‘Management By Results’ Directs Successful ‘Reach Out’ Campaign 1%/fR- POST COMMANDER: May we ask you a few

questions, please? Have you checked with your department or district

to determine what it expects of you this year? Have you thought about what you personally would

like to accomplish during your year as Commander? Have you met personally

with the District Command¬ er to coordinate the district objectives with your per¬ sonal goals?

Have you a written copy of the district objectives and your personal goals, along with a list of post problems as you see them?

Have you named your post chairmen?

Have you sat down with each one of them to discuss what you want to happen?

Have you discussed the problems that your chair¬ man and his committee will encounter?

Have you made the findings of answers to these prob¬ lems a part of the overall objective for each chairman?

Have both you and the chairman retained a written copy of his assignments ?

In This Issue Page

'Management by Results' _ I Commander's Calendar _ 2 Let Post's Oratorical Program Grow _ 3 Tax Information _ 4 Holiday Blood Donor Campaign - 4 Successful Post Has Adequate Records _ 5 'Reach Out' With Legislative Program __ 6 National Legislative Bulletin - 7 VA's 'Operation Outreach' in 3rd Year_ 8

Have you let the chairman know he’s responsible for his committee and for working out with committee members their plan for reaching the goals set for them ?

Have you remained flexible enough to permit modifi¬ cation of programs to meet new priorities or emer¬ gencies ?

Have you made plans to meet regularly with your District Commander to evaluate how you are pro¬ gressing?

Don’t Be Superstitious We hope you are not

superstitious, because the 13 questions listed above should provide good luck, good fortune, and a success¬ ful year for you as Post Commander.

Don’t try to cut the list of questions to 12 or 11 or 10. That’s where the bad luck might show up. Your post could come to a roaring halt and you would wonder why. The reason, of course, would be that one or more vital steps in basic post leadership had been missed.

So, stick to the 13 and see how they can help you develop new active members, discover new talent and future leaders, and, in general, lead your post through what will be later recognized as a pretty good year.

No One Man Show Any good post is too big and too active for any one

man to handle. Every Post Commander soon realizes this, but not every Commander knows how to get ad¬ ditional participation—to develop active members.

The answer is developed through the 13 questions. It’s called “Management by Results.” You spell out exactly what you want done. You sit down and discuss it with the man you want to do it. You make sure that both of you understand the job and that the assign¬ ment is written out with both of you holding a copy.

(Continued on next page)

‘Management... (Continued from preceding page)

You don’t attempt to dictate how the job gets done, but you are available for advice when asked. You check back periodically. You evaluate. You make sure that progress is being made, and you say, “Thanks!” in as many ways as possible.

So, what is so new about this seemingly simple ap¬ proach to a successful year of leadership? Nothing, if you are a business executive who is keeping up with the latest methods in organizing and planning in an effort to keep the stockholders happy. Everything, if yours is one of those posts whose officers keep re¬ peating from year to year, “It might work someplace else, but it won’t here—our problems are different.”

Apply New Thinking to Old Problems Follow the course charted by the 13 questions and

the “different” problems will have the same opportun¬ ity to be resolved as do your primary objectives to be reached. All the steps are included plus the added ad¬ vantage of getting some new thinking on old problems. When a chairman and his committee have seen their responsibilities and objectives written down and when they have accepted these responsibilities, they’ll look for solutions.

And here is where you can give that Viet-Time Veteran a piece of the action. You’ve spelled out what is needed but you haven’t put hobbles on his enthusiasm, his “can-do” attitude, or his desire to show his capabil¬ ities. Many of us aren’t too old to remember that 25 years ago we of World War II had all of the answers. Of course, we didn’t, but we did have a surprisingly larger number than our World War I members thought we had. Now the shoe is on the other foot. It’s our turn to give our new, younger members a chance to be available for guidance and to give proper credit when they produce the desired results. We can, we must, do no less.

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to

Internal Affairs Division The American Legion

P. O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206

£ ADVANCE Published monthly by: National Headquarters, The Ameri¬ can Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. A publication for American Legion Post Commanders and Post Adjutants.

