Membership & Leadership: A Bounty of Recruitment Opportunities in November

A Bounty of Recruitment Opportunities in November

The month of November is an excellent time to step up your membership recruitment and retention efforts; November is Military Family Month, November 11 is Veterans Day, and we’ll all be talkin’ turkey on November 23, Thanksgiving Day. There will be many opportunities this month to recruit new members as there are numerous events recognizing veterans and their families, including parades, festivals and service projects. All provide an excellent opportunity to host a membership drive and have an information table set up. Give every veteran’s loved ones the chance to honor their hero as you have, by joining the VFW Auxiliary and serving local veterans and their families.

Between July 1 and November 1, 2017, approximately 12,000 new and rejoined members have become part of the VFW Auxiliary family. Have you recruited JUST ONE?

If you see people wearing military-themed or patriotic apparel (like a branch of service hat or t-shirt), don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with them and thank them or their family member for service. Ask if they are a member of the VFW and/or Auxiliary or if they have any friends or relatives who are members. If they are not members, share the value of joining the VFW and Auxiliary with them. It really is that easy!

Have you earned your “Catch Five” pin yet? Each Auxiliary or VFW Post member who secures five new and/or rejoined members from July 1, 2017, to April 30, 2018, with the official form received at VFW Auxiliary National Headquarters no later than May 31, 2018, will be honored with a Catch Five Member Recruiter pin. Make sure you send the form into National Headquarters to get your pin! The pin is another way to start a conversation with a potential member.

Please work diligently to get all your continuous members paid by December 31. By now, all Auxiliaries should have mailed or emailed a second dues notice. Our research shows that not receiving a dues notice is the main reason members do not renew. We don’t want any member to have a lapse in their benefits because their Auxiliary didn’t let them know their dues were not current. Let your members know they can pay their dues online in MALTA. They can also convert to a Life Membership and never have to worry about paying dues again!

Remember, it takes JUST ONE of us to recruit JUST ONE new member that can positively impact JUST ONE veteran’s life!