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

I spent 2 1/2 of my 3 year enlistment (1964-1967) in West Germany with the U.S. Army. Obviously that was during the Viet Nam war. I had no say in where they assigned me. When I returned to the U.S and separated from service I made an attempt to join my local, at the time, VFW I was rejected. They said I was not welcome because I had not seen action. That soured me enough to NEVER try to join. I spent 2 1/2 years away from my country, family and loved ones and that counted for nothing by the VFW! As I said, NEVER!

Show me how membership has practical relevance to my life. People's lives are getting busier, most of us don't have time to spend on social clubs.

I'm just a Son of the American Legion but would like to see the Legion reach out to younger people who would support our military personnel through activities to encourage our troops: letter writing, etc.... and make a new connection where one does not exist.

I'm a Post Adjutant here and we are trying to get younger vets to join. I have found they aren't interested or have a what's in it for me attitude. There are programs that we actually need younger vets to help us with. My post at one time had 20,000 members we are now down to 150 and just lost our last WWII vet. We have someone from every branch including Coast Guard.

I think the wrong Vets are in charge sometimes. It really starts with the Commanders. They have to set the environment to what they want to accomplish with their Post.

I am not a joiner, but the AL and VFW posts seem to be more exclusive than inclusive. Instead of patriotic I see Right Wing. I am very wary of both groups. At a time when I was tempted to join, the price was prohibitive.

I don't drink alcohol.
What other purpose is there to going to the posts? Every event, every recruiting function, and every "family fun day" has centered around "social" drinking. I want to be a member because I've been in recovery for a long time and hope to be available to help those who need help. Hard to do when the posts are invariably dark bars where people go and rehash problems rather than work toward solutions.
I go to my local post for their fundraising breakfasts and make sure to throw a bit extra in the tip box hoping it will improve the situation, but I still end up eating my breakfast in a room that smells of stale beer.
I'm open to suggestions.

I am a Vietnam Vet and have visited an American Legion Post.
What I thought was interesting was that they had uniform
shoulder patches on the wall of probably every Army unit
past and present except one. Who would have thought
that it was the unit that I was in. The Fourth Division.
Their social hall had been rented by a funeral home
Haven't been back.
Sgt Steve Savasky

I remember when I joined my local VFW they were surprised I was a female veteran. I was also their only female veteran and often they would confuse me with the women's auxiliary. They would ask me which branch my husband served in. Hello, I'm the veteran and I don't have a husband. I don't know if they did it on purpose or out of ignorance but I stopped going. I have a life membership from thirty yrs ago but I don't even use it. Everyone was much older than me too and their ideals were from a different era. I don't even think that VFW Post is still around. I also remember receiving invites to attend meetings or get togethers weeks after they had already occurred. Obviously they really didn't want me to attend. So, fast forward to now...I'm reluctant to attend/ join any group just from past experiences.

I never felt welcome being a Vietnam veteran so I left.