Editor: Frank L. Megnin

November, 1970 Vol. XIII, No. II

COMMANDER’S ^JUINDAR November

3 Election Day. 5-7 New England Area Conference on Chil¬

dren and Youth, Burlington, Vt. 11 Veterans Day.

19-21 Middle Atlantic Area Conference on Chil¬ dren and Youth, Atlantic City, N. J.

26 Thanksgiving Day.

December 3-7 Midwestern Area Conference on Children

and Youth, Milwaukee, Wis. 7 Pearl Harbor Day. Civil Defense Day.

Opening Day of American Legion Holi¬ day Blood Donor Drive, extending through Jan. 4, 1971.

15 Bill of Rights Day. 25 Christmas. 31 New Year’s Eve. Deadline for payment

of American Legion Life Insurance pre¬ miums. Make sure all paid-up members for 1971 have their cards well ahead of this date (they need them in order to re¬ port their card numbers with their premi¬ um payments).

January, 1971 1 New Years’ Day. 4 End of American Legion Holiday Blood

Donor Drive. 7-9 Western Area Conference on Children

and Youth, Billings, Mont. 21-23 Southern Area Conference on Children

and Youth, Louisville, Ky.

2 The ADVANCE, November, 1970

‘REACH OUT’ TO YOUTH . .

Let Oratorical By

Dr. Leon F. Miller Chairman

Oratorical Commission Department of Missouri

About the Author: A dis¬ tinguished educator and dedi¬ cated Legionnaire, Dr. Leon F. Miller is Dean of Graduate Studies, Northwest Missouri State College, Maryville. He is immediate past commander of American Legion Post 100, Maryville.

W/'HEN IT COMES TO ACHIEVING wider par- ” ticipation in The American Legion National High

School Oratorical Contest, the ‘Ts” have it. The major “I’s” are INFORMATION, INSPIRATION, IN¬ VOLVEMENT, and IMPLEMENTATION. The na¬ tional and department guidelines are well defined and outlined. However, the development of extensive par¬ ticipation by large numbers of high school youth can only be promoted within the locality of the post.

Goal of the Oratorical Contest is the development of a greater awareness of Americanism. The youthful orators must demonstrate their knowledge and under¬ standing of the Constitution of the United States with its attendant rights, responsibilities, and privileges of citizenship.

Encourage Wide Participation Participation by as many high school youth as pos¬

sible, rather than limiting the competition to just a few, is a more desirable local contest objective.

The key INITIATORS are the local post, local high school personnel, local high school youth, local mass news media, local citizens, and local Legionnaires.

Wider participation will depend greatly on the follow¬ ing steps, utilizing the major “I’s”:

INFORMATION Investigate the facts—study carefully national and

department rules and releases. Check with the chair¬ man at the next echelon beyond the local contest for details of time and place of the next contest. Get com¬ ments and suggestions from individuals who have worked previous contests. Contact your department chairman for any needed advice.

Itemize the steps to take, the persons to contact, the deadlines, the materials to secure, the awards to be given, the local contest procedures, and the announce-

The ADVANCE, November, 1970

Program Grow ments to be made. Be sure the post’s oratorical contest committee has all details in writing.

Inform the school personnel (administrators, teachers, and students) with supplementary information which may have not been sent to them. Describe the goals and encourage participation by classes rather than a few individuals.

Interpret the information about the contest through local press, radio, and tv releases. Volunteer to help local school personnel in bringing introductory informa¬ tion to the students through personal contacts or articles in school newspapers. See that national and department releases are available.

INSPIRATION Idealize the Americanism values which are direct

result of participation. Instill a sense of pride and responsibility within local

Legionnaires with reminders at each post meeting. Ignite the spark for a motivational tradition in the

community to have a large number of youth able to speak intelligently about the Constitution and its mean¬ ing to them.

INVOLVEMENT Identify key persons in the local schools and com¬

munity to help as an advisory committee to the post oratorical committee in stimulating contest participation.

