NALPA NEWSLETTER
The Official Newsletter of the National American Legion Press Association | Winter 2019 Issue
Whatâs Coming Highlight activities at Washington Conference If your post has someone attending this yearâs Washington Conference, itâs an ideal way to promote The American Legionâs influence in your community. Use your postâs social media tools to highlight your postâs activities in Washington. Afterward, contact your local media for a story. Photo by Robert Franklin
The endgame has arrived â are you ready? By Mark Sutton, past NALPA president
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o, this is not an advertisement for the upcoming blockbuster movie, but like the premise of the movie, this is the âendgameâ for The American Legion. Our centennial celebration only comes once and once itâs gone thereâs no reclaiming it, no rewinding, and no traveling back in time. The American Legionâs 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 donât 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 doesnât matter, only the significance of the day does. You are celebrating an event, not a building. Donât 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.