Section 1 a “Blueprint” for the 21st Century Purpose
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Graves Registration and Memorial CommitteePurpose: To record, mark and decorate graves of deceased veterans; to render service and comfort to bereaved families; to provide American Legion funeral services when requested. Sons of The American LegionPurpose: To act as a supervisory committee for the Sons of The American Legion Squadron in connection with its organization, activities, recreational and educational programs. Uniformed GroupsPurpose: To organize, train, promote and supervise a uniform group, such as a drum and bugle corps, color guard, chorus, firing squad, etc. Visiting or VAVSThe purpose of the visiting committee is to give comfort and assistance to members and their families when sick or bereaved, and to visit hospitalized veterans. It is recommended the Post Chaplain be chair and all Post members share in this vital function by taking their turn as committee members. The PostThe American Legion is incorporated by act of Congress and is organized into local Posts, which, for purposes of coordination and administration, are grouped into Departments. The Post is the combat unit of The American Legion. Depending upon its ability to absorb American Legion policies and properly interpret them to the local people, and to successfully carry out unselfish activities for the community, the state and the nation, our organization will stand or fall. The responsibility given to the individual Post has proved the source of our strength and growth. The Post is to a large degree autonomous, restricted only by broad general guidelines carried in the National or Department Constitution and By-Laws. The Post must never forget, however, the implied responsibility it has to the veterans and the children of its community and to the community itself. The Post is The American Legion. Its duties are beautifully spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion. Membership is by Posts only. Programs are effective to the degree the Post adopts and puts them into operation. Mutual helpfulness becomes a reality through the comradeship, social activities, pride of achievement, and the service programs of the Post.
Perception of The American LegionThe word “perception” is merely a shortcut way of referring to the spontaneous and more-or-less subconscious feelings and reactions of people for an institution, other people, products, or ideas. The perception of The American Legion is the reaction, mental and emotional, which anyone has of the organization. Each individual may have a different mental perception of The Legion, and each Post creates its own local perception to a great degree. The local perception is colored to some extent by a Department and national perception. The perception, which the individual Legionnaire—particularly the Post officer—has, of The American Legion will determine in large measure what the Post is. If the person’s perception of The American Legion is as a bar, the Post will be a bar and that is all. If the person thinks the Post is doing a good job but it still isn’t attracting new members, then the perception of what The American Legion should be, or is, does not agree with what the majority of veterans in the area want in an organization. There is room in The American Legion for many different personal perceptions of The American Legion. All Posts do not have to be cast in the same mold, although there is a tendency to think they are. We get into membership difficulty in a community when a group with a narrow perception of The American Legion becomes dominant and suppresses any other group with a different perception. The perception which the individual Legionnaire has can prevent the development of new activities which would produce new leaders and new membership, or it can result in the expansion of programs, leadership and, eventually membership. It can also either help or hinder the establishment of needed new Posts, which might attract and serve an entirely new group of veterans. Kinds of PostsYes, each individual Legionnaire sees The American Legion through personal experiences or desires. The organization is big enough and broad enough to accommodate him (or her), but the Post will reflect the composite personality of its members. There are country club-type Posts and community Posts. There are ethnic groups and all-women Posts. There are business and professional Posts, company Posts, and Posts from a fraternal group. There are many different kinds of Posts and all doing the work of The American Legion. Goals or StandardsSome Posts have several thousand members—others are successful with less than a hundred. What the Post wants to do and needs to do, it can do. But only if the membership, and the Post officers in particular, carefully spell out its goals or standards in terms of service to the community and then translate these goals into action, will the Post be successful. Service takes many forms. It’s getting the manpower or membership to do a job. It’s having fun while doing it. And it’s doing something that needs to be done, whether for the members or the community. This means that the Post officers must be aware of the likes and dislikes of its members, and equally aware of the needs of the community. Developing LeadersAll of this implies that there are active devoted Legionnaires. There are, but The American Legion goes through a terrific amount of manpower. Nearly 15,000 new Post Commanders are needed each year. This goes over the 100,000 mark when other Post officers are elected. Some members hold the same office year after year, but there is always a need for replacements. Where do these replacements come from? First, the veteran becomes a member. Then, experience, education, and exposure through serving on committees, attending leadership schools, conventions and conferences make that person ready for other positions of responsibility. Over the years The American Legion has played a part in developing a tremendous number of Legionnaires who have gone on to make a mark in other fields, but leadership training, formal or informal, is a never-ending task. Anytime a Post has a search for a new Commander, the danger signals are flying.
