NALPA NEWSLETTER
The Official Newsletter of the National American Legion Press Association | Winter 2019 Issue
What’s Coming Highlight activities at Washington Conference If your post has someone attending this year’s Washington Conference, 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 in Washington. Afterward, contact your local media for a story. Photo by Robert Franklin
The endgame has arrived – are you ready? By Mark Sutton, past NALPA president
N
o, this is not an advertisement for the upcoming blockbuster movie, but like the premise of the movie, this is the “endgame” for The American Legion. Our centennial celebration only comes once and once it’s gone there’s no reclaiming it, no rewinding, and no traveling back in time. The American Legion’s 100th birthday, March 15, is right around the corner. We have been promoting this event for the last five years or more as ideas have circulated, articles written and support from leadership have come in many forms. The time has come. On March 15, it will be 100 years since the doughboys sat in Paris to begin the process of organizing The American Legion. Pop the champagne corks, cut the birthday cake and celebrate the achievements of this great organization. Some of you reading this are at ease because you are ready, but for others, the sudden weight of fear is maybe settling into your chest. The once in a 100-year event is now upon us. Can it be salvaged if you have done little to nothing to prepare? Yes, it can. Get to work right now on what needs to be accomplished such as planning a ceremony, even a small one, with birthday cake and invite
post members, local dignitaries and community members. Use the Centennial Media Kit found online at www.centennial.legion.org/ tools and immediately contact your city council and mayor to have them proclaim the 100-year celebration at your ceremony. Contact your state representatives and have them present a resolution to your post for the occasion. Using the media kit example, write a press release for your local paper about your ceremony and include a few history pieces and accomplishments about your post and The American Legion. It may end up being short, but if it is sweet, it will get printed. And don’t forget to remind the public in the press release about what you do now for the veterans, active-duty military, their families, youth and the community. If your post does not have a building, call your local library, historical society, theater or concert hall. The place doesn’t matter, only the significance of the day does. You are celebrating an event, not a building. Don’t let the prospect of the endgame turn this day into a pile of dust; draw your weapon of choice, the pen or the computer and get to work. You can save the day, and you can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime event for your post.
Children and Youth Month April is Children and Youth Month. Now is an excellent time to begin promoting the youth programs your post runs not just in April but throughout the year.
Oratorical contests As posts, districts and departments run their Oratorical contests, these are great opportunities to showcase the young people in community media. Contact your local newspapers and broadcast stations to encourage them to cover your Oratorical events.
Four Chaplains Sunday The first Sunday in February is Four Chaplains Sunday, though some posts hold their events at other times on the weekend. Share how your post commemorates this annual remembrance service on www.legiontown.org.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Happy New Year to all social media influencers! By Stephen Shuga
Now that the holiday season has passed, we are preparing for the centennial celebration of The American Legion. As National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) representatives, I encourage you to have a current NALPA press/membership card and to wear your credentials everywhere you go to seize a newsworthy story, article or special event to pass along to our diversified social media audience. Like any great organization, membership is the lifeblood that keeps NALPA going. As a reminder to those who are interested in becoming an active member of NALPA or need to renew, membership expires on Aug. 31 each year. You can easily join or renew by visiting www. legion.org/nalpa/join. New members will receive a welcome packet and press membership badge. As a courtesy reminder, please alert NALPA leadership of any changes to your name, address, phone number and email so we can continue to communicate with you. Members who did not provide an email and telephone number were recently sent a post card requesting this information. This contact information makes it easier for us to communicate with you so please provide it when you join, renew or when requested. Recently there were over
180 email membership renewal reminders sent, which resulted in renewals. When the spring NALPA newsletter is released, The American Legion’s centennial birthday (March 15) will have past and we will be building upon our next century of service. NALPA will be there for support, capturing news about our posts, counties, districts, areas and departments. If you have questions about NALPA, contact your area vice president or director. Their contact information is provided on the NALPA website at www.legion.org/nalpa. We encourage every state to create an American Legion Press Association. If interested, please contact me and I will provide information and suggestive ideas on how to proceed. My email is nalpaed18@gmail.com. A current list of states that have an American Legion Press Association are on the NALPA website. If a state has a press association but a point of contact is not listed, I encourage members of those states interested in being the point of contact to notify me so your contact information can be added. This is going to be a newsworthy year with The American Legion’s centennial. We want the American Legion Family to be part of this great undertaking and encourage you to join NALPA. See you in the news!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Help grow the Facebook audience By Jane M. McKnight
Greetings from the Facebook Team. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for 2019, The American Legion’s centennial year. It wasn’t that long ago when the National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) Facebook page had fewer than 500 likes. As I write this, we have 1,558 likes and 1,551 followers. In order to continue to grow our Facebook page likes and followers, I encourage you to post your public relations activities on our page. We want to see what you are doing. By sharing your
productive activities, you could spark interest in other members or provide inspiration to someone to try something new. Also, when you share our posts, share on various pages in your department. Reach out to The American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion and American Legion Riders. We are a family. Don’t forget that we have links on our page for the national website for public relations resources, renewal of dues and much more. Thank you for all that you do for the American Legion Family, military and their families. Happy Facebooking!
