Crisis - American Legion

[Bluehawk]

While the leadership of American Legion proudly writes for publication, and stands upon the national stage to recite patriotic slogans dear to all members and to many among the general public (especially politicians running for office), there is a continuing crisis brewing which gets no public coverage at all in open session.

That is, a crisis of membership and revitalization for those Posts throughout the nation which are experiencing unprecedented downturns in numbers... Posts are closing or on the verge of it, and in many instances services to vets are being ignored or trivialized.

While some Posts are doing just fine, many Districts have been showing signs of decay and poverty for at least the most recent 3 years. Some of this is due to Vietnam and Desert Storm vets not joining up. Some of it is due to general economic tightening. And, some of it is due to outright sloth, ignorance and selfishness on the parts of Post, District and Department officers.

I have been involved in one such contentious dispute since mid-2006. This is the most recent installment in my effort to get the attention of and immediate assistance from SOMEBODY in a position of authority within the American Legion and/or Auxiliary:
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July 4, 2008
Marvin Harper, Commander
American Legion/Department of Missouri

Commander Harper,

"Thank you for taking the time to send a letter, the news of which was a further disappointment to me and for Post 13's future. I find it astonishing that Commander Spiva and Adjutant Tucker are willing to accept a 14% reduction in membership and decline assistance when the national Post Membership and REVITALIZATION Program is so perfectly suited to helping our members rebuild morale and sustainable income.

What they did not report to you is that our membership is continually falling each year, and that District 15, which we are a part of, has the worst membership record in Missouri.
As expenses continuously increase, our income steadily diminishes; which is a recipe for collapse. The PMRP Mr. Sloan coordinates is established to prevent and mitigate such things, in an organized manner using the talents and abilities of ALL Post 13 members… not just those of a coterie involving 6-8 virtually self-appointed individuals who have presided over a 3-year period of decline to the exclusion of all others.

The one and only thing Post 13 members might possibly agree and be willing to work collectively on is ways to increase membership income and services. Our HQ is in a physical plant which is far too big for our needs. Our income does not cover minimum expenses. Fund raising activities are at a practical standstill since 2006, especially since the Auxiliary has been alienated and banished from meeting in the HQ.

The Post HQ and surrounding property has been up for sale a long time, now in a very poor real estate market. It is my firm belief that were Post 13 able to regain momentum of increased membership while serving vets better, and restore good relations among the men and Auxiliary, then our only chance to survive would be positive.

Post 13 was founded in 1919, one of the earliest in national American Legion history. For decades it played a key role in patriotic and military-related activities in Joplin - a town which is very favorable to such emotions. I am a native of Joplin, to the 5th generation, and am not about to allow the present course of conduct at that Post destroy it. Though I sometimes wonder what motivates those who have been in control of the Post for the past 3 years, it is my preference to believe that their hearts are in the right place, but that they are completely lost when it comes to knowing how to reverse our downward spiral. They have shown no capacity for accomplishing what must be done, and have steadfastly turned away serious and useful suggestions from the membership.

I will continue, even if I am the only one, to seek ways to put an end to the apathy and stagnation Post 13 is experiencing, and am very sad that the leadership of American Legion's Department of Missouri is powerless to come to our aid in our hour of dire necessity."

Sincerely,
> signed <
Michael S. Bell, PUFL #202456687, Service Officer - District 15