Post Falls Legion joins 700 Club

POST FALLS - American Legion Post 143 has joined the elite and rare ranks of the 700 Club.

No other Legion post in the state is close to 700 members and the last to reach the milestone was Moscow's Post 6 in 1947 with 721.

"A lot of it has to do with how active the post is," said Rick Helsley, adjutant of the Idaho American Legion, adding that the mark was reached earlier this month. "And a lot of it has to do with how John (Commander John Dunlap) spurs activities on."

The rise ironically comes despite several factors that could suggest otherwise.

Many organizations, including some that serve veterans, are declining across the country; there's a plethora of groups to be involved in today; World War II veterans are rapidly passing on; Post Falls isn't considered a technologically-advanced post; and there's an ongoing controversy.

A group of 15 Legion members are suing officers of the post, claiming they have withheld financial reports, wrongfully suspended members who ask for open books and ran an illegal election.

Some members argue that some change would be good at the post; others hesitate to tweak things too much when membership is at 700. Few would dispute that Dunlap, commander of the post for the past 28 years, runs a tight ship and that there's plenty of activities.

"You have to offer people something for them to join," Dunlap said.

The 700 doesn't include auxiliary members or Sons of the Legion.

The Post Falls Legion sponsors two baseball teams, Boys and Girls State attendees, a youth debate program, family events at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, a community awards ceremony and Legion birthday celebration, weekly Bingo, and activities in the lounge, among other outings. It also works closely with the Boy Scouts and has a scout hut on site for gatherings, has a Color Guard at community events and is in the schools during Veterans Day.

Opening the new post on Poleline Avenue in 2006 also boosted membership. The post jumped by more than 100 members from 2005 to 2006 in anticipation of the new building.

"This is something members can be proud of and it gives them bragging rights when they travel around," Dunlap said.

Having the National Guard armory in Post Falls also helps, especially to attract younger members, which many organizations are lacking.

Dan Ryan, who works at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and will be in the Guard unit that will deploy to Iraq in September, said he remains a Legion member for several reasons.

"The American Legion is a very good source for a variety of help and support for veterans," Ryan said. "The members have something in common and there are more and more members my age all the time. It also is a way for me to show respect toward the senior members and what they have endured."

Jack Nomanson, a Korean War veteran, lives in Hayden but is a member in Post Falls because the post reaches out to its veterans and the community.

"I read about (the activities) in the paper and I figure, if they're doing that, a guy ought to be a part of it," Nomanson said. "Life has been good to me and a lot of people have helped me. This is how I can help other people.

"I believe everyone - no matter what their age is - should take some interest in helping others."

Two other posts in the state - Lewiston and Mountain Home - hover near 400 members. Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, Nampa and two posts in Boise are around 300.

"I'd say most posts are just maintaining," Helsley said.

Statewide Legion membership is around 11,000. It was as low as 7,377 in 1974 and as high as 17,530 in 1947.

Nationally, the Legion is considered the country's largest veterans organization with about 2.5 million members, a far cry from about 3 million 15 years ago but 54,000 more than this time last year.

Some posts are gradually moving to social online networks such as Facebook and Twitter to boost membership, but Helsley said Post Falls has been able to increase membership the old-fashioned way by offering a variety of activities.

"The old-fashioned way has worked great for them," he said.