2020-07-13

In this section

COMING FALL 2020:
NEW MEMBERS JOINING LOCAL BRANCHES ONLINE

We are excited to announce the next phase in modernizing the Legion membership experience!

During the June 2020 Dominion Executive Council (DEC) meetings, elected officials from all Commands unanimously supported the Membership Committee’s recommendation to allow new Legion members the opportunity to join a local Branch online.

Branch closures during COVID-19 exposed shortcomings in our ability to maintain membership levels and sign up new members. With Branches closed to the public, our members commendably continued to provide support to both Veterans and their communities. However, the lifeline of our organization, our membership, was negatively impacted.

It has become clear that the Legion needs to evolve to allow online registration at the Branch level. In order to fix this issue, increase and retain Legion membership and help Canada’s Veterans to the best of our ability, the DEC has requested that all Branches participate in this initiative.

Online Branch membership will greatly assist the growth of new members in local Branches while reinforcing our National objective to have members belong and actively participate at the local Branch level. Many Branches already allow online renewal and have seen these benefits for themselves. Now is the time for all Branches to do the same.

This is a large step forward for our organization and is an important pillar in our National Strategic Plan to grow membership to 300,000 members by 2026, as supported by delegates at the 2018 Dominion Convention in Winnipeg. We’re excited to take this step forward together – for the good of the Legion and for Canada’s Veterans.

Below are the administrative details:

LAUNCH DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2020

A new online registration form will give people the option to select their local Legion Branch from a drop-down list or from a map. Once the member completes the form, accepts the terms of membership and makes the payment, the Branch is notified of the transaction.

BRANCH NOTIFICATION:

Branches will be notified of new members via their Legion email account. A ‘New Online Member Report’ will be available on the Branch Profile of the Member Services Website.

ACCEPTANCE OF NEW ONLINE MEMBERS:

Branches will still be required to accept new online members (subject to Branch internal policies).

MEMBERSHIP CARDS:

Membership cards will be delivered directly to the local Branch.

REMITTANCE OF BRANCH FEES:

Similar to the online member renewal process, the Branch portion of the fees collected online will be remitted directly to the Branches monthly. These members will be identified on the report you receive with your cheque.

Did you know direct deposits from Dominion Command are now available? Please see sign up form on the membership website.

NEW ONLINE MEMBERS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE BRANCH:

Branch to notify Dominion Command within 30 days of the member joining online that the member is not accepted.
Notification can be sent to Dominion Command via phone, email or by using the Data Change form within the membership website. A reason for the membership refusal is required.
After considering the Branch refusal reason provided, the Member will be transferred to the Dominion Branch 13-013.
Member Services will notify the member they were not accepted at the local Branch level and have been transferred to the Dominion Branch.
If the member is not willing to transfer to the Dominion Branch, the member will be refunded their membership dues.

BRANCH REQUIREMENTS

Please ensure your Branch rates are up to date within the membership website.
Please reach out to new members promptly and welcome them with exceptional hospitality – Review the Branch Hospitality Program on the membership website.

If you have any questions, please contact Member Services and we will be pleased to assist. 1-855-330-3344 or membership@legion.ca

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST

Working together to serve Canada’s Veterans.