Starting a New Post

The following steps can serve as a guide:

Determine the city, town, neighborhood or other identifiable area where veteran needs are unmet.
Determine that there are sufficient veterans in a particular community or neighborhood to support an active and growing post.
Communicate with the department to find out the minimum number of members required by the department for a post charter. Fifteen members are commonly required for the formal application for a charter; however, the actual minimum number is set by each department.
Ask the department for an application for temporary charter, a copy of the Post Adjutant’s Manual and membership applications.
Adopt a post name. Many posts choose to adopt the name of an individual as a fitting memorial.
Ask the department headquarters to assign a number to the post.
Open a bank account for the post.
Set annual membership dues. Dues are collected annually and include national, department and, on occasion, district assessments.
Start signing members. (A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who served honorably between Dec. 7, 1941, and the date of cessation of hostilities as determined by the U.S. government, and men and women whose service began during one of those periods and remain in service, are eligible to be admitted as post members.)
Check to make sure you have signatures of all members on the charter application and that the form is fully completed with necessary copies.