Institute a team of Legionnaires and judges with the background and experience needed to conduct an ef¬ fective, orderly contest. Remember, the capability of this team will determine the respect for the program by future participants and the public.

Indorse the Americanism program of The American Legion at every opportunity. Set up a corps of speakers, including past contest participants, to present Ameri¬ canism programs at other organizations’ meetings.

IMPLEMENTATION Introduce a system of recognitions and awards for

not only the winners, but also the participants and those who assisted the program in any way.

Illustrate good contest procedures if the post is in¬ vited to select local high school winners. Select com¬ petent judges. Stress dignified procedures. Demonstrate a well-planned and organized process. Volunteer the post’s assistance if local school’s handle their own selec¬ tions to represent them at the next stage of competition.

Invite the next higher stage of competition to be hosted by your post.

3

Tax Exempt Status ‘Reach Out’ With Requires Filing of Holiday Campaign Annual Info Return For Blood Donors

By

Bertram G. Davis National Judge Advocate

ITH THE CLOSE OF THE CALENDAR YEAR drawing near, all American Legion Posts are re¬

minded of the filing requirements necessary to the reten¬ tion of their tax exempt status.

Although the National Orgnization has established a group tax exemption for its subordinate posts, IT DOES NOT RELIEVE INDIVIDUAL POSTS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION FROM THE OBLIGA¬ TION OF FILING AN ANNUAL INFORMATION RETURN ON FORM 990.

Legion Posts failing to file an Annual Information Return on Form 990 subject themselves to the following penalties:

1. The loss of their tax exempt status; or 2. A penalty of $10 a day for each such failure con¬

tinues, not to exceed the amount of $5,000 (Tax Reform Act of 1969).

It is essential, therefore, that if your post has any question concerning the filing of its Annual Information Return, contact your department headquarters imme¬ diately for clarifying information.

Contributions and Gifts to Posts

In order to encourage gifts or contributions to your post, the following information should be made avail¬ able to potential donors:

Under Section 170 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Act of 1954, as amended, a contribution or a gift to an American Legion Post, or an American Legion Aux¬ iliary Unit, is deductible as a charitable contribution for federal tax purposes by the donor of such contribution or gift.

Federal Estate Tax

American Legion Posts should inform individuals con¬ templating testamentary devises or bequests to Legion Posts that the value of their taxable estate will be re¬ duced by deducting from the value of their gross estate the amount of all bequests, legacies, or devises made to any American Legion Post. (Title 26 USCA, Section 2055 (a) (4).) This provision is an excellent induce¬ ment for the inclusion of Legion Posts in the testamen¬ tary provisions of individuals favorably disposed toward the organization.

URING THE CHRISTMAS and New Year Holi¬ day season, American Legionnaires and American

Legion Auxiliary members will be asked to “Reach Out” to our veterans, our servicemen, and our fellow Americans with a living gift of blood. The Legion and Auxiliary will join with the American Red Cross in the fourth annual Holiday Blood Donor Drive, Dec. 7 through Jan. 4, 1971.

The launch date of the drive is the 29th anniversary of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor and a time when we reflect on the needs of our veterans and serv¬ icemen. During the holiday season, blood donations fall 50 per cent below normal requirements but the need by our veterans and servicemen back from Vietnam for this living gift takes no holiday.

In addition, there is usually a sharp increase in blood demands to aid our fellow Americans everywhere. Dur¬ ing the last two Christmas seasons, blood supplies were so critically low that only emergency operations could be performed throughout most of the nation.

Posts and units are urged to join this humanitarian effort. Invitations also should be extended to the gen¬ eral public to take part in the Holiday Blood Drive. Take the initiative and enlist the participation of other organizations in the community or neighborhood.

Your local Red Cross Chapter representative knows about this special campaign. If he hasn’t contacted you, call him. In those areas where no Red Cross blood center exists, blood may be donated through either hospital or community blood banks.

