OSWEGO COUNTY MEMBERSHIP

OSWEGO COUNTY MEMBERSHIP

PLEASE NOTE: 1st Vice Commander JOHN YOUNG (also Membership Chairman) has resigned his office.

PLEASE send all future PINK sheets with names of members paid to:

GROVER BRITTON
426 STATE ROUTE 104
WILLIAMSTOWN, NY 13493

Phone is: 298-4910

Thank you.

MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR

DEPARTMENT MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR

Today many Legionnaires who are interested in membership gathered at Arthur W. Butler Post 359 in East Syracuse for an update on the latest techniques and methods of building and maintaining your post membership. 

Oswego County was NOT well represented as only 4 members showed up. Then we wonder why our membership is down!!! It's time to get to work on it!!!

Signing in for membership seminar.

Donald Logan is the 5th and 6th District Vice Commander for the year 2011-2012.

NY Commander MIKE BOWEN with Delos Rowlee, 

Past Fifth District Commander

Oswego County Commander Fred Waters and

Oswego Post 268 Commander Renee Hall sign in.

There was much discussion on the new 'pay on-line' option for paying American Legion dues. There is no doubt that it is the way that most will be paid in the future. Currently, it is an option which many younger members prefer.

Despite confusion of the issue, there are just a few changes to the way memberships are handled. When you receive a notice that your member has paid on-line, you DO NOT SEND IN THE CARD TO DEPARTMENT! They will pick it up from National and the dues money to the Post will be returned via a credit on your membership report. There will be no actual paper check.

The member prints out a 'temporary' membership card which is valid until the Post sends their pre-printed card from National upon receiving notice that the member has paid their dues on-line. 

The Key-Word is:

P R I D E

   P - Preparation. 

      R - Research. 

   I  - Information.

  D - Dialogue. 

  E - Excitement and Enjoyment. 

You may contact Cassie at department (1-800-332-6632) and ask her to send you the list of CURRENT paid members of Post One for your county. You will NOT need zipcodes. The list iincludes zip codes that border your county. She can send this e-mail in an excel spread sheet.

This can be a great tool for your Post to generate prospective members. If they have already paid their dues in Post One, then there is a high possibility that they may be willing to transfer into your local post. Just contact them and talk with them, let them know what your Post does for the veterans, what programs you participate in, etc. 

Check out MyLegion.Org. You may access it from The American Legion's National web site. 

LUCKY 7 PIN

'Lucky 7' pin incentive program

The American Legion - September 2, 2010

During the 2010-2011 membership year, National Commander Jimmie Foster will award his National Commander pin to any Legion family member who signs up at least two new members and renews five current members into The American Legion.

A "New Member" is defined as any eligible person joining for the 2011 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2010 membership year.

National Commander Foster's goal is to recognize those in the Legion family who actively recruit new members into the world's largest veterans' service organization for the 2011 membership year. To maintain the integrity of the National Commander's pin incentive program, only one will be awarded per individual.

The certification form for this program may be submitted at any time after September 2, 2010. Upon receipt, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the Legionnaire. National Commander Jimmie Foster's I am part of the "Lucky 7" pin incentive program will end on June 30, 2011 - or when supplies are exhausted.

Thank you,

Jimmie Foster
National Commander 2010-2011
The American Legion

AMERICAN LEGION POST 486

SIGN ERECTED PERMANENTLY

The sign for our American Legion Post has finally been approved and permanently mounted in front of the Minetto Town Hall. This is the result of much controversy and differences of opinion on the part of the Town Board and the American Legion, but those differences have been ironed out and peace resumed in our little community.

Many thanks are due to the diligent efforts of a few American Legion members. We are currently seeking new members who have served since August 2, 1990. Any service member currently serving is eligible as well as veterans who have had service since that date and are currently at home.

We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the Minetto Town Hall at 7:00 PM. If you are a veteran or are currently on duty, we invite you to stop in and attend a meeting. We might even have refreshments!

God bless the U.S.A.

OSWEGO COUNTY COMMANDER

OLDEST LIVING OSWEGO COUNTY COMMANDER

It was my great pleasure to install our oldest living past Oswego County Commander in his position as 2nd Vice Commander of Post 587 in Fulton recently. 

Homer Russell Smith Post 587 Commander

John Young (left) presents John McGraw with

his 60-year Membership Certificate

John McGraw received his 60-year continuous membership certificate from the national organization and was honored locally as Veteran of the Year. 

He served as Oswego County Commander in 1958 and still wears his Oswego County American Legion cap. We are proud of him in our county and wish him well in the coming year.

AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP

March 17, 2010


Department of NY Auxiliary Membership Chairman Nancy Kurk would like to thank everyone for the tremendous job you are doing on Membership. The Department made the 85% target date before the due date. Truly "Teamwork is the key to our Success". Please take a moment to congratulate your "Worker Bees" for the fine job they are doing.