The good Post will know the needs of the community. It will know them by the simple process of planned contacts by representative Post members with city officials, educators, welfare workers, community leaders and with other civic and fraternal groups. A Legionnaire who does a good job for the community deserves recognition and thanks from the Post, whether it was a Post-sponsored project or not. Veterans activities alone will not establish The American Legion as an asset in the eyes of the community. These are, however, of particular importance to an organization composed exclusively of veterans. Establishing Political Grassroots As Legionnaires, we are soldiers on the front lines of the battle for veterans’ benefits. Veterans and their families earned these benefits at a high price: in battles around the world safeguarding the principles of justice, freedom and democracy for all Americans! The American Legion must continue to establish, nurture and maintain personal relationships with all elected officials and their staff at the local, state and national levels. Legionnaires can teach elected officials what this battle is all about: Sign them up as members of The American Legion family, if they are eligible for the Legion, Auxiliary and/or the Sons. Extend them an invitation to participate in local and state activities: to judge an oratorical contest; to speak at Boys and Girls State; to throw our the first pitch at a Legion baseball game; to address Post, District or Department meetings; to participate as the keynote speaker in a flag disposal ceremony; to officiate at a memorial service for fallen comrades on patriotic holidays; or any other significant event. Give members of their staff the same consideration, because they are a part of the elected official’s inner circle of political advisors. During an election year, consider having a “Meet the Candidates Night” meeting. To comply with Section 2, Article II of the Constitution of The American Legion, invite all candidates and let them explain what they plan to do for veterans and their families if elected. Many congressional members started their careers as local elected officials. What better way to introduce these legislators to The American Legion family and establish a positive relationship than from the beginning of their political lives? Consider having a town hall meeting focused on veterans’ issues. Invite elected officials to address and answer questions from their constituents from the veterans community. This is an opportunity for framing the discussion solely on critical veterans’ issues. This is not the appropriate setting to discuss specific individual VA disability claims or other benefits problems, but rather general concerns. When an elected official participates in local Legion activities, be sure to discuss critical Legion legislative issues and widely publicize the event. Tangible and intangible rewards help establish a strong desire by the elected official for a return appearance. The American Legion’s lobbying efforts improve tremendously when Legionnaires back home address the same issues echoed by Legion members on Capitol Hill. It is critical that Legionnaires establish, develop and cultivate strong relationships with congressional offices in the states. This is permissible without violating Section 2, Article II of the Constitution of The American Legion. Keep in mind that The American Legion deals with issues, not personalities. The American Legion seeks elected officials to support its legislative mandates, not the other way around. The American Legion cannot endorse any incumbent or candidate for elected or appointed offices in the government. Offer to serve on an elected official’s advisory council or on a military academy candidate screening committee. If your Member of Congress does not have such an advisory council or screening committee, offer to establish one. Good relations with Members and their District offices will pay big dividends in dealing with Members in Washington, DC. One of the most effective strategies and another valuable part of the Legion’s legislative effort is letter writing. Letter writing is an excellent way to begin building a relationship with elected officials. Written communication puts both the Legion and your elected officials “on record” concerning critical issues. When communicating by mail, personal letters have a tremendous impact in Congress and will usually generate a response. To be effective, letters must be brief, informative and factually correct. Limit each letter to only one topic to get the best response. Multiple topics make the letter more difficult to respond to quickly and puts it in the “answer when I get time” file. The American Legion Dispatch is an excellent reference source on critical issues pending in Congress. “Dateline: Capitol Hill” by the National Legislative Commission Chairman appears regularly. Letters should briefly describe the issue, present significant facts and, most importantly, tell the elected official what action to take. Use a personal example to demonstrate the impact of the legislative issue on local veterans. Equally important, specifically ask the elected official for a written response. Please forward responses form any congressional correspondence to the Legislative Division in Washington, DC. The Legislative staff uses such congressional correspondence to help develop legislative strategy. Informed constituents have the greatest impacts on determining the way a Member of Congress votes.