Obtain a supply of blood pledge forms from your local Red Cross Chapter for distribution to your mem¬ bership. Essential information to be recorded is the donor’s name, address, phone number, and the date he will donate blood. The date is especially important for the scheduling of blood collection personnel and facili¬ ties.

During the first week of the campaign, Dec. 7-14, the Legion, Auxiliary, and Red Cross will make an intensive effort to obtain blood donation pledges for the period of the drive.

Further information on organizing and promoting the Holiday Blood Donor Drive is contained in a special booklet available through: National Security Division, The American Legion, 1608 K St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20006. Special emblems and certificates of recog¬ nition to those who have donated blood may be pur¬ chased from National Emblem Sales, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. Con¬ sult your current Emblem Catalog for descriptions and prices.

4 The ADVANCE, November, 1970

MEMBERS—MINUTES—MONEY • • • •

Successful Post Hus Adequute Records TT IS LOGICAL that those who would destroy our A civilization wreck draft boards and bomb libraries and research centers, for civilization is built on records. Without them there is chaos.

And without full and correct records an American Legion Post will find itself in a chaotic state. Fire in¬ surance lapses. Members complain because their cards aren’t issued promptly. District Commanders keep call¬ ing for reports that are late. Nobody knows for sure whether the last dance made or lost money. Mail from the department goes to the commander of two years ago bcause no one has certified the current officers to department headquarters.

When troubles such as these beset a post, the easy thing to do is to blame them on somebody else’s red tape.

Post Operation Reflects Records Of course, there is no doubt that our lives get

cluttered up with needless red tape. A mistake or breakdown in a computer operation may frustrate and confound us for months. But you still have to have good, complete, and accurate records to operate a suc¬ cessful post.

Members. Minutes. Money. These are the three areas in which every post must have basic records.

Membership Records

The Membership Register sent to each post at the beginning of the membership year can, if kept up to date, provide essential information on each member year after year. Of course, many posts have more com¬ plete and flexible systems for maintaining records of their members.

But the Membership Register itself can provide the minimum essential information—provided it shows when dues are paid, new members added, addresses changed, etc. (For further information on the Mem¬ bership Register, consult your Post Adjutant’s Member¬ ship Manual—How to Process Membership Cards. A copy, if you do not have one, is available from your department headquarters, or National Membership Sec¬ tion, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indian¬ apolis, Ind. 46206.)

Minutes How many times have you heard arguments at a post

meeting that could have been resolved if some one had gone back to check the official record—or if there had been a record to check? At times the writing and read¬ ing of minutes might seem like a needless ritual. But without a record, every post meeting is as though it were

the first meeting. Every new Legion officer is on his own without the guidance of the past. New projects are forgotten, and old mistakes are repeated.

With more than 50 years of history now behind many posts, it becomes increasingly important to see that minutes are preserved. Your post might well consider having an inexpensive copy of all of its minutes made to be filed away in some safe place so that in case of fire or other loss of the original minutes, copies would still be available. Microfilming offers another way of preserving records with a minimum need for space.

Printed minute books are available from National Emblem Sales, The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. Consult your current Emblem Catalog for description and price.

Money Finally, there is money. The casual handling of post

funds is a quick and easy route to major difficulties. A post finance officer who has a healthy respect for the need to account for funds down to the penny and for maintaining complete, accurate, and audited records of all receipts and disbursements is a real asset to any post.

Here again, if you don’t have an adequate system for maintaining financial records, check out the cash record book available through National Emblem Sales.

Except for very small posts, an annual audit by a disinterested, outside expert is highly recommended. Even the smallest posts should have their financial records checked at least annually by the executive com¬ mittee or a special committee appointed for this pur¬ pose. Having an audit doesn’t mean that you mistrust your finance officer or others who handle funds. In fact, any experienced finance officer will want his books audited so that there can be no question about his honesty or the accuracy of his records.

Audit Provides Valuable Info In addition, an annual audit will give your officers

and members a picture of how your post is progressing (or lagging) financially. It may show that money is ac¬ cumulating while needed programs and services are starving for funds. It can show that too much money is going into an activity in relation to the returns the post is getting.

