I think I will print this post and send it to the VFW. I have never been there, but I have always been proud to brag it is the largest one in the U.S.

Always ready to tell our hero's who wear ball caps identifying themselves thank you.

I mean it so sincerely.

Remember that. Sir.

I agree. It's happened to me twice. I am a member BUT not a regular. It's like, "what do you want?"

Al poet 347
 

Those "POSTS" are nothing but private little control freak groups. My husband was a member of several of them and they did nothing for the community and only helped a few chosen people. My father was Air Force. Asked for help a few times thru the many many years and was told because he didnt come to meetings they wouldn't do anything for him (being sick, numerous strokes didnt count as a valid excuse). Just another bunch of drunks and ********. Don't waste your time. I don't go anywhere them and highly encourage others to not support them.

Rookie
 

I am moving to the Villages. I will not walk through the doors of this club.

My husband was also told that he had to join that post. They did not honor members from other locations. Haven't been
Denied at other posts. This happened a few months ago, haven't been back.

New rules are clearly posted on the entrance and the web page of the Post, since the upsurge in Covid19. They are just being smart and cautious. You should tell the Commander of the Post about your feelings, not 65,000 people on this site who don't have any affiliation to the American Legion.

I am both a member of the Post and Honor Guard. So, I have a different perspective. First, the Commander posted new rules as
Taltarzac725 pointed out. It wasn’t an easy decision. I know the Commander well. She’s an incredibly dedicated veteran. She is always out speaking to members and getting their input and although you stated most members disagree with her policy, she is not one to enact a policy that members haven’t recommended or support. Legion members are very vocal. If you would like to speak to her just email me privately and I can provide her number or email. I know she will respond. Second, the folks working the door are volunteers. Some are personable and some are old salts, but their job is to enforce the rules, not make them. If you felt a member was rude, please provide the Commander a name. This will help her reassign volunteers to positions that may be more suited to them. Third, Post 347 hosted a vaccination drive last year. The response was overwhelming. Joan could probably give you data on how many members were vaccinated. This may have contributed to the Board’s decision. It’s not an uncommon one apparently as I can’t enter the Post in my husband’s State under similar rules. Thus, I would recommend that you speak to her. She can best explain the Board’s decision to change protocols.

Finally, my perspective on the door greeter as described in your first post: I joined the Post shortly after moving here and then the Honor Guard. As one of the younger members, it took me some time to fit in. Many vets have baggage and you’ll find a variety of personalities at the Post, many who saw combat. So, I try to give some leeway. You simply can’t judge all vets by the actions or personalities of a few. Not everyone has cheery dispositions. That soldier at the door may have seen or participated in combat neither you or I had to endure. For example, a few months ago, we rendered honors to a vet that was a POW. His imprisonment as described by his widow was horrific. These are the volunteers you meet at the Post. Many just want to feel useful and serve in some small way and yes, some are greeters at the door. In Illinois at your Post, perhaps things are different, but here we have many volunteers and you have quite a variety; without them, the Post doesn’t function.

So why come to the Post? As I said in a previous reply, the Post has raised millions of dollars to support multiple charities as well as scholarships. We have a large Auxiliary that does great work in the community and supports the Honor Flight. The Commander personally visits the local prison and serves vets there. Our Honor Guard with over 60 members provides military honors at Bushnell and local churches, sometimes as often as several a day. This is by far the largest contingent I’ve seen while many have only 2-4 members to render honors. It has always been an honor and privilege to participate and I’ve made some amazing friends. They drive me to the airport, cook for me when I am sick and check on me regularly, especially this past week with all that’s going on. They are nothing like the member you encountered.

When the Post fully opens back up, I hope you consider coming back. If you live here, simply join, but if you don’t understand the Post’s new protocols, then talk to the Commander. She’s really a terrific person and will certainly welcome your input and recommendations.

It is not a friendly place..joined about 4 years ago. Never felt welcome. They look at you with suspicion.. when I would go at noon to get tickets I would use my electronic card but as soon as I walk in there is someone there to check your ID again. When you go to get tickets they want to see your ID again. Come on get real.

