NALPA NEWSLETTER The Official Newsletter of the National American Legion Press Association
Summer 2018 Issue
What’s Coming Highlight activities at National Convention If your post has someone attending this year’s 100th National Convention, it’s an ideal way to promote The American Legion’s influence in your community. Use your post’s social media tools to highlight your post’s activities on the national stage. Afterward, contact your local media for a story.
Photo by Colleen Harrison
LET’S CHANGE THE NARRATIVE By Mark Sutton, NALPA president
I
n March of 2013, a New York Times reporter called me to ask about the declining membership in The American Legion. The reporter’s story focused on the aging population and how younger veterans were not joining the organization. Here is what was printed from our conversation: “For many of the younger veterans, when they think of The American Legion, they picture the building on the corner where the old guys go to drink beer,” said Mr. Sutton, whose state’s (Michigan) membership is down from 100,000 members in 1994 to 86,000 members in 2012. Nonetheless, Mr. Sutton said the Legion needed to do a better job of getting the word out that it was there to help veterans with things like filing medical claims and applying for Veterans Affairs loans and GI Bill benefits — regardless of whether the post has an actual building or not. “I know we have some growing pains, but the mission of the organization is sound, and it’s all a matter of changing the public’s perspective,” Mr. Sutton said.
How important are you as a NALPA member? You have the power of the pen and how you use it or not can change the course of your post, district, department and The American Legion as a whole. I recently read another article about The American Legion’s declining membership from WOSU Public Media and Radio in Columbus, Ohio. In the article, Department of Ohio Interim Adjutant Suzette Heller discussed the perception of the Legion as a community bar. “The biggest challenge of getting those new members in is educating veterans about what our organization does,” Heller said to WOSU. “We are not just the post in your community that sells drinks. We are not just a bar.” Have you ever heard of the power of the press? As a NALPA member, you are The American Legion press. The American Legion programs are our power and, to put power behind the pen, you need a post that works the programs. Is your post actively supporting and promoting the programs of The American Legion? Do you know what those programs are? What makes your post special? To find out, use See Let’s change the narrative on Page 3
Follow convention coverage online at www.legion.org, on Facebook at www. facebook.com/americanlegionhq, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmericanLegion. Use the hashtag #ALconv2018.
Upcoming patriotic events There are several patriotic days designated in September – Patriot Day, Sept. 11; POW-MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 21; and Gold Star Mother’s Day, Sept. 30. Use social media to show how your post is honoring these holidays and share a story on www.legiontown.org.
Suicide awareness month As we are all aware, the number of veterans suicide is way too high. Since September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, it is a good opportunity to remind veterans and their loved ones that the VA offers resources to those at risk. Call 800-2738255, press 1. Or send a text message to 838255.