Accurate and verified financial records are also be¬ coming increasingly important in responding to in¬ quiries made by local, state, and federal taxing agencies.

For the sake of your own successful year, Mr. Post Commander, and for the Legionnaire who must follow you in office, be sure that adequate records are main¬ tained and passed on to your successor.

The ADVANCE, November, 1970 5

‘Reach Out’ With Legislative Program TI/TR. POST COMMANDER: The American Legion

has a proud record of accomplishment in the field of veterans’ legislation. But the questions being asked today by potential members, and especially the Viet- Time Veterans, are, “What have you done lately?” and “What are you doing now?” The answers will ulti¬ mately come from within your post. What are your plans for 1971?

Our Viet-Time Veterans are concerned. They, like all our younger citizens, are searching for answers to their problems and the na¬ tion’s problems. As partici¬ pating and involved citizens they must be made aware of The American Legion and how our legislative program affects their lives as citizens and veterans.

You and the members of your post have the unique opportunity of serving your community and its veterans by assuming leadership in promoting an effective legis¬ lative program.

What Your Post Can Do

The local post is the origin of The American Legion’s legislative efforts. This is where the action starts. Do not assume the role of a bystander. Be alert to your com¬ munity’s needs and voice them in the form of resolutions to your department and National Conventions. Know the legislative objectives of the National Organization and join in the effort to have these objectives enacted into law.

Americans are worried about pollution, narcotics, crime, campus unrest, and our nation’s security. Le¬ gionnaires are also vitally concerned with the need for adequate care and treatment of our sick and disabled veterans and their dependents.

5-Point Post Legislative Checklist

Your post can and should become involved in finding the answer to these problems. Here are some of the ways you can help:

1. Appoint a legislative chairman who is a com¬ munity leader. Support him with a committee of knowledgeable persons, making certain that your younger veterans are encouraged to participate.

2. Understand the legislative objectives of The Amer¬ ican Legion and acquaint your post members and the rest of your community with them. The best way to keep abreast of the program is through National Legislative Bulletin. Every post should

subscribe to this publication for accurate, current information.

3. Look around your community. Observe the impact of social changes on our veterans and their de¬ pendents. Determine the needs of your member¬ ship and initiate proposals to meet those needs.

4. Set aside time at each post meeting for a report by your legislative chairman. The information he gives you can be passed along through post publi¬ cations, local news media, and personal contact.

5. Your legislative chairman should work closely with county, district, and department legislative officers to assure effective teamwork.

Contact with Your Congressman

Action by the Congress on veterans’ legislation de¬ pends in large measure on your participation in the legislative process.

Contact with your Senators and Representative is the most effective way you can assist in our legislative pro¬ gram. This can be done in person or by letter or tele¬ gram.

Members of the Congress are sensitive to the needs and desires of their constituents. They appreciate hearing from you and will respond to your suggestions. They also like to know that their efforts are appreciated. When your Senator or Representative has assisted in accomplishing a specific objective, express your thanks to him. Always advise him of your association with The American Legion.

Importance of Teamwork

Today, more than ever in our nation’s history, people are organizing and acting in concert for the purpose of achieving their goals.

The news media regularly report the activities of groups attempting to influence the Congress. Some choose discourse; others resort to acts of disobedience and violence to gain their ends. Some support the prin¬ ciples and objectives long cherished by The American Legion; others are attempting to destroy the very founda¬ tions of our society. All are totally involved, however in the legislative process.

As an individual—as a post—as an organization— we must not permit our great programs to disintegrate through apathy or disinterest.

If we are to achieve our legislative objectives, if The American Legion is to continue to be a vital force in influencing legislation for the benefit of our nation and its veterans, then we must work together as a team, united, from the post to the national echelons. Plan now—act now—to do your part in 1971.

