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

First off, I don't go to a VFW. I did with my dad, but, my taste in bars are different. There is not as many VFW where I live, and a lot of my friends are not veterans.

Moved to Florida after my retirement, walked into the local VFW at 10 o'clock in the morning to see what they had to offer.......could not believe my eye's, had to be 15+ guy's, my age and a little older, lined up at the bar. I nodded to them, did an about face, and made a quick exit, my one and last experience with the VFW!

I see this as well. However, the new leadership (which is also the primary patrons and meeting attendees) is striving to turn this around. I definitely want and push for more community involvement. I believe we will endure and demonstrate to our fellow OEF/OIF vets that we are not obsolete and disinterested in real service to our vets.

The VFW posts do not get a lot of donations to exist so this is a case of fundraising. As long as it is representing itself as a VFW doing VFW business during member functions then it is a VFW post. When the club/bar/other functions are in play its just another building and a revenue stream.

tey couldn't afford to keep it with members only so a vote was taken to pen it for non-members. If your post has a bar, its probably thought of as the only “cash” input for the post. It’s probably supported and voted for by the Officers who just happen to be the bar’s best customers. The bar and post should be two entities but are not. They were formed many years ago when you probably had an active post. Its probably also “an institution” in your town
Like sp many veteran organizations, it suffers from the same problems. No Active members come to meetings. post is only interested in collecting dues, do absolutely nothing for the members or anything to attract new members except a few programs for the High School. No committees, no contests, no picnics, no awards, no softball sponsor and many wonder why the local posts are closing their doors by the hundreds every year and NEW veteran organizations are starting up. Our post does perform some military burials. It’s not the shape of the building to modernize, it’s the modernization of the mindset of the members, No new Officers and the same people keep the same positions and then eventually don’t WANT anyone to take over. They fear new members because they don’t want to give up their positions. No new blood, no new ideas. I can’t remember how many times people have asked “Have you tried this or tried that” the answer is always the same. “We tried that once and it didn’t work”
When you drill deeper you find out someone gave a half-ass attempt at something and quit back in 1999 so it becomes the bible and written in stone that it doesn’t work. It’s would even discourage Donald Trump from joining or trying. The definition of a fool? "One who keeps doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome."

There are posts out there without a canteen. You just have to look for them. The post I am part of is the only dry post in the area. That's what brings members to our post.

I have not had this type of issue with VFW however the local American Legion has went down this road of opening to public drunks. I have only returned maybe half a dozen times in last few years and the only changes that have occurred are for the worse. Though in its golden age and in the case of many others they can be great community building block and give veterans that place to go to talk military talk. But as in military life it comes down to leadership and if that fails ultimately it all crumbles from the weakest point. Vote at meetings, bring disappointments to attention of members and leadership, if all that still fails it is time to find another one and move on.

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.

Yeah and the excuse I hear is that it couldn't survive without the money the non veterans bring in.

Yes. That is what I noticed as well not only the VFW but the American Legion as well. From what I see these organizations have lost some of their Exempt status from the past and the Taxes are driving them to the poor house. They have to be profitable so they can support the operations of the organization and community services they provide to veterans and the community. I wish that it was possible to have a 2 tier pricing system. Public pricing and member pricing, or something to that effect.