Membership Dues
During the Legion Meeting on the 10th of April, Wednesday NEXT week at 7:30pm, we will have the last call, ratification, of the dues that will be reported on the Post Data Report. Please, Attend!!
This month, April, the Post Data Report is due at the Department of Washington (Dept.) which is forwarded to National. The Post Data Report contains contact information for Post 137. As well as, our yearly dues amount. That amount is entered into the automated charges for online renewal/join functions on MyLegion accounts. Currently dues for members of Post 137 are $40 of which $2 stays at the Post and $38 is disbursed to the Dept and National. Membership dues for 2025 will be increased $5 by National and the Dept is expected to follow with an additional $5. Bringing 2025 National/Dept dues to $48. This will equate to an $8.00 deficit which our Post will have to pay for each and every member. $8.00 X 130 members is $1040.00 a year.
During the March Legion Meeting, a motion was made, 2nd, discussed and passed to raise the Legionnaire Post 137 dues to $60. How does this affect you? The American Legion only recognized 2 types of membership until this month. Now, the Legion recognizes 3 types of members; PUFL (paid up for life), Annual and now, a 3 year membership has been created. If you are a PUFL, the dues increase will not affect you. If you have a registered on MyLegion.org, you can pay dues for a 3 year time period to avoid any dues increases for that time period. Potentially saving you $60 over the 3 year period. If you do not have a MyLegion account, we encourage and will help you create an account.
During the February Legion Meeting, a motion was made, 2nd, discussed and passed to create an accounting line item for Dues Membership/Sponsorship. This line item will hold and track the funds received from membership dues and those received for sponsors members in-whole or in-part. In accordance with Post 137, Dept. and National By-Laws, Post 137 is in charge of Post 137 membership. The By-Laws for Post 137 provide that Post 137 pays for the dues of WWI members. As such our By-Laws are being revised to update that statement to something similar. Currently, through annual motions, Post 137 pays the membership for those members; over age 80, over 40 years Legion membership, active duty and others as for an affirmative vote by the Legionnaires present at a regular meeting. For 2024, so far, Post 137 has paid for 12 members, $480.
What is Sponsorship? Anyone (member or non-member), business or organization may donate any amount to the sponsorship account. They may designate the Post to utilize for membership dues or designate that amount or portion to be used to pay the dues, in-whole or in-part for an individual.
Currently, with 130 members, $2 brings in $260 to use for administration of the Post membership. This does not cover the cost of mailings. A dues increase to $60 would potentially bring $12 to the Post or $1560 for membership administration. Membership administration for 2025 includes such things as stamps, envelopes, ink, paper, processing (printing) membership cards and memberships (as voted).
What do I get for my membership dues? Aside from money saving offerings and the Legionnaire Magazine through the National American Legion, Post 137 events are either free or at a discount to current members! Through Food Box distribution, no cost dinner events, discounted events and many other opportunities, you will recoop your dues,