THE MAINE Legionnaire FEBRUARY 2019 Vol. 34, Issue 1 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF MAINE 32 Pages I’m calling on you to make ‘Buddy Checks’ s active Legionnaires, you and I whose have an important stake in our member- A time-honored mission, services ships have and programs. Compassionate care for expired – disabled veterans. Wholesome develop- is the per- ment of youth. Advocacy for a strong and sonal con- appreciated military. Employment and tact to see education opportunities for those who how local have served in the U.S. armed forces. veterans Effective response after natural disasters. are doing Respect for the colors of our country. and act Honor for the fallen. And influence to according- advance the needs of veterans – and of a ly if they strong America. Without strong American need help. Legion membership, values such as these This is not go unfulfilled. To keep them front and a member- center, we must work together now to ship cam- NATIONAL COMMANDER 2019 American Legion State Oratorical Contest: The 2019 make personal contact. BRETT P. REISTAD paign. It’s I’m calling on posts, districts, coun- a comrade- American Legion State Oratorical Competition was held Feb. 9 at Thomas Col- ties and departments to coordinate a team ship campaign. lege in Waterville. This years first place winner, representing District 1, was awarded to Marina Long of No. Waterboro, Me., 2nd from left. Miss Long, a and call Legionnaires and former mem- The week leading up the Legion’s Junior at Sanford Christian Academy, will represent Maine at the National Ora- bers simply to see how they are doing. 100th birthday, March 11-16, is a perfect torical Contest April 5-7 in Indianapolis for a chance to win up to $18,000 in Ask if there is anything The American time to make the calls, but posts that have scholarships. Congratulations to all contestants who competed at the State level. Legion can do for them. Perhaps they made other plans to celebrate the centen- Front, left to right, rep. District 3 Emily Farrington—5th place, State Oratorical have been sick, lost a spouse or just need nial at that time can choose another week winner, rep. District 1 Marina Long, rep. District 10 Caitlin McKenney—4th to know someone cares. Perhaps they in the centennial month if necessary. place, rep. District 7 Ciara Pitcher—6th place, rep. District 14 Ashley Bussell— simply forgot to renew their membership A Buddy Check toolkit, including 3rd place, and rep. District 2 Lucas Wright—2nd place. Back, left to right, Ora- because no one called. scripts for Legionnaires to use when mak- torical Judges Dog Wallace, Jennifer Caron, Kurt Schaub, Sean Currie, and More important than membership ing personal contact, is available online Kirk Thurston. renewal – or retrieval of Legionnaires at www.legion.org/membership/ Photo by Amedeo Lauria buddycheck. Remember, this organization was formed a century ago around personal Maine American Legion Announces contact and engagemen. This “Buddy Check” is about seeing how veterans are its 72nd Annual Boys State Program doing. To discover that, it takes personal engage- he American Legion, Department of ment. —www.legion.org T Maine is proud to announce the 72nd Feb. 4, 2019 Annual American Legion Dirigo Boys State program. This year’s program will again be held at Thomas College in Waterville during the week of June 16-20. Every American Legion Post and all sub- ordinate bodies should alert their mem- bership to one of the finest youth pro- grams in the nation. The American Legion sponsors the Boys State program and we encourage all other groups and organizations to join in promoting the program through sponsor- ship of candidates to American Legion Dirigo Boys State. We ask that the officers of your Post Drive, Winslow, Maine 04901-0727, Tel: contact school principals or guidance (207) 873-3229, or online at Some of those in attend- Legislative Committee Meet & Greet: counselors for assistance in this program. www.mainelegion.org or ance at the Legislative Committee Meet and Greet held at the State House on Make sure that your school officials are www.dirigoboysstate.com for application Jan. 9. Left to right, Dept. Judge Advocate Jason Hall, member of Topsham Post knowledgeable of The American Legion materials. 202 Joseph Obrin, Maine State Senator & member of Madison Post 39 Brad Far- Dirigo Boys State program. Thank you for your assistance in rin, Boothbay Harbor Post 36 Commander David Patch, Department Service nd The tuition fee for the 2019 program making the 72nd Annual American Le- Officer Carl Curtis, Dept. Adjutant Paul L’Heureux, Department 2 Vice Com- mander Debra Couture, Dept. Assistant Service Officer Maureen Malley, De- will be $300 per student. Contact The gion Dirigo Boys State Program a suc- partment 1st Vice Commander Matt Jabaut, Maine State House Representative American Legion Boys State, 5 Verti cess. Scott Cyrway, Dept. Special Projects Coordinator Amedeo Lauria, Dept. Area 4 Commander Gregory Couture, and Maine State House Representative & mem- ber of Lincoln Post 77 Sheldon Hanington. 