National Legion College graduate engages new members through training
American Legion Post 100 in Royse City, Texas, has been running strong ever since receiving its temporary charter in January 2017, and permanent charter that December. In its first year the post grew from 25 to 67 members. This membership year the post has grown to 80 members and currently leads the 4th District in membership at 115 percent, said Post 100 Adjutant and 4th District Vice Commander Jason Castleberry.
Castleberry said post members understand that membership growth is the result of engagement. “Members who do not get involved or find their niche eventually quit renewing their membership,” said Castleberry, a 2018 National American Legion College graduate.
To ensure new members of Post 100 are engaged, Castleberry created a new-member orientation training seminar covering topics that apply to integrating new members into The American Legion. A few topics include:
- History of The American Legion
- Four pillars and programs associated with each pillar
- Meeting protocols
- Officer roles
- How to order and wear The American Legion cap
- How posts, districts, divisions and departments interact
- How you can help your local post
“Integrating these new members into a post is vital for the success of the organization and will help improve the retention rate,” Castleberry said. “Part of implementing the training is to plant the seeds of membership renewals for future years by showing our members what The American Legion is about. Most members who don’t renew have never been taught about The American Legion or were never asked to be involved. We want to integrate the members into our post and get them involved even when they don’t think they can help. There is something for everyone!
“Members that didn’t attend (training) are now taking The American Legion Basic Course. The new member orientation is planting seeds in many different ways.”
Post 100 has received several Department of Texas membership and national membership awards. Castleberry said the post gives out backpacks and school supplies during the local back-to- school bash, has a table at a parent-teacher organization kids carnival, participates in the town’s festival, and conducts Veterans Day events. “All these events puts us in front of thousands of people which has helped us recruit new members.”