08/27/2026
Hello Mighty Midwest,
Here is the last membership report until after the National Convention. I am going to include Membership and Squadron Activities Vice Chairman, Jason Miller's words, because he does a dang good job of explaining things and getting the message out.
MEMBERSHIP IS MORE THAN A NUMBER — IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE
The August 20, 2026 National Membership Report shows the Sons of The American Legion at 404,095 members, or 98.74% of our 2026 year-end goal.
While we have not yet reached our 2026 goal, there is an important positive story behind these numbers.
At approximately this same time last year, the August 18, 2025 report showed 400,682 members nationwide. Today, we have 404,095.
That’s 3,413 more Sons than we had at this point last year!
Our percentage toward goal may look different because our membership goal has increased, but in terms of actual members, the Sons of The American Legion continues to grow.
That’s something to be proud of — and something we need to protect.
Growth isn’t only about recruiting new members. It’s about retaining the members we already have.
It is easy to recruit someone and hand him a membership card. Retention takes a little more effort.
It takes communication.
It takes engagement.
It takes personal contact.
Pick up the phone. Send a text or email. Invite someone to a meeting, dinner, fundraiser, service project or family activity. Sometimes simply saying “We haven’t seen you in a while. How are you doing?” can make a difference.
We still have members who have not renewed for 2026, and our work with them isn’t over.
Don’t assume someone no longer wants to belong simply because he hasn’t renewed. Reach out. Check on him. Invite him back. Let him know that he hasn’t been forgotten and still has a place in our American Legion Family.
At the same time, 2027 renewals and recruiting are already underway, and this is where we can learn an important lesson from our current membership numbers:
EARLY RENEWAL MATTERS.
Our 2026 membership cards expire December 31. We have only a little over four months before that happens.
Once January arrives, the clock moves quickly. Spring meetings and activities begin, conventions approach, elections take place, officers transition, and a new administrative year begins. Before long, everyone’s attention naturally starts shifting toward the incoming membership year.
Unfortunately, members who haven’t renewed and are expired can get left behind during that transition.
Let’s prevent that from happening.
Instead of spending next spring and summer trying to recover members we could have retained today, let’s make the contacts and do the work now.
Start with your officers and active members. Encourage them to renew for 2027. Then work through your membership roster. Update contact information. Reach out to members you haven’t seen. Invite them to participate. Find out what interests them and give them opportunities to get involved.
And remember — membership contact shouldn’t only happen when it’s time to collect dues.
Check on our members throughout the year. Keep them informed. Ask them to participate. Recognize what they contribute. Give them a reason to feel connected to their Squadron and to our mission.
Recruitment grows our organization.
Retention strengthens it.
Communication builds relationships.
Engagement gives members a reason to stay.
Early renewal protects the progress we’ve made.
Every number on these reports represents a Son — someone whose eligibility comes through the honorable service and sacrifice of a veteran.
Our members are more than numbers on a report, and our responsibility to them shouldn’t end when they pay their dues.
🇺🇸 Let’s continue reaching out to our 2026 members who haven’t renewed. Let’s get our 2027 members renewed before their current cards expire. Let’s recruit new Sons, engage the members we already have, and build upon the growth we’ve achieved.
3,413 more members than this time last year. We’re growing. Now let’s retain that growth and keep the momentum going!
Renew Now: (legion.org/sal-renew)
https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Membership/SAL-Renew
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