Recruiting and retaining American Legion Auxiliary members is important throughout the membership year. Without members, we wouldn’t be an organization.  
 
Membership is in everything — every program, every event, every engagement, every personal encounter. All of it.
 
For most Auxiliary members, renewing year after year is a given and they don’t need a nudge on why their membership matters. For others, it takes more convincing, more encouraging to sign up for another year — for various reasons. No matter the case, every member matters because collectively, we make a difference, and together, we can better serve our veterans, military, and their families. 
 
Handwritten notes can go a long way 
Have you ever thought what it might mean to a member if you included a thank-you note in each member’s renewal? 
 
April Sinclair, 2024-2025 national Membership Committee chair, writes notes to every member of her unit in Alaska, thanking them for their renewal. It’s a tedious but rewarding process, she said. 
 
“It’s the simple things in life that grab the attention of individuals,” Sinclair said. “Each year, at least one member will provide feedback, saying ‘Thank you’ for the note received with their membership card, and that it meant so much to them. You never know the one person you touch — it may be the member who will want to be involved more or the one where the note has touched them in ways where no one will ever understand.” 
 
A simple phone call
Just like taking time to write a note, a phone call can go a long way for our members. For some, this is the form of communication they want. this personal touch helps them feel connected to the Auxiliary and inspired to renew for another year so their dues can assist the mission.  
 
The American Legion’s Buddy Check program has been very successful with checking on members looking out for each other and ALA units can implement a similar concept and check up on members at designated times each year before membership renewal time. 
 
“It’s the simple things — although simple — that go a very long way,” Sinclair said.