Posted on Dec 16, 2021
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American Legion and VFW posts are losing members and not getting new ones. I had this discussion with several leaders in both organizations. Older members are dying and new members are not joiners. The older members are often not welcoming either. I think making them family oriented and getting more involved in their community events might cause them to gain more relevance and awareness. This change should increase and gain more members. Thoughts?
The American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Family
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 568
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"...The older members are often not welcoming either...." DING! DING! DING!! We have a winner!!!
When you are repeatedly told, "You aren't a REAL veteran because you weren't in the 'Nam" it kinda sours your desire to join. I finally joined the local VFW post (via National membership) but rarely go there as I'm shunned, ignored, and often looked at with open hostility by the older members.
When you are repeatedly told, "You aren't a REAL veteran because you weren't in the 'Nam" it kinda sours your desire to join. I finally joined the local VFW post (via National membership) but rarely go there as I'm shunned, ignored, and often looked at with open hostility by the older members.
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PO3 Karen Bolhuis
SFC Kenneth Hunnell - all the more reason that you'd think they would welcome the next generations!
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Capt James F. (Jim) Bard, Jr.
If you don't know the full story you shouldn't criticize. Every member of my entire wing were kept out of Nam for security reasons; we knew too much.
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SGT Paul Nowak
Then you need to tell them that they are fucking out of line. You tell them that you are a vet, and gave uncle Sam a blank check that was payable with your ass, just like they did.
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When I got out the 1st time (1991), I went to the VFW that my grandfather had been a member of years ago. I was told that I had to be in a combat area. I told them I was a Desert Storm vet. I was promptly told that Desert Storm wasn't a real war.
I said "fuck em" and forgot about it.
A couple months later, I happen to be at an event that the local American Legion was sponsoring.
I got to talking to one of the members there, and before I knew it I was a member.
I've been a legion member now for 28 years.
The difference between the two is night and day.
The post I belong to understands that we need to appeal to families and less to veterans only.
We're a family oriented post now, and it's way better than it was before we had the "come to Jesus" discussion and went to family format.
We actively recruit female veterans, and welcome them to our post.
We give a voice to the wives and other family members as to the direction we want to go.
If someone has an idea, we listen. We don't just blow them off.
Our post is an open book and people like that. Having secrets is no way to operate.
The American Legion as a national organization is really promoting this format as well.
A lot of posts are coming around, some better than others.
I've been to VFW Posts for programs, I'm glad I was turned away. I find them to be codger hangouts. Places where old guys drink beer and bitch about things.
If that's your thing, go for it.
The VFW I 1st went to, has sold their building, members have mostly died off and is dying on the vine.
Yet, the American Legion just a few miles down the road will hit record numbers for membership, prospers and is super active within the community.
It all about attitude and the way you treat your members.
*** Shameless Plug Alert***
If you live in the Cincinnati area, and you're a veteran, come visit us at Williamsburg Oh American Legion.
I said "fuck em" and forgot about it.
A couple months later, I happen to be at an event that the local American Legion was sponsoring.
I got to talking to one of the members there, and before I knew it I was a member.
I've been a legion member now for 28 years.
The difference between the two is night and day.
The post I belong to understands that we need to appeal to families and less to veterans only.
We're a family oriented post now, and it's way better than it was before we had the "come to Jesus" discussion and went to family format.
We actively recruit female veterans, and welcome them to our post.
We give a voice to the wives and other family members as to the direction we want to go.
If someone has an idea, we listen. We don't just blow them off.
Our post is an open book and people like that. Having secrets is no way to operate.
The American Legion as a national organization is really promoting this format as well.
A lot of posts are coming around, some better than others.
I've been to VFW Posts for programs, I'm glad I was turned away. I find them to be codger hangouts. Places where old guys drink beer and bitch about things.
If that's your thing, go for it.
The VFW I 1st went to, has sold their building, members have mostly died off and is dying on the vine.
Yet, the American Legion just a few miles down the road will hit record numbers for membership, prospers and is super active within the community.
It all about attitude and the way you treat your members.
*** Shameless Plug Alert***
If you live in the Cincinnati area, and you're a veteran, come visit us at Williamsburg Oh American Legion.
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PO3 David Blank
Sounds like my old post- I was Honor Guard and often treated like a child there which pissed me off The old codgers always treated my like a child at the post despite me having Desert Storm/Shield deployments while none of the 'codgers' ever served in a wartime zone.
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SPC Ken Cain
SGT Chris Padgett this Thursday I'll be at the VA hospital getting a camera shoved down my throat. But I'll swing by the Thursday after this one. Happy Halloween
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I had the same problem at the VFW post, I was told several times you didn't fight in a real war, The way we did in Vietnam. I'm sorry I was not old enough to serve in Vietnam, I served in Iraq and I'm an American Solider and proud that I served. We should respect each other and treat each other with Respect.
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SSG Bill McCoy
What's funny about that (VFW's) is they tole us Nam Vets, "You lost your war!" Our Legion is 78% Nam Vets, or Nam Era vets. I've never heard of any who ever shunned any Veteran . Well we do joke with Zoomies and the crayon eaters! LOL It's a post that focuses on helping any/all Vets; children & youth in mostly our county.
Yes, we have a Canteen (bar) that is the focus of a lot of men & women Vets, but that's becoming less so. We serve great food and more and more spouses and their children are involved.
Our biggest problem is smoking, and although we have an excellent filter system non- smokers avoid it. (The dining/banquet area is NON- smoking.) Posts that have made everywhere non-smoking have gone belly up. Younger Vets mostly don't smoke and have the perception that Legion's and VFW's are only about the bars. Older Vets - hell, we had cigarettes in our C-Rations!
Yes, we have a Canteen (bar) that is the focus of a lot of men & women Vets, but that's becoming less so. We serve great food and more and more spouses and their children are involved.
Our biggest problem is smoking, and although we have an excellent filter system non- smokers avoid it. (The dining/banquet area is NON- smoking.) Posts that have made everywhere non-smoking have gone belly up. Younger Vets mostly don't smoke and have the perception that Legion's and VFW's are only about the bars. Older Vets - hell, we had cigarettes in our C-Rations!
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LtCol Bruce Janis
Nothing personal, but as a Nam combat vet, I was to,s the same thing. You are not a real combat vet like us WW2and Korea vets. Many of whom were probably in Supply.
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PO3 Karen Bolhuis
SSG Bill McCoy - YES! we're having the exact same issues. Rally working to recruit younger vets to the post, and they don't want anything to do with the smoking. I'll be taking over as Commander of my VFW Post this year, and waiting to see how they all react to a woman Commander. The older Vietnam era guys say they're thrilled and will support me, but we'll see if it effects our recruiting. I said it may increase new women joining (I'm the only one now) but may turn a few men away. They said that it would be their loss, so I'm pretty happy with the support. But I still want to find a way to end the smoking in the canteen...
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