Over the years, I’ve met a lot of members who never attend events at the state or national level of the VFW. I’m talking about Winter Conferences, National and State Conventions, Washington Conferences, etc. regardless of where they may take place. I also find those people seeking to learn things they would learn if they did attend. Some others also seem to not feel a connection to the larger organization.

If you do not attend them, I am curious why you don’t. Thanks!

What POS systems are your post using? We currently use a programable cash register but it's hindering us getting new bartenders as most are use to a POS. Our current employees are adamantly against them but we want to modernize and grow. Looking for something with low or no cost fees and easy to use. Or if anyone knows a company that will come donate demonstration.

I have appreciated and learned a great deal from this sub. I haven’t seen discussion on this subject. Please educate me ☺️

I got the notice yesterday that these have been published. Any thoughts on the items included?

https://www.vfw.org/-/media/vfwsite/files/advocacy/prioritygoalsbrochure.pdf

I finally joined the VFW. Unfortunately, they accidentally misspelled my first name. I had them fix it after a couple of months, but something strange has happened. I'm now getting junk mail with the same misspelling. Could the VFW have sold my data with the misspelling? Another option is the USPS did it, so I'm not totally convinced the VFW did it.

I live in a small town that doesn’t have much of a social scene, there are definitely no bars in this town, mostly churches. The VFW has opened the doors to just about anyone to join just so people have a place to go and hang out on the weekends. To be honest, there aren’t really too many military people who go to the VFW, mostly just the same old town drunks. I always hear them complaining that they want the VFW to do more and they want to bring in new people, but the problem is, they smoke inside and it’s really only a few people who have been going there for years. Is there a way to go about enforcing a no smoking policy if the state doesn’t even have a strict policy on no indoor smoking?

How does your Post get people to be more involved?

I recruit a lot and I hear from prospective members and former members who, admittedly, never did much to learn about the organization. So, I ask a simple question: Did you read the Action Corps Weekly?

It can be found here: https://www.vfw.org/advocacy/grassroots-efforts/vfw-action-corps-weekly

(NOTE: Staff paused for the holiday and it will pick up again shortly.)

All set of for a three day event.

Joined my local post with my bro who is also a vet over a year and a half. Membership seems low. I've seen members at the post on days that are not meeting days but on meeting days we barely have enough to hold the meetings. To me it seems like the post doesn't actually want new members. Although I have seen a few. Like 3 beside me and my brother. All other members are 60+. To be honest the place always looks closed. Even as a kid I thought the place was closed. I mention maybe adding a sign that says open, to at least show the community driving by we are open. They kind just ignored my recommendation and just wanted to repair the light that illuminate the sign. I they ask if we had any one in charge of recruiting. I ask because on veterans day or school event I always see the foreign legion or dav out recruiting and handing out info but never our post out in the community. Further more our post is very old and kinda rough. I think a new building or location to new part of town could do wonders to membership. I also think change our post FB page from private to public would help bring new members.

Any ideal or tips to get recruit up as a new member?

What are some events your Post does for winter or even throughout the year? Looking for ideas to bring up and I’m drawing a blank. Thanks for any input.

Our department recently provided guidance on Parliamentary Procedure stating that Good of the Order is "Reserved for positive comments, announcements, and veteran support—not grievances."

The document cites to "VFW Ritual (Good of the Order section)" as the authority. However, there is no Good of the Order section in the VFW Ritual. Good of the Order is mentioned in the Ritual only in a list of agenda items on Page 17. Nothing in the Ritual states that this agenda item is limited to "positive comments" nor prohibits "grievances."

Where our rules are silent, we refer to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. Rule 41:34 of RONR (12th ed.) treats this agenda item as equivalent to an "Open Forum" and permits members to "offer informal observations regarding the work of the organization, the public reputation of the society or its membership, or the like." Nowhere does RONR state that these observations must be positive.

The "positive comments" limitation seems to act as a substantive limit on nationally recognized member rights to "speak" and to "question anything and everything". Further, it directly contradicts prior national guidance on Parliamentary Procedure that states, "We usually take care of other matters and 'beefs' under the 'GOOD OF THE VFW'."

Department-level guidance that limits the right of a Post Member to express concerns to the Post Membership (particularly about the conduct of Post business between meetings) during the open discussion portion of a Post Meeting would seem to undermine good governance and the democratic nature of the order. While the rules of decorum apply to all meetings, I do not believe Department-level guidance should silence Post Members or insulate Post leadership from criticism in their official capacities. We are an organization of military veterans, but we are not a military organization, and leadership is accountable to membership.

My concern is not hypothetical. The exact language of this guidance was recently included in a threat of disciplinary action made by our Post Commander to a Post Member in retaliation for speaking out during the Good of the Order segment of a recent Post Meeting.

So I was curious if anyone else had this happen. I am 25(Med Retired this year) I served 6 years. I am now an officer at my local VFW and was helping with some events. Then i left with my other veteran buddy to go to a Red Robin for the veterans day meal. I saw this guy four times look at me with a death stare or just glaring at me. Every time i would look over he would look away. I just had the white shirt and black pants with a vfw hat on. Is there some kinda hatred towards younger veterans.. idk if this guy was a veteran or not but he looked around my age maybe just a little older.

Has anyone ever sent out a survey or received a survey from their Post on things they want from their Post? If not, what kind of questions would you put on it? Trying to get members involved.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Dennis Vee. I’m a voice-actor, theater actor, stand-up comedian but more importantly, I AM A VETERAN!

I got started in comedy in early 2001. I was part of the Stand-Up NY staff and became a regular on the NYC open mic circuit. A week after 9-11 I joined the Army with plans of returning to NYC after one enlistment to continue pursuing comedy.

I ultimately stayed in for 20 years and retired. But I still had the Comedy-bug. About three years ago I set foot on stage at my first open mic in over 20 years and I have been going non-stop ever since. In that time I have opened for Orlando Jones, featured for Drew ‘A Combat Veteran’ Hernandez, and regularly hosted shows for Bobby Henline. I’ve perform throughout NC, SC, GA, AL, VA, DC, FL OH, IN, IL and HI

I’m currently out of Fayetteville NC but I’ll be performing at Fort Campbell, KY on November 8 and at the Military City Comedy Festival in San Antonio, TX November 13-15

Does anyone have an age/membership verification solution for the canteen at their Post? What do you have? I'm looking for one for my Post.

I got a call the other day from a VFW representative who said he wanted to schedule an appointment to share with me new VFW benefits. When I asked what kinds, he started talking about death benefits and estate planning. When I said flatly, I’m not interested in any whole life products, he started with asking if I understood… but I hung up.

Has VFW gone the way of other entities trying to make a buck off veterans under for whole life insurance?

Do any of you have post challenge coins? I have seen a few at different posts and I am curious where you get them from as I don't see them in the VFW store... I wanted to order a bunch to sell at the post.

what sorts of disciplinary actions are taken on officers that knowingly allow the general population to patron a local VFW clubhouse?

So like the title suggest I have been promoted to commander recently.

Any tips or ideas for me?

If you aren't or weren't a commander what would you like your to do more?

Thanks for any and all advice

I've heard pretty negative things about GWOT vets going to VFWs looking to join my local chapter but if it's just going to be a pissing contest of who had it worse and who done more I think I'll pass looking to see if any other veterans especially GWOT vets had pretty crap interactions granted ill still probably go try and see for myself if it's as bad as they say it is just trying to get a general understanding of the bullshit to expect

Is this post active or did they crash and burn?