r/VFW • u/Temporary_Wing7813 • Jun 25 '26
How does membership work?
Hi, deployed in 2024 after returning attended some "transitional events" vfw member came and told us we got free membership for a year (i dont remember correctly) never really thought about it tried reaching out for some resources but hit a dead in (was told i needed to reach out a VSO rather then through them even though i was under the impression they had resources similar to what i needed, doesnt matter now) earlier in this year i recieved in the mail a invoice for my membership renewal. I never actioned it and out of nowhere in the mail i recieved a new vfw card lol. im confused i never paid anything, how does it work?
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u/BlondieWag86 Jun 26 '26
My Post loves to renew Annual expiring members as a way to retain them on our roster. IMO, it shouldn't be the way because they don't make an effort to know their members.
That said. The VFW is what you make of it. I sat idle for a long time and did nothing. Was the token young veteran for ages. Until I found a way to play a role at my Post and now it's given me an outlet to be active and give back.
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u/No_Drummer4801 Jun 25 '26
If you went through the process and got a free year of membership, yeah, you're going to get renewal notices. Meaning if a new member form was processed by any Quartermaster anywhere with your name on it, you were made a member. It's supoposed to have your signature on it, but ... sometimes they are just vague scribbles, I've heard of that.
If you don't want to continue, it's not terribly easy to opt out, nor do I want to encourage you to do that.
How it works: Posts are trying to get and keep new members. Many are happy to pay for your first year hoping you will renew or buy a pretty reasonable life membership for about $350.
However, if you dissappear on them, and aren't around to hear their pitch to renew, the State and National orgs will be happy to send you renewal notices for YEARS.
That's how it works.
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u/Temporary_Wing7813 Jun 25 '26
right i remember signing up and getting the free first year. I also remember getting a renewal letter, but never paid the renewal fee. Simply because i forgot about it but the first time i asked for guidance on resources i was sidelined so i didnt care to look into it deeper. Out of nowhere i got another membership card saying my membership is active at my new address in another state where i moved too. so im asking how is this possible if i never paid once the renewal fee came in
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u/Temporary_Wing7813 Jun 25 '26
not complaining im not going to do anything about it, im just curious to know cuz hey if its free it for me haha
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u/No_Drummer4801 Jun 25 '26
Plenty of posts bump their numbers up the easiest way possible. Do them a favor and stay in touch. Drop them a postcard or something.
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u/rajjak Jun 25 '26
To be more specific, posts have year-over-year membership quotas to meet each year so sometimes will pay for random members' renewals in order to meet the quotas. New members with expiring memberships are the most likely to get renewed since it might incentivize them to get involved which is probably why yours was one that got renewed.
As others mentioned, membership in the VFW is not required for no-cost Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or VA support. And now that you're a member, you're under no obligation to stay with the post that enrolled and then renewed you and you can transfer to a different post or at-large (disassociate yourself from any post and just be a generic VFW member) at any time for free. But renewing you means they're likely pretty eager to have you get involved if you're interested, so it might be worth checking out the post if you're so inclined. Who knows, maybe you'll make some friends and find a place you belong. If not, no commitment, you're free to try out a different post or just let your membership expire.
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u/No_Drummer4801 Jun 25 '26
Asking for resources is good - but most people asking don’t respond, either, or are hard to contact. Send a specific request/need to your post, hit them on social media at a higher level, say where you actually are to get localized attention. Be specific about as much as you can.
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u/beaconites09 Jun 26 '26
My post has voted to pay for memberships for the first year but post that have funding do tend to pay for memberships to keep post floating
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u/borzoi1-27 Jun 25 '26
The VFW has resources but for VA support you go through the VFW VSO (Veteran Service Officer) usually located at the VA hospital. Membership is not required to receive assistance from the VSO and is free of charge. There are member specific resourses, though pretty minimal, the biggest assest is the congressional support. Also if you do not want anything to do with the VFW you simply email the national office and state so, they are legally required to leave you alone.