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It outlines best practices for welcoming practices that posts can adopt, including first-impression guidance, member interactions, follow-up methods, shared Legion Family information, and community-focused touchpoints. It also includes a preamble to the American Legion Constitution and clear do’s and don’ts to guide posts in hosting an inviting, service-oriented welcome environment.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":36,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/forms/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/welcome-kit-welcome-to-the-american-legion-new-member-welcome-kit/381473/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/welcome-kit-welcome-to-the-american-legion-new-member-welcome-kit/381473.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"AfterMidnight","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-24",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":79},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Why does the document emphasize first impressions for new members?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It states that a member’s first impression is often the most lasting and that retention starts the moment a new member joins. If the post is not inviting, the member is likely to leave.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What are some recommended “Do” actions for welcoming new members?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Recommendations include a short elevator speech, immediate positive greetings, staff training to be welcoming, follow-up by phone or email, sharing Legion Family sign-up information, and setting up a welcome table with relevant brochures and sheets.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What does the document list as “Don’t” practices?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"It provides a “DON’T” section under the first-impression guidance, including examples of unhelpful behaviors such as ignoring people at the door and overloading new members with too much information.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},381473,1792163539,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":35,"category_name":36,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":79,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":76},962090896061,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","WELCOME TO  \nTHE AMERICAN LEGION  \nA toolkit to create a lasting impression  \nA member’s first impression is often the most lasting. If they are welcomed as a new member with a phone call from the post commander or adjutant, an American Legion challenge coin, or a new-member orientation where they meet fellow post members and learn how to get involved within the post, they will be engaged. That engagement from the start is critical to renewal.  \nAmerican Legion posts welcome new members in a variety of ways that other posts, no matter how big or small, can adopt. This toolkit is filled with best practices of how posts are welcoming new members, and it includes resources on ways to educate new members on who The American Legion is, and the impact the organization has from the post to national level. We encourage you to send us your best practices to welcoming new members. Please [email](email dispatch@legion.org)[ ](email dispatch@legion.org)[dispatch@legion.org](email dispatch@legion.org).  \nRemember, a welcoming environment leads to post membership success. And retention starts the moment a new member joins The American Legion.  \nTo get started, here are few do’s and dont’s to welcoming new members:  \nPreamble to The American Legion Constitution  \nFOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:  \nTo uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;  \nTo maintain law and order;  \nTo foster and perpetuate  \na one hundred percent Americanism;  \nTo preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars;  \nTo inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;  \nTo combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;  \nTo make right the master of might;  \nTo promote peace and goodwill on earth;  \nTo safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;  \nTo consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.  \nThe American Legion The American Legion John H. Geiger  \nNational Headquarters Washington Office Operations Center  \n700 N. Pennsylvania St. 1608 K St. NW 5745 Lee Road  \nIndianapolis, IN 46204 Washington, D.C. 20006 Indianapolis, IN 46216  \n(317) 630-1200 (202) 861-2700 (317) 860-3100  \nP.O. Box 1055  \nIndianapolis, IN 46206  \nWHY FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER  \n2 NEW MEMBER WELCOME KIT 3  \n• Assume by their gender that they are not a veteran.  \n• Ignore them when they walk through the door, whether it’s their first or fifth time.  \n• Be a dump truck and overload them with too much information about the post.  \n• Hand out outdated Legion brochures.  \nHOW TO CREATE A  \nGOOD FIRST IMPRESSION  \nOftentimes, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. If a new member walks into the post and it’s not inviting, no one shakes their hand or acknowledges their presence, they will most likely leave. Give them a reason to stay and want to belong.  \nIt’s the first impression that is critical for a new member to feel welcome, get engaged and renew their membership. Make a good first impression with these best practices.  \nDO  \n• Have a short elevator speech about who The American Legion is.  \n• Greet new members immediately when they walk through the post doors, with a positive attitude.  \n• Train all staff to be welcoming.  \n• Follow up with a new or potential member by phone or email when you say you will.  \n• Share Legion Family information and applications to sign up a spouse or child.  \n• Have a bulletin board highlighting post functions and who they can contact for more information.  \n• Keep Legion swag on hand to give out, like challenge coins, Legion stickers, flagsand pins.  \n• Give each new member a Why You Should Belong brochure and a copy of a Post Membership Impact report (see page 9) .  \n• Ask them if they need anything or if the post can provide them with any assistance.  \n• Prominently display a bulletin board in your post with photos of members in action. This co","cbCaigBUWMUKoAGh","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaigBUWMUKoAGh","pdf",643524,9,"English","# Welcome to The American Legion\n## Why First Impressions Matter\n## How to Create a Good First Impression\n## Do\n## Don't","[{\"question\":\"Why does the document emphasize first impressions for new members?\",\"answer\":\"It states that a member’s first impression is often the most lasting and that retention starts the moment a new member joins. If the post is not inviting, the member is likely to leave.\"},{\"question\":\"What are some recommended “Do” actions for welcoming new members?\",\"answer\":\"Recommendations include a short elevator speech, immediate positive greetings, staff training to be welcoming, follow-up by phone or email, sharing Legion Family sign-up information, and setting up a welcome table with relevant brochures and sheets.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the document list as “Don’t” practices?\",\"answer\":\"It provides a “DON’T” section under the first-impression guidance, including examples of unhelpful behaviors such as ignoring people at the door and overloading new members with too much information.\"}]","Welcome Kit - Welcome to the American Legion - New Member Welcome Kit | PDF",1790245451]