The National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) is a nonprofit organization made up of members interested in furthering the aims of The American Legion. Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Editor. You are encouraged to contact us if you wish to utilize materials contained herein for other non-profit organization publication. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily represent those of either the Publisher or Editor. Correspondence and letters to the editor: NALPA c/o Stephen Shuga 3355 Bellingham Drive Orlando, FL 32825-7168 Email: nalpaed18@gmail.com Online: www.legion.org/nalpa Membership information and applications: NALPA c/o Media & Communications P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Telephone: (317) 630-1298 Email: magazine@legion.org NALPA Newsletter is published quarterly by The National American Legion Press Association. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN-Permit # 719. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: NALPA, c/o Media & Communications, The American Legion, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis IN 46206 PRESIDENT Michael Hjelmstad EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Stephen Shuga VICE PRESIDENTS Robert Stronach, Area 1 Jane McKnight, Area 2 Vickie Cyboron, Area 3 Micheal Patty, Area 4 DIRECTORS Kevin Harrington, Area 1 Edward Lewis, Area 2 Kenneth Pierce, Area 3 Tony DuMosch, Area 4 JUDGE ADVOCATE Charles G. Mills
HISTORIAN Dolly Zitur CHAPLAIN Maudi L. Price FINANCE Terri Clinton SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Kenneth George COUNCIL TO THE PRESIDENT Parvin R. Gibbs, James T. Higuera, David Wallace, Patrick Rourk
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WASHINGTON CONFERENCE
Prepare to storm the Hill By Mark Sutton, past NALPA president
As members of a press association, it is assumed we are all a journalist in one form or another. As journalists, we seek to tell a story to our audience — a story that is thought-out and factual so our readers can grasp the full extent. Does it matter if your audience is a thousand people or just one? Does the preparation process differ? I would contend that the process is the same. The American Legion’s Washington Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb 24-27, gives Legionnaires the opportunity to tell those who represent us in Congress our story. The story of how legislation can help or hurt our fellow veterans and military personnel. Whether you are going to Washington or not, NALPA members can make a difference by preparing, and preparing those attending, for the story to be told to
representatives and senators.
Four steps to take for a successful conference There are several steps Legionnaires should take before going to Washington, however, there are too many to list in this article so I have put together a manual for the conference. It is located on the Department of Michigan’s website at www.michiganlegion.org/meetings-andstate-affairs/legislative-national. The following four steps are the most important to help you prepare: 1. Do you know who your representatives and senators are? If you don’t, go to www.congress.gov to find out. We just had an election so they may have changed. 2. Have you made an appointment with your representative or senator to discuss The American Legion’s
legislative priorities for the 116th Congress? Make the appointment for Tuesday, Feb. 26, after 11 a.m. The Commander’s Call will be Tuesday morning so an 11 a.m. or later appointment will allow you to attend the call and get to the meeting on time. 3. Take note of the social media accounts of your representatives and senators and follow them. 4. Download The American Legion’s legislative agenda brochure for the 116th Congress at www.legion.org/ publications under Legislative for the issues to be discussed in Washington. A priority is Resolution 1 passed during Fall Meetings 2018. Resolution 1 calls on Congress to recognize armed hostilities where military personnel were deployed as a period of war. See you in Washington.
