Advisors Seminar

1. Advisors Seminar Midwinter 2008 Friday, January 25th Albany, New York

2. Member Training & Development Committee David L. Downey Chairman Members Merritt Palmer,Kenneth Kraetzer, Thomas G. Smallcomb, Gary Denmon, Scott Gaylord Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of New York Gerald Ketchum, Detachment Commander Robert J. Avery, Detachment Adjutant Albert Benware, Detachment Advisor Carl Neu, Assistant Advisor Robert F. Neville, Consultant

3. HISTORY OF THE “SONS” • 1932Established as a Program of The American Legion • at the 14th National Convention of The American Legion in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 12-15 • 1939Grew to be about 7% as large as The American Legion Membership at 72,633 • 19535,631 membership • Drop in membership due to: • * WWII - many SONS went to war and never returned • * Those who did return joined The American Legion • 1963Membership climbed to nearly 17,000

4. HISTORY continued • 1964 National Executive Committee passed Resolution 22 • Creating the First National SAL Workshop during Legion National Convention, Dallas, TX • 1969 Legion NEC approved Resolution 60 • *Creating a Sons of The American Legion Committee, Saint Louis, MO • 1972 Legion NEC approved Resolution 13 • *Creating a National SAL organization under the control of the Legion’s NEC • *Rescinded old SAL Constitution and By-Laws adopted in 1933 • 1973 Legion NEC approved Resolution 21/ Spring Meeting May 2nd • *Establishing procedure for handling matters from SAL National Convention and SAL, • NEC meetings were now reviewed by the Legion’s Internal Affairs Commission Legion approved Resolution 15 / Fall Meeting Oct. 17 - 18 • *Abolishing National SAL Committee created in 1969 by resolution 60 • *National SAL Committee now assigned to Legion National Internal Affairs Commission

5. “SONS” MEMBERSHIP ( ) = Increase from previous year • NationalDetachment NY • 2000 234,738 (11,598) 2000 18,961 (1,759) • 2001 247,179 (12,441) 2001 20,150 (1,189) • 2002 266,126 (18,947) 2002 21,405 (1,255) • 2003 280,206 (14,080) 2003 23,419 (2,014) • 2004 289,271 ( 9,065) 2004 24,541 (1,122) • 2005 301,083 (11,812) 2005 25,383 (842) • 2006 312,756 (11,673) 2006 25,703 (320) • 2007 321,461 (8,705) 2007 26,145 (442)

6. “SONS” MEMBERSHIP ( ) = Increase from previous year • CountiesSquadrons • 2002 63 2002 345 (15) • 2003 63 2003 353 (8) • 63 2004 359 (6) • 63 2005 361 (2) • 63 2006 361 • 63 2007 378 (17) • Department of New York Legion Membership Goal –116,942 Members !! • Total Number of Legion Post in New York – 1,026

7. MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY • To be eligible, you must be a male descendant (includes stepsons and adopted sons) of a member of The American Legion.  • You would also be eligible to join the Sons of The American Legion if you are the male descendant (stepsons and adopted sons included) of a veteran who died in service during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, or the Persian Gulf War. • You would also be eligible to join the Sons of The American Legion if you are the male descendant (stepsons and adopted sons included) of a veteran who died subsequent to his or her honorable discharge from service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, or the Persian Gulf War.

8. Active Duty Service Eligibility Datesfor Membership inThe American Legion (note: potential S.A.L. members should use these dates to determine if their parents or grandparents are/were eligible for membership in The American Legion) World War I - April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918World War II - December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946Korean War - June 25, 1950 - January 31, 1955Vietnam Era - February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975Lebanon/Grenada - August 24, 1982 - July 31, 1984Panama - December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990Persian Gulf - August 2, 1990 (this eligibility period remains open)

9. ORGANIZATIONALSTRUCTURE National Department District County Post National Detachment District County Squadron

10. OFFICERS Commander Vice-Commanders Adjutant Finance Officer Chaplain Historian Sergeant-at-Arms Commander Vice-Commanders Adjutant Finance Officer Chaplain Historian Sergeant-at-Arms

11. PROGRAMS • INTERNAL – Since the age eligibility begins from date of birth, • activities and programs of any squadron should be determined by: 1) Age groupings of those eligible; 2) apparent needs of those eligible; 3) needs of the community for the programs and activities which could be provided by the SAL; and 4) capabilities of those serving as leaders and advisors. • Standing Committees Legion Support • * Child Welfare Grave Decoration Dinners • Veteran Rehabilitation Veterans Recognition Days Building and • * Americanism Bingo Grounds • * Membership Special Olympics Membership • Social Functions Oratorical Legislative • Early Bird DinnersBoy's StateColor Guards* Christmas Party Boy Scouts • * Halloween Party • * Excursions • * Dinners

12. PROGRAMS continued EXTERNAL Community Service * Cemetery Restoration * Community Clean-up * Adopt-a-Highway * Community Welcome * Special Fund Raisers * Visit V.A. Hospital & Nursing Homes

15. Starting a new Squadron !! The two most important things to consider as you prepare to start a new Sons of The American Legion Squadron are: Research and Planning. It is essential that you know as much as possible about the community before establishing a new Squadron. Community size, Legion Post history, annual events and activities are all part of the planning process. The first step in starting a new S.A.L. Squadron is the establishment of a Post S.A.L. Committee, usually consisting of three to five Legion members, appointed by the Post Commander. A Committee Chairman should be selected to provide leadership and to assign tasks to Committee members. This Committee is responsible for recruiting S.A.L. members, organizing the Squadron and conducting S.A.L. Squadron activities with the sponsoring Post. The Committee should establish a plan of action, including a calendar of activities which allows you to set goals, such as recruiting 20 members in 20 days. 

