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

Exactly,why go where we're not wanted,if they don't want me they don't get my dues, I guess they can just get along without us or our money. I only go where I feel welcome,besides, Denny's had better fare & hours without the bullshit.

Stop the focus on alcohol

The fact that I can walk into my local VFW, walk through the whole building, and not one person will say anything to me. That is the main reason I have never returned. I have attended a couple of Bike Runs from there, The only people that spoke to me where the people taking my money and giving me the map of where we were going. I do notice everybody has a little group they hang with, evidently I don't fit into any group, or veteran motorcycle club. Basically the VFW is one of the most unwelcoming places I have ever been too.

Make them non smoking , I quit 40 years ago , don't care to walk in our local VFW it reeks.
I have gone in several times just for a few minutes and when I walk out I smell of stale cigarette smoke . My wife had half of her lung removed due to second hand cigarette smoke, she never smoked but her parents did

I never considered either vets organization for similar reasons; I was a draftee, did my Two, and ETS'd. I didn't want to risk feeling unwelcome, or even shunned. Now I'm 77, and am afraid my local chapters are just gone Q-Anon. I feel "I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but I'm not crazy!" (Bullwinkle J. Moose, 1964) and I respect our flag, veterans, and service -- but... ! Well, you asked.
Oh, Bill Mauldin, twice Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and creator of WWII's 'Willie and Joe' often wrote sourly about 'Professional Veterans Organizations' and avoiding either one.

My problem with at least the VFW is that the entire basis of the organization, that I could see when I've been to one, is for the members to gather, tell war stories, smoke and drink. Now, I'm all for the war stories, but I don't smoke, nor do I drink, so those both are non-starters for me.

Hello VFW - the 1950's called and they want their attitude back. Unless you smoke, drink or gamble, your local VFW doesn't have much to offer. Nationally - their advocacy and Veteran service officers at VA hospitals are excellent. Diversity is only listed on the door, it's not practiced in the post home. There are women, and LGBQT+ veterans who are eligible for VFW membership. Most VFW posts barely acknowledge women veterans. I have yet to find one accepting/welcoming of LGBQT veterans. They exist and their service was no less honorable than anyone else's. ! Until the VFW sheds it's 1950's mentality, then it will die a slow death.

We’ve gone from the service mentality that a DUI is good to the post MADD drinking and driving being bad. Also our generation of vets are more health conscious. If we’re the majority. Then Taylor it to us not the remaining from the last generation that can still drive.

Getting it out of the hands of the old cronies! In our club, the same people run it over and over again and nothing changes because no one wants to hurt their friend's feelings. For example, our web page is pathetic but, "she's been doing it so long!" is the answer when I offer to update it.

I'm an American Legion member because my dad asked me to join about 45 years ago and I've continued in memory of him. But I haven't been to a meeting in a couple decades and have only been to about three meetings over that whole time. Meetings have always been about standing at attention and pretending I have to follow orders from whomever the currently elected officers are. It's been too much old soldiers reliving their glory days and not enough friendship and comradery.