The New Incentives Are Here for 2026!
MEMBERSHIP AWARDS 2026
DISTRICT AWARDS
1) Winter Conference District Challenge
Any District meeting 80% membership by December 31, 2025 will receive special recognition at the Winter Conference. This will consist of a signed autographed photo with the National Commander and polo shirts for the Commander and Membership Director of the District.
2) 100% District Award
Any District meeting 100% by May 14, 2026 will receive $100.
POST AWARDS
- 100% Post Awards
Posts with 2026 Membership of 100% or more by December, 2025 be awarded Cash Awards below by post size and date:
Post Size 15-99 $100 12/31/2025
Post Size 100-249 $1.00 per member 12/31/2025
Post Size 250+ $1.50 per member 12/31/2025
Post Commander and Membership Chair will receive a Pin denoting 100% achievement.
- When the District makes 100% goal, the top post in each of the above categories over 100% membership will have their annual District dues for the next year paid by department Post Commander and Membership Chair will receive a Pin denoting 100% achievement.
- Posts achieving an All-Time High/103% Achieved Goal by May 14, 2026, The will receive a Goal Certificate and Pin at Convention
- A Certificate of Meritorious Service will be awarded to Posts that enroll 2026 membership greater than previous All-Time High (National Award)
- Post Honor Ribbon will be awarded to Posts with 2026 membership that exceeds their 2025 membership by Close of Books (National Award)
- Five Consecutive Years All-Time High National Citation will be awarded to Posts with 5+ consecutive years of All-Time High membership (National Award)
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
- Members recruiting 5 new members will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Department Commander
- Members recruiting 10 new members will receive a Challenge Coin from the Department Commander
- Members recruiting 15 new members will be recognized as Bronze Brigade at Department Convention
- Members recruiting 25 new members will be recognized as Siver Brigade at Department Convention
- Members recruiting 50 new members will be recognized as Gold Brigade at Department Convention.
- Member who recruits the most new members will be recognized as the “Top Gun” for the year and will receive a plaque with that designation.
POST ACTIVITIES & PUBLIC RELATIONS(PR)
An Activity is any action taken by a post that brings attention to the Post. They can be internal, where the public is invited to an event at the Post (Think Pancake Breakfast or Trunk or Treat). Or external, where the Post participates in a community event (Participating in a parade, making a presentation about programs at a school board meeting). Activities create awareness in the community of the American Legion, and by extension, membership grows. You get credit for multiple activities in one day: Marched in the parade, and hosted an ice cream social afterward. You also get credit for any media coverage or PR. Media coverage is important to reach the people who didn’t attend the event or activity. Media includes Flyers you distributed (100 minimum), Radio interviews, TV interviews, news coverage, etc. Other PR may be considered, so keep track of your efforts. You can even get stand-alone credit for PR without holding an event EX: Your Post is recognized in the local paper for an important anniversary.
POINT SYSTEM
- 1 point for every activity or media/marketing
EXAMPLE: Post Commander goes on the local talk radio to discuss the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. He talks about how the Post will lead the parade with the Honor Guard and invite the community to the Post that afternoon for a Jump Castle Carnival and cookout.
The newspaper publishes a Fourth of July events page including the Jump Castle Carnival & cookout. The local TV shows up at the Post and interviews a family in front of the Post’s sign. 1 point for the Parade, 1 point for the Cookout/Carnival, 1 point for the radio interview, 1 point for the Newspaper coverage, 1 point for the TV coverage, 5 points total! 4 Categories based on the size of the Post
- 251-600 Members 15 – 100 Memebers
- 601-5,000 Members 101 - 250 Members
Getting credit for Events and Media Please email the total number of qualifying events/media coverage to mpa@michiganlegion.org by the 15th of the month following your Post’s event. Include your Post Number in your submission. Keep a copy of media recognition, newspaper clipping, record the interview on the radio or ask for a digital copy from radio or TV. Stations should be able to provide you with a web address where a copy is stored.
Include the Events your Post has conducted since July 1, 2024. Contest period May 1 7, 2025. Your Calendar is a great source for documentation of most events.