GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT COMMANDER TO CONSIDER
The following is a list of goals to consider for your district to achieve:
- Membership Goal
- By numbers
- By percent of total veterans in area
- Number of 225 or DMS transfers into District
- Post Visits?
- New Post Goal – (ex. 1 new Post)
- Revitalization of Post Goal or District wide
- Sending Boys and Girls to Boys State, Girls State, and/or Student Trooper
- Goal of Applications for scholarships
- Goal for Oratorical participation in the District
- Goal to submit 3 Law Enforcement officers, Firefighters, and Teachers for consideration of annual awards
- Goal to Raise money for one or more of the following causes
- Commanders Special Project
- TAL Department Patriot Fund
- TAL Department Reconnect Fund
- The Michigan American Legion Foundation
- Boys State Endowment or for Boys State and Student Trooper Scholarships
- Michigan Wounded and Returning Warrior Fund
- Wilwin Lodge
- Legacy Scholarship for National
- Operation Comfort Warrior
- National Emergency Fund
- Fisher House
- Homeless Veterans Task Force
- Goal to sign up 200 Legionnaires into Legion Care
Step 1: Decide what the END looks like:___________________________________
Step 2: Plan
Step 3: Execute Plan
Step 4: Monitor, tweak, and follow up – repeat step 2 and 3
Step 5: Celebrate, Critique, pass on knowledge
STEP 1: Design the goal with the “END” in mind – SMART
What is the final result you want to achieve?
- The number of new members or transfers
- The amount of money you want to raise for what cause or project
Specific – be specific on what your goal will be: 1st District will send 4 boys to Boys State through money raised from the community.
Measurable – How is the goal measured for progress and accomplishment?
Attainable – Is this a goal that can be achieved?
Relevant – Is it in line with the mission and values of The American Legion and your district?
Time – When will you accomplish this; by what date will this be done? Be specific
STEP 2: Planning
Using a method from the US Marine Corps: Start with a 5 Paragraph Order
Situation: What is the problem you are looking to solve? The State Commanders special project is in need of funding, District 4 will donate funds to the project. Is it RELEVANT?
Mission: What is the SPECIFIC goal? The 4th District will donate $2000(specific) to the Commander at Winter Meeting in February (Time table).
Execution: We have 5 full months from Sept through Jan to raise $2000. We will hold a car wash in September, a Spaghetti dinner in October, distribute little flags in front of the grocery store for donations in November, hold a Christmas dinner in December, and ask for personal donations in January. (Measurable, attainable, and time based)
Administration and Logistics – Who will receive the money, who will be in charge of the different events, what supplies do we need, how many volunteers, what facility?
Command and Control (Communication) – Who and when will people report to the District Commander? (Measure progress)
STEP 3: Execute Plan
Give the orders and instruction based on SMEAC. Set deadlines for plans and communication of progress.
Step 4: Monitor, tweak, and follow up – repeat step 2 and 3
Measure progresses, evaluate progress with goal, communicate, adjust plan, and be flexible like water in a river. If need be change, try a plan B
STEP 5: Celebrate, Critique, pass on knowledge
Celebrate success – Critique, evaluate, give and receive feedback (good, bad, or ugly) – Pass on the knowledge to your alternate and next commander
- What are 3 – 4 things the individual or team did well?
- What are 3-4 things the individual or team could improve on the next time around?