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

Having never been actively pursued to join the VFW, perhaps because I am a combat deployment disabled female veteran they are COMPLETELY ignoring my demographic and clearly are not interested in my input so I give my time to organizations that do care about what I have to say. That’s a HUGE ding against one of the “Big 6” as far as I’m concerned.

As to the American Legion. I am a new three month member, and am in a leadership role in my post and was at our Department Fall Convention just the other day. Yeah they care about women and those of us who served, but they are missing the big picture, we as veterans of a younger age are more SERVICE MINDED and would much rather spend the day with organizations who want to meet the goals of what we stand for (as an example, partner with Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization and help build housing to get homeless veterans off the street) rather than sit in a dark, dank, dimly lit bar telling war stories and getting drunk.

The other MAJOR glaring issue is that between both organizations all of the senior leaders are old and primarily white men, VFW only has TWO women in national leadership but I guess that’s a start. The American Legion only has ONE female in a national leader role, and in my state in Florida, aka the most military and veteran friendly state in the US, there are less than 5 women leaders in roles.

I can’t even get fellow veterans I know to join because all they see are old men and not them to try and feel welcome and that their opinions and comments would matter.

first of all for me personally as someone who enlisted during the 1962 Cuba Crisis when we faced the very real immediate at the door reality of WWIII in minutes away, prevented solely by the personal courage of the president of the US and the chairman of the soviet union's leadership collective, the council of ministers., i enlisted knowing dying in that war was near certainty.

Yet, when I was discharged and faced a lifetime of physical and neurological disability, TBI, PTSD[not the diagnosis given then] seizure disorder, spinal injuries, and medical incompetence, not only did the Legion and VFW not help, but they did their best to make my life even more hell than it was already. Nearly 60 years later the jingoistic hypocrisy has not changed one whit.

US American ideals are the world's highest: our TV and cinema routinely produce a national myth unrivalled in human history. Our heroes include the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. and the Freedom Riders. In Terminator, an AI machine learns the spiritual meaning of our Declaration of Independence and chooses consciously deliberately rationally chooses personal martyrdom to preserve that spark of humanity that the US American myth holds as our nation's highest treasure: love of others. The #1 core principle of holy scriptures Torah, the Gospels, the letters of Paul, the Quran, the Buddhist Sutras, the world's most revered writings.

and our heroes are people like eleanor roosevelt, sojournner truth, harriet tubman, abraham lincoln, and between 1862-1865, 1942-1945, etc. millions of us americans made the ultimate sacrifice. SCOTUS 1819 McCulloch v Maryland " the US is the union of the people governed by the people for the sake of the people. " ... we are here for each other.

That's who we are. Who we are called to be. why we fight. That's what "America" means to a 'wake' Terminator martyr. "wake" meaning conscious and with a conscience. wholly human by intent and with integrity, open eyed with no hidden agenda. open handed. open hearted. not afraid of god's love. "under god" means not being afraid of god's love. the light of life.

Benjamin Franklin "either we all hang together or we'll all hang separately"

we are the people: we unite as one people of every shade hue flavor, taste, because all alone, caring about yourself only, no one can ever be whole. .

All men that spend time away from their family and friends and serve on foreign countries deserve respect and honor!
I spent Over 7 years All over the world serving in the Navy 3 tours in Nam!
When I came home I was treated like a total stranger!
My wife and family were and are my closest friends and still are

In July, 2017; I went before a VA Judge in L.A., CA. I was informed that a DAV representative was unavailable to represent me. So a representative from American Legion stepped in to help. The judge was unable to rule on all the claims that my late husband started and I took over his case. Any suggestions or ideas to help me get this adjThere are number of claims, plus a tort claim that still have not been settled on since 2006. When I have contacted the VA and DAV no one knows what is going on with any of the claims or tort the claim. Any ideas or suggestions on getting these matters adjudicated. Sorry for the Jessup in other post but this is nerve wrecking and painful.

Curious!
Returning from RVN I joined VFW, and RVN vet friends and I had to fight our way out most of the time, as we "didn't fight a real war". Sound familer? I was also an officer at Local Marine Corps League for awhile, more accepting. Over the years I have seen few younger vets at niether the VA hospitals/clinics or orgnisations. Why? I think, no I know, we have much in common. A few years back I had a Ranger and a Marine crew my formula race car at Daytona as part of Vetmotorsports. We had a GREAT time!, even though I was not a great fan of that organisation (inept, bueracratic and too much like an officer club). Whats the answer? Like racing, you cant win if you dont play. Show up, make some noise. I will dam sure listen! I never wanted to see my experiences repeated.

I honestly think it depends on the post and the culture of it. I recently joined a legion post two years ago and they've been welcoming since day 1. And the post I joined isn't close to my home. So honestly I can say it depends on the members and the culture that's bred within the organization

A lot depends on the post for either organization. I have no experience with the VFW as I was never interested. I had a great experience with American Legion Post 154 in Pflugerville, Texas and I am still a member on paper even though I have lived on the east coast now for the last two years. The local American Legion post where I live now is clannish and not real welcoming. They will take your money and I am on their call list whenever they are having an event or inviting me to the monthly meetings but, again, for them, it's all about the money. My post in Texas was all about comradery and doing community things together. Here it is all about established members doing everything and newbies get shoved aside. I don't need that. I will continue to send my annual subscription to Post 154.

I have been a VFW Member since 1987. Coming up on 45 Years. My Father was 46 Year Member at his death in 1991. My Grandfather was a 39 Year member at the time of his death in 1957. All of us were Post Commanders of Post 7227 Carthage NY. I am sure that many have experienced a rough time with some of our members. I am also sure that we often let ourselves be intimidated by the gruff demeanor of some Vets. You belong with us. You have earned your place. If you allow a sour individual color your entire experience well maybe you need to look beyond that and give it back as good as you get. Multi generational organizations like ours have many different personalities. Some are rather closed until you make your bones with them, find the shared experiences with them. Some are open and inviting welcoming and kind, they look for how to include you in their shared service. Some are quiet and distant to you neither seeming to invite in or exclude you. I ask who you are to pass final judgement on those that have come before you and those that will come after you.

I have heard this song of how “I was treated etc” for both The VFW and the American Legion. I also know that the great majority of VFW members are American Legion members. So I ask did you just catch us on a “bad day”? I have them. I am sure you have them. Esprit de Corps should be our motto. I have Served seen and done what few others except those like me have served seen and done. We are brothers and sisters above everything. Don’t lose faith, gain strength.

T Joynt
Past Post Commander
VFW POST 7227.

I was a member of the American Legion for three years while Active Duty and stationed in central NY. My largest complaint is that being a member put me on a paper mailing list for everything to do with the post. Way too much junk mail. My wife and I try to maintain a paper free home (as well as other ways to reduce waste and reduce our carbon footprint, but this is about the paper). After moving out of NY to Colorado, the NY American Legion continued to send membership renewal notices, raffle tickets requesting money, address labels requesting money, etc. I tried contacting the post as well as the NY American Legion HQ numerous times to get off the mailing list. I didn't live in the state anymore, so it all seemed counterproductive to me. I was finally able to stop the paper stream after four years of living in Colorado.

My recommendation to the subject question would be to adopt an online profile where memberships can be renewed and managed, and an opt-out of any paper mailing. Additionally, recommend accepting payments through Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, as checks, while still acceptable, are very outdated.

Overall just update the membership and payment processes to something modern. I don't think it's changed since 1970.

I won't return as a member just to avoid the mass amount of paper in my mailbox.

I had no problem becoming a life member for the VFW. The CAB, CIB & Iraq campaign Medal hold some weight.