Section 1 a “Blueprint” for the 21st Century Purpose

Executive Committee

You can get off on the right foot by making it a first order of business to call an early meeting of your officers and executive committee. This can be held even before you are installed. The outgoing Post Commander and adjutant might also be invited to attend.

Before the meeting is held, you and your adjutant need to find out what Post records are on hand, where they are, and how to use them.

Records and Material

Are the complete minutes of all meetings on file or bound? The keeping and reading of minutes may seem a pretty dull job, but minutes can be extremely important. More than one law case has turned on what some long-forgotten secretary or adjutant wrote in the minutes of a meeting years ago.

Does the checkbook balance? Where are the funds, and is all the money accounted for?

Is the Post incorporated under the not-for-profit laws of the state? Where is a copy of the articles of incorporation? Have the necessary annual reports been filed and any needed fees paid?

Is every officer who will be handling funds bonded? The Legion’s National Constitution requires this.

Do you have a copy of the Post’s constitution and by-laws? With the changes in Post officers from year to year, it’s easy to see how many of these vital records can be lost or misplaced. So, first make sure that all of the essential records are on hand, that they are where they should be (and not hiding in the desk of some adjutant of ten years ago), and that you know in a general way, at least, what they are.

Budget and Fund Raising

One of the first things on the agenda for this first get-together of new Post officers should be money--your Post’s budget. The officers need to know in advance what income can be expected for the year and how it should be spent.

Here are three general principles on Post financing that are worth considering. You’ll have a good chance of staying out of money troubles if you follow them:

First, make your dues high enough to meet the fixed, administrative costs: Postage, stencils, stationery, Department dues, in some cases rent--the administrative costs that every Post must meet to stay in business.

Second, if the community is to benefit from an American Legion project, don’t hesitate to solicit the community for funds. For example, an American Legion baseball team, a community playground or swimming pool. Actually, the Post will add to its public reputation by such projects. But a full public accounting needs to be made of all funds received and of how they are spent.

Third, don’t ask the public to give in the name of charity for any project that will be of benefit

primarily to members of The American Legion. A merchant will donate to send a youngster to Boys State, but he probably wouldn’t care to give money to buy a new cooler for your bar. Sometimes it is necessary to raise funds from outside the membership for something that is strictly for the benefit of the Post and its members. When this happens, make sure that the public receives full value.
Calendar of Events

Your budget is a means to an end. The amount of money you have is not as important as what you do with it. So, right along with the budget, you need to set up a calendar of events. These are the things your Post is going to be doing during the coming year. (See program reminders in Index.)

Committee Assignments

There are handbooks and manuals on all of the important Legion programs—Boys State, baseball, children and youth, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, scholarships, and so on. Probably you and your adjutant will have already received copies of these from Department headquarters. These manuals have information and ideas that your committee chairs need. Take these handbooks to the first planning meeting and turn them over to the proper people right then. (See Publication List in Index.)

Recreational Activities

Just about every Post has some service programs and social activities that were started in the past and have become almost traditional. Organizations fall into ruts—perhaps more easily than individuals. Any program carried on exactly the same way year after year is going to grow stale. So, at this first planning meeting, take a look at your past programs and activities. Decide on those that need some change or a new look.

No Post can stand still. New programs are needed to maintain interest and, especially, to keep up with the times. Every new activity or program offers the opportunity to interest new people in joining the Post. Inactive members can be turned into active members by the same means.

Very little in the world happens without someone to make it happen. So all of the programs and activities need to have a person in charge. Usually, this is a Post officer or committee chair. If the selections of chairpersons and officers are good, the programs will move. You should ask and, in fact, demand that each chairperson and officer build a timetable of events that can be fitted into an overall Post calendar for your year.