Department of Iowa Membership Processing Manual

This manual is designed to assist the Unit in the proper processing of membership.

2026 Membership Year

2026 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

  	Teresa Kramer                                                                         563-744-3138
           12742 Kramer Rd, Farley, Iowa 52046				kramer27@iowatelcom.net

Rebecca Teed 							515-681-8708 
501 Illinois St, Bedford, Iowa 50833     				rebeccajteed@gmail.com                                              

           Penny Clair		                                                                 563-744-3138
          12742 Kramer Rd, Farley, Iowa 52046				clair01pc@outlook.com

American Legion Auxiliary Headquarters Office
720 Lyon Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-5457
Phone: (515) 282-7987 - The Office has VOICEMAIL, leave your message at any time, day or night, even if no one is in the office or if both lines are being used. Be sure to leave your name, number, Unit name and number, and a brief message.

Alison Perdue, Membership Clerk 					alacustomerservice@ialegion.org

Crystal Wright, Executive Director						aladirector@ialegion.org

Iowa Auxiliary Website							www.iowaala.org

I - Membership Packets
Membership packets are delivered to the Membership Contact Person (whose name was provided by the Unit on the Unit Data Form) in the last week of June. The Contact Person is responsible for making sure the packet information is disbursed to the correct person. 

Membership packets contain the following:
Preprinted membership cards and Blank membership cards 
Computer print-out of Unit members – Unit Roster 
Member data forms 
Transmittal forms

The above information and the information below will be found on our web page - www.iowaala.org.
Membership brochures
Membership Target Dates and some Award forms
Membership processing procedures - this handbook
PUFL applications

II - Membership Eligibility and Benefits
Eligibility:
1.	Mother, spouse, sister, daughter, granddaughter, or grandmother of a member of The American Legion.
2.	A female veteran who served during any conflicts listed.
3.	Mother, spouse, sister, daughter, granddaughter, or grandmother of a deceased veteran who served during any of the Legion Eligibility dates.

AMERICAN LEGION ELIGIBILITY DATES
World War II and to present – December 7, 1941 – to present.
World War I – April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918

2026 MEMBER BENEFITS
Junior and Senior members of the American Legion Auxiliary whose dues are current are eligible for all the benefits listed. Benefits are subject to change and/or discontinuation at any time.  Please note that certain benefits may NOT always be available or in all areas. Benefit information can be found on the National American Legion Auxiliary's new website at: https://www.legion-aux.org/ . 
Benefits are administered through the individual company – not the Department or National. Call the company for the benefit you need information about. Look at the National or Department websites for benefits information.  Also, information is available in the Unit Membership Packets distributed in June.

NOTE: Once a junior member turns eighteen (18) (becomes a Senior member), she will receive the National News and marketing mailings from National Headquarters.

The American Legion Auxiliary has an Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) available for members with three (3) continuous years paid, including the current year. To apply: The Unit President must request an application, go to the National website, complete and return it to National.

III - Membership Renewal Notices
The FIRST RENEWAL notices are sent by the National Organization to Senior members by SEPTEMBER 2026. A second notice will be sent by January 2027. The information that appears on the renewal form is requested from the Units in April of each year. It is the Unit’s responsibility to fill out the form and return it by the deadline date to the Department office.
Planning for who will be the membership person in the new Auxiliary year needs to be done so that the dues go to the correct person. All Units participate in this program.

IV - New Application
Please review the new applications. Key information needs to be included:
Date of birth, Unit, town name, email and number
Signed by the correct person--Legion Post officer
(Unit Secretary can only sign if the member is joining on her eligibility, or if joining under someone deceased.)
Blank membership cards are included with the preprinted cards. Use one of these cards and fill out. Send the roster, transmittal, application and payment as usual. Membership numbers are assigned by the National office; leave that line blank.

V - Renewals
Units are to send the member their card when they have paid. Unit Membership Chairmen will need  to make copies of your roster and attach one to each transmittal listing the membership that you are processing. You may send just the page of the roster that you use to indicate paid members or other changes. Highlight all changes.

If there is no preprinted card for a renewal and this will occasionally happen, use a blank card and use the information from the print-out as the membership number. If for some reason the name is not on the roster, refer to last year’s report for the information. Sometimes a second-year member will not get a preprinted card due to the time the information was sent in. Make out a blank card and mark as a renewal, don’t worry about a membership number.

National prints the membership cards in March each year. The renewal notices are printed in late summer. For this reason, some people may receive a renewal notice even if their name is not on the printout.

VI-Deceased Members
Mark deceased members on the roster when sending membership and sent to the Department office. Members that die during the year may be taken off the rolls by using a Member Data Form or on your roster. Please do this as soon as possible.

VII-Drop Members
Members who choose not to renew their membership will possibly remain on the membership roster for at least 18 months. This is the National Organization’s policy.

VIII- PUFL Members
Paid Up For Life – PUFL (formerly known as VIM) - can help maintain your membership. All members are eligible to purchase this membership (Junior and Senior); see PUFL form for details.

Application blanks are available from the Department office. This form was updated in 2021; be sure to use the updated form. The completed form and check should be sent directly to National.

Credit not available. National will issue PUFL checks to the Department Office, and, in turn, the Department Office will issue PUFL checks to the Unit. Please deposit the check in the Unit bank 
account immediately.
IX- Member Data Forms
Changes to the members’ information: address, name, phone number, email, transfers, and deaths can be changed using Member Data Forms. These changes can be made anytime throughout the year.  Be sure to always include the membership number and Unit number on all member data forms. Addresses can be changed on the member data forms or the Unit Roster.

X-Transfers
A member transferring her membership to your Unit-- Complete the section of the member data form for transfer. Make out a new membership card.
Send the roster with payment in like any other membership and send the member data form. 
Unit Secretary from new Unit must sign form.
As a courtesy, please notify the previous Unit of the transfer.
A member transferring from your Unit: Your Unit does not have to do anything.

XI-Transmittal Forms
These forms were revised in 2023. Please use the current form. Check the forms in your packet.  
Junior and senior membership should go on the same form with one check. DO NOT combine membership checks with any other payment to the Department Office.

XII–Payment of Back Dues
Paying back dues within 2 years may be possible. Contact the Department Office first. The member WILL NOT receive continuous years even if she pays her back dues. All this will do is maintain eligibility.  All continuous years' membership lapses if dues are not paid by January 31 of the membership year. A separate transmittal and check need to be completed for each year of the back dues paid. Back dues are paid at the CURRENT year’s dues rate.

XIII-Uses of Welfare Funds for Dues
In the spirit of how welfare funds are to be used - to assist a veteran or family - this fund may temporarily be used for payment of dues in circumstances when a member is unable to pay her dues.
Member’s dues a Unit votes to pay because of age or service should not be paid from the Welfare Fund.

XIV-Member Recognition
Awards, certificates, and pins are available to use to recognize your members. 
Check the National Emblem Sales Catalog for these items.
Phone number - 1-888-453-4466 or online at www.emblem.legion.org. Fax 1-317-639-1381. 
The Department office no longer has these membership awards available.

XV-Membership Supplies Available
These items are at no cost. They are available at the Department Office. They  should be available at District Conferences from the District President, the District Membership Team, the Department President, and the Department Membership Team.

Blank Membership Cards 
Transmittal Forms