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

Because I wasn't a "combat veteran" I joined the American Legion. I very quickly found out that is was a place for old curmudgeons to hang out,smoke,and drink. I was very interested in the Legion Riders, but they would have a meeting, drink heavily and then go ride their bikes. In the biking community this is common knowledge, and if you aren't a hard corps drinker you stay away from them. This isn't true of all posts I know, but perception is everything. I would very much like to be a member of a veterans group the accepts and acknowledges all veteran contributions and then does more than sit around talking about the past and do something good!

Member of the AL here, but the constant centrism towards "God" and Christianity keeps me at arms' length. With so many who have served of so many faiths (and no faiths), it's off-putting to make Christianity central to the AL.

Can't say on the VFW. Always thought it was a place for old guys to drink

The VFW will never get me to sit down in any post. My wife and I were standing in-line in mid-town Manhattan in the spring of 1972 waiting to buy tickets to see The Godfather. Two WW2 VFW guys were pushing its red poppies. I respectfully declined, "No Thank You!" I was still at my military discharge weight (9/5/1971); 175 and 6'2". He looked me up and down and called me "A Mother Fucking Draft Dodger!" I do not remember drawing my fist behind me, but my wife, who is a army veteran (Women's Army Corp, 1969-1971) grabbed it. I was speechless. His words turned me off the VFW. I suspect I drew his wrath because I was the only guy waiting in line who actually looked like he was military material.
In 1976 my beautiful wife, son and I relocated to western Washington State. In Jly 1977 my father-in-law, infantrymen from Korean War, took me for a beer to is post; "Ray Roberts" on McKinley Ave, Tacoma where four WW2 vets belittled me; telling me I was in a "pea shooter war." My father-in-law was so embarrassed he transferred his drinking to the local Eagles.

So, this 11B20 with Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, medevaced from Nam will never join the VFW, nor any other service organization.

Our American Legion Post 626 in Birdsboro, PA went through a transition a few years ago where a younger generation ran and took office at the Post (Legionaries that own the buildings) and Home Association (Runs the business of the bar, employees and all licensing, etc.). We were too aware of the older folks not wanting to change anything and we were going to change things. Our intent was to modernize our community presence and make our Social Quarters more fun and family friendly. All of our entities (SALs, Aux and Riders) contribute quite well to this effort. For a smaller Post, we give back to the community to the tune of $100,000.00 or so a year. including helping other veteran's organizations around us. It is an honor to be part of this fine organization. Now, if we could just stop smoking in the bar area, I think we would attract many more members. My last great act as commander last year was to take a poll about that. The results were exactly 50-50. We shall see. My understanding that that is a big deal to the next younger generation to want to show up and sign up. Thoughts?

I've been to a few legions and a few VFWs. The best American Legion I've been to was in Huntly IL. It was completely remodeled and super friendly. I would walk in daily and me and the 3 older vets would all talk shit and laugh while buying each other drinks.. I moved and I can not find anything even close now.. they are run down and not welcoming.

Spot on Major Hoover! American Legions are suffering the fate of many other organizations - among them, the Masonic organizations (Shriners, etc), Lions Clubs, military unit associations - the list goes on and on. Most of these organizations are filled and governed by an older crowd (my age and a little younger) who do not have children in high school and below. That kind of population tends to want to swap war stories, drink a little beer, and not get to involved outside of their focus groups. Younger men and women have families and are involved in activities that include and welcome their children. To make American Legions more appealing, we need to see a change in leadership and mind-set. Involvement in community activities that incorporate the entire family is a good starting point.

I have seen a lot of issues here with these organizations not being friendly, not accepting that Desert Storm "was not a real war" and the like. Hmm, well a war is jus that;
WAR
a
(1)
: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
(2)
: a period of such armed conflict

This basically what was happening in the Persian gulf, a war. I have not found anywhere that describes any specific conditions or stipulations on how long, how bloody, or how emotionally devastating a conflict must be to "qualify" as a "real war". The negativity that is being experienced by potential members seems to me to be the result of arrogance, anger, specifically by Vietnam vets which I think results from the poor treatment and open hostilities they received upon returning home, and they are still angry, for good reason, but to take this out on vets of subsequent conflicts, is unacceptable on all levels. We all had the same mission, same focus, same goals when we served. It is flat out disrespectful of those aforementioned vets to act this way. At this point I do not blame the new vets for declining to join. As for myself i have never been a joiner in the physical sense, I find my self being able to good for many through other efforts. I have nothing against joining but if I were to get that sort of reception and disrespect, I would walk away for sure. Changes have to be made if they are to gain more membership and I think that moving towards the family oriented tack might just be a better route. I will still continue my efforts to find and help vets and their families one on one which works better for me.

I can't speak to what attitudes might exist in these groups because I have never been a member. I'm just not a joiner. It would seem to me that a veteran is a veteran regardless of which war they were in or not in. Every one who serves is putting their personal safety at risk, even in peace time. Training is often not a video game.

It could be that today's vet is putting their families first and the way we are currently raising our kids where their every minute is programed into group activities the parents have no time for outside committments. Kids used to have a lot of free time where they made their own fun with pick-up ball game or just exploring their neighborhoods without the need of parents hovering nearby.

It also seems that in most organisations there are about 10% who are heavily involved in all activities of the group, another 20% who are not very involved at all and the rest will participate if they have the time and they have an interest in the activity. Could be that the 10% who are the leaders just got tired of leading and the 70% are too busy with their own stuff to move on up.

I am not eligible for the VFW, and honestly, if I had ever been asked to join the American Legion, I would have considered it. But as a POG, I am not sure if I would actually be welcome.

So, the answer is simple. Ask veterans to join. Make it clear that even the people in supply, or who fixed jeep radios, served their country and are welcome.

I have a veteran plate on my car here in Arizona. If someone approached me in a parking lot and asked if I was a member or had considered joining, I would likely give it consideration.

I served 84-88, the "Cold War Era" doesn't fall into the accepted time frame for the AL.