Someone once described The American Legion as an organization that came to play but stayed to work. The same description pretty well fits a Legionnaire. In fact, two-thirds of our members joined because of the real or expected comradeship, fun, or social activities. A good Post will recognize this. It will give as much attention to a social event as it does to planning a more serious project. The Legion Post can and should provide many of the outside social contacts for the Legionnaire and family. All events should be scheduled well in advance and publicized. Each Post must determine the type of social activities that will appeal to the greatest number of its members. But more important, each activity should be evaluated as to its acceptance by the community and the eligible veterans. American Legion Buildings All of the foregoing presumes that something will take place somewhere. Frequently this is an American Legion activity center or Post home, a familiar but varied sight across America. Some are country clubs and others are community centers. Some are primarily bars and others simply meeting halls. Some are current models representing an up-to-date Post; others haven’t been renovated or changed since before World War II. Some appeal to a particular type of veteran; others have a general appeal. Some are landscaped and painted. Most are just a non-descript building. To assist an American Legion Post in its plans to build a new Post facility or improve its existing building, a publication—Post Operations Manual—has been prepared. This booklet contains basic information which is pertinent to a building program—Standards, Planning Criteria, Financing and Related Administration Suggestions, etc.—plus some success stories of actual Post-building programs. The Post Operations Manual may be obtained by writing to the Membership and Post Activities Section, The American Legion, Indianapolis Office. Post Clubroom—It’s Your Decision It’s up to the individual Post also to decide whether it is to have clubroom facilities. If your Post decides it wants a clubroom and/or bar, then it calls for the best possible operation. To assist the Post officers charged with the supervision of the Post clubroom facilities, the Post Operations Manual has been prepared. This manual covers such topics as the duties of a club manager, labor costs, beverage control, food service, etc. It also contains a guide on how to use proven principles of financial accounting. The Post Operations Manual is available from the Membership and Post Activities Section. Elections If the work of the Post has gone well and the present officers have been effective, there should be no lack of competition for the elective Post offices. But there may come a time when someone must be approached and urged to run for Post Commander or the other elective offices. This is particularly true in some smaller Posts where many of the members have already served. This situation should be anticipated and long-range plans made to cope with it. The present Post officers and the active Legionnaires must always be on the alert toward developing future officer material. A Legionnaire showing ability and interest should be encouraged to seek a higher office and develop his/her natural abilities. The Post Constitution and by-laws will spell out the dates for nomination and election of officers. If these dates do not agree with the Department constitution and by-laws, the Post dates should be changed. To maintain necessary communications between the Post and the Department, it is desirable all Posts hold elections near the same date, and the results of these elections be promptly reported to the Department. InstallationThe installation of a new group of officers provides the first occasion of the new Legion year for an impressive ceremony and reason for one of the top social events in the Post’s calendar. If new officers are casually installed, their attitude toward their obligation will be casual. If the installation is accompanied by a banquet, visits from the Department and District officers, and the type of social entertainment that draws a crowd, the new officers are going to be fully aware of the responsibilities they have assumed. In many Departments, regulations are in effect as to who the installing officers should be. It is well to check with your District Commander for such details. Initiations and Other RitualsImpressive installation ceremonies can provide the framework around which other rituals can develop. Your Manual of Ceremonies covers the initiation of new members, dedication of halls, funeral services, and other rituals standard throughout The American Legion. Frequently Department or national headquarters can provide additional tools to make these ceremonies more effective. A contact with Department headquarters will provide this information. The primary objective in all rituals is to provide for the full impressiveness that has been built over the many years into the actual ritual. Inter-Post MeetingsPost officers can learn from their counterparts in another Post, but more important, inter-Post meetings provide an opportunity for social and fraternal gatherings that do much toward building the solidarity of our Posts and our individual Legionnaires. Check with the Posts nearby; you usually find them more receptive to such a program. Frequently the home Post Commander opens the meeting and conducts the program; the visiting Post Commander closes the meeting. Color