Do you treat potential members as invaders? 
 
A person with an unfamiliar face enters an American Legion post. The face has the puzzled look of someone who’s seeking information but is not sure where to find it. As it turns out, the visitor is there to learn more about joining the American Legion Auxiliary.
 
What happens next?
 
If those at the Legion post handle the situation appropriately, the scene likely will end with a prospective member who’s excited about joining the ALA. But a bungled response could yield a very different outcome: The would-be member might never come back.
 
That’s why Linda Hartmann and Cheryl Yoder, unit president and past unit president of Florida Unit 273 in Madeira Beach, emphasize the value of outreach. 
 
“Every member,” they said, “is an ambassador.”
 
But how can those at American Legion posts be effective ambassadors for the ALA? What actions should they take to ensure proper response when post visitors ask about the organization?
 
Auxiliary magazine asked those from the Madeira Beach unit and from Indiana Unit 500 in Speedway — both of which have strong records of attracting and retaining members — what practices they follow and recommend. 
 
Here are their top five tips for responding to potential members who visit their American Legion post home:
 
Be educated. Building awareness among members about what the unit does — and where to turn to learn more — helps to ensure that those at the post are prepared to answer questions. Hartmann and Yoder said their unit provides members with training about their group and the latest information on its projects. Equipped with this knowledge, members can provide an accurate picture of the ALA’s mission.
 
Be available. Having someone at the post to respond to visitors’ inquiries is vital, whether that person is someone working behind the bar or an ALA member serving as a greeter. To ensure a person is available to address questions, the Madeira Beach unit has a team of 10 members who rotate days to work at their post addressing new and renewal membership concerns.
 
Be engaging. Allowing a visitor to stand around helplessly is not an option, said Vickie Bunting, president of the Speedway unit. The first action when a new person arrives should be to greet them and offer to help. Then allow the prospective member to lead the conversation, responding to their specific requests as they mention them. “We try to make everybody feel at home,” Bunting said.
 
Be thorough. It’s important to provide a clear explanation of the value the ALA brings to the community and its veterans — and the ways the prospective member could help support the group’s mission. To ensure newcomers get the full picture of the ALA and its work, those at the post should have resources like brochures, phone numbers, or web addresses to share so newcomers can learn more.
 
Be easygoing. Don’t force it, Bunting said. Sometimes people who come to a Legion post aren’t looking to become members. In those cases, the Speedway unit avoids high-pressure tactics that assume the person wants to discuss personal issues like family members or assistance they might need. Instead, the unit might simply invite the visitor to stay for dinner. Not only is treating everyone with this type of kindness the right thing to do, but that behavior also can pay dividends in the future. “Word gets around if the post is a friendly place,” she said.