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

@ SGT C Reed SP5 Renee Reif Major Hoover asked a simple question wanting to know what would make the American Legion and VFW more appealling for you to join. Why you choose to go on a "Rant" about Atheists, LGBQT, religious nationalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, and all the other diatribe you could think of is beyond answering the question. If you wish to rant about all your personal beliefs start your own Q&A post. You diminish the value of Rally Point when you horn into other subjects with your ranting about how you and others have been treated. Please, do not bother to answer this reply. I have already tuned you out as a person that is only looking for a cause to defend and will never be happy!

Try not assuming that every woman who walks in is either looking for a man or should be sent to the wives club....I am a veteran too!

Our post has had a number of new members com in through outreach by attending local festivals as well as sponsoring local youth sports teams.

No smoking and I would join again. I tried, really tried but the smoke smell inundated the food, my clothing and is just awful.

Both told mr I'm not eligible. Turns out I am, they did not bother to ask when and where I served. Hmm.

Not worth it.

In order for a post to survive they need new blood, they need to upgrade ie paint, remodel, rearrange the furniture etc etc, sorry your post has old viet nam cogers so does my post and they are glad the younger generation is coming on board it gives them a chance to take a seat while new ideas are formulated. You are always going to have the guys there who just want to sit and make love to their tonic n gin. We Post 1051 Ripon, CA are working at doing more family oriented activities it is a work in progress. It’s sad but out of a post that has 300 members on the books we only have 30 worker bees you will find that in every organization.

I am 71 going on 72 this year and happen to agree with everything Maj Hoover wrote. I tried to get involved in a couple of local Legion posts about 10 years ago and found that while I might be tolerated as a "younger guy", my wife was not welcomed or encouraged to join the lady's clique. I sense that a lot of the younger generation values their service time and often enjoys being around like-minded gentlemen, they also wish their spouse be accepted / included in the activities. While our spouses may not have worn the greens or tans, they tended to keep our world together for us to come back to. They should not be delegated to subservient roles in our social organizations now. So, while I maintained a national membership, I was attached to the general membership roster for the state.

I was a member of the legion for over 6 years in that time I saw posts with so much cigarette smoke you couldn't see. Excessive alcohol consumption and then going out getting driving a vehicle. And yes not very accepting. And I am a Nam vet.
When I moved to my current location I tried to find s legion home and most posts were only on paper and the one post I did find stated they would have the post person in control of membership get a hold of me and that never happened,
Their loss!

I've never been inclined to join either....don't feel the need for that kind of reminder. VFW always seemed like an old geezer's club to me. Now that I'm an old geezer, I still don't feel the need to go there. Judging from the comments here, they're not that welcoming anyway. There are plenty of pubs around if I ever feel the need to go to a place to grab a drink and hang out. American Legion is like Arby's to me....I kind of think I know what goes on there, but never curious enough to visit.....LOL