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

Explain to them women are veterans too

Well I tried both. Both were like yes please join we need more female vets. VFW just wanted a bar maid and someone for the dirty old men to flirt with. The legion just wanted to boost there membership and start the auxiliary. Both are boys clubs, were I was told, "shhh sweetheart the men are talking". I tried really hard too. Got appointment to spots on the boards. Tried getting different events started, fundraiser started, anything started and was told "that's not how we do things, just stick to the list we gave you." Sadly, after a year of trying I just faded out, used "kids karate" as my reason for missing meeting. What is more flustering is I paid for life time membership too both. Money I can't get back for something I will never use again.

Maybe try treating female vets like male vets. We already had to but up with this bull in the military we don't need/want to but up with it outside the military.

This was the same way Vietnam veterans were treated when we returned and tried to join. Told it wasn’t a real war. The “Greatest Generation “ was not very receptive of the Boomers.

One, the old vets saying that I'm not a real vet because I didn't fight in the Vietnam or Korean Conflicts. I couldn't fight in something I wasn't alive for! F---! Two, the crotchety old white veterans telling me that I ain't $#!+ because I'm not Ranger or Special Forces (it wasn't for lack of trying as I had to go behind my unit's back just to get to the 82nd ABN DIV Pre-Ranger Course). Three, them begging me for money during my entire military career and when I needed THEM, they refused to help! F---, I'm fighting an active foreclousre all by my f---ing self and NOT ONE SINGLE ENTITY THAT HELPS VETERANS is willing to step up and help me! Singularly or collectively! They ain't worried about me at all, so why on EARTH should I be worried about them?!?

I belong to both organizations and what ticks me off about them is they won't stand up for the liberties that they fought to preserve. Iowa was installing an unconstitutional smoking ban several years back. These organizations fell in agreement with the state on this unconstitutional collective law. This is when I ended my support for these organizations. There was dirty tricks played by not only the state government to pass this law, but also theses' organizations, particularly the VFW.

Good morning to all,
that is the problem all over the country when trying to get new members to join,there are hundreds of thousands of veterans who served during the Gulf,OIF,OEF Wars that are young enough to take up the numbers.The biggest problem is that the older members are set in their ways about the new generation of younger veterans willing to change.If we don't change the way things are now we will see more VFW and American Legion Posts closing.

After deleting my paragraph rant, it comes down to this. Not everyone served on the front lines yet people try to make you believe it. The ones in charge being unwelcoming Asshats probably sat on a tarmac the whole time. Still, they were there. Heads of the VFW should have a complaint process that actually gets rid of those in charge that act this way
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I asked this question: What do folks think actual VSO Organizations do today? Do they ACTUALLY help veterans. I have seen so many that blow smoke up veterans you know what’s and when times are tough, don’t do anything, or talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.

What I see are highly selective cliques, old white men’s clubs, outright frauds, organizations that are scared of youth, women or religious organizations wanting to bring about change and a bunch of soon to be extinct organizations because they drink and tell war stories but don’t evolve with the times.

Helping veterans with disability claims, I have not seen anyone who has worked that hard and gotten people their benefits timely, so can’t say they do that well.

Organizing events to help subsets of veterans, only if your missing limbs, male, or are already out on the street, any maybe if you have food insecurity you might get help. So not actually taking care of all veterans, just the ones that will give them more donations.

And job fairs, yeah only giving preference to those with degrees so NOPE. I see nothing redeeming of the modern VSO model. Someone needs to convince me otherwise, but I want stats proving me wrong.

The VFW and Legion in my hometown typically serve as landmarks for navigation. I grew up two blocks away from the VFW and still don't know what they do.
As a teenager I was active in our church youth group, had summer job, participated in the Civil Air Patrol, and even did SkillsUSA for a while so I was active in the community, but the only time I saw the VFW out was for parades and Memorial Day. When my AF Retired dad died a couple years ago, I tried calling them for help, but there was no response.

To be appealing, an appeal must be made. Our VFW and Legion are almost silent.

When I 1st joined the VFW in 1986, I was not very welcomed; it was a small town VFW with very few active members. Most of them were from WWII.
I was just a "punk kid" that didn't have to explain how I was eligible.
I was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal in 1986 while I served on a submarine.
Fortunately for me, that Post was idled shortly after that happened.
A few years later I moved to a city which was VERY different; although also in a small town, the bulk of the members were Vietnam Vets, and had no issue with my qualifications, and they were very receptive of having young blood coming into their ranks.
The attitude of the members, as well as the community involvement they did, were 100% the reason why I became as involved as I did in that Post and convinced me to become a Life Member.
I can't say anything about the AL as I don't qualify for membership in their ranks, even though they were sending me a "nomination" every year; I get it, there are different rules and my service fell outside their "qualifying events."
I have since moved to another city, roughly 1.5 hours away from my Post, but I haven't changed my home Post simply because I haven't seen the VFW members in the public eye, beyond a Memorial Day Parade...
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I've turned to Scouting as my main community service, since they are heavily involved in community service; I was involved in Scouting while at my Post also, enough that I was awarded the VFW Scouter Award.
But I still keep my eyes open for Veteran involvement in my community...
Who knows what the future will bring to me...