Posted on 11/14/2011 6:13:24 AM PST by TSgt
Even as more troops return home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, local VFW posts do not expect a boost in membership. That lack of interest could hurt those posts financially.
Chuck Hangbers with Post 7670 in Hamilton says unfortunately, returning service men and women tend to shy away from VFW posts. Hangbers says the younger people tend to move on when they return home. He says they focus on getting their lives together. That is leading to fewer members-only about three or four new members a year.
At 7670, Hangbers says there may be forty to sixty people a day---back in the 1980's there may have been up to 80 members a day. Fewer numbers also means fewer dollars to support them. As a result, Hangbers says posts have to cut corners at the canteen where members come in to eat and drink.
Not only is the membership dwindling, he says the economy is preventing members from spending as much money as they used to.
While a dwindling membership and a dragging economy are hurting the post, Hangbers says the post can continue its tradition of providing holiday food baskets to families in need.
The nanny statists in my state(MN) banned smoking in bars (and VFWs) so smoking is not an issue.
Other than that, most guys are probably busy working 2 or 3 jobs to pay their taxes. (MN still taxes military benefits for retirees)
Dwindling membership means dwindling participation in Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day parades.
Same old story.
There will always be some folks who dont mind hanging out in a dark smokey place and drinking cheap booze.. and honestly there should be a man cave in communities, where men can be men around other men, salty language, bawdy behavior etc etc.
The problem is that the VFW’s, AMVETS etc are the mancaves of the 1950s. Smoking has gone from everyone does it to few do. Fathers have gone from not as active in their childrens lives, to very active in them (as a general rule). The mancave hasn’t adapted.. whether it be the VFW or AMVETS etc etc.
They endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein over Republican and war veteran LTC Allen West
Not every WWII vet actually served in combat. In fact, not every WWII vet even left the country. (I guess today they’d be called WWII “ERA” vets.) Yet they were all eligible to join the VFW.
But the VFW wouldn’t accept combat veterans from Viet Nam because it wasn’t a “real” war. Then later, due to dwindling membership, they started to accept Viet Nam vets who had served “in country”. Then they started accepting Viet Nam “ERA” vets.
I’m with you, oh8eleven, I’ll stand with my Viet Nam era and “in country” and combat vets.
However, I still look up to those old men and women from WWII. As I look up to all veterans!
I joined the American Legion in the ‘60 because I had a traveling job and went to a lot of places that did not have bars open to the public. Afterward, even though I stopped traveling, I stayed a member because I thought the AL was a patriotic organization. I dropped my membership during the ‘90 when the American Legion did not chastise Bill Clinton, his family and friends. The VFW and AL have turned into nothing but “Givemee” organizations like NCAAP and I don’t need any.
The biggest reason for the decline is because the draft has been suspended since the ‘60s and overall the quality of the servicemen and women is better, and they are more self sufficient.
I’m a veteran but didn’t serve in a theater of war. I’m welcome as a guest at our VFW but not eligible for membership. I’m Sr Vice Commander of our American Legion post, however. Both our Legion and VFW posts have more senior members than young, but both are doing well. We have 45 members in our Legion post, and have recruited 5 this past year. But only 3 are from recent engagements.
One thing that needs to be done is a strong recruitment program. Posts need to form recruitment committees with personnel enthused about talking to people and inviting them to meetings.
Those who say small, dark, smoky (in violation of the CA law, you GO old guys!), and old guys drinking cheap booze have the right of it.
The problem with exclusivity is that of declining membership.
VFW tended to break the link between the WWII generation and the Vietnam era warriors - and now they have almost no link to the new generation of warriors.
My advice is to try to get younger men who are veterans of foreign wars in there. The problem being that younger men tend to want to drink and carouse where there are young women in evidence.
I am a member of a VFW post and today the majority of members and post officers are Vietnam War veterans as am I. Sadly, the WWII generation is dying off rapidly.
Remember that the Vietnam War lasted ten years and the age of the average Vietnam veteran is now 60 years old.
We offer Iraq and Afghanistan War vets free first year membership to allow them to determine if they want to continue their membership. And by the way, there are no more “smoke filled” rooms in VFW posts.
We have a very active VFW post and the majority of our work is in the community helping any veterans in need and visiting local schools by showing students that there is more to being a hero than playing basketball or being a movie actor.
An important role that the VFW plays is in encouraging students to become aware of our history and the freedoms that they enjoy due to the sacrifices of veterans.
See:
VOICE OF DEMOCRACY
http://www.vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy/
Our American Legion meetings are held at our country club. We have 45 members, half or more in attendance every month. Yes, we’ll have a drink (about half of us) with our meal, but that’s it. We conduct a good meeting, and are engaged in service within the community. About half our membership is also part of our Kiwanis Golden K club as well. So we’re people who are active.
If you’re interested, look for an organization like ours that does things within the community. Not all VFW/Legion clubs are the same and shouldn’t be painted with a broad brush.
The problem is just not the Service related organizations - it applies to other social groups like the Masons, Elk, Moose, etc - even including Bowling Leagues.
With other entertainment available young folks just aren’t joining those type organizations in the numbers they once did.
I have membership in a few organizations but rarely go to any meetings - no time.
The thought never occurred to me, most likely because:
1. I typically don’t join things.
2. I never linked my self-identity to being a vet.
3. After my time in the military (Corpsman, ‘72-’76, a wee bit of action during the falls of Cambodia and Saigon), the last thing I wanted to do was be reminded of it. My tendency in life has always been to look forward, not back, so I got on with my life.
Well, I stand corrected. I thought they had changed the membership requirements to accept those who served during wartime. I knew a lot of WWII vets growing up who were members but told me they’d never been in combat.
I also notice those who served during the “Indian Ocean Operation” are eligible. Hell, I helped build the base at Diego Garcia in 1973 but I’m not eligible.
Guess they’re learning they’re just a little too picky.
All good points!
Perhaps younger generations prefer to wander in and out of social events and settings rather than committing to just one?
When the young guys don't join, that's what you're left with.
I do think, though, that the drop in membership just reflects the fact that people don't join clubs in general anymore. You see the same aging membership in the Rotary, the Kiwanis, the Lions Club, the Moose, the Elks etc..
I think they are all destined to die out, which is really a shame, but, then, I never joined any of them, either.
I’ve never understood why any organizations like these would endorse any candidate. Don’t they realize they’re probably pissing off half their membership? They should also realize they’re members are forced ito pay dues like the unions.
One more thing. Most of these groups had a substantial charitable purpose. A lot, if not all, of that has been taken over by the government. Younger people see less and less reason to volunteer for charitable purposes. They figure it will be taken care of through their taxes.
Nope. Peacetime soldiers can’t join.
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