1. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans
RECRUITING TRAINING
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

2. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
There are approximately 2.5 million disabled veterans (Only 1.2 are members of the DAV). Consider this:
Veterans have proven their ability. They have been trained in various military specialties that often offer knowledge and experiences transferable to the civilian workforce.
Veterans have proven their loyalty. They volunteered to serve their nation and have proven they can commit to a job and an organization.
Veterans know the meaning of discipline and teamwork. From following orders to watching out for their buddies, they are serious and mature workers.
Veterans come with support systems that enhance their employability. A grateful nation acknowledges their sacrifice by offering disabled veterans special employment and training services.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

3. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans
WHAT IS RECRUITING?
Recruiting is more than just signing up new members – it is actually a two-part process:
Part 1 – Selling yourself – You know what the DAV has done for you, as well as others, but you are the proof, and relating how the organization has helped you, in a confident and positive way, speaks louder than any brochure or advertisement can.
Part 2 – Know what you are talking about! Nothing hurts our organization more than good people with great intentions not fully understanding what we do or how we do it. Read up on our organization, talk with officers and key leaders within your chapter, but know what you are saying before you mistakenly promise a veterans something we can’t deliver. The more you know, the better a spokesperson for the DAV you will be.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

4. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Why do you need to recruit?
Benefits of Recruiting
Continue the legacy of our Organization
Per Capita dues for the chapter, department and national
Sharing of workload of volunteer activities
Continued benefits to the community
New ideas which could grow a chapter
Help disabled veterans integrate back into society/community
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

5. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Effective Recruiting Resources
Contact Goals/Glide path
Meet no less than 5 new prospects each week
Host 4 events each year focused on recruiting
Mentor 5 new members who will have a goal for 20 new members in a year
Chair committee that will recruit 50 new members in a year
Personal Phone Calls
Discuss your DAV activities with everyone
Service officer work
Volunteer van driver
Local Universities
National Guard/Reserve Units
Local Military Base
Other Veterans Organizations
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

6. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Recruiting Awards Program
Benefits to Recruiter
5-9 new recruits
10-24 new recruits
25-49 new recruits
50-99 new recruits
100 or more new recruits
Bronze Star
Silver Star
Gold Star
Francis J Beaton Award Pin
National Commander’s Team Plaque
Anyone who receives the team plaque for three (3) consecutive years is automatically enrolled in the DAV Membership Hall of Fame. Those entered into the Hall of Fame receive a special pin with three (3) diamonds noting this special achievement.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

7. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Recruiting Points
Sponsors receive 2 credits for each new full paid member recruited
Sponsors receive 1 credit for each new partial-life or Auxiliary member recruited.
DAV recruiting incentive points can be used to purchase DAV Fraternal items. Each point is worth $1 in the DAV store.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

8. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Department Recruiting Awards
Individual Recruiting Awards
Chapter Recruiting Awards
Top NSO Recruiter - Plaque
1st Place Recruiter - $300.00
2nd Place Recruiter - $200.00
3rd Place Recruiter - $100.00
Small Chapter (<400) -Plaque
Medium Chapter ( ) - Plaque
Large Chapter (>1000) - Plaque
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

9. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
The importance of retention, or bringing active members to the table is critical.
Recruiting individuals without adequately introducing them to our mission and welcoming them into our community is the equivalent of putting water into an empty bucket.
There are chapters who look full, but they aren’t really working the way they should.
It is better to engage current members to become more active than to devote our time and resources to adding trial members who aren’t really introduced to the organization or even fully informed about why membership is important.
If you set one recruiting objective for the New Year above and beyond meeting your goal, it should be to establish a membership committee. They should convene as soon as possible to discuss ways to improve member retention and encourage activity among existing members.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

10. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Membership committee should:
Survey new and long-term members to assess what they love about the Chapter, their interests and their concerns.
Contact members who have left or not paid their dues to find out why.
If meeting attendance or volunteer involvement is low, find out why.
Review the reasons people join and remain members.
Continue to assess retention issues. Surface concerns and discuss them honestly.
Constructive dialogue around how the retention effort is going with members will go a long way to building trust and improving the retention effort.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

11. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Get Back to Those Unable to Attend a Meeting
Although some people may argue it’s the responsibility of persons unable to attend meetings to learn what they missed, it’s clearly in your best interest to update such persons promptly and thoroughly – digitally ( , Facebook)
Make it a point to meet with or call those unable to attend within two or three days after a missed meeting.
Summarize key points of the meeting and go over information that requires immediate attention and follow-up.
Give them deadlines.
Even though members should be expected to follow up on meetings they were unable to attend, your goal is to convey the importance of attending meetings, make certain they are up-to-date on current issues, and to ensure they know they were missed and are important to your continued success.
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans

12. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS RECRUITING
Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need.” ~ Gillian Anderson
Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans