Transcript Post Membership Growth April 30, 2011

There is a lot of power in positive thinking!
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The Little Engine That Could
A Primer for Positive Thinking
A children's book written by Watty Piper
 Also a good guide for a lifetime
 Moral to the story…

 If you think you can…you can
 If you think you can’t…you are correct…you
can’t
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What are our Objectives?
Acknowledge the need for Membership
Growth
 Understand the important role of strong
leadership in Membership Growth
 Recognize the importance of a
Membership Committee and a written
plan of action
 Identify written plan elements

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Why is Membership Growth
Important?
To maintain a dynamic voice in
Washington that will continue to protect
the interest of all veterans, service
members and their families
 If we fail to grow…it is only a matter of
time before we cease to exist
 Simply put…membership is our lifeblood
Other Departments are growing and
Texas can too!

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Essentials to Membership Growth
 Training…learning
 Leadership…get
out in front
 Mentoring…developing others
 Motivating…be appreciative
 Monitoring…follow up
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First things First...#1
#1… Post Commanders You must:
 Place a high priority on membership
growth and achieving goals
 Clearly express your positive
expectations that membership growth
is not optional and that we will meet
our goals
 Stress it is the responsibility of each
Post member
 Lead your Post to success
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First Things First…#2
#2…1st Vice Commanders you must:
 Have a positive attitude and
committed to attaining goals
 Make a written status report at all
meetings; where are we now? and
how will we get to where we are
going?
 Lead your committee to success
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First Things First…#3
#3…Develop a Membership
Committee
 Divide up the work…assign specific
responsibilities
 Involve the entire membership ”everyone recruits one”
 Make it a “Family Project”…Post,
Sons, Riders, Auxiliary
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First Things First…#4
#4…Develop a written plan…it is
your roadmap to success…tactical
What do we need to do?
 How are we going to do it?
 Who is going to do it?
 When will it be accomplished?
 Keep it Simple and Flexible
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There’s Power in
Simplicity
All I ever needed to
know…
I learned in Kindergarten
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Quote from Alice in Wonderland
Alice to the Cat…“Would you tell me
please, which way I ought to go from
here?
The Cat to Alice…”that depends a great
deal on where you want to get to”
Alice…”I don’t much care where”
The Cat…”Then it doesn’t much matter
which way you go”
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Elements of a Written Plan
Retain…#1 objective is to close the
back door
 Renew…set aggressive deadlines
 Recruit…at all post activities, 345 List
 Legion Programs…#1 easiest way to
growth
 Communicate…”Spread the Word”
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 External: insure the community knows what
you are doing and why
 Internal: insure the membership knows what
you are doing, how they can help and why
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A Quote to Remember
“Membership success is not
determined by fancy footwork
or gimmicks. Effective
membership programs are the
result of one thing and one
thing only, and that is effective
leadership”
John A Breden III, Past National Commander 2003-2004
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Evaluation
Are there any questions?
 What are the first 4 steps to being
successful in Post Membership Growth?
 What are the 5 focus items of a written
plan for Membership Growth?
 Effective membership programs are the
result of what one thing?

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Review
 Make
growth a “top of mind”
priority
 Develop a committee with a
positive attitude that is
motivated and committed
 Have a written plan and work it
 Focus Items:…Retain, Renew,
Recruit, Legion Programs &
Communicate
 Keep it simple interesting and
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How to Conduct
a Successful
Membership
Drive
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What are our Objectives?
Discuss the important role education
plays in a successful effort
 Understand the importance of making a
good 1st impression
 Review how to set up an effective
display
 Detail how to make a presentation and
the importance of follow-up
 Review our presentation
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Education
 Being
prepared is a confidence
builder for both you and the
person with whom you are talking
 The Two Minute Drill: is simply
preparing beforehand a
response to anticipated
questions
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Who is The American Legion?
 The
Two Minute Drill:
 The American Legion is the
Nations largest and most
influential network of U.S.
wartime veterans. It was
chartered by Congress in 1919
and is a 501 (c)19 non- profit
organization.
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Why Should I Belong?
 The
Two Minute Drill:
 “Our mission is to help service
members, veterans and their
families, educate our
community’s children, keep our
community safe, and lend a
helping hand to those in need”.
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The Visual Presentation
don’t get a 2nd chance at a
good 1st impression
 Dress to impress
 Cover the Table with a Legion
tablecloth
 Have a flag set in the middle of
the table
 Have the roll-up billboards on
display
 You
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The Visual Presentation
a good 1st
impression…continued
 Making
 Brochures must have your contact
information
 Keep business cards in your pocket
 Stand in front of the table…in the aisle
 Keep chairs to a minimum if at all
 Greet visitors with a smile, an
extended hand and an introduction
 Keep chairs, food and drink out of the
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A Welcoming Greeting
 “Hello,
I’m Fred (shaking hands &
smiling)! Are you familiar with The
American Legion?”
 If they say “yes” inquire if they are
already a member…some of them will
be 345 members
 If they say “no” qualify them as an
eligible veteran for membership
 If they are qualified this is your
opportunity to ask sincere “probing”
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The Actual Presentation
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Focus on the 4 Pillars from a local
perspective
Keep it brief and simple…you only have a
few minutes to get your point across.
Ask sincere, probing questions and they
will tell you their interests.
Keep a “Why You Should Belong” brochure
in your hand at all times
Show a sincere interest in them…thank
them for their service
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The Close
 Remember
you don’t have to wait
until the end of the presentation
to close
 When you sense they are ready
to sign…go for it!
 If you don’t sense a closing
opportunity ask… “I have an
application right here and can
sign you up today”.
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The Follow - Up
 Capture
contact information on
everyone - name, address, phone
& email
 Follow up immediately with a
letter and within 7 days with a
phone call
 Briefly discuss benefits of
membership
 Show a sincere interest in them
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Evaluation
Are there any questions?
 What is the 1st step in an effective
membership drive?
 What will a great visual presentation
insure
 Following the greeting what fact do you
need to establish

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Review
 Education…2
minute drills
 A good 1st Impression… be
prepared
 A warm greeting…polite &
professional
 Qualify…know to whom you are
talking
 The Presentation…the 4 Pillars
 The Close…ABC = Always Be
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