Membership engagement, recruiting ideas

A part of membership engagement is showing members and potential members the value of membership, and where their dues are going. One way to do this is through the National American Legion’s monthly Membership Impact Report. The report highlights the many ways The American Legion is making a difference in the lives of veterans, children and youth, and communities nationwide through legislation, scholarships, grants, programs and more. 

See and download the impact reports at www.legion.org/membership/impact.

When a new member joins American Legion Post 145 in Peoria, Ariz., or is transferred in through the DMS program, post member and Arizona District 11 Commander Roberta Kimelton said they receive a personal phone call from the commander welcoming them to the post, as well as a survey asking what areas of interests they have. For example, if the member is interested in women veteran issues, the chairman of Post 145’s women veterans committee then contacts the member about joining the committee and getting involved, to whatever extent they want. A mentor is then assigned to the new committee member “to walk with them, engage with them with what’s going on at the post,” Kimelton said. “Our new members are engaged immediately.”

For four consecutive years, American Legion Post 371 in Valparaiso, Neb., has had an all-time membership high. The post currently has 221 members and has already met 85% of its membership goal for the year and is on track to break it, said Post 371 member Daniel Benes.

“The veterans are out there,” Benes said. “Remember there are no boundaries for membership. It’s all about telling the good things that we do in our post.”