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

My very frank response, and I know many others feel the same way, is that both organizations seem to be MAGA strongholds -- at least that's their public image. Not all vets are GOP, and those who are not so conservative are fearful of some of the social pressures that might be brought to bear. Why risk it? Good Americans come from all sectors of national life, and it's only fair that this is respected. What say you, VFW and AL?
Bill Mauldin, combat vet (45 Div. Italy/S France) and Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist refused to join any veterans organizations, says in his book "The Brass Ring" that he had no use for 'Professional Veterans' (his words) after he de-mobbed in WWII. Other Mauldin books wort reading are the classic "Up Front" and "I Want My Place Back" -- and you can see him co-starring with Audie Murphy (don't know who he is, I won't tell you, young feller) in "The Red Badge of Courage", c. 1948.

I recently moved from Texas to Alabama and tried to join the local VFW. The problem with these organizations is that you make it so difficult to join, so difficult to find somebody to talk to you about the local post. In my case, I found a guy that was running it, sounded great over the phone, but when he asked for my VFW number, I didn’t know it in his response as well when you find it come back. so I got a hold of the VFW and sent them an email or contacted them through the online service and never heard a word back. That was two years ago how much craft I have to go to try to figure out how to get these organizations. You don’t make, you don’t make joining easy, the only thing you make easy is taking our money that’s quick.

I’m a member of the Legion and it’s been a great community for me. I recently moved and haven’t been to the new post but I will be stopping in soon.

MAJ Hoover,
I agree with you. I've been involved with the American Legion post in my town for over 20 years. Our post is very involved with the local community. We still have a hard time recruiting new members, especial Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. We are very welcoming and friendly. Our post is in northeastern CT which is a fairly rural area. The other American Legion and VFW posts in the area are all having issues with recruitment of younger members.

You wouldn't understand.

I'm a Vietnam Veteran and to me, a Veteran, is a Veteran, is a Veteran. If you're Army, that's even better in my book! Lol! Look, we all have our own unique ghosts to deal with, and a huge number of us suffer from TBI's or PTSD and I realize that because I'm one of them. I don't drink, and while I love expressing my opinion, I've got better things to do. If you were in the service, I'm going to welcome you home, and thank you for what you've done. We've all been through our own unique shit-storm and I'm certainly not going to shun a brother or sister in arms because they didn't serve in the same soup I did; unless of course they're Marines. They never get a free pass! Lol!

Our Amvets was very appealing to me because they were highly visible in the community. I saw their Riders (motorcycle) doing fund raisers for Veteran suicide prevention, Veterans Hospice, local schools and cemeteries. They blew away that "old man drinking PBR talking about war stories" cliche. The Amvets is a group that I knew if I joined, I would make a difference. They became good friends and almost family. It also have me a purpose after retiring.

Maj Robert Hoover, you might add some flirty bartenders... not to worry, us old guys have learned long ago that we're about as likely to get any serious flirtations as we are to get a free pass to heaven at the golden gate.

The people or military organizations that don't recognize anyone that has ever wore a military uniform not considered good enough to be in there American Legion, V.F.W, D.A.V or any such Club are Assholes. I agree that you must have served in an area of aggression to belong to the V.F.W. whether you seen combat or not. To belong to the D.A.V. you should have received a disability while serving in the U.S. Military. To belong to the American Legion you should have served in anyone of the U.S. Military Uniforms. To belong to the Military Order of the Purple Heart you must have received a combat wound by an enemy or an enemy weapon. I am a combat wounded veteran (Vietnam) & I was treated the same way by not only Civilians but fellow veterans. One person that I thought was a friend, also a Vietnam Veteran, told me i was not a Nam vet because I was a MP & not worthy of the title. I did serve in Nam from 05/14/1967 to 05/07/1968 with the 716th MP Bn in Saigon & drove a Gun Jeep. Wounded by a R.P.G. on 05/06/1967.

I'm late to the game on this thread, but RP sends me notifications from 2+ years ago and I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.
MANY fraternal organizations have GREAT recruiting efforts. The Legion and VFW could improve, and are, but AMVETS, the Elks, Eagles, Moose all are out there recruiting, and actively look for and appeal to veterans, both young and old. The non-service oriented organizations (Elks etc) have within their groups means to identify veterans. And many of those groups open their doors to families and non-members for events. Moose lodges will allow high school teams and others to have an all day car wash as a fund raiser. Bigger events like an Easter Egg Roll, Independance Day BBQ, St Patrick Day Dinner are open to the public, normally for a small fee, maybe $1.00 over what members pay.
I am a life member at AMVETS and the Moose. They make it easy. I belong to the Legion, and really enjoy my local post, but they do not make it easy, or cheap to become a life member; it will cost me nearly $1,000.00 to become a life member. In my 60's.
My Legion post is beautiful, right on the water in Madera Beach, FL. We have 6 boat slips for people to tie up to and enjoy lunch. There is a lunch and dinner menu daily, along with live music on the deck nearly every day. However, when I decided to join, I had to seek out someone to make it happen. No one was wearing anything that identified them as an officer of the post. Hell, I had to ask the ladies selling SWAG who to see. The gentleman I finally spoke to (he was feeling REAL good that afternoon!) said nothing could be done then, come back Tuesday through Friday to join. Again, not making it easy. The Moose signed me up the first time I went with my stepfather, before we finished dinner.
If the service organizations want to increase membership, make it easy to join, then stay in contact with the new member. Over 18 months later, I have yet to have anyone, even a newsletter or email from my post reach out to me. Sure I get national letters, and you can bet your ass when renewal came up, I got that letter. But it's hard to feel like a member when you've joined and are basically ignored.