The statewide American Legion is in the process of modernizing its outdated website, an effort that entails a new design and a commitment to keep it current, an official said.

Nearly 10 years old, nhlegion.org is undergoing a reconstruction that should be completed by the first of next year, said Kenneth Maynard, commander of the American Legion Department of New Hampshire.

"The last three or four commanders have attempted this, but it seems like we've always run into a stone wall," Maynard said.

He said the new adjutant for the New Hampshire American Legion, Dan Yoder, and his executive assistant, Lisa Beale, are concentrating on the website. They are working with free templates and are getting advice from Legion organizations in other states, he said.

A revamped site would include everything that the 18,500 American Legion members would want to know, Maynard said. He envisioned links to the national organization and the programs it offers, links to the website of posts throughout the state, and information about the American Legion's youth baseball and speaking programs.

A Legion member welcomed attention to the site.

"It was deader than a doornail," said Rich Dahlgren, who handles public relations for the New Hampshire American Legion. Dahlgren generates material for his town's American Legion post - Post 39 in Warner. He said an important part about a website is keeping it up-to-date.

The Post 39 website has names of officers, a schedule of events, history of the post and links to articles about the military from publications such as Army Times.

He said a new statewide website could include news about job fairs, the New Hampshire Veterans Home and the state Veterans Cemetery, as well as veterans issues on a state and national basis.

"If you're trying to sell a concept like a group, you really have to focus on what do you guys do," he said. "The website is a multipurpose tool."