Page 4 - AL POST 390 - AMERICAN LEGION DISPATCH JUNE 2022

4 Dispatch

From Buddy Checks for membership results on Page 1

Starting in January, department leadership made calls weekly to ttry\tryNFP®
members in the headquarters post and to non-renewals.
Department Commander Antonio Arroyo made over 600 Buddy
Checks. "When you do a Buddy Check, the way you talk to the
POST NEWS
people, that is the most important thing," Arroyo said. "Show that
you are worried about them, see how they feel, ask how their family
is. That makes the difference. Always, always, I talked to them like I How your post
was talking to my mother, my father.
"Some members told me, `Wow. This is the very first time that
somebody has ever called me from the Legion.' I called them from can obtain crime
my personal phone. I told them to feel free to call me anytime that
they had any problem. They responded." insurance coverage
One Buddy Check call to a member in the headquarters post
resulted in Arroyo driving to the Legionnaire to personally deliver
his membership card. Under Article VI, Section 1 of 'Ihe American
"I love it (making Buddy Check calls)," he said. ``1 learned a lot
Legion National By-laws, it states that "All national
from the people. I feel so good when the people feel good with the employees and volunteers handling all American
Legion. On those Buddy Checks you take the time to explain the Legion monies and negotiable instruments shall be
programs that we have and what we are working on. You take the covered by fidelity/crime insurance in an adequate
time to share what we do and why." amount as desired by the Finance Commission and
The Department of Puerto Rico reached 103% membership by said fidelity/crime insurance policy(s) shall be
Spring Meetings last month. During the Buddy Checks, if the approved by the National Treasurer, National Judge
veteran was not in need or there were no concerns, a reminder Advocate, and Finance Commission."
about keeping their continuous years membership active was To help meet this requirement, The American
addressed. Benefits to being a Legionnaire also were discussed with Legion has a relationship with NFP Insurance Agency
the National Emergency Fund (NEF) being a big one for Puerto to assist each department and post with a fiduciary/
Rico. crine bond insuranceto_protectindividuals and _ _
Between Hurr-icane Maria in 2017 and the earthquake in 2019, members against financial loss.
nearly $39,000 was provided in NEF grants to 40 Legionnaires in This insurance program through NFP Insurance
the department. Agency is recommended, not required, to allow
``Your membership works for you, and 1'11 tell you why. You tell
American Legion members the ability to purchase
them the benefits of it then they see the value in their membership," fiduciary/crime bond insurance through a purchasing
said Department of Puerto Rico Adjutant Juan A. Cruz-Rodriguez. group provided by NFP Insurance Agency using
"It works (for membership success). Chubb Insurance Paper. The program was developed
"We do a lot. But we ask from our members a lot too. We ask for
to assist domestic and international locations.
membership dues, we send them letters for donations and some- Download the required American Legion
times they feel like `I'm giving, I'm giving. What am I getting back?' Scheduled Position Crime Policy application at
You need to remind them the potential that their membership has." a legion.org/documentslpdf/Crime-American_Legion_
Arroyo added that members "have to know where their mem- Quest/.oma/./a.pdf. This is needed to bind coverage and
bership dues go and what we do. A lot of times we don't tell them the cost associated with the levels of insurance
what we use the money for or why. 'Ihey need to know." needed. All information needed to obtain this
The department commander also called every post commander coverage through our group purchasing program is
monthly to remind them to make Buddy Checks and "expressed to provided on the application.
them that they need to talk to their Legionnaires like they were To speak with a representative at NFP Insurance
talking to their mother or their father." Agency, please contact Vice President Chris Phillips at
"Show that you are concerned about the well-being of the 317-808-7262 or chris.phillips@NFP.com.
member," Cruz-Rodriguez said. You can say, "I'm calling because I
want to know how you are doing. You are important to me.' Buddy
Checks do work. It's just how you do it. Show genuine kindness and
concern so they can feel it on the other side."
BUDDY CHECK TOOLKIT
Download The American Legion's Buddy Check toolkit at
® /eg/.on.org/buddycheck/too/5. The toolkit explains the program
and offers scripts, press releases, media advisories and other
resources for Buddy Check calls.