MEMBERSHIP
Downloadable ads promote new Team 100 membership rewards American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad recently announced two new Team 100 incentives for American Legion posts and departments worldwide to collect financial rewards for returning members to their rosters, ramping up renewal rates and hitting their targets for 2019. Posts will be awarded $5 for every expired 2014, 2015 and 2016 member that rejoins the organization for 2019. And any American Legion department that achieves 100 percent of their 2019 membership target by May 8 will receive a $2,500 reward. Departments that achieve 105 percent of their membership target by delegate strength date will receive an additional $5,000. Ads announcing these new membership rewards are available for posts and departments to download at www.legion.org/team100 and use to spread the message to members. The Team 100 membership reward ads can be used in print for newsletters or flyers, Facebook posts and advertisement for websites.
The new rewards program is wrapped around Commander Reistad’s Team 100 drive to start The American Legion’s second century from a position of strength and momentum. The commander has called on posts worldwide to conduct a National Week of Personal Engagement March 10-16, 2019, the days leading up to The American Legion’s
100th birthday. Post members are urged to make personal contact with those who have let their memberships expire and ask them to rejoin and to encourage those who have not yet renewed for the current year to do so urgently so the organization can continue to effectively serve veterans, active-duty military, youth and communities.
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AWARDS
National American Legion Press Association annual awards program Rules for basis of judging: 1. Newspapers will be judged on: Content (Legion, Auxiliary, SAL) local, county, district, state and national news, as appropriate; clear, concise and balanced writing; make-up; design and appearance; use of photos and illustrations. 2. Editorials will be judged on: Headline and lead arousal of interest; clear, concise and imaginative writing; research and grasp of subject; timely and appropriate objectives suitable to public. 3. Websites will be judged on: Department or Local information, site design, links, appropriateness of information and attractiveness. 4. Social Media Sites will be judged on: Appearance and presentation; content, readability and engagement; purposes and goals. 5. Visual Media: entries will be evaluated based on originality, clarity, be in perspective, quality, purpose, veterans connection, interest and skill.
Entry instructions: 1. Must be current member of the National American Legion Press Association. 2. Complete the facing page entry form. A photocopy of the page is acceptable to preserve the wholeness of your NALPA newsletter. 3. For categories I., II., III. and IV., submit three (3) papers, one each of three separate issues. 4. For category V. and VII., submit the electronic address (URL) for your website or social media site. If you submit more than one URL, you must do a separate entry for each submission. 5. For category VI., submit only one (1) editorial. Send entire paper or tear-sheet containing the editorial and date of issue. 6. For category VIII, submit up to three (3) photos that have been published on same subject or event; or CD/ DVD or link to access video; or 3 copies of printed, digital art (do not send original paintings/drawings, etc.) in their published vehicle.
Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, of the current year, and mailed to: Send entry form/cover sheet and entry for all entries to: Stephen Shuga 3355 Bellingham Drive Orlando, FL 32825-7168 You must mark the lower left corner of your mailing envelope: “NALPA CONTEST” and indicate the entry category for judging. (e. g., Printed Media - III. - B, or Web Media - V. - A, or Social Media – VII - C, etc.)
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NALPA NEWSLETTER Entry Criteria
Category and level
TAL
ALA
SAL
Other*
I. Department George W. Hooten Award For Department-wide publications A. 40,000+ members.
A
B
C
D
B. Under 40,000 members.
A
B
C
D
II. District, County, Regional Emerson O. Mann Award For District-wide, County-wide or Region-wide Publications. - District, county or regional publications
A
B
C
D
III. Larger Posts Al Weinburg Award For all publications produced at the post level. A. Posts over 750 members.
A
B
C
B. Posts with 250 - 749 members.
A
B
C
Entry Criteria TAL
ALA
SAL
Other*
A. Original effort of publication editor.
A
B
C
D
B. Guest editorial (bylined or author identified).
A
B
C
D
C. External Editorial nominated by NALPA Member
A
B
C
A. Department-level social networking sites
A
B
C
D
B. All other social network sites
A
B
C
D
VI. Editorials William E. Rominger Award A & B: Must have appeared originally in an American Legion Family publication within the Award year. C. Any medium outside The American Legion Family Media
VII. Social Media Robert L. Morrill Award (Encompasses Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, etc.)
IV. Smaller Posts, Units, Squadrons R. C. Cann Award For all publications produced at the post, unit, squadron level. - Posts up to 250 members.
