What would make American Legions and Veteran of Foreign War posts more appealing to join for you?

The little town I grew up in has a VFW not an American Legion (at least not that I know of). So when I was in 7th or 8th grade (1983/1984/1985) our Junior High Football Team had an event there for whatever reason. I remember a separated area that was kind of cramped, dark and musty. I seen the bar when I went to the bathroom. The bar had older gentleman sitting around drinking and smoking. It was also dark, musty and cramped. Fast forward to 2021 (30th High School reunion a year late due to COVID). I was in side that same VFW. The room where the reunion was held was the same room we had that 7th or 8th grade Junior High Football team party in. IT LOOKED EXACTLY THE SAME! I went to the bathroom and seen the bar area. IT LOOKED EXACTLY THE SAME! Maybe even the same old guys drinking beer were there except no smoking. Funny thing is I've been in 3 VFWs my entire life (Paulding Ohio, Vanwert Ohio, and Killeen, Texas) If they wouldn't have been in different towns, I'd have sworn they were the same one. Point they all look run down, they all are dated. I know it takes money to update/repair. I know it takes members to get that money...so start welcoming new members with open arms regardless of what conflict or war they participated in. Take Veterans period, male or female. Take family members of veterans....all I would require was that the person being added as member served honorably. VFWs/American Legions you want our support then give respect to all Veterans and the family members of!

I joined the VFW to carry on the tradition and give back to veterans less fortunate. Walking in to the VFW is like walking in to a new unit as a PVT. No one likes you and everyone fucks with you, standing up for yourself and little bit of acceptance for other members points of view. (you don't have to like someone else's opinion but you have to respect it) In the end if we the new generation doesn't stand up and replace the member that are dyeing, these organizations will die.

In the end no one else understand veterans issues other than, another veteran!

The last time I went to a VFW hall, everyone was smoking, drinking booze, playing cards, and watching sports, none of which appeals to me in the least. My life these days, 24 years post-military, is about so much more than the good ol' days of the military. I can't think of anything offhand that they'd be able to do to attract me, honestly.

I was in the Army in Korea in the 70s, and that made me eligible for VFW. My father, a WW II veteran, was the commander of the local VFW. I felt that the WWII guys didn't take the Vietnam Vets into their group, and certainly not those who were in Korea during peace time and didn't see combat. Now that I am retired, I am invited to the local VFW and American Legion in my town, too, but i don't find a warm welcome. If you are serious about recruiting and retaining new members, respect their service regardless of how it was carried out, and welcome them into your organization.

I agree with you Sir! I went to a VFW Post and AL Post and spent time trying to network. Did an AAR, and found out that it's a bunch of smokers and drunks that gather to share the same old WAR stories. I was discourage to join. I was looking for a place to be welcomed as a veteran and to help out in any way I can with activities like charities, helping with Veteran programs, and assisting in other activities within the community. Have not been to a DAV Post as of yet. But I will check them out as well.

I concur that Legion posts (at least the one I belong to) is not very welcoming of new members. I asked to assist on a committee and was told by chair that he “didn’t need anybody meddling in his work”. I tried for one other committee and was told they had enough help. Meetings seemed like high school reunion of members. After business meeting older member moved to an area to play cards. New members not invited to join in. After no change at several meeting several of the new members stopped attending.

I stopped going to the VFW when it became an "open" club. The one here in Rapid city is just another bar on Main street. The one in Sturgis. I've gone into those clubs when there was not a Vet in sight.

I think the way to get to the younger vets is to explain to them what the VFW and American Legion does for veterans. The more members those organizations have the more pressure can be put on Congrees to supports ALL veterans.
As a veteran of Operation Just Cause, Panama, I was welcomed in my VFW and American Legion, wholeheartedly. As an officer of both I try to continue that openness to other vets.

Don’t know what post is bashing younger veterans to join. We remember what it was like when the WWII guys would say we weren’t in a real war. My VFW post (3873 Naperville IL) reaches out to returning vets to give them a place for comradiry (sp?). And we listen when they talk.

If you are a Nam vet and are not welcoming to others, then shame on you.

MAJ Robert H.
I'm Commander of VFW Post 29 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. We are one of the oldest posts in the nation (25JAN1917), and you have stated the honest truth.
Yes, some of the older members are not very welcoming.
Yes, we need to become more family oriented, and welcoming.
Yes, we need to dispell the image of a bunch of guys sitting at a bar telling the same old war stories over and over.

As a Desert Storm Vet, that was my preconceived idea of what it was going to be like.
When I joined, the tail end of that was still around. Those guys are gone from our post. The last of them faded away when my response to "this is how we've always done it" went from silence to "and how's that working now?".
We may be the oldest Post in Massachusetts, but we've embraced new ideas. We get our hands dirty, we're discussing hiring a sitter to occupy the kids while the parent attends the meeting, or paints a Korean War Vets house.
We are a boots on the ground, seeking opportunities to help, building relationships with the community as a whole, thinking outside the "old box" kind of post.
We no longer have a bar, or a building of our own. The old way of doing things took those from us.
What we do have is a 6×8 office, a 105 year old charter, and a core group of members who have embraced change, and are trying to make a difference in our corner of this world.
Other posts around the country are trying to do the same thing we're doing, But we need the next generation of Veterans to share their vision of what we need to become. We try to be welcoming, but we're old, getting old sucks, don't take it personal if we're a bit rough. Ignore the unwelcoming voices they'll fade away soon. The WWII Generation is virtually gone, Korean War Generation is fading, Vietnam Vets are getting old, and want to pass it on, I'm who they're passing it to, the Desert Storm Vet, I can carry it a bit, but I can't alone. It's time for the next generation to start filling the ranks, and guide us, just as every generation before you has. It's how it works, it's how we keep the benefits we've earned, it's how we continue to honor our dead, it's how we keep Lincoln's Promise.