SAL members encouraged to share why they joined, what makes them proud to be a Son via video recording platform.
With over 400,000 members, the Sons of The American Legion undoubtedly contains over 400,000 unique stories on why its members are going above and beyond to honor the veterans whose service enabled those members to join the SAL.
At The American Legion National Headquarters, we want to share those stories. We’re calling on SAL members to “Share My Why.”
We’ve set up a link (CLICK HERE) through which SAL members can briefly share why they joined, what makes their squadron unique, and what makes them proud to be a Son.
The Legion’s Media & Communications Division will use some of these videos across the gamut of our social media to highlight the SAL. And we’ll follow up with some of the more compelling stories to delve into those members’ “why.”
Before you click on the link:
Prepare your answers.
We want your answers to be concise, so before you log on to make your recording, think about how you can answer each question in a minute or less.
The questions are:
1: Why did you join the Sons of The American Legion? Did you grow up as part of the squadron? Did someone invite you? How did you first hear about the Sons? What made you want to be part of the organization?
2: What makes your squadron unique? Are there special activities? Is it a unique group of people? Is there someone famous who currently belongs to your squadron or was a part of your squadron in the past?
3: What makes you proud to be a Sons of The American Legion member? Tell us your “WHY” - what keeps you involved and engaged with the organization.
Choose your recording location.
You can log in using a smartphone, tablet or computer. The device must have a microphone and camera (or be connected to external microphones and/or cameras).
You must be in a location with internet access during the recording. Find a location that is quiet where you will not be disturbed for 10-15 minutes while you record. Using earbuds that include a microphone (like AirPods) will help mitigate noise and provide clear audio recording.
Try to find a well-lit location. Natural light is ideal, but don’t sit with a large window at your back. Whether using a window, household lighting or video lights, position yourself so that the strongest light source is situated in front of you and slightly angled to one side.
Dress code
You may dress in casual or business attire, but make sure you are well branded. You must be wearing your Sons of The American Legion cap, and you may wear any additional branded clothing or accessories as you prefer.
Logging in
When you click the link, you’ll first see a page that guides you through a check of your mic and camera settings. It will default to the internal devices in your camera or phone, but if you have external devices connected, you will see drop-down options to select these instead.
The next screen will help you set up your shot.
The third screen is where you will adjust the teleprompter settings. The script is just there to remind you of the questions. If you hover the cursor over the text at the top of the page, you can stop and start the prompter, make the letters larger or smaller, and control the speed of the words as they move over the page.
Once you are ready to record, tap the red RECORD button at the lower edge of the screen. The system will count down and the recording will begin. Run through the script, answering the questions. When you are done, tap on the STOP button at the bottom of the page.
If you make a mistake during the recording, you can just say Take 2 and restate whatever question you were working on. If you want to start over, you can tap the RESTART button. This action will erase everything recorded and give you a fresh start. The Teleprompter button is also available on this screen.
Once you stop the recording, you’ll be able to see a preview of your submission and you’ll have one more chance to record again. Type in your name and e-mail address and tap the purple SEND RECORDING button.
One last screen will confirm that your recording was successfully sent.
- Sons