We are close to the end but not at 100% yet. Let us continue to encourage and inspire our Bees to come to the hive with postcards, phone calls and a message of welcome to our Unit meetings.

Example Post Card:

Dear_____________

We are concerned you haven't paid your dues for this year. Your membership is important to carry on our mission of "Service not Self", to our veterans, youth and community. We have our meetings on __________________at the _____________________. Please send your dues to ___________________. If you are having a hardship at this time, please take a moment to notify me at ___________________________.

For God and Country,

You may use this as an example for the card. Post cards are less expensive, but a "thinking of you" greeting care might be nicer if your Unit can afford the expense.

Carolyn Farnsworth, 5th District Membership Chairman, 2009-2010

AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERSHIP

Membership is a CONTACT SPORT, and there is only one way to Win, and that is to jump in with both feet and make a Difference!  There are many ways to increase your Membership, and listed below are just a few ideas for you to engage your membership team in a contact sport. JUST ASK!
 
Look for a Blue Star Banner in the windows of homes.
 
Contact the Veterans Affairs office in your area, and ask to display Legion Benefits and Applications on their display table.( They cannot give you the names of the Veterans, however they will more than likely display your flyers ).
 
Local tax records will list the Veterans with a  tax exemption, ask them!
 
Most Prisons Guards and law enforcement officers are Veterans.
 
DMS list by zip codes are available from Cassi at Department.  

If you sign up a new member, more than likely their friends are Veterans also, JUST ASK.

Your Post roster, has the list of delinquent members, share this with your membership team and make personal contacts to renew and reinstate those members.
 
Keep membership in the fore front of every members mind; at every District, County and Post meeting, set a time period aside to discuss the positive points of Membership. Show examples of how to acquire a new member, we have all been there!
 
Continue having membership workshops; the year is not over, on the contrary, our work is just beginning!
 
Work with your Auxiliary And SAL members to increase their membership, NUMBERS COUNT! And they will help you also, JUST ASK!

Our next Target Date is March 10th, please have all of your transmittals into Department by Monday March 8th!!!

 

Good Luck and God Bless

 

For the Good of the American Legion and our Membership, Always, W. Michael (Mick) Bowen DMC

Merry Christmas

It's nearly Christmas and time to reflect on what we have accomplished so far this year. How many goals have been met? How many projects completed? How many new members have you signed up? There are lots of eligible members out there, you just have to ask if they belong to The American Legion. If not, offer them an application blank. It is really easy. Try it.

The 2010 Mid Winter Conference will be held on January 22 and 23, 2010. Legion sessions are at the Desmond Hotel and Auxiliary sessions at the Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Road, Albany. The National Auxiliary President has been invited and will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

Remember TEAMWORK IS THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS. Leadership is a great committee because it is a KEY in every other committee. Everyone is a leader in her own right. Share your knowledge! Share your leadership skills! It could be contagious!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from National Headquarters!
'Tis the season! All of us at your ALA National Headquarters wish you a joyous and blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. As we celebrate this season of gift-giving, please continue to remember our troops, service members, veterans and their families with your prayers and good deeds. We live in freedom and can celebrate our holiday traditions only because of the price our veterans have paid. When you see a candy cane, think symbolically of the red as the sacrifice of the One plus the ones in uniform who gave their ultimate sacrifice for us.

Peace be with you and yours as you gather with family and friends. In observance of the holidays,

LEGION MEMBERSHIP: The next target date for Legion membership is January 13th with a goal of 80% to be paid by then. Currently as of 12/19/2009, NY State is 26th in the nation, the 5th District is #5 out of 10, Oswego County is #61 out of 63 counties.

AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP: Target date #4 is March 1, 2010 for 100% of goal. There will be 5 - $50 drawings for qualifying counties. Oswego County is #13 out of 62 counties, 5th District is 3rd out of 10 districts.

http://search.needalift.org/nal/

Above is link to Need A Lift on-line.

MEMBERSHIP

Congratulations again!, the Dept of NY Membership team(All of You), are continuing to achieve your quota's and goals at a record pace. We reached our goal with room to spare, with a 76.785%. and we are in 26th place in the National standings. Great Job!

To maintain this speed we will need to have every post in your County and District on the same page. Please, the secret to success is to help everyone reach their potential and goal. Your experience in membership should be giving freely to those post in need, and with your guidance they will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we reach our ultimate goal of a 100% membership in our Department. I believe that all of us have the ability and the desire to be all that we can be; let us work together and succeed.

Our next target date is JANUARY 13TH, just before our Mid Winter Conference. Our goal is 80%, however let's join forces and reach 85% by January 13th and be ahead of our goal. We all know that we can do it, So lets just do it!

I Thank all of you for your dedication to our membership and the American Legion.

For the Good of the American Legion,

W. Michael(Mike) Bowen

Dept. Membership Chairman