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.
Didn’t the VFW endorse Hairy Reed? Didn’t they stand behind that poser that claimed to have served in Viet Nam?
I also went into a post to check into joining. I’m a 1st Gulf War vet. The ‘Nam vets kept using the word “Cakewalk”, in reference to my service, so I figured “Hell, I could go back to my ex wife, and be treated like this!”
Membership eligibility information here:
http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFWorg/Join/complete%20eligibility%20Info.PDF
That’s about the same for me.
Yeah, I don’t get the “my service was tougher than yours” stuff...
I’m not a member or a veteran but have been in a few as a guest over the years. Overall better clientele than the local watering hole but not much different. In PA they used to be the place to get your gambling fix but with all the new casino options now available all the private clubs are hurting. Fast Eddie Rendell pretty much made the State a gambling monoply.
Up my way every small town has a VFW and an American Legion post with a few having an AMVETS. I suspect these two (and maybe the AMVETS) organizations would be better off merging before they both go under.
???
Let’s not forget that Veterans of Foreign Wars has a habit of endorsing Democrats like Barbara Boxer and this bizzare situation.
Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC backs Klein over veteran West
The PAC for the nation’s largest veterans group has has endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein over Republican challenger and war veteran LTC Allen West.
“This endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security & defense, and military personnel issues,” says a letter to Klein from Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC Director Salvatore Capirchio.
“I am a veteran... I am not eligable to join...you see, I served under carter, and we are not considered part of the real military....”
Count me as one of those.
I constantly get the solicitations to join, and then look at the groupings to find I’m not eligible. Guess we aren’t as good as the other guys?
Save the money, don’t piss off those who aren’t worthy.
Life is very complicated with numerous commitments. The call to give back is loud from many quarters. Quality leaders of character are hard to find.
An organization has to both advertise and recruit, and have attractions of interest to new members.
After WWII, VFW posts seemed to be mostly drinking clubs. They got a reputation for it. Much less interest in that today.
But today, the VFW needs to make itself valuable to its membership that needs things. Right now, the most immediate thing is “veterans employment networking”. Think “old veterans hiring young veterans.”
This, just by itself, will have young veterans banging on the door. But only if they know about it. And that means advertising in such a way that it gets to them. The VFW needs to connect with military outprocessing, to actually get onto military bases and talk to soldiers who are getting out and are scared because they see no employment prospects.
Once this ball gets rolling, the VFW needs to come up with a reason for them to stay in the organization. This means getting them their veterans benefits, enrolling them in USAA, lots of financial guidance, special deals in housing and automobiles, medical care, health and life insurance, etc.
Jimmy Carter was the first woman President.
It was not a place I'd ever think about taking my girls when they were young, because you would hear some salty language (full disclosure, in a bar setting I think that's fine, and I wouldn't complain about it, I just wouldn't subject my kids to it).
Plus, my wife had no desire to go in because of all the smoke. Can't blame her for that. When I smoked it didn't bother me, but I quit 10 years ago, and after I quit I couldn't stand the smell.
It was basically just a place where you could get a good, cheap lunch or dinner, and a cold, cheap mug of beer or a shot.
But after I quit smoking I went there less and less until I just let my membership expire. But even with all that, I still stayed on an extra 3 or 4 years and never set foot in the door. I just payed my dues so I was eligible play in their golf league.
VFW posts look for boost from
returning soldiers
By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer
10:14 PM Thursday, November 10, 2011
As more troops return to the U.S. in the upcoming months, local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts don’t expect to see a surge in business.
About 40,000 American troops stationed in Iraq are to be home by years end, but that won’t necessarily lead to higher VFW membership, according to Chuck Hangbers, a former senior commander of VFW Post 7670 in Hamilton.
“When they come home, they try to get away from stuff like this,” he said. “They come back home and have a lot to get settled on. They don’t want to talk about nothing when they first get home.
“We’re struggling like everyone else right now. We’re barely keeping the bills paid, but we’re keeping open so far,” Hangbers said.
While the Hamilton and Middletown posts profit from membership fees - $25 a year for a regular membership - donations, fish fries and renting out its facilities, both said their biggest source of revenue is the canteen, where members come in and drink and eat....
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service.
in nj...no smoking inside any VFW
No more smoking either in Ohio VFW’s and there’s enough fodder there for another thread.
I was out in ‘82........not eligible, but my brother, who joined the year after me, is eligible....
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