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Membership
During the processing of the SAL membership cards for 2007-2008 at National Headquarters, a membership checklist card was suppose to be placed in every package of membership cards shipped for the SAL. This checklist (one per Squadron is suppose to assist all Squadron Adjutants in the preparation of membership cards, i.e. how to process duplicates, deceased members, and corrections.
Membership Checklist
On-Line Change of Address Form
Membership by Region/Detachment
S.A.L. Membership
(on The American Legion Website)
American Legion Eligibility Dates
How to Start a New S.A.L. Squadron
Change Your Address Electronically!Just click here to notify the National Headquarters if your address has changed. (be sure to click the little dot at the top of the page to let them know you're a member of the Sons!) EligibilityIf you meet the eligibility requirements for membership in the Sons of The American Legion, we'd love to have you join our ranks! Contact The American Legion Post nearest you to see if a Squadron of the Sons has been organized at that Post. If not, an officer of that Post should be able to tell you where to find the nearest S.A.L. Squadron. You can also contact The S.A.L. National Headquarters to find the location of a Sons Squadron near you. You should be able to get an official S.A.L. Membership Application from just about any American Legion Post in the country. Thanks for stopping by today! We're confident you will enjoy becoming a member of The American Legion Family, this nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting veterans of the armed services of the United States of America! Not everyone is eligible to become a member of the Sons of The American Legion. There are specific membership requirements. To be eligible, you must be a male descendant (includes stepsons and adopted sons) of a member of The American Legion. You would also be eligible to join the Sons of The American Legion if you are the male descendant (stepsons and adopted sons included) of a veteran who died in service during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, or the Persian Gulf War (see specific time periods for service during these conflicts). You would also be eligible to join the Sons of The American Legion if you are the male descendant (stepsons and adopted sons included) of a veteran who died subsequent to his or her honorable discharge from service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, or the Persian Gulf War (the same eligibility periods apply as above). If you need help obtaining the records to prove your eleigibility visit
The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records. It is the repository of millions of military personnel, health, and
medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century. Information from the records is made available
upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law.
Contact
the Sons of The American Legion Squadron nearest you to obtain the necessary
membership application form. Membership forms for the Sons of The American
Legion should be available at any American Legion Post. Contact the Post
nearest you and ask if a Squadron of the Sons exists in your area. If there
is no Squadron in your area, contact The
S.A.L. National Headquarters and ask about membership in the Sons of
The American Legion. It's also possible to organize a new S.A.L. Squadron.
Click here to see information on starting a new Squadron.
The
two most important things to consider as you prepare to start a new Sons
of The American Legion Squadron are: research and planning.
It is essential that you know as much as possible about the community before
establishing a new Squadron. Community size, Legion Post history, annual
events and activities are all part of the planning process.
The
first step in starting a new S.A.L. Squadron is the establishment of a
Post S.A.L. Committee, usually consisting of three to five Legion members,
appointed by the Post Commander. A Committee Chairman should be selected
to provide leadership and to assign tasks to Committee members. This Committee
is responsible for recruiting S.A.L. members, organizing the Squadron and
conducting S.A.L. Squadron activities with the sponsoring Post. The Committee
should establish a plan of action, including a calendar of activities which
allows you to set goals, such as recruiting 20 members in 20 days.
The
second step in the process is to request an Application for Squadron Charter
from Department Headquarters. Department Headquarters will furnish individual
application blanks and applications for charter on request from any American
Legion Post in the Department. There is only one form of charter, and there
is no fee charged in connection with its issuance. A Post cannot sponsor
more than one Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion. Both internal
and external communications are necessary when developing a new Squadron.
Internal communications should be maintained with the officers of the sponsoring
Post. It is important that your external audience also remains informed.
Keep all members of your Legion Post, as well as surrounding Posts that
lack S.A.L. Squadrons, notified of your progress and activities. They can
assist by letting others know a new Squadron is being established and help
with the referral process.
The
first step in a successful recruiting campaign is to develop a list of
eligible individuals using the Post Membership Roster. A letter of invitation
should be sent to every Post member asking their sons and grandsons to
become members of the new S.A.L. Squadron. Included with each letter should
be a S.A.L. Brochure and Membership Application. Follow up phone calls
can be made to those who did not respond to the letter. Signed membership
applications and dues should be collected from those who wish to join.
Once
you've received applications and dues for ten members, its time to complete
and submit the Application for Squadron Charter. The Post Commander signs
the application signifying the Post's endorsement of the application. The
signed Charter Application along with ten SAL. membership applications
and a check for the amount of National and Detachment dues are all transmitted
to Department Headquarters.
Once
Department Headquarters approves the Charter Application, it is sent to
National Headquarters which issues the new Squadron's Charter and mails
it to the Post Commander or Post S.A.L. Chairman.
Following
the submission of the Charter Application, an organizational meeting should
be held for the members of the new Squadron. Several important tasks need
to be accomplished during this meeting. First and foremost is the adoption
of a Squadron Constitution and By-Laws. A suggested form for a Squadron
Constitution and By-Laws is included in the S.A.L. Handbook. The election
of Squadron officers, adoption of a meeting schedule (day, time and place)
and presentation of a calendar of events will complete the agenda for this
meeting. In addition, S.A.L. Squadron Handbooks should be distributed to
each member present at the meeting.
Once
the Squadron charter has been issued and received, an initiation meeting
should be held. New members admitted into the Sons of The American Legion
should be initiated with full ceremony. First impressions are the most
lasting impressions. An S.A.L. uniform cap, Squadron Membership Card and
embroidered emblem patch should be presented to each member as part of
the initiation ceremony.
Arrangements
should be made to have an American Legion Department Officer or S.A.L.
Detachment Officer formally present the new Squadron's Charter. The visiting
Legion or S.A.L. member should make a narrative presentation on the history
of the S.A.L. and it's program of service.
Perhaps
the biggest benefit one receives as a member of the Sons is the satisfaction
of knowing you are helping others in your community and elsewhere. However,
there are also some tangible benefits available through commercial vendors.
Sons are eligible for almost all of the same discounts that are available
to members of The American Legion. Just click here
to look at a list of many consumer benefits available to members of The
Legion Family.
Your
National Membership Committee is pleased to offer you a National Recruitment
Awards. Just meet the following requirements:
Blue Brigade Award
2007-2008
Individual Recruitment Award
Recruit
five (5) new members into the S.A.L., no renewals
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