Why have more of our generation not joined the VFW?

I've been by and I do plan on joining. And I like and respect those who went before me to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. But the simple truth is every VFW post just looks like a '70s dayroom, with pool tables, people drinking, and telling war stories. The VFW hasn't made itself relevant to people younger than me.

How? I'm not sure, but computer game competitions might be a good start. Another possibility is a game called Ingress. (http://www.ingress.com.) It's like Capture the Flag, but the entire world is the playing field and you play and see the flags using a cell phone. I'm playing for the Resistance, trying to keep the Enlightened from controlling everyone's brain on behalf of aliens called the Shapers. (incidentally, I'm not kidding when I say ENTIRE world. There's a flag in Antarctica.)

Ok, probably sounds crazy, but it's a young person's game, a team game, and a game that gets you more exercise than doing 12 ounce curls. (I'm 60, but I'm still young on the inside.) It's best played with a team, and it's more fun than you can imagine from what I've told you. But it uses what we are already good at, teamwork, strategy, tactics, planning, execution, psychological warfare, intelligence, communications ... all skills we have well above the civilian average.

Or whatever else someone thinks of. You are going to have to find something the younger generation is interested in, if you want to attract more.

If they want to add members, criteria for membership will have to be expanded. I have hear this many times from those that want to join. If there was fresh blood at the VFW facilities, perhaps the old stories over a beer could be replaced by more current "sea stories" and the newbies could learn from the more experienced.

No, and I think for myself personally it is due to my raising.

I was in Desert Storm, so yes I do qualify, but growing up as a kid, I watched my father, and his brothers, literally drown themselves in alcohol at the local VFW post almost every night, and I swore to myself and my wife that she, nor my children would ever see that. When I drive by a VFW post, the only thing that I think of unfortunately, is my father getting drunk.

I have been to several VFW's and some are like just the local Bar to hang out and drink. Some run the organization as if they are still Active Duty, which can be good and bad. I retired and thought this may be away to keep connected to comrades in arms, and truth be told, I always loved talking to the older generation, but the locations I have been to or visited are like I stated, a bar or treat you like you are still on Active duty or you haven't been to a real war. I have been to a lot of the "Sandy Vacation Spots." The problem with some organizations is that (and this has been stated), if you don't play their silly games you are treated badly, and I don't really think that is what these organizations are really about. But until the "Old Guard" is brought up to speed or current events, they will continue to lose out on a great amount of knowledge, experience and camaraderie from this current generation of veterans.

I found it to be like the Catholic Church, no matter how much you give they want more. Participate in one fund raiser and with in a week you get another in the mail. It got to the point where I received 8 fundraisers a month. I called and was told that I had been added to multiple fundraiser lists. That ended it for me.

I have served from the Panama Invasion to OIF III. Unfortunately the VFW's I've attended still have this, "us and them" attitude. It's still the mentality of the Vietnam Vets that aren't always inviting. The Commander of my local VFW, is not pleasant to deal with.

the truth is the vfw doesnt market well to our generation. they other war vets usually took 10-15 years to start comming into the vfw as well

I have been a member of my local VFW since 1997. Since that time I have held many officers positions, from Trustee to Jr, Vice Commander.
With that said, I will only speak about my post. One reason why the younger vets don't is because they think that all we do there is get drunk and tell "war stories" which is far from the truth. Another reason is the post isn't "family friendly" except for a kids Christmas party nothing is done for the members families. Basically the VFW has become an "old boys club"
I do know that since the War on Terror,many Posts has grown and new Posts has opened.

Great question, brother. It reminds me that I need to go and join them. I love those guys. When I was enlisted I was a musician by MOS and on trips we would see different localities' VFW chapters, sponsoring us sometimes, or doing parades, whatever. Hanging out and drinking a beer with those old dudes and hearing their stories about serving in past conflicts was always cool.

I am a member of my local VFW and I help out with my boyfriend's VFW as well. I love talking to the older Veteran's and my town has the third largest Veteran's Day Parade this side of the Mississippi, so I get to meet lots of WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Vets. It's a humbling experience to say the least. They paved the way for us Veterans of today.