Page 52 - AL POST 390 OFFICER'S GUIDE AND MANUAL OF CEREMONIES - 2020

Discharges not infallible

Discharges are not infallible as a test for membership, for many discharges were erroneously issued, and if
clearly so, may be corrected on application to the appropriate department in Washington. If the discharge
has been lost, an abstract of service may be procured from the appropriate department.

The Godwin Study on membership eligibility

ln 1985, the Membership Eligibility Study Committee conducted the detailed "Godwin Study" on
membership eligibility. The committee was charged with the following:
- Studythe historyand precedents of all pasteligibilitystudies and changes.

- To evaluate the revised service functions to possibly include a different class of veterans.

- Toestimatethe timing requirements to effectthechange inthe Legion's congressional charter.
- To analyzethe ultimatechange inThe American Legion's longstanding historyofbeing an
organization of "war veterans"and the impact of any change of the principles established at its
founding.

The study's bottom line, and the conclusion adopted by the National Executive Committee, was that The
American Legion would remain an organization of "wartime veterans," and that place of service does not
affect eligibility, i.e., service in a combat zone is not a requirement for membership. As far as aiding veterans
not eligible for Legion membership, the Legion's service officers will assist them with any issue j.ust as
they do Legion members. It makes no difference if they are a member or not. This study provides the most
detailed and thorough review of eligibility issues to date.

Every national convention since the study, excepting two, has faced the issue of a proposed change in
eligibility. Resolutions received were reviewed by the Convention Committee, consisting of delegates from
the 55 departments, and their actions were confirmed by nearly 3,000 convention delegates. All proposed
changes to eligibility went through this process; all proposals to open eligibility were rejected. Hence, the
considerations reviewed by the Godwin Study committee in context are still applicable to The American
Legion today because of the number of reviews to which it has been subjected.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

I Order of Business
1' Motions
Ill Amendments
lv Nominations and Elections
V Courtesies in the Assembly
VI Parliamentarian
Vll Authorized Business

Procedure

PAF(LIAMENTAFiY PROCEDURE is the application of parliamentary law to the conduct of an organization. It is wise
for all leaders to familiarize themselves with the technique of conducting a meeting. While it is important that
the members understand the fundamental rules of parliamentary procedure, this knowledge should be used
only to ensure order, to expedite business, and to develop an organization that will cleave to the objects for
which it was organized. For a member constantly to raise points of order and to insist upon the strict observance

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