[WI Veterans of Foreign Wars]
Membership Making it work for Your Post
THE GOAL
All Posts within the First District will be at least 100% by May 1, 2010. 1 2010 All Posts competing for the All-State will conduct at least 1 physical ill cond ct ph sical membership drive.
OPPORTUNITIES
Recent Wars, Campaigns, Operations
– Since the Vietnam War, a host of smaller conflicts have provided a base of eligible veterans. – Korean Defense Service was added which dramatically increased the eligibility base. – Post 9-11 has given a large volume of new eligible veterans.
SOME ASTOUNDING NUMBERS
Approx. 40,000+ service members have served annually in South Korea since the signing of the cease fire in 1953. i i f th fi i 1953 That equates to 2,240,000+ eligible to be members of the VFW b f th Approx 3,400,000 served in Vietnam in combat zones. Do we even have 1 million b t D h illi Vietnam vets in the VFW?
MORE NUMBERS
7,300 served in Grenada. 665,476 served in Desert Storm 11,700 have served in the Adriatic Sea. Approx. 26,000 served in Bosnia Approx. 10,000 served in Croatia Approx. 65,000 served on Kosovo pp , Countless more have served in Hostile Fire Pay zones over the years.
YUP…MORE YUP MORE NUMBERS
The loss rate of WWII veterans is about 1000 per day. The once 16 million strong veteran group currently has a living population of approx. 2.5 million. Korean War veterans are not far behind!
VFW LOSSES
The VFW has lost over 500,000 members in the last 10 years. These are not solely to deaths of WWII veterans. Much of these losses are from leaving the back door open! Wisconsin lost 2000 memberships last year.
STRATEGIES FOR POST MEMBERSHIP DRIVES
List potential members through who you know from members of your post. Conduct a membership booth/table at every Post function you have that involves the community Put a flyer or larger ad in your local Newspaper. y g y p p Get space for a booth/table for recruiting at local events sponsored by the city/town or other groups. Old f hi d door-to-door method i still a solid method! fashioned d d h d is ill lid h d! Brainstorm in your Post for other ideas and try them!
Competition
On a State level, you can work toward achieving All-State Honors by meeting your 100% and accomplishing all other requirements.
POST MEMBERSHIP COMPETITION You may also want to try for the State Membership Awards. This is a separate program from All-State and deals only with membership. This is a separate program that rewards Posts who excel in gaining new and g g reinstated members. The prizes are big and the expectation is high. p g
Competition (cont.) (cont )
THE STANDARD: Divisions 1 and 2 must have added 25 new and/or reinstated members to their post membership roles. i t t d b t th i t b hi l Divisions 3 and 4 must have added 15 new and/or reinstated members to their post membership roles. roles Divisions 5 and 6 must have added 8 new and/or reinstated members to their post membership roles. THE DEADLINE: JUNE 15, 2010
Competition (Cont.) (Cont )
THE PRIZE: Any Post who meets or exceeds the standard will be eligible to win a Laptop Computer or the VFW National Quartermaster software program (initial program only). l ) 7 Laptop Computers and 3 Quartermaster software programs will be purchased purchased.
Competition (Cont.) (Cont )
The posts who meet or exceed the standard with the highest numbers of new/reinstated members will have first pick until only laptop computers are available. If more than 10 posts become available, all posts that exceed the standard will win the prizes based on highest new/reinstated numbers. The remaining posts will be placed in a drawing for the remaining prizes. All Posts who meet or exceed the standard will also receive a Certificate of Achievement.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP COMPETITION
Those individuals who work exceptionally p y hard on membership should reap p exceptional notice and reward. This competition will be divided into two (2) g p groups. Certified National Recruiter of the Year Award and VFW Member of the Year Award.
Certified National Recruiter of the Year Award
The Certified National Recruiter who recruits the greatest number on new/reinstated members will be b awarded a C tifi t of Achievement and a d d Certificate f A hi t d $250.00 cash award. All Certified National Recruiters who exceed their requirement of 20 will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Individual Membership Award
Any Member of this Department who is not a Certified National Recruiter is eligible to win. The single member who recruits the highest number of new/reinstated members will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement and $750.00 toward attendance of the 2010 National Convention in Indianapolis, IN. All individuals who recruit 20 or more new/reinstated members will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Risks & Rewards
Risks
– If you cannot grow in membership, you will not survive and you put the long term survival of the organization d t th l t i l f th i ti at risk.
Rewards
– The rewards of bringing in new members and rejuvenating your Post activities to be more public and energized will ensure the legacy of your Post.