Category and level
VIII. Visual Media - All levels and parts of the Legion Family Photos, Videos, Movies & Graphic Illustrations (includes paintings, drawings and designs that have been published)
A
B
C
A. Photographs
A
B
C
D
A. Department websites.
A
B
C
D
B. Videos/Movies
A
B
C
D
B. All other websites.
A
B
C
D
C. Graphic Designs - all types
A
B
C
D
V. Websites Mary B. Howard Award Award For all websites created to support The American Legion Family.
Your notes if any (Judges will not see this form!):
* Item for other American Legion related publications - such as NALPA Newsletter, etc.
Instructions - Under Entry Criteria above circle the family type then below circle the medium within which you wish this entry to be judged.
PRINTED
SOCIAL MEDIA
WEBSITE
PHOTO/VIDEO/GRAPHIC
Please fill out the form below by typing or printing legibly 1. Number and name of post, district, unit, squadron, organization, etc.
2. Full address of this organization in item #1.
3. Frequency, circulation number and name of publication or Web address for websites.
4. Name, address, email and telephone number of publication editor; or of entrant if other than editor.
5. Place photocopy of current NALPA membership card here
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SOCIAL MEDIA
www.nalpa.org
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Hashtags help Bring American Legion awareness to your community visiting his local library in Melrose is providing a monthly copy of The American promote your Park,While Ill., NALPA member Ken Bishop noticed Legion Magazine to the library as well. Bishop newsletters on display from other veteran sees having an American Legion presence at the activities service organizations. He asked the library staff library as a membership and promotional tool Oftentimes social media users search for hashtags of a particular topic of interest. Hashtags are always one word and begin with the pound or number sign. In upcoming months, there are events that social media managers may want to use when posting information about what their post is doing. Here are some that will be used and/or monitored by the National Headquarters team:
if they would accept American Legion newsletters as well. “The answer I received was an emphatic ‘Yes!’,” said Bishop, a member of Post 974 in Franklin Park, Ill. Bishop notified his post and district to start sending their newsletters to the library. And he
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#Legion100th #Team100 #MedalOfHonorDay #ChildrenAndYouthMonth #Oratorical2019
MI
Last
Home Address
#AmericanismMonth #WashConf2019
for upcoming post events. “By self-promoting in this way, The American Legion notifies the public that they not only exist, but the great things our members do,” Bishop said. “No one else is going to toot our horn, it might as well be us!”
City
State
ZIP
Email Legion/Auxiliary/SAL Membership # Department/Post/Detachment I AM A MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING: The American Legion
American Legion Auxiliary
Sons of The American Legion
THIS IS FOR: New Membership: $15
Renew Membership: $15
NALPA Pin $5 in person $7.50 by mail
TOTAL:________________ Make Check Payable To: NALPA MAIL TO: The NALPA membership year is from September 1 through August 31
NALPA The American Legion C/O National Media & Communications PO Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 PLEASE ENTER Membership Year: 20________
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HISTORY
NALPA traces its history back to 1923 By Laura Edwards
As The American Legion grew at breakneck speed in the years after its founding in 1919, its first leaders recognized that streamlined ways to deliver Legion news and messaging were vital to being the national force the organization was designed to be. What would become the National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) began to coalesce in August 1922, when National Adjutant Lemuel Bolles appointed Omaha, Neb., lawyer William Ritchies Jr. to chair a special committee to consider the organization of a national press association for The American Legion. It was founded in 1923 during The American Legion national convention in San Francisco; the first meeting was held on Oct. 19, where a constitution and organizational structure were created and officers elected. The first NALPA president was E.J.D. Larson of Minneapolis. The initial 20 memberships (for department and local publications, represented by their editors and business managers) were spread out from New York, Ohio, California, Kansas, Utah, Tennessee, Nebraska, Mexico, Alaska, Minneapolis and West Virginia. NALPA was formally recognized and approved at the 1924 national convention
in St. Paul, Minn. Yearly dues were set at $10. The next year, membership representative eligibility expanded to publication staff members, department and post historians, and professional newspaper employees interested in American Legion publicity. In 1928-1929, membership qualifications shifted from publications to individuals – a newspaper editor would be the NALPA member, rather than representing their paper. The organization was also known in Legion media as the American Legion Press Association (ALPA). Despite the growth in membership, and its representation at all levels of The American Legion, NALPA went dormant from 1934 to 1942 due to skepticism by national publicity leadership about the necessity for its existence. A 50th-anniversary booklet gives credit for its resurrection to one person: Jack R.C. Cann. “The First Fifty Years” was written by Warren David “Bob” Hanscom, 1963-1964 NALPA president; a copy resides in the library at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. Hanscom’s presidential year was Cann’s 22nd as secretary-treasurer. He had first joined NALPA as a member in 1926, and spent the 1920s and 1930s working on publicity for The American Legion in the Detroit area. He was hired at National Headquarters in 1944 as assistant PR
