We are reorganizing to provide better and more effective service to departments, posts, veterans and their families.
It has come to my attention that there is some apprehension and misunderstanding organizationwide about what is going on at American Legion National Headquarters vis-a-vis voluntary separations, reductions in force, and reorganization by function. As best I can, I want to set your mind at ease.
We are reorganizing in order to provide better and more effective service to the departments, and our veterans and their families who depend upon us, and, in turn, the posts which depend on the departments. This is being done through a process of auditing the jobs of each employee in order to determine where there are redundancies and inefficiencies. In some cases, the need for a function has been overtaken by technology or time. In some, the need is no longer there, and in others we have determined that certain functions/employees need to be added to meet the 21st century technology requirements.
We have reorganized National Headquarters so that like functions are communicating with like functions easily and frequently. That way, for example, the Marketing Division does not try to sell sponsorship of a job fair for $100,000 while the Veterans Education & Employment Division (VE&E) is attempting to persuade the same company to purchase sponsorship for the price of a luncheon – neither division knows what the other is doing.
We have divided National Headquarters into the following functions: Marketing & Communications, Government & Veteran Affairs, and Operations, which is divided among several directors as deemed logical.
At this point, James Baca is the executive director of Marketing & Communications. Falling under his supervision are Media Relations, Media & Communications, Marketing, Emblem Sales, Convention & Meeting Planning, and Americanism. Lou Celli is the executive director of Government & Veterans Affairs. Falling under his supervision are Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, VE&E, Legislative, and National Security.
National Judge Advocate Kevin Bartlett is now also chief compliance officer. Falling under his supervision are Library and Internal Affairs/Membership. Shawn Long is director of Finance. Falling under his supervision are Finance, Information Technology, and Purchasing, Printing and Production. Rodney Rolland is director of Human Resources. Falling under his supervision are Human Resources, Maintenance and Buildings Security.
These assignments are subject to alteration as we work out the kinks in the plan.
As a part of the reorganization we offered most employees, except those in critical areas currently in high demand due either to forthcoming events or technology upgrading, an opportunity to retire, take early retirement, or seek opportunities elsewhere. This was effected through a voluntary separation opportunity based on years of service.
As a result of individual desk audits, some other jobs have been combined, downgraded, upgraded or eliminated. People in those jobs were offered the opportunity to apply for restructured jobs or take a generous severance package.
Thus far we have reduced the national staff head count by more than 10 percent and are in the process of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. We are confident that when the operation has been completed, your National Headquarters will be more effective and efficient, and operate at considerably less expense than previously. This is not an unusual business move, but a necessary reevaluation of the status quo must be undertaken from time to time.
Additional information
Several directors have opted for a voluntary separation agreement, among who are Billy Johnson, Membership; Jeff Brown, Executive Director; Curt Garnett, Purchasing; Mike Doan, Maintenance; and Jack Querfeld, Internal Affairs. Other higher profile people opting to take the voluntary separation are Mark Walker, VE&E; and Wanda Tallakson, administrative.
To date, 33 positions at headquarters have been eliminated and a number of others have been combined, upgraded, downgraded or backfilled. I am confident that all desk audits and all changes in staffing and organization will be completed by Fall Meetings in October, as we continue to move forward to meet our needs for the 21st century. Should you have additional questions, you may email me at d.wheeler@legion.org.
- Dispatch