Headquarters Post 211

Adjutant E. Dean Hunter Charter Roll Members: Richard D. Georgeson Richard D. Burke Russell D. Howell Carl G. Fugler Robert W. Closser Donley D. Eyolfson Daniel M. Hiett Clifford W. Eisenach Eddie J. Brown John F. Swarm, Jr. Joe F. Hill Lewis P. Galbraith Wylie M. Simmons John J. Rosenow Louis Sam

Headquarters Post 211 By: Jay D. Vice In 1976, the membership in the State of Colorado had been on a steady decline for four years. While in attendance at the National Membership Workshop at National Headquarters in August 1976, the Department Membership Chairman Jay D. Vise had the opportunity to hear the National Commander harry G. Wiles outline several actions The American Legion should take to increase the membership in The American Legion. One of these actions was to form Posts for Membership at Large since every eligible veteran had a right to belong to The American Legion. By forming Membership at Large Posts, The American Legion would be able to sign veterans who: a. Do not have a Post near the place they reside. b. Are unable to choose a Post, where several Posts exist in their locality. c. Do not desire to get active at the present time, due to business conflicts, etc. d. Do not know the programs that The American Legion carries out annually. e. Do not know of The American Legion involvement in Veterans Affairs. f. Are not compatible with the Post members in their Community. g. Desire to join The American Legion but not be involved with a local Post. h. A malcontent member who wants to transfer out of a local Post but still maintain membership in The American Legion. The Department Membership Chairman realized that Veterans must be educated relevant to The American Legion. Since he was acquainted with several eligible Veterans who fit in the above categories, Jay D. Vise under took the task of forming a Membership at Large Post in the State of Colorado with it located in District Six. The Department Commander Vinton Guy concurred with forming a Membership at Large Post in District Six. The Department Commander was designated Commander of the Membership at Large Post with the Department Adjutant being the Membership at Large Post Adjutant. A membership fee of $10.00 was established (per capita to department was $8.00) for these members at large who did not have voting rights, but were being educated relevant to The American Legion programs, activities, and involvement I Veterans Affairs. The Department Commander and Department Membership Chairman were in agreement that a Membership at Large Post would be an asset to the Department of Colorado as well as District Six. In a short time, the Department Membership Chairman Jay D. Vise had obtained 14 Charter Members and the Department Adjutant had obtained two members and initial action was taken to obtain a Charter for Headquarters Post 211. Post 211 was numbered for its geographical location at 3003 Tejon Street which has the zip code 80211. The Charter for Headquarters Post 211, Membership at Large, was approved by National Headquarters on October 7, 1976 and was officially assigned to district Six. The Department Membership Chairman established programs to insure that these Members at Large were provided opportunities to visit the various American Legion Posts. The Legionnaires in Post 211 are scattered throughout Colorado and the United States. Their dues at the present time are $17.00 (per capita to Department is $15.00). In conjunction with Chartering Headquarters Post 211, the Department Auxiliary President Rose Farrington formed a Membership at Large Auxiliary Unit. This Auxiliary Unit 211 was Chartered in 1976 with 13 members. The Auxiliary Unit was organized to accommodate Auxiliary Members of Legionnaires and presently has a membership of 26 members who are scattered throughout Colorado and Nationwide. The Auxiliary Unit 211 supports Girls State and sends five girls to Girls State each year. The phenomenal and unprecedented growth of Headquarters Post 211 and Headquarters Unit 211 is a boom to department and District Six. Since its beginning in 1976, Post 211 has been fulfilling its mission as a Membership at Large Post. It is commonly referred to as a Holding Post, which it is, however its correct name as stated in its Charter is “Headquarters Post 211, Membership at Large.” Post 211 was not a well known Post of District Six until 1985. In early 1985, membership in Post 211 began to zoom and the Post is now one of the Largest American Legion Posts in Colorado. This phenomenal growth is attributed to the Direct Member Solicitation Program (DMS). Last year Colorado gained about 2,000 new members through DMS and these members were placed in Headquarters Post 211 as Members at Large. If present DMS trends continue and hold up in to the unforeseeable future, Headquarters Post 211 will play a major role in the proposed Department of Colorado long term membership goal of reaching 30,000 members within 5 years. However, the intent and desired situation of the DMS Program is to get these DMS members in Post 211 transferred into local Posts. This calls for another step in the DMS cycle to accomplish this desired end result. District Six is of the opinion that more specific and detailed information concerning local Posts is required to supplement the Department Welcome Letter and Headquarters Post 211 Transfer/Information Request. It is felt that this would be beneficial to facilitate and assist in making a choice in the transfer process. With this in mind, District Six has made up a listing of District Six Posts providing telephone number, location, information on Post facilities, characteristics, activities, history, etc. The Headquarters Post 211 member has been advised to select the Legion Post that fits his/her individual interests make visits and strongly suggests, recommends, and encourages the member to make a choice and commitment to transfer and get the full benefits and privileges in belonging to The American Legion. This listing was mailed to 250 Headquarters Post 211 Legionnaires residing in the Denver area.