Post Officer Duties - Vice Commanders

AMERICAN LEGION POST OFFICERS GUIDE – FIRST VICE COMMANDER

First Vice Commander

“To you is given the responsibility of an active cooperation between yourself and the commander.  Particularly you should interest yourself in the membership of the post.  You should be assisted by the most active and devoted members.  No single factor has so important an influence on the post’s success as membership.  You will be the exponent of means of safeguarding the honor of the Flag of our Country.

To you are committed these endeavors with the expectation that you shall fulfill each and every one of them.  You are the teacher of ‘Democracy’.”

—Charge from Installation Ceremony

In the majority of posts, a first and second vice commander are elected, with membership the primary concern of the first vice commander.  Frequently the success or failure of the membership record during his/her year determines the chances of advancing to the commandership the following year.  In a few of our posts, one or two “tigers” (membership go-getters) will secure the big majority of the dues, but the possibility of death, illness, or a change of residence makes for a weak foundation on which a vice commander and the post are staking the post’s future. 

While each post is different, any membership campaign should cover certain fundamentals.  Look at the methods used in the past.  Were they successful?  Do they need updating?  Have new procedures been developed that would improve the plans now being used?

In a successful post, a new post commander is going to contact the post officers and committee chairs right after being elected, either individually or at a special meeting, to lay out a general plan of operation for the entire year.  This is the time when the membership plan should also be made.

 Planning should answer the four W’s.

WHERE?  Where do you want to go?  What’s the objective?  (Or, for a membership campaign, how many members do you want?)

WHAT?  What steps have to be taken to reach the objective?

WHO?  Who’s going to do all the things that have to be done in each of the steps that have to be taken to reach the goal? 

WHEN?  When is the work going to be done?

Only you and the members of your post know where you want to go, or how many members you want.  But the steps you have to take to get there are very much the same in every post.  If you can answer the following questions for your post and for your membership campaign, you have your job analyzed and know what steps have to be taken to reach your goal:

1. Mailed dues notices will bring in about 85 percent of your current members’ renewals.  Who is going to contact those few who do not respond to mailed dues notices?

2. How are dropouts to be reinstated?

3. How are you going to get usable information on prospective members; how are they to be contacted; by whom; and how are those selected to be taken into your post?

4. What publicity will be needed?

5. Who can be counted on to work at membership?

6. What awards or special recognition will be given?

7. What special events will be tied in with membership, such as Veterans Day, team competition, contests with other posts, Legion Birthday observance, etc.?

This can be the agenda for the first Membership Committee meeting. (See Duties of Committee on page 30.)

Other Duties

Membership may be the primary assignment of a vice commander, but during a normal Legion year, the vice commander will have many other duties.  He/she should become familiar with the ceremonial protocol for regular meetings.  The chances are excellent that he/she will have to conduct one or more meetings during the year. 

Knowing how to prepare a meaningful and fruitful agenda is very important, as well as good experience.  The vice commander must be ready to fill in for the commander upon a moment’s notice.

Duties at William Clinton Story Post 342:  From Post By-Laws

ARTICLE IV-DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 2. Duties of Vice-Commanders

The Vice-Commanders shall in the order of their seniority assume and discharge the duties of the office of commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by, the Post Commander, lst Vice Commander shall be Membership Chairman.

AMERICAN LEGION POST OFFICERS GUIDE –SECOND VICE COMMANDER

Second Vice Commander

“Into your helpful hands are placed the important responsibilities of assisting the commander with all duties.  Particularly you should be interested in patriotic observances of all kinds, in developing post activities, and in the entertainment features which mark all meetings.  Help to observe strict tolerance among your members on all political, religious and civic matters.  The applications of Justice will be your particular concern.”

—Charge from Installation Ceremony

 Is yours an average post?  If so, many of the members joined The American Legion because of the social and recreational benefits they expected to receive.  What is more, many of the members-to-come will also join for the same reason.

Yes, the second vice commander does have a job—an important job.  The responsibility is to build the “I-like-my-post-because . . .” atmosphere that finds a lot of Legionnaires having fun while still doing the work of the Legion.

The commander will depend on the second vice commander to provide the programs that spice up the meetings and attract attendance.  The social calendar must always be filled several months in advance with activities that will bring out the active members, as well as those who are just card-carrying Legionnaires.

One of the first duties should be to contact other veteran and civic groups so that each patriotic holiday and observance receives the attention it deserves.  He/she will be concerned with the pageantry so closely associated with the Legion.

The second vice commander may not be in charge of the color guard or firing squad, but must promote it.  He/she might not have a part on the initiation team, but should make sure one is functioning.  In the pursuit of “justice,” the second vice commander will be concerned with the welfare of all fellow veterans, and will be interested in the work of the veterans affairs and rehabilitation committee.  The second vice will need to know if the economic committee is functioning. 

The second vice commander plays a dual role of fun and serious, which so typifies The American Legion.

Duties at William Clinton Story Post 342:  From Post By-Laws

ARTICLE IV-DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 2. Duties of Vice-Commanders

The Vice-Commanders shall in the order of their seniority assume and discharge the duties of the office of commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by, the Post Commander, 2^nd Vice Commander, Activities Chairman. 

AMERICAN LEGION POST OFFICERS GUIDE –THIRD VICE COMMANDER

Third Vice Commander

“Into your helpful hands are placed the important responsibilities of assisting the commander with all duties.  Particularly you should be interested in patriotic observances of all kinds, in developing post activities, and in the entertainment features which mark all meetings.  Help to observe strict tolerance among your members on all political, religious and civic matters.  The applications of Justice will be your particular concern.”

—Charge from Installation Ceremony

 Is yours an average post?  If so, many of the members joined The American Legion because of the social and recreational benefits they expected to receive.  What is more, many of the members-to-come will also join for the same reason.

Yes, the third vice commander does have a job—an important job.  The responsibility is to build the “I-like-my-post-because . . .” atmosphere that finds a lot of Legionnaires having fun while still doing the work of the Legion.

The commander will depend on the third vice commander to provide the programs that spice up the meetings and attract attendance.  The social calendar must always be filled several months in advance with activities that will bring out the active members, as well as those who are just card-carrying Legionnaires.

One of the first duties should be to contact other veteran and civic groups so that each patriotic holiday and observance receives the attention it deserves.  He/she will be concerned with the pageantry so closely associated with the Legion.

The third vice commander may not be in charge of the color guard or firing squad, but must promote it.  He/she might not have a part on the initiation team, but should make sure one is functioning.  In the pursuit of “morale,” the third vice commander will be concerned with the welfare of all fellow veterans, and will be interested in the work of the veterans affairs and rehabilitation committee.  The third vice will need to know if the economic committee is functioning. 

The third vice commander also plays a dual role of fun and serious, supporting the Post, which so typifies The American Legion.

Duties at William Clinton Story Post 342:  From Post By-Laws

ARTICLE IV-DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 2. Duties of Vice-Commanders

The Vice-Commanders shall in the order of their seniority assume and discharge the duties of the office of commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by, the Post Commander, 3^rd  Vice Commander, House Committee Member..