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I am a life member of the VFW, but unfortunately that membership may be soon made moot for me as there's a legit danger that my local post will be shut down in the relatively near future.
The post consists predominately of Vietnam veterans, and they absolutely refuse to change with the times to encourage GWOT era veterans to join. Anytime our post commander formally makes a proposal to renovate our post, or conduct ANY kind of activity that is not bingo or poker the older members unanimously vote no. As it stands, the post does not offer much to the younger generation as an incentive to join, and as such nobody does.
It's a classic catch-22 situation.
The vast majority of these members have no presence within the VFW except to show up to a meeting when they know a vote is going to happen. As the post commander put it, they (the older obstinate members) are holding a gun to the posts head, and time will pull the trigger for them.
The only solution is to somehow get younger blood to join to get the numbers to vote in post saving measures. I'm posting this here to ask if anyone else is a member of the VFW that has experienced similar problems, and if so what methods did they use to save themselves? My posts charter is the oldest in the state of Kentucky, and it would be a shame to see it shut down due to what's practically suicide.
The post consists predominately of Vietnam veterans, and they absolutely refuse to change with the times to encourage GWOT era veterans to join. Anytime our post commander formally makes a proposal to renovate our post, or conduct ANY kind of activity that is not bingo or poker the older members unanimously vote no. As it stands, the post does not offer much to the younger generation as an incentive to join, and as such nobody does.
It's a classic catch-22 situation.
The vast majority of these members have no presence within the VFW except to show up to a meeting when they know a vote is going to happen. As the post commander put it, they (the older obstinate members) are holding a gun to the posts head, and time will pull the trigger for them.
The only solution is to somehow get younger blood to join to get the numbers to vote in post saving measures. I'm posting this here to ask if anyone else is a member of the VFW that has experienced similar problems, and if so what methods did they use to save themselves? My posts charter is the oldest in the state of Kentucky, and it would be a shame to see it shut down due to what's practically suicide.
Advice
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Millennials
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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If we wan to fix an issue we do not run from it, we stand. The VFW has not had the best reputation but it is our turn. The new generation of Veterans can help make the improvements needed. Join your local VFW and make a difference.
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Did you see where there are VFW posts on school campus. Some old dogs can’t be taught new tricks. You are going to have to crest a counter culture. Be a recruiter- put a core group together. Do a fund raiser to pay for VFW memberships. Basically you need a coup. Some people made some good suggestions but to execut them you need a core group that wants the change. You may need to work outside the post initially till you get your troops ready to strike. It’s easier said than done. My wife told me she wanted to join this last weekend but she is not eligible cause she was a nurse and didn’t deploy so...you got to get the numbers to override the no votes.
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