2 THE MAINE LEGIONNAIRE, FEBRUARY 2019 Commander’s Comments A ‘First’ Look etention: The Key to Membership importance of y Fellow grams are a great way to get people aware R Growth the event must M Legion- of the great work we do and to recruit Why do Veterans join The American be explained naires! I contin- new members. Bring applications and Legion and not renew their membership to the new ue to be privi- other information with you as you work the following year? Legionnaire leged to serve as these programs, or just use the Legion Perhaps the best way to answer this before he/she your 1st Vice app! You can sign up new members right question is to find out why they joined in will make a Commander for through it, or online through the Depart- the first place. If their reason for joining is decision to the Department ment Webpage. realized during their first membership attend. Words of Maine. I hope While we look to that transition, let’s year, they will probably renew. which must you all had a not forget our current and expired mem- When we consider why Veterans become action wonderful holi- bers! By now, hopefully, all of your posts leave The American Legion, we find what in order to day and I en- should have received a tool kit for the we call the three M’s of retention: retain mem- joyed seeing all MATTHEW National week of calling or “buddy of you who check” from national. The National Com- Moved – Mad – Mortality COMMANDER bers are: JABAUT braved the mander has launched a program to reach Mortality: We can’t do much about SCOTT PARADIS Communica- weather and out and contact all of our members lead- this one when our members report to post tion: Let eve- th everlasting. ryone know made it to our Mid-Winter Conference! ing up to all of the 100 birthday celebra- Moved: Operation Stay Active fol- what is going on. If you did make it, you would have tions. Please talk about this and plan for lows members from department to depart- Activities: Who, where, what, when, heard about the incentive for our Goal to this initiative in each of your posts. The ment so we might transfer those who why and how must be answered to all pos- Grow targets. We are offering $1,000 to toolkit includes, how-to, scripts for the moved or at least keep them renewed in sible participants. each district that meets or exceeds their calls, and access to member lists and ex- their current Post but follow–up is neces- Involvement: We must get as many Goal to Grow target! We also had some pired member lists. Please make every sary to assist the member in keeping his/ Legionnaires as possible involved in the posts that have already made their post effort to connect and re-connect with all her membership current. many and varied programs of The Ameri- Goal to grow and made their 100 percent of our members past and present that have Mad: This is where face-to-face con- can Legion without burning them out or by Dec. 31! Please also remember the been a part of making the organization other incentives that are out there like the great and invite them to celebrate the tact is necessary. This is where the scaring them off. th “rubber meets the road.” Who or what is The importance of retention at all $5 per member renewal for members that 100 anniversary with us! If you have any the member upset with? The retention/ levels is obvious for solid growth not only have not renewed since 2014, 2015, or questions about this program or getting it membership worker must find this out in membership but also in programs and 2016, or that the new National Command- up and running, please feel free to reach before anything can be resolved. Most overall accomplishment. Just like the mili- er’s pin now includes members that have out to me or the Department Headquar- “mad” problems can be resolved by dis- tary, retention begins when the new mem- renewed at least six members, in addition ters. cussion and working it out with parties ber joins. This is accomplished with a to those that have recruited at least three I want to again thank each and every concerned. We must try! good sponsorship program. Assign a spon- new members. one of you for all of your efforts on mem- The use of the three “I’s” of retention sor to each new member until the Legion- We continue to focus on membership bership so far this year.