who will be in attendance and available to
work with the National representative.
(3) A time
frame in which the proposed action is to take place.
(4) The
number of sites or locations the Department plans on working during the
proposed visit.
Closing:
(A) If there are individuals with
questions requiring additional information, please contact the
Membership Division National Headquarters through your Department
Adjutants Office.
(B) Do you wish to take advantage of the
Post Development/Revitalization program at this time? If so, You may
sign up today.
(1) Many
Departments (20+) or more have utilized the program with success.
(2) The
program will increase membership and service to the veteran, their
families and their communities.
Thank you for visiting today and GOOD LUCK in the coming year
