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The American Legion
Department of Tennessee 21st Century "Blueprint" For Success Vision
Every Post take the initiative to be proactive, growth oriented with informed, trained and knowledgeable members who understand and communicate the programs and principles of The American Legion to all eligible veterans, military personnel, family members, community and Post members.
Goals
I. Image
- Every Post should develop a vision statement along with a 5-year Strategic Plan Annually
- Legionnaires are considered to be in uniform when wearing the official American Legion cap, therefore all Legionnaires are encouraged to wear his/her Legion cap during all Legion activities.
- Every Post should exemplify the ideals of the American Legion as set forth in the preamble and vision statement.
- Every Post will and should be a value-based organization, by annual or periodic self-evaluation using the checklist contained in the Post Officers Guide.
- Division and District Commanders will take an active role in assisting Posts to maintain a current Certification of Post Officers.
- Division and District Commanders are encouraged to see that every Post in Tennessee completes and submits an annual Consolidated Post Report (CPR).
II. Partnership
- Every Post should establish a viable, functioning American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion Squadron.
III. Public Relations
- Every Post should use available media to educate and inform the community of local Post and National patriotic events and other local Post activities.
- Every Post should strive to have at least one article each month published in local newspapers to keep veterans and local residents informed of Legion activities, events, or important issues.
- Every Post should establish an annual Public Relations plan outlining the Public Relations activities of the Post as overseen by a Public Relations committee.
IV. Programs
Every Post will endeavor to promote and accomplish one or more American Legion programs annually.
- Each District should endeavor to increase, by a minimum of 5, the number of participants in the National High School Oratorical Contest.
- Each District should endeavor to increase, by a minimum of 5, the number of participants in American Legion Boy's State Program.
- Each District should endeavor to produce one nominee to be considered as the Department nominee as the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Emergency Management Technician, and/or Firefighter of the Year.
- Each District should endeavor to produce one nomination of an Employer that has significantly enhanced opportunities of hiring veterans.
-Each Post should endeavor to have an American Legion Baseball Team, a Legion Rider Chapter, and a Junior Shooting Sports Program.
- Each Post should endeavor to reconnect with a active duty unit or a local National Guard or Reserve Unit; and ensure the Family Support Network is fully operational to support these units.
- Each Post should endeavor to fully support all established Junior and Senior ROTC programs in their local area.
- Each Post should endeavor to fully publicize the Eagle Scout of the Year program.
- Each Post should endeavor to fully establish a liaison team with all local veteran's healthcare our extended care facilities.
- Each Post should endeavor to establish and fully train a team to provide Military Funeral Honors.
- Each Post should endeavor to fully establish a voter registration and awareness forum to fully educate voters on important issues. To maximize voter turnout for all elections.
V. Training
- All Elected Department Officers must attend the Orientation Session and all mandatory training sessions.
- Every Post should have a representation at the annual Mid-Winter Conference and Department Convention.
- Every Post should have a representee at all District Meetings.
- Every Post should send a member to the annual Tennessee Legion College held in their respective Division.
- All Officers should successfully complete The American Legion Extension course prior to installation into their respective positions.
- All Division and District Commanders shall be prepared and available to assist Posts in training, as needed.
- All Division and District Commanders along with Auxiliary and SAL officers will endeavor to establish mini program and benefit workshops in their area of responsibility.
- Each District Commander will endeavor to obtain the application of at least one post-Vietnam era Legionnaire to The National American Legion College. A selection committee will review all applications. Annual selections will be based on availability of authorized seats and funding availability.
VI. Mentoring
- Every Post member who signs up as a new member should introduce them to the Post. The new member will be provided a mentor until they are familiar with the rules and activities of the Post.
- Every Post will establish a mentoring program for inactive Legionnaires, including those Legionnaires confined to nursing home, hospitals, or homebound.
VII. Membership
- The Department shall meet or exceed established annual membership goals.
- Use the latest technology to include myLegion and the associated post on-line membership transmittal program.
- Membership strength shall result from minimum target goals: 80% from renewals, 10% new member recruiting; and 10% reconnect efforts.
- Every Post and the Department should be 100% by February 28th of each year.
- Statewide membership goal is to enroll 10% of the 450,000 eligible veterans in Tennessee by February 28, 2024.
- The Department will fully challenge elected and appointed officers.
- Each District Commander should strive to revitalize at least one dormant post within his/her respective district annually.
- Each District Commander should strive to establish one new post within his/her respective district annually, utilizing eligible veterans within the community and the Headquarters Post 2000 membership roster.
- Every Post should establish, train, and maintain not less than 2 individuals to serve as a new member Recruiting Team.
- Every Post should establish, train, and maintain a team of not less than 2 individuals to serve as an existing membership Renewal Team.
- Every Post in the immediate vicinity of a military installation, National Guard, or Reserve unit, should establish, train, and maintain a team of not less than 2 individuals to serve as the Reconnect Team.
VIII. Legislative
- Every Post will reframe from endorsing a political party, candidate, or issue while serving in the official capacity of The American Legion; strict standards of non-partisanship will be maintained.
- Every Post should endeavor to establish a relationship with all elected officials at the local, state, and national level.
- Every Post should routinely invite elected officials to meetings to keep abreast of issues and to deliver the veteran viewpoint to lawmakers.
- Every Post should endeavor to establish a Legislative Committee to keep membership updated on issues that may affect benefits, services, or programs.
- Each Post Commander shall endeavor to make routine calls or office visits to elected officials.
- Each Post should endeavor to provide for training on the preparation of resolutions and the legislative process.
- Each Post should endeavor to establish a "rapid reaction" team to notify the membership of important issues requiring their individual communication to elected officials.
IX. Communication
- Every Post should endeavor to keep all Post members informed by the proper dissemination of information received by the Post.
- Every Post should endeavor to develop a means of reaching Post members that do not attend regularly scheduled meetings or functions to keep them informed of items of interest impacting the military community.
- Every Post should thoroughly discuss and disseminate the procedures established to readdress individuals concerns, issues, or recommendations.
- Establish and maintain a cost efficient method to keep members of the Department Headquarters Post 2000 informed of important issues.
- Each Post should strive to establish electronic communication venues (Email) and establish a website. Each Post website should be linked to both the Department and National website.
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The American Legion Department of Tennessee