6 The ADVANCE, November, 1970

Na£Lo*ta£ LEGISLATIVE

Be A Part Of

The Action

Subscribe to

National

Legislative

Bulletin

Cost: $3.00

Final adjournment of the Congress this year will mark the end of another phase of our legislative program. Except for resolutions enunciating Legion policy, and those directives adopted at the 1970 National Convention and the October meeting of the National Executive Committee, all legisla¬ tive mandates will expire at the end of this session.

Even so, when the new Congress convenes in January we will have more than 100 resolutions re¬ quiring legislative action in 1971.

The success or failure of our legislative program is measured by the strength of our membership, the caliber of our leadership, and the active participation of every post.

Will you and your post be a part of the effort to obtain needed benefits for our veterans and their dependents? Do you believe our great programs of Americanism, National Security, and as¬ sistance to children and youth are worth fighting for?

If so, you will want to follow our legislative activities in 1971 and lend your support when neces¬ sary. To be of help—to be a part of the action—you must know what is going on—what to do— and when and how to do it. You are then prepared to respond when "the chips are down" in Con¬ gress and your help is needed.

This can be achieved by subscribing to the National Legislative Bulletin at a cost of $3 per year. Published bi-weekly while Congress is in session, the Bulletin brings you factual and current infor¬ mation on pending legislation and its status in the Congress. Through the Legislative Bulletin we keep you abreast of those issues of concern to you.

A subscription to the Bulletin by every post is the best means through which to develop the teamwork needed to insure accomplishment of our legislative program.

USE THE FORM BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW TODAY

National Legislative Bulletin Date The American Legion, 1608 K St., N. W. Washington, D. C. 20006

Enclosed is Check_ Money Order _ (check one) for Three Dollars ($3.00) for 1971 subscrip¬ tion to National Legislative Bulletin. (Make Checks or Money Orders payable to The American Legion.)

NAME (print or type)

ADDRESS_ (street, box, route no.)

(city, state, zip code)

POST/UNIT NAME __NUMBER

The ADVANCE, November, 1970 7

VA’s ‘Operation Outreach’ in 3rd Year TATISTICS AND RECORDS readily available

from the Veterans Administration establish the fact that the GI Bills are the most significant and worth¬ while pieces of veterans legislation ever enacted by this or any other nation.

However, when the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 was adopted into law, and prior to its sub¬ sequent amendments, concern developed over the too- high percentage of servicemen and women who did not take advantage of the benefits and opportunities pro¬ vided by this landmark legislation.

World War II and Korean War veterans, when they returned from service, were, for the most part, older and ready for the college programs. The situation was different in 1966 and the years following. The average age of the Viet-Time veterans was younger. Many of them had not completed high school and were not eligible to enter college.

The new ex-GI, in many instances, was only vaguely aware of the rights and benefits available to him, or he just wasn’t interested. To overcome this problem the VA had to go to the veteran. To do so it developed the program known as “Operation Outreach.”

In “Operation Outreach” one of the first steps taken by the VA was to acquaint the serviceman in the field, including combat areas, with information about the benefits program even before he was separated or dis¬

charged. Contacts also were made in military hospitals by VA representatives especially qualified to work with the wounded, sick, and disabled. And, at the community level, action was taken to provide additional specialized services through Veterans Assistance Centers.

As “Operation Outreach” enters its third year, its accomplishments are already noteworthy. With thou¬ sands of young men and women continuing to enter and leave service each month, there is much yet to be done. The VA is pressing forward toward ever higher goals of achievement. Its efforts can and must result in im¬ proved service and in enabling greater numbers of vet¬ erans to take advantage of the benefits made available to them by a grateful nation.

The American Legion has a significant role in the assistance of returning Viet-Time Veterans and inform¬ ing them of their rights and benefits. The Legion launched its “Our Kind of Guy” program in 1967 after a Presidential order made the lists of recently separated veterans available to major veterans’ organizations.

National Headquarters breaks down this monthly list and gets the names and addresses to local Legionnaires for the purposes of personal contacts. The purpose of these contacts is to insure that the veterans know of their rights and benefits and how to obtain them. The key word of the program is service, the keystone of The American Legion’s rehabilitation program from its in¬ ception.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

Advance

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