My local VFW has turned into more of a bar for non-veterans than a fraternal organization. Anyone else experience this?

After reading the comments below, I will say this. The CANTEEN (bar) is exactly that... a bar, no different than any other bar except the drinks are cheaper. If you want to be involved in helping veterans you are not going to do it from a barstool... go to the meetings, post, district and state level. That is where the good is done, the bar just creates revenue so we can do all the good things we are supposed to do

For all of you that don't like your VFW club and for all of you that deride the VFW, I have one thing to say to you...FIX IT...as a member or potential member, you have it in your power to make the VFW better. Sitting on your butt and complaining is not going to change anything. YOU, each individual, are the one that can change things. Whining and running down the VFW and the clubs is defeatist, something I would never acknowledge, accept or suspect from those in the Military...I am a proud member of the VFW and our local club was closed by the state Commander for some of the reasons mentioned...WE, the Members took BACK our club and I brought ACTIVE members becoming involved have turned the corner and are bringing our club back to something to be proud of!

I also thought the same about the American Legion I joined. So I decided to get involved. I became a board member and started to encourage other military friends to get involved. Within a few years we were able to start to make a difference. It's been over 10 years now. We have a more family oriented atmosphere but you will never be able to get rid of all the bar feel. Unfortunately that's the bill payer. But remember getting involved will help build a better experience for all. Start discussions with others about their experiences in the military and encourage change and with time hopefully it will. Good luck to you in keeping the old tradition going.

I am the Quartermaster at my VFW and also in my district. I took over the position about 3 years ago now at a time when my post was probably going to lose its charter. Since then I have started to turn things around trying to recruit younger more involved membership, getting involved in the community service programs that the VFW is about. Having events for Memorial Day Veterans Day, trying to get people out there to March, and I here this same argument from some of them and it pisses me off. Unfortunately the non-vets pay our bills. I can't get a member to help me shovel a walkway in the winter let alone sell poppies or review student essays. My last CO used to have a policy you could come to him with any complaint however you had to offer one possible solution otherwise he didn't want to hear it. It is also a mantra I've heard over and over in the civilian sector. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. If young involved veterans do not get involved it will never change and it will cease to exist and when that happens who will be the watchdog lobbying congress when they are gutting your benefits? One or two motivated individuals can change a post. If you don't like the way its run get a copy of the By Laws Go to the Meetings, Post, District and State Level. If the by-laws are not being followed bring it up the chain and make it happen.

I have been a lifetime member of both the VFW and American Legion for About 25 years now. I don't attend their meetings. Last time I did was just shortly after joining. It seems to me that both organizations spend more time and resources trying to find ways to keep their bars afloat than they do with veterans issues. I'm still trying to get the smell of cigarette smoke of of my clothing. Sorry but I think both have lost thier identity. Perhaps the next generation of veterans can fix it. Don't get me wrong. This is not a total slam Could a new national level veterans organization be formed in these days without a bar? As a last note, our Legion post finally ended up selling the bar after loosing money. Now they have more time for veterans issues.

If you join a group organization and don't volunteer or get with an actual command staff person you will think this. Yes VFW Post have bars and they use them as well as parties to pay bills and up keep. Every post has a relief fund they use to help out local vets. They also have programs for vets in school and for family members such as the patriots pen and voice of democracy programs essay contest programs for grade schoolers and high school students as well as teacher of the year EMT Fire fighter and police officer. Volunteers run these programs and help run the post. If you want change get active or stop complaining. I have been a commander for two years as well as going through regular degree program and masters program. I hear these complaints all the time and they come from people who have great ideas but don't want to work or volunteer because I am retired or whatever. Excuses you get what you put in you want change make it.

...and a very smoky one at that. I'd love to sign up, but my wife hates cigarette smoke and is allergic to it. I can tolerate it, but when given the choice between drinking at a smoking or non-smoking place, I'll pick non-smoking every time.

That local VFW is there for veterans and to hear that some of you won't sign up and join because they are grimy or smoky and the floors are sticky is b%$#@t. These bars are clubs first, remember that friend and the buildings were paid for by veterans from several wars ahead of you who wanted their own exclusive place to have a drink, talk to others about their service to our country and go to their meetings so they could continue to give back to their communities.

Yes a few are grimy and smoky but the vets that built them and opened them were proud of them and they shined when they first opened. The membership numbers in these clubs were busting at the seams. Now with dropping membership they are now struggling just to survive so they have to open their clubs up to the general public and the vets are trying to get the locals to come in and spend some of their money so they can keep the doors open.

I saw this in my own local VFW and American Legion. I couldn't belong there because I had never served overseas in a combat theatre. I have my beers there and help any way I can because I am amongst heroes when I walk into those places.

That shriveled up old man or men at the bar could have probably given any of you a run for your money when they were in their prime. They sacrificed a portion of their lives to protect our country. Maybe some of you that bitch and whine about how dirty your local VFW or American Legion is should join, roll your damn sleeves up and clean the place so you can be proud of it like they were at one time.

If you don't want to do it by yourself then convince a few of your friends to join too. With a little team work you could make those clubs shine again. Oh and if you don't know it these clubs if open to the public are usually smoke free.

The VFW, American Legion, AMVETs all have this problem because there is not enough participation from members and not enough money coming in to pay the bills. It's the plaque of almost all fraternal organizations. Check out the Moose, Eagles Elks, Rotary etc. They all have the same problem. It's like churches that have bingo. Members can cut down on some of this by participating more and getting the organization more involved in the community and supporting vets away from the local meeting place. Another problem is that many people are recruited into the organizations and once they pay their dues and get their magazine subscription the personal contact ends. We need to recruit, maintain contact, and get people involved in the day to day operation of the place.

I have been a VFW member for over 10 years, but have never been affiliated with any post. The one's I have visited are a smokers and alcoholics haven. I have been asked to join this post, that post, but always get the same talk about VFW, its purpose, etc. In my personal opinion, they are very much out of touch with the younger (sub-45 yr old) people. Most posts around me average age is 50-60+. While I would like to see changes, the attitude is its been this way for years, so why change.

Now I am a part of MAGC (military association of geocachers), since I like outdoors, its more social, its veterans, service members, and supporters, and its free. I formed our San Antonio chapter, and though small, we are about outdoors, fun, and stories.