officer in charge of World War II affairs, retiring from National Headquarters in 1957. He also served as NALPA president, and was still secretary-treasurer when he died in 1972. After Cann’s initial election in 1941, Hanscom relates that the latter held an impromptu meeting in a restaurant to start getting the organization back on its feet. NALPA woke up in 1942 to find the world at war again. Free memberships were extended to the five armed forces editors. After the war, membership soared – from 283 members reported in 1947, to 544 in 1948. In 1959 it claimed 804 members. A number of publications were put out under NALPA’s umbrella, from a newsletter dedicated to radio, to “Ad-Ventures,” which described the travails of dealing with advertisers. In 1974 – not long after Cann’s death – NALPA membership topped the 1,000 mark, a longtime goal. But more ups and downs lay ahead for the Legion’s communications organization. In the next newsletter: NALPA from the post-Cann age to its resurgence in the 21st century. Let us know your memories of NALPA – meetings, elections, the best communications tip you ever got, etc. Email them to nalpaed18@gmail.com.
INDIANAPOLIS A city known for fast cars and blockbuster events has also gained acclaim for a flourishing culinary and brewing scene, thriving cultural institutions, cool neighborhoods, and so much more. We invite you to enjoy our legendary hospitality. Indianapolis is proud to host the American Legion’s 101st National Convention August 23 – 29, 2019!
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The American Legion
NEWSLETTER
NALPA brochure online for download The National American Legion You can also submit an application online at www.legion.org/nalpa/join and pay by credit card or PayPal.
Members receive the quarterly NALPA newsletter and other great resources, and can share ideas and learn new techniques from other members and professionals in the communications industry.
National
is eligible for membership, NALPA Membership, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206
American Legion
AWARDS
Pr e s s A s s o c i at ion
and why one should join. It
The annual awards programs is free to enter and recognizes the best newsletters, social media and websites throughout The American Legion.
Since 1919, The American Legion has been the preeminent voice for our nation’s wartime veterans.
RESOURCES
also features a membership
The national Media and Communications Division provides training, stories, photos, templates, news releases, ad slicks, posters, design tips and other resources.
To keep that trust, we must tell the Legion’s story, letting our communities know about the valuable work we do on Capitol Hill, on behalf of veterans and in communities across the nation. It’s equally important to share our successes with our members, so they’ll understand that they’re part of a great organization.
application. Download FIND OUT MORE
the brochure online at magazine@legion.org www.legion.org/nalpa
As communicators, we have a wide range of tools available to get the Legion’s message out. But it can be difficult to keep track of, let alone master, today’s varied and rapidly evolving forms of media. Artwork# 90PR0119
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Communications.
P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317) 630-1200 www.legion.org
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SAL Auxiliary The American Legion I am an active member of
The American Legion
VALUABLE BENEFITS
explainsTOOLS what NALPA is, who Send your application and a check for $15 for one year’s annual dues to:
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STATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID THE AMERICAN LEGION
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P.O. BOX 1055 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206
That’s where the National American Legion Press Association (NALPA) can help, providing opportunities for members to share their knowledge and resources to maximize the impact of the Legion’s message locally and nationwide.
An influential voice for America’s veterans
NALPA is a professional association of American Legion Family public relations officers, editors and writers who are charged with promoting the activities of their posts, units, squadrons and/or Riders. Most posts and departments already use newsletters, websites and social media to promote events and activities. But these platforms can also be used to educate
Legionnaires, the wider veterans community and the public on the Legion’s achievements and goals. Through a network of active members, NALPA supports the exchange of ideas among thousands of communicators at every level of the Legion. NALPA also provides training and resources to help those who are involved in communications. Think of
NALPA as the Legion’s imagemakers – those who are willing and able to tell people who we are and what we do. NALPA membership is open to all members of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion. Members receive a helpful newsletter each quarter and resources for use in newsletters, websites and more.
NALPA MEMBERS SHARE THE SUCCESS STORIES OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
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