Legion College hosts largest class
The 2013 National American Legion College (NALC) class will be the largest in the history of the training program. This year’s class will have 54 attendees from 33 different departments. Training will be conducted Oct. 27 through Nov. 1.
Applications were scored using a 100-point worksheet covering past positions held, department commander recommendations, level of commitment, expectations and goals of the applicant, length of membership and a 500 words or less essay stating why the applicant wanted to attend the NALC and how they would apply the knowledge they have acquired. A total of 68 applications, our largest pool of applicants, were evaluated by the Internal Affairs NALC Sub-Committee at the National Convention in Houston.
In other news:
Operation Comfort Warriors: Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) will be the primary sponsor of a Sept. 21 trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio for 1,000 guests from Brooke Army Medical Center. The patients and their family members, along with any medical providers necessary, will be treated to a full day at the amusement park and lunch. In addition to the park admission and lunch, the patients and their families will be given an OCW back pack, T-shirt and baseball cap.
C&Y Conference: The seventh annual National Children & Youth Conference will be held Sept. 20-22 at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel in Indianapolis. Confirmed presentations include: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Legion Auxiliary Children & Youth Programs, Boy Scouts of America, Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, National FFA Organization, National Sportsman’s Alliance Foundation, Sons of The American Legion Children & Youth Programs, Temporary Financial Assistance, Young Marines and Youth Programs Alumni Association. Also during the C & Y Conference there will be the first Scouting Chairmen Conference, also at the Sheraton. Marcos Nava of Boy Scouts of America, national liaison to The American Legion, will be the main presenter of the conference.
Membership and DMS Program
The 2014 traditional membership goal is 2,001,806. Membership as of the 50 percent target date report is 1,136,185. Fifty-two departments met the 50 percent target for membership.
DMS Program 2014
The 2014 Membership Year began on July 1. The first DMS mailing for the 2014 year was completed on Aug. 19. Responses to the first mailing are now being processed. Subsequent mailings are planned for the near future (October, November, and January).
DMS Acquires: 9,813 prospects, 17,484 expires, 27,297 total
2014 Goal: 101,500 (26.9 percent of goal)
Current Renewal Rate for 2013 DMS Members: 20.77 percent (36,452 of 175,469 new 2013 members)
On-Line Renewal Activity: 2014 Membership Year On-Line Renewals (since July 1): 110,654
Sons of The American Legion: The Sons of The American Legion achieved 12.2 percent for the first Sons membership target goal for the 2014 membership year on Sept. 11. Sons’ membership currently stands at 43,190 members and 4,227 ahead of this same date last year. Now, 33 detachments achieved the 10 percent membership target goal.