Transcript POST OPERATIONS - The American Legion

BUTCH SPARKS
PAST DEPARTMENT
COMMANDER
 To
provide “Service” to our veterans,
their families and their communities is as
solid today, in a period of high
technology and lightning fast changes, as
it was in 1919, when the founding fathers
of The American Legion met in Paris.
ABSOLUTELY NOT
 The fight for veterans rights - past, present
or future - is never-ending.
 However the environment is ever-changing
and we must stay in front of change to be
this nation’s leading advocate for veterans.
 We can not afford to become stagnant.
 For continued success, we must provide first
rate service to our veterans, their families
and the surrounding communities.
 YOU
HAVE RULES & REGULATIONS.
 YOU HAVE GUIDELINES.
 YOU HAVE WELL TRAINED LEADERS.
 YOU KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER BASE.
 YOU KNOW YOUR PRODUCT.
 YOU
HAVE A KNOWLEDGABLE STAFF IN
THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THE BUSINESS.
 YOU HAVE WELL TRAINED STAFF
MEMBERS WORKING TO SELL PRODUCT.
 YOU HAVE AN ONGOING TRAINING
PROGRAM FOR YOUR STAFF &
EMPLOYEES.
 Constitution
& By-laws serve as our Road
Map.
 Post officers are the Board of Directors.
 Committee chairs are Area/Program
Directors.
 Members are the stock holders.
 Executive
committee meetings are our
board of directors meeting.
 Post meetings are our stock holders’
meeting.
 Newsletters tell our members what we are
doing.
 Our veterans, their families, and the
surrounding community are our customers.
 Fund raisers are our revenue for our
programs.
Is
our Post a profitable
business?
Are we meeting our mission?
Let’s start by asking ourselves
a few questions.
 Do
Post officers know their duties &
responsibilities?
 Does the Post have current Constitution &
By-laws?
 Does the Post have a current copy of the
Post Administrative Manual?
 Does each officer have a copy of the
current Post Officer’s Guide & Manual of
Ceremonies ?
 Does the Post have a copy of the current
Adjutant’s Manual?
 Does
the Post have a copy of the Post
Operating Manual?
 Does the Post have a copy of the Post
Membership Training Guide?
 Are officers & members encouraged to
take the American Legion Extension
course?
 Is the Post taking care of business (post
documentation & finance records)?
 Are younger vets being included in
leadership roles?
 Does
the Post have regular scheduled
meetings?
 Do officers/members attend District,
Division, & Department meetings &
conventions?
 Is membership growing at your Post?
 Are renewals/new members = or greater
than losses?
 Is the Post assisting veterans in the area?
 Does
the Post have an active Youth
Program?
 Does the Post have a friendly
atmosphere?
 Does the Post present a “Positive Image”
to potential members as well as to the
community.
 Does the Post participate in community
activities?
 Is the Post an asset to the community?
 Does
the community think the Post is an
asset?
 Does the Post communicate with its
members?
 Does the Post use Mylegion.org ?
 Does the Post have computer access?
 Does the Post have a web site, email
address, etc.?
 Does the Post submit a consolidated post
report?
 Unfortunately
many posts can not answer
many or any of these questions in a
positive manner.
 Somehow over time many posts have
declined due to leaders passing on,
economic woes, loss of members, etc.
 Should we give up? Absolutely not.
 Let’s get these posts back on their feet.
 Working as a team we can meet this
challenge.
The first thing we need to do is to have a
personal commitment and involvement of
each Legion Officer at Post, District,
Division & Department levels to carry on
the torch lit by the doughboys in 1919.
 A willingness of officers to learn by
attending training sessions and self study
of available programs and manuals.
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Posts should make sure current C&BL’s are up to date.
Posts should initiate a self audit of all post operations
to see what is needed to meet its mission.
Outside assistance is available if needed.
A resource library should be available at the Post for
officers and members to check out.
A plan of action & time table for corrections and
improvements should be established based on
findings.
Follow-up audits should be held annually prior to new
officers’ installation.
 Every
Post officer needs training.
 Training has been lax in the last few
years.
 Through training we gain knowledge to
operate our Post & help better serve our
veterans.
 Recommend all officers take the
American Legion Extension Institute
(ALEI) course.
 Some
Posts require elected officers to
take the ALEI course.
 Encourage all members to take ALEI
course.
 Education of our officers and staffs at
every level should be an on-going
process.
 Schedule training at General
Membership Meetings.
 Mentors
are being identified by District
to assist Posts in their areas.
 Identify mentors in your Post. Utilize
them.
 Mentors may be area experts, e.g.
Adjutant, Service Officer, Membership,
etc.
 Get potential leaders involved by
mentoring them.
 IF you need help, JUST ASK.
 We
must be aware at all times of our
image and how others perceive us and
our work in the community.
 We must remain the champions of
service to our veterans and their
communities.
 Everyone in a Legion leadership position
must set the example for all members to
follow.
 Our
service to veterans and their
communities is manifested in our
programs and there are many
outstanding programs to choose from.
 Legion officers at every level should be
coaches, motivators and consultants in
helping Posts develop and maintain
programs.
 The
American Legion, Post Riders,
American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons
of The American Legion need to be
partners in providing service to our
veterans, their families and their
communities.
 Legion officers again must set the
example for inner-organization dialogue
and cooperation.
 Our work of service to our veterans is a
“family affair.”
 We
can amplify our commitment of
service to the veteran through an
aggressive and consistent public
relations program. It allows us to maintain
visibility in the community.
 A presence in social media network sites
such as Facebook & Twitter has made it
possible for everyone to become
knowledgeable of Post Operations.
 Become involved in the community as a
good neighbor. Public relations
 We
must encourage every American
Legion Post and its membership to focus
on service to the veteran, to their families
and to the communities as their number
one priority.
 With your help we can rekindle the torch
that the “doughboys” lit for us.
 “DON’T LET THE LIGHTS GO OUT”.
 Post
Membership Training Guide
 Post Adjutants Manual
 Post Officers Guide and Manual of
Ceremonies
 Post Operations Manual
 Post Administrative Manual
 www.txlegion.org/forms
 www.Mylegion.org
 District Officers
 Department Officers & staff