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

I quit going to the VFW post in Franklin, NC due to the cigarette smoke at the bar. It's overwhelming to those of us who don't smoke. I also don't drink alcohol. I'm no prude, it's for health concerns. Smoking is a NASTY habit and should be banned inside the building. If you want to puff do it outside.

4 months ago I joined the AL and am very impressed with the friendliness of the existing members. I am also impressed with the creativity of the existing members in developing community programs and member events.

Be more accepting of the women on post side. We are constantly told to go auxiliary when we qualify for post as combat vets. Then we are usually ignored!

I got out in 1977 and found that it was not for me, the same issue as today. I did not feel welcomed, plus back then smoking was an issue. I am a life member of DAV and AMVETS but have never attended a meeting. I am involved in other veterans issues.

12 year veteran here. I always wanted to be a member of the VFW, but because I didn't serve in a 'traditional' war, I could never get a membership. I did serve in war though, its called the Cold War, and I served on the front lines of that war, overseas as a military intelligence analyst against the Communists. With technology playing a larger and larger role in wars, we're going to see fewer boots on the ground in the future, so the VFW needs to update their membership requirements to start admitting veterans who served in any kind of war, whether in boots on the ground or via electronics from behind the front lines.

Maybe this will help: According to the U.S. Senate, the United States has declared war 11 times during five separate military conflicts 1. The last time the United States formally declared war, using specific terminology, on any nation was in 1942, when war was declared against Axis-allied Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, because President Franklin Roosevelt thought it was improper to engage in hostilities against a country without a formal declaration of war 2. Since then, every American president has used military force without a declaration of war.
VFW in the name "Veterans Of Foreign Wars" Officially cannot support any Vets after 1942. That should at least open the doors for a discussion of who should be allowed as members. JMTC

There is a significant difference between the generations. I am a Vietnam Veteran and a former VFW Post Commander. I don't belong to any Veteran Organizations, or really have a contact with other Veterans. My experience with pretty much all Veterans Organizations is that they little more than drinking organizations. I ventured into the local VFW Clubroom/bar on one occasion. There was so.much cigarette smoke in the room that it burned my eyes..I get the impression that most of today's vets don't smoke and would be put off by the behavior of my generation's vets. Regarding not being a "Real Vet," a lot of us experienced the same attitudes fifty years ago. Remember, neither Korea nor Vietnam were considered real wars, or wars at all until Reagan declared them wars in about 1982.

American Legion: free Mossy Oak hunting clothing, free camouflage face paint, free gun ammunition for hunting?

DAV (Disabled American Veterans): free ATV wheel chairs with 8+ horsepower engines, free at home nursing care, free at home fast food delivery, free exercise equipment, support hunt via proxy, ...

Used to spend much of my time helping-out homeless or those in need by walking the streets, etc. Nowadays, most people, more or less, tend to like fighting or protesting rather than simply asking for help or getting along with people. Just my locality or changes over the decades, shrugs...

Regardless, many within the civilian sector (as others have made mention), not just one organization or a specific group, tend to be somewhat laid-back (eg. lazy) rather than performing to any set standard(s). Just the nature of the beast with civilian society versus military regime, however I dislike when there is something that can obviously be easily done, and people just sit around watching and waiting for others to do their work for them. For example, people love seeing the disabled struggle (eg. Bible Ecclesiastes, working for vanity), versus giving disabled people what they need, so as they're able to function at a normal rate.

Shrugs, I've repeatedly asked and sincerely try being the nice guy on the neighborhood block. Eventually, I just end-up doing every thing myself. There's always the option of sitting and waiting for God to do everything, but I'm pretty sure he's really busy with everybody else!

So not to bat your question around, cannot give you specific answers for obvious reason, but can give some ideas ... even as batty as those ideas are within the first two paragraphs! Or, just get out and talk with people! Pretty easy to simply make an Internet post or post an ad in the paper, but it's a start. Talking with people and trying to understand their needs, requires much more energy and skills with understanding.

Even though this is a three year old post likely recirculating by famous auto intelligence, hope this helps!

I have been a Legion member for 27 years, and a member of a few different posts because I have moved around. I have not really felt very welcomed at any of them. Only time I hear from my current post is when there is an election or I get an invite to Veteran's Day dinner. The dinners feel awkward, as I don't know but one of the members, because his grand-daughter is friends with my daughter. Non of the members have really reached out to make me feel welcomed and part of the community, since I won't hang out at the bar drinking and smoking. I have given up on drinking for the most part and my military disability affects respiratory. I have a hard time being in smoke filled environments. Don't have a motorcycle either, so can't go hang out with the riders.

I know the American Legion I was a member of for 4 or 5 years, is that if you were not a Vietnam vet you really didn't matter or get the chance to hold office!