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

I have found my local American Legion post to be very unwelcoming. If you are not a Vietnam Marine veteran, you are shunned. I understand the people who actually made it a very hostile environment have left. I’m still reluctant to go back because I’m not all that sure about the remaining members that made things so hostile.

Here’s the problem for me. I don’t drink or smoke and I don’t gamble. Yeah, I know I am pretty boring. The age difference is one issue, but in addition, there just isn’t anything for me and my wife to do there. The Posts I have been to around my home are so politically and socially conservative (the comments I heard about President and Mrs. Obama were scary), that it is off-putting. Very few minority members too. I wish there was a Marine Corps League post nearby, as I would like to try that.

When I get told I'm not a real veteran because I didn't serve in the Nam, I apologize for my parents having to late to go there and look them right square in the eye and tell them I went to Beirut, Lebanon twice, once in 1976 and again in 1983/4 and was there when the barracks got blown up. I was in Desert Storm and my ship The USS Tripoli LPH-10 hit a moored mine and put a 20' x 30' hole in our bow and cracked our keel. And I was on the initial invasion force for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Then I say if that's not good enough for you I'm also Retired/100% disabled Navy so if you don't call that a real veteran you can suck my johnson

The VFW to which I belong in Waco, TX, is a good one; no smoking or drinking and all business. The emphasis is on community service, Veteran/Auxilliary recognition and assistance. Everyone who qualifies is welcomed with open arms. I have found that posts are all very different. The post closest to me had a young Commander that I saw walking around with a beer in his hand and who did not welcome me or my friends. It was very smoky, the main attraction being the bar. I chose a VFW much farther away for this reason. Perhaps if more posts follow suit with a nationally coordinated standard/effort things would improve.

I quit drinking shortly after leaving the service. (Retired). It’s seem at least to me that it’s nothing more than a bunch of old drinking buddies getting together to have a few drinks and complain about anything and everything. To negative of an atmosphere. I never enjoyed watch people become jerks after drinking to much. Now I’m am a Pastor and just don’t need that in my life. I pray I’m wrong but I joined a few times and it was the same.

I belong to both organizations, but in my town, both groups meet during normal business hours, so it is impossible to show up with any kind of regularity. I can see why they do it, but it doesn't hep me to be an active member. I still have a full time job.

Probably a generational thing, like everything these days. "Newer" vets likely don't have the time, let alone desire to participate. Another thing is not letting service define the person. Needing to have a job as well takes up time.
It's not the 50s, 60s, 70s anymore. Times change, things come and go.
I joined the VFW in 2008, because they were outside the PX, never actually done anything with it.

We are very involved with our school, holidays and military funerals, but it doesn’t seem to help!

I was entirely turned off for 50 years by. all of the service orgs. I felt like it was a connection to the VA which had blown me off six months after separation fm the military. When i really needed the help, it was a vacuum walking off the base for the last time. I would have been happy to join up if I had been met while still in and looking at life after the military. Outreach and recruitment is a key activity that older people have challenges in achieving. But that is where we need to go.
What got me interested was joining a local government Veteran’s advisory commission. I got to meet some of the leaders and members of the Marine Corps League, VVA, AMLeg, VFW, Love From Home, etc and volunteered for some activities. Met some fine youngsters and joined the Legion.
For me, it was doing activities with others who had their hearts in helping other Vets other than just complaining and criticizing others.
One does not have to serve on the end of a bayonet to be a Veteran. We found that 27 % percent did not even know they they were considered Veterans and felt unentitled to their benefits or were embarrassed they did not have to fight.
Many more did not know how to talk to older people without a lot of alcohol.They don’t get to hear their music and do younger family events. Although there are younger folks participating, it’s a reach or them.
The Old-guard Organizations drastically need to pick up on the Social Networking Assets, as that is where the younger generation of Vets. stay in contact with each other. When the next phase of VA claims come in next year or two, many will need support there and will reach out to the VA. If the VA urges them to join up with peer support, they might be eagerly approached. A lot have bad paper and need help most.

I belong to both. I also belong to DAV and NCOA. What I find is potential members are not aware of the benefits of membership in these organizations.