16. The second step in the process is to request an Application for Squadron Charter from Department Headquarters. Department Headquarters will furnish individual application blanks and applications for charter on request from any American Legion Post in the Department. There is only one form of charter, and there is no fee charged in connection with its issuance. A Post cannot sponsor more than one Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion. Both internal and external communications are necessary when developing a new Squadron. Internal communications should be maintained with the officers of the sponsoring Post. It is important that your external audience also remains informed. Keep all members of your Legion Post, as well as surrounding Posts that lack S.A.L. Squadrons, notified of your progress and activities. They can assist by letting others know a new Squadron is being established and help with the referral process.

17. Recruiting Members!! The first step in a successful recruiting campaign is to use the Post’s membership roster to develop a list of eligible individuals. A letter of invitation should be sent to every Post member asking their sons and grandsons to become members of the new S.A.L. Squadron. Included with each letter should be an S.A.L. Brochure and Membership Application. Follow up phone calls can be made to those who did not respond to the letter. Signed membership applications and dues should be collected from those who wish to join. 

18. Completing the Process Once you've received applications and dues for ten members, it’s time to complete and submit the Application for Squadron Charter. The Post Commander signs the application signifying the Post's endorsement of the application. The signed Charter Application along with ten SAL membership applications and a check for the amount of National and Detachment dues are all transmitted to Department Headquarters.  Once Department Headquarters approves the Charter Application, it is sent to National Headquarters which issues the new Squadron's Charter and mails it to the Post Commander or Post S.A.L. Chairman

19. Organizational Meeting Following the submission of the Charter Application, an organizational meeting should be held for the members of the new Squadron. Several important tasks need to be accomplished during this meeting. First and foremost is the adoption of a Squadron Constitution and By-Laws. A suggested form for a Squadron Constitution and By-Laws is included in the S.A.L. Handbook. The election of Squadron officers, adoption of a meeting schedule (day, time and place) and presentation of a calendar of events will complete the agenda for this meeting. In addition, S.A.L. Squadron Handbooks should be distributed to each member present at the meeting.

20. Initiation Meeting Once the Squadron charter has been issued and received, an initiation meeting should be held. New members admitted into the Sons of The American Legion should be initiated with full ceremony. First impressions are the most lasting impressions! An S.A.L. uniform cap, Squadron Membership Card and embroidered emblem patch should be presented to each member as part of the initiation ceremony.  Arrangements should be made to have an American Legion Department Officer or S.A.L. Detachment Officer formally present the new Squadron's Charter. The visiting Legion or S.A.L. member should make a narrative presentation on the history of the S.A.L. and its program of service. 

25. Membership Benefits Perhaps the biggest benefit one receives as a member of the Sons is the satisfaction of knowing you are helping others in your community and elsewhere. However, there are also some tangible benefits available through commercial vendors. Sons are eligible for almost all of the same discounts that are available to members of The American Legion.

26. ADULT LEADERSHIP • Extreme care exercised in selection of adult supervisory leadership for the squadron. • Legionnaires selected for the post’s SAL Supervisory Committee must have a knowledge and understanding of this program and the initiative and determination to see that the program is perpetuated. • Establishment of squadron or development of squadron programs should not be accomplished with intent of competing with or luring members from worthwhile youth organizations already in existence in the community. • Membership and Active participation in SAL should serve the purpose of complementing other existing worthy youth programs and should serve as an enhancement of the individual SAL member in both his scholastic and extracurricular endeavors. • Care must be taken to permit members to develop and use their own initiative and ideas in working out details of all activities. • Committee should serve primarily as counselors for the leadership of the squadron. • (Excerpted from p. 18, Squadron Handbook insert)

27. ADVISOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES • To observe • To advise * To see that meetings of Sons are conducted according to the Manual, Roberts Rules of Order • All meetings to be with God and Country to be treated with protocol * Respect flag and have Pledge of Allegiance * Have opening and closing prayers * See that all national holidays are observed properly • To help when asked * Be a direct link between your post and squadron • To see that the young members are not neglected in any and all programs and events held for and by the Sons • To assure that all legionnaires and auxiliary members are treated with respect

31. The Sons of The American Legion Detachment of New York Would like to thank you for your Service to our great Nation, And for participating in today's program. Are there any Questions?