Contest draws in new members

The American Legion’s goal to reach an all-time membership high by 2019 — the Legion’s centennial— has inspired the Department of Kansas to do the same. "We are doing everything we can to make Kansas No. 1 in membership," said Paul Sanford, department commander.

The department organized a 25-member centennial committee to institute membership recruitment incentives, such as its "New Member Recruiting Contest."

For each new member a Kansas Legionnaire signs up, he or she will receive an entry into a drawing that will be held during the department’s convention in May. Each time a Legionnaire signs up a new member, they must fill out the entry coupon and submit it to their post adjutant.

The recruiting contest entry form includes space for: new member name, phone number and post number; recruiter name, phone number and post number; and date of new membership.

"It’s an incentive to keep Legionnaires working on recruiting members throughout the membership year because the more members they sign up, the more their name is featured in the drawing and the better their chances of winning prizes," Sanford said.

Prizes include a free second year membership for 10 new members drawn from all entires, and 10 recruiters will be awarded $50 each. An additional $25 will be awarded to any winner registered and present at the convention. "This additional monetary award is one way to build our membership attendance during convention," Sanford said.