guards can also be interchanged. Just as important is the fact that the increased attendance caused by joint meetings will allow you to secure more outstanding speakers and better entertainment. National Headquarters The top legislative body of The American Legion is the National Convention. The National Executive Committee is vested with administrative authority between National Conventions. Through its national organization, the unity of The Legion is affected as a national force. Through National Headquarters, the policies of The Legion are clarified and its activities are centered and directed. Thus, the influence of nearly 15,000 Posts is coordinated and directed along the lines of Legion policy. Your national headquarters has offices in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. Department It has previously been mentioned The American Legion is organized into Departments and, these in turn, into Posts. There is one Department in each state, the District of Columbia, and there may be one in each territory and insular possession of the United States (Puerto Rico). Each Department may prescribe the constitution of its Posts, and the Department has supervision of the Posts within its boundaries and the Posts assigned to it by the National Executive Committee. There are also foreign Departments in the Philippines, France, and Mexico. In all, there are 55 Departments. District OrganizationDepartments have the authority to create intermediate bodies between the Post and Department to assist as a liaison between such organizations, and for the purpose of promoting the programs of The American Legion. The Department executive committee or constitution defines the powers of such intermediate groups. In no event shall such powers invade the prerogatives now vested in either the Post, or Department, or the national organization. The most common division that has been established is the partition of the Department into Districts. However, many of our Departments do provide for county organizations, inter-county councils, and other subdivisions below the District level. In one Department, county organizations substitute for Districts. Depending upon the powers delegated, the District does have some supervisory powers over the Posts comprising the District; but the primary purpose is to promote, stimulate, and coordinate the programs so the work of the Posts becomes more effective. SECTION 2 District or County Commander’s Guide What Is A District Commander? If this is your first time as a District Commander, and you are not quite sure what the job entails, don’t feel alone! You’re not! Every year nearly 800 Legionnaires across the nation are elected to the position of District Commander and very few have experience. As a District Commander you have a unique opportunity to help The American Legion work and in turn to HELP AMERICA WORK. Your term in the office of District Commander can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences of your life . . . if you meet your— Responsibility In many ways the District Commander is the most important person in The American Legion. Department officers learn very quickly that when a District Commander has organized the District, is meeting his/her responsibilities, and keeping a constant watch on District activities, the District is on the move. Each Post in The American Legion is a separate and distinct unit of our organization. Each Post functions independently of each other Post. You, as District Commander, have the responsibility for providing the link between individuals, Posts and Department. The Department, in turn, provides the link between the Districts, and your national office ties the 55 Departments together. The part you play in this communications process is vital. Without your leadership, the Posts in your District will have no way of linking their operations to our much larger national network. With your leadership your District can become an important part of an organized national effort. The American Legion was founded with a spirit of fellowship, enthusiasm and mutual respect among concerned friends. It was built on understanding, appreciation, and vocal pride of America and its people. It was built with the awareness that together we can make a difference—together we are “STILL SERVING AMERICA.” The success of The American Legion in today’s world begins with you and your desire and ability to link your District to the rest of the organization. Ralph Waldo Emerson once mused that, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Enthusiasm indicates excitement about an idea. If we add the necessary ingredients of dedication, personal attention, imagination, and perseverance, we have the requirements for a good District Commander. Organize ‘Team’ As District Commander, your first order of business is your “team”—the people with whom you can work and those who can best perform the tasks necessary for a successful year during your term of office. You must select the cast, set the stage, and it’s up to you to: (1) Move those projects that are most important, following a definite timetable; (2) determine both long-range and immediate objectives; (3) organize fully and communicate exactly your ideas and your enthusiasm; and (4) make sure the lines of communication are tightly drawn so the flow of information will be easily available to the public, Post, District, Department, and national.
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