RECRUITING TRAINING

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

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DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

There are approximately 2.5 million disabled veterans (Only 1.2 are members of the DAV). Consider this:

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Veterans have proven their ability. They have been trained in various military specialties that often offer knowledge and experiences transferable to the civilian workforce.

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Veterans have proven their loyalty. They volunteered to serve their nation and have proven they can commit to a job and an organization.

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Veterans know the meaning of discipline and teamwork. From following orders to watching out for their buddies, they are serious and mature workers.

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Veterans come with support systems that enhance their employability. A grateful nation acknowledges their sacrifice by offering disabled veterans special employment and training services.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

WHAT IS RECRUITING?

Recruiting is more than just signing up new members – it is actually a two-part process: Part 1 – Selling yourself – You know what the DAV has done for you, as well as others, but you are the proof, and relating how the organization has helped you, in a confident and positive way, speaks louder than any brochure or advertisement can.

Part 2 – Know what you are talking about! Nothing hurts our organization more than good people with great intentions not fully understanding what we do or how we do it. Read up on our organization, talk with officers and key leaders within your chapter, but know what you are saying before you mistakenly promise a veterans something we can’t deliver. The more you know, the better a spokesperson for the DAV you will be.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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Why do you need to recruit?

• • • Continue the legacy of our Organization Per Capita dues for the chapter, department and national Sharing of workload of volunteer activities •

Benefits of Recruiting

• • • Continued benefits to the community New ideas which could grow a chapter Help disabled veterans integrate back into society/community

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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Effective Recruiting Resources

Personal Phone Calls Discuss your DAV activities with everyone Service officer work Volunteer van driver Local Universities National Guard/Reserve Units Local Military Base Other Veterans Organizations •

Contact Goals/Glide path

• • • • Meet no less than 5 new prospects each week Host 4 events each year focused on recruiting Mentor 5 new members who will have a goal for 20 new members in a year Chair committee that will recruit 50 new members in a year

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

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DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

Recruiting Awards Program

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Benefits to Recruiter

• • • • • 5-9 new recruits 10-24 new recruits 25-49 new recruits 50-99 new recruits 100 or more new recruits • • • • • Bronze Star Silver Star Gold Star Francis J Beaton Award Pin National Commander’s Team Plaque Anyone who receives the team plaque for three (3) consecutive years is automatically enrolled in the DAV Membership Hall of Fame. Those entered into the Hall of Fame receive a special pin with three (3) diamonds noting this special achievement.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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Recruiting Points

• • • Sponsors receive 2 credits for each new full paid member recruited Sponsors receive 1 credit for each new partial-life or Auxiliary member recruited.

DAV recruiting incentive points can be used to purchase DAV Fraternal items. Each point is worth $1 in the DAV store.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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Department Recruiting Awards

Individual Recruiting Awards Chapter Recruiting Awards

• • • • Top NSO Recruiter - Plaque 1 st Place Recruiter - $300.00

2 nd Place Recruiter - $200.00

3 rd Place Recruiter - $100.00

• • • Small Chapter (<400) -Plaque Medium Chapter (400-999) - Plaque Large Chapter (>1000) - Plaque

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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The importance of retention, or bringing active members to the table is critical.

Recruiting individuals without adequately introducing them to our mission and welcoming them into our community is the equivalent of putting water into an empty bucket. There are chapters who look full, but they aren’t really working the way they should. It is better to engage current members to become more active than to devote our time and resources to adding trial members who aren’t really introduced to the organization or even fully informed about why membership is important.

If you set one recruiting objective for the New Year above and beyond meeting your goal, it should be to establish a membership committee. They should convene as soon as possible to discuss ways to improve member retention and encourage activity among existing members.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

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Membership committee should:

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Survey new and long-term members to assess what they love about the Chapter, their interests and their concerns.

Contact members who have left or not paid their dues to find out why.

If meeting attendance or volunteer involvement is low, find out why.

Review the reasons people join and remain members.

Continue to assess retention issues. Surface concerns and discuss them honestly. Constructive dialogue around how the retention effort is going with members will go a long way to building trust and improving the retention effort.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

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DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

Get Back to Those Unable to Attend a Meeting

Although some people may argue it’s the responsibility of persons unable to attend meetings to learn what they missed, it’s clearly in your best interest to update such persons promptly and thoroughly – digitally (e-mail, Facebook) Make it a point to meet with or call those unable to attend within two or three days after a missed meeting.

Summarize key points of the meeting and go over information that requires immediate attention and follow-up. Give them deadlines. Even though members should be expected to follow up on meetings they were unable to attend, your goal is to convey the importance of attending meetings, make certain they are up-to-date on current issues, and to ensure they know they were missed and are important to your continued success.

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING

Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to

someone in need.” ~ Gillian Anderson

Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans