Section 1 a “Blueprint” for the 21st Century Purpose
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Resolution #32, Cooperation with the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion (21st Century)RESOLVED, that the attention of all Department, Districts, County and local American Legion leaders be called to the need for a cooperative relationship with the Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion. SPECIAL RESOLUTION 419 1919 THE MINNEAPOLIS AFFIRMATION 1994 WHEREAS, To us, the heirs of a proud tradition, the Founders of The American Legion in the City of Minneapolis in November 1919 bequeathed the four pillars upon which our great brotherhood yet stands, as proclaimed in the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion; and WHEREAS, It is upon these pillars that we have built the programs by which we serve our comrades, our youth, and our nation; and WHEREAS, By the Throne of Almighty God the Founders surely stand and say of us "Well done, beloved heirs and comrades"; now therefore be it RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 6-8, 1994, that we express our eternal gratitude for the wisdom and foresight of our Founders in this, our 75th Anniversary Year, by affirming anew our commitment to the perpetuation of our principles; and be it further RESOLVED, That in affirmation of our troth, we pledge our unrelenting vigilance on behalf of our comrades-in-arms, their children, and their widows and orphans; and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm the American Flag to be the sole unifying symbol of these United States, a nation born of diversity and nurtured in the shadow of that banner, beneath which the honored remains of countless heroes have been laid to rest, deserving if need be of our protection unto death; and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm to the generations as yet unborn their due inheritance, a legacy no less grand than that to which we today are heirs: a nation strong, united and flourishing in peace and prosperity; and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm to our nation's defenders, and the citizens they serve, our dedication to national sovereignty and security so inviolable as to render America forever free from aggression and domination by those who would do us harm; and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm the principle of citizen soldiery by our support and dedication to those who stand in ready preparedness to answer the call to arms, the Reserve and National Guard forces, and be it further RESOLVED, That we affirm to all Americans our commitment to the principle of government of the People, by the People, and for the People, a principle best embodied by a Congress unfettered and free from foreign influence and ever alert to the failures of foreign policy by which the constraints on war are loosed; and be it finally RESOLVED, That by the witness of Man and in the Presence of Almighty God, we do hereby commend this affirmation to all in whom these sentiments ring true. Commander “To you, my comrade, is entrusted a very important duty, that of teaching and protecting the cardinal principles of The American Legion throughout your entire Post. To you is entrusted supervision of the duties of all other officers of the Post. To you may come the needy and the distressed and it is your duty to see that no worthy comrade is turned away without full justice. It is your duty to see that Freedom is ever the watchword of those with whom you may come in contact. Loyalty to your Post, to its membership, to the state and to the National Organization, are obligations which you now assume. You are more than the presiding officer for meetings. You are guided by the Constitution and by the decisions of the Post as a body, yet the responsibility for the success of the year’s program is largely on your shoulders. You must initiate and carry through programs to completion. You must thoroughly familiarize yourself with the policies and traditions of your Post and of The American Legion. By your sincere acceptance and earnest performance of these duties, may the great trust which your comrades have reposed in you be justified. To you I extend the congratulations of the Department, and I wish you well as you assume the responsibilities of your office. I present to you a copy of the Post Officer’s Guide and Manual of Ceremonies to serve as your guide during the coming year.” --Charge from Installation Ceremony Yes, Commander, the charge you accepted is broad and difficult. How you respond will determine to a large degree the standing of The American Legion among your associates and within the community. Your own ability, the help you obtain from District and Department officers, the information contained in this Guide, and the help you will get from the Post officers who form your team, all combine to make the performance of your job possible. That you have ability is recognized by your election to the office of Post Commander. This ability must have been accompanied by desire or you would not have accepted the office. Everything that follows is provided to assist you to use the ability that you now have and to develop new skills so that your desire to see the Post prosper will become a reality. As you look to the overall operation of the Post, you realize that you have stepped to another level. You may feel that the step is too high, but as you proceed, following the guidelines suggested, you will develop the organization and leadership among others that will make your year as Commander the most rewarding of your life. Planning Post Operations for the Coming YearIt’s a rare group of new Post officers who take office without enthusiasm and a desire for a successful year. In the charge you accepted at your installation, you were entrusted with the supervision of the duties of all other officers of the Post. This does not mean that you will discourage them from using initiative and developing new ideas. What it does mean is that you will be judge by the effectiveness of your officers. There are many ways to determine whether a Post Commander and their officers are enjoying a successful year. Judgments of the worth of a Post are made by the members, the community, and by The American Legion itself. Like it or not, a gain or loss in membership is the measure most often used. Actually, the membership record is a pretty reliable barometer of what your Post is doing. An active Post, where the members enjoy themselves, often creates a “word of mouth” membership campaign that works almost automatically. The members are proud to belong. It’s the most natural thing in the world for them to talk “Legion” to their friends, neighbors, relatives, and business associates. Since they like belonging to the Legion, they want their friends to get in on a good thing, too. However, whether it shows or not, a great deal of planning has probably gone into every successful membership campaign. But, before sales people can sell a product, they have to have a product. If they are going to do a good job, they have to have a good product--something that people want and will value. The programs, social activities, chances for making new friendships, sometimes the Post home itself--these are what a Legion salesman has to sell. How we build or get this product is the subject we would like to discuss with you. |