By Frank Hirrill, Consultant to the National Commander, Media and Communications Commission
The American Legion’s national Media & Communications Commission met recently at the Galt House in Louisville during national convention, and I wanted to share the highlights with our Arizona Legion Family. A lot of what came out of this meeting will directly affect how our departments, posts and members communicate and tell their stories going forward.
A New Look for The American Legion Magazine
The biggest news out of the meeting was a first look at the redesigned American Legion Magazine, set to debut with the February 2027 issue. In response to leadership’s direction to reduce costs without cutting content or frequency, the magazine is moving to a more compact size. This change is expected to save the organization roughly $2 million a year and will also shift the publication into a more favorable USPS mailing class — one that’s less exposed to future postal rate increases.
Importantly, nothing is being cut. Every feature currently in the magazine will remain, and the smaller footprint actually opens room for additional pages and a more robust digital companion. Behind the scenes, the Legion is bringing on Shorthand to handle the technical production side, while advertising sales will continue through the James G. Elliott Company.
Members who’d like to support the transition can:
- Stop by the magazine exhibit booth at future events
- Share feedback as the design continues to be refined
- Volunteer to provide a testimonial for advertising purposes
Leadership Changes in Media & Communications
Long-time Director Jeff Stoffer has moved into a new role as assistant to the National Adjutant and will be working remotely from Washington state. Henry Howard now leads Media & Communications as Director. Advertising Manager Diane Andretti has also transitioned, moving to the Office of Fund Development, which welcomed a new director, Madison Kelleher.
Legiontown: Share Your Post’s Story
The Legion is continuing to push Legiontown (legiontown.org) as the place for Legion Family members — Legion, Auxiliary, Sons and Riders alike — to submit stories and photos about their service and community work. Categories range from the USA 250 Challenge and Buddy Checks to “Why I Love My Post” and “My Time in Uniform.” National editors regularly pull from Legiontown for coverage on legion.org and in the magazine, so this is a real opportunity for Arizona posts to get noticed. Sharing is as easy as scanning a QR code or visiting legiontown.org/share and signing in with a MyLegion account.
Build Your Own Membership Impact Report
Posts, districts and departments now have a step-by-step guide for creating their own Membership Impact Reports — a simple way to showcase local numbers like Boys State participation, volunteer hours, or students reached through flag etiquette programs. The templates and instructions are available at legion.org/member-services/resources/post-impact-reports.
USA 250 Challenge: A Year of Impact
The yearlong USA 250 Challenge wrapped up with strong results nationally:
- 3,140 total participants
- $131,000 raised for the Veteran & Children’s Foundation
- Notable earned media coverage, including a walk-through of Massachusetts historical sites and a News Nation interview at the closing event at Mid-Ohio
Beyond the fundraising, several participants reported real personal impact — including lasting lifestyle changes like daily walks and weight loss.
Buddy Checks Continue to Grow
Since launching in 2019 under National Commander Brett Reistad, Buddy Checks have surpassed 2.1 million calls nationwide. With VA Buddy Check Week coming up in late September, this is a timely reminder for our Arizona posts to keep making those calls. A full toolkit — scripts, resources and more — is available at legion.org/advocacy/be-the-one/buddy-check.
A few tips shared by commission members that are worth passing along to our posts:
- Keep it about the veteran’s wellbeing, not membership renewal
- Success isn’t always easy to measure — sometimes it’s simply getting someone talking
- These calls can be a meaningful outlet for members who can’t get out as much as they used to
Supporting the Humvee Sweepstakes
Media & Communications is helping promote the Office of Fund Development’s Humvee sweepstakes, which runs through December 19. The Humvee was donated by an SAL member — worth noting, since some misinformation has circulated online suggesting otherwise. Entries can be purchased at fundraise.givesmart.com/form/3gJzkg?vid=1s4pij.
Handling Conflict Online with Civility
Commission Chairman Holly Lewis gave a timely presentation on civility in social media, prompted by some of the tone she’s seen online — including the Humvee misinformation mentioned above. Her core message: civility doesn’t mean being “nice,” and it isn’t about avoiding conflict — it’s about handling conflict well.
A few takeaways worth sharing with anyone managing a post’s social media presence:
- Address the issue, not the person, and remember you can be direct without being disrespectful
- The urge to respond isn’t the same as a reason to respond — pause before posting
- Remember your audience is bigger than the person you’re replying to; plenty of people are watching who never comment
- Before posting, ask: What’s really happening? What am I trying to accomplish? Am I the right person to respond? Will this help or add heat?
- It’s okay to disengage from bad-faith, abusive, or harassing commenters — civility doesn’t require unlimited access
Advocacy Reminder
Finally, a reminder to stay engaged through the Legion’s Grassroots Action Center (votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/home), and to keep an eye on legion.org/tcava for updates on that legislation as it moves through the House.
I’ll continue to share updates from national level as they become relevant to our Arizona Legion Family.
