  | ||
|
COMMANDER'S COLUMN | ||
|
Our 2010 Annual Convention is history. I would like to say “Thank You” for the vote of confidence in electing me your Department Commander. It is an honor and a privilege, and I will serve you, every member, every Post, every District, every Division, and this Department equally and to the best of my ability. If you were able to attend the convention, Thanks for coming. If you were unable to attend, try to make the Fall conference. We have a good time and conducting the business of the American Legion is interesting work. The Legion College is the next event on the calendar, and everyone is invited. I’d love to see you there. The American Legion Department of North Carolina is well-known and well-respected, locally, regionally, and nationally, and does a tremendous job in supporting our goals and objectives. Our Veterans Support and Rehab efforts are successful, well-rounded and stay on track to help active duty service members, retired, and other US veterans. Recent success includes new Directors at two VA hospitals in North Carolina, Asheville and Fayetteville, but we need to continue to monitor the V.A. and make sure Congress does not short-change the nation’s veterans . Our National Security Program identifies support for a well-trained and equipped military as well as a strong Home Land Security position. This is and must remain one of the American Legion’s priorities. Our Americanism efforts continue to pinpoint patriotism, morality, and citizenship as key American values, and identify our support for them. The fourth leg of the American Legion’s efforts centers on Children and Youth Programs. We don’t need to look very far to see and realize the success of these efforts. At the Convention this year we collected over 6000 pounds of pull-tabs for the Ronald McDonald Houses, and the total revenue for 2009 was over $30,000. We can see a direct contribution from the efforts of you and your post. Another Children and Youth Program with local success that has a National Impact is the Baseball World Series that is coming to Shelby. I was fortunate to be in Shelby for their site visit by the Evaluation Committee, and also attended Shelby’s presentation at the NEC meeting in Indianapolis. If I can use the term “Home Run”, Shelby hit it. The Committee formed in Shelby to recruit and bid for the World Series was spectacular and did a noteworthy job. This award highlights North Carolina and Shelby’s place on the national scene. We have many other successful and valuable programs, and the list goes on: like Oratorical, Scouting, Legion College, Student Trooper, Boys’ State and others. All of these are valuable tools in our efforts, as we sow the seeds, and support our children and youth. “MEMBERSHIP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO”. Representing veterans is what we do, who we are, and why the Legion exists. NC finished the last membership year at 90% which is a shortfall of over 4000. There are over 800,000 veterans in North Carolina, and only 5% are Legion members. We need to offer Legion membership to the other 95%. Our new membership team, chaired by James Moore, is in place and is developing plans to halt our membership slide. We want to identify the posts that did not reach their goal last membership year, address specific issues, and develop a plan to assist them. Members of the Membership Team will be visiting Posts, and offering assistance or advice on ways to renew, revive, and recruit. But these Legionnaires can’t do it without help from the local post and its members. Post Commanders should appoint a strong, energetic Membership Chairman, along with a committee to head membership efforts. This post team can direct efforts and set-up recruiting events, but they must have the help and support of every Legionnaire in their local post to meet our membership goals. Every person in the Legion should be asking. “Are you a Veteran?” “Do you belong to the Legion?” “Would you be interested in joining?”
We can FIX our
shortfall, BUT: | ||
|