??? Mm
 

I am a proud Navy vet. I am proud of my service in Vietnam and other places around the world. I understand the expressed reason for the rule as stated, but my feeling is that if you are not able to serve all members of the organization, rather than open only for a select few, you should close the doors to all until you are able to fully accept ALL members of the organization with open arms. Anything less smacks as operating a private club in the guise of a service club.

I agree with you 100% I had the same problem when i moved here 2 yrs ago, i also have found the Villages 2 not be the freidlist home town....

If you read the National By-laws, you will see members are members of a post. You are guests at other posts. You can transfer to another post, but you must be accepted into membership.

Thank you for serving this Great Country ! I am a member of Post 80
St Cloud Florida and also a Charter Rider, I support Post 80 financially because of the small membership numbers of Post 80, and I used to live in St. Cloud.. interested in how vaccinated guests would be an issue!

Thank you for this post. We've all travelled different paths. Not everyone has seen the sane things. Sometimes people are having a bad day. Some are simply not friendly. But if they served they have my respect.

I do not drink much and I do not play Bingo. I only went to Post 347 once 8 years ago. We were treated well at that time. I can see your side of the story, but also Post 347's side. I (or most other people) am not qualified to say which side has the stronger argument. What I would like to say is a general statement. We are living through modern history, which is divided into a pre CV and a post CV time period. Post 347 and yourself have merely gotten caught up in the societal entanglements from the US inability to defeat the Virus. I understand that it is hard NOT to take that personally. But, I would take consulation in the extraordinary circumstances that have roiled "normal" everyday life. Hope that you are able to work it out to your satisfaction. You have excellent military and post military credentials. You are a credit to your uniform!

Think my Dad went a few times to this American Legion Post 347 but did not find it to his taste. He was a medic for the Wolfhounds in the early 1950s stationed in Hawaii and South Korea.

27th Infantry Regiment (United States - Wikipedia)

I can see that point.......indoors with masks off, questionable separation, and unknown vaccine status - that adds up to serious danger - like a war zone with invisible virus soldiers all around you and very close.

This thread has a fairly high degree of reality for the lives of TV Landers. I have seen far weaker thread subjects!

There are lots of electronic cards floating around by members that haven’t paid their dues. Thus, at the door they are checking your ID to make sure it’s current. At the ticket window for the Queen of Hearts game, they are checking your personal ID to your card, since your card doesn’t have your photo. As I understand it, the Post has to abide by State regulations for games and this is why new protocols were put in place. I show my ID even when I’m in my Honor Guard uniform. The same rules are applied to all.

Concerning the looks… I get looks going to City Fire. Just pull up to the bar, introduce yourself and make some friends. You’ll find if you come often, the same bunch is there. If you only come on Tuesday to buy your ticket, expect some looks. This isn’t Cheers, they aren’t going to shout out your name when you come through the door, but if you come often enough, folks will get to know you. Also, think about volunteering or joining a golf team. We would love to have you join the Honor Guard. We really look out for each other. On Tuesday nights you’ll often see us sitting together. You’re more than welcome to join us. Just ask at the front desk or email me.

Finally, the Commander is aware of the need to improve orientation for members. She has only been in Command since the end of June. If you have recommendations, please reach out to her. She really is working hard to address these issues.

Well said! The details you provided spell out the story behind the story. I am a member who transferred from my home state post. I did it because of how this post is managed and the involvement of the members. The number of people that volunteer is unlike any other club I have been a member of. This includes the greeters at the door. They are just telling you what the rules are. Hopefully you will speak with the Commander and resolve your issue as previously suggested here.

I was denied access to the post just a few weeks ago myself
 

I too was denied access to have a drink after going there to meeting last week. I am not a member because I feel if you have a military retired ID, and not the DD214, that should be good enough for membership. I spent almost twenty five years in the service, and not reserves or National Guard, but regular Active Duty. I called the state, and national departments and said I should join and bring this up, but my stance on this is what I worked for in the service, not just guys who spent a couple of years in and treat a retiree this way. Also I found out even if your not military but you dad was you can join and get all the benifits, and a retiree gets none, because he has a military ID. And on the other note, yes the bar manager, was very rude and loud, and very disrespectful, so on that note, why would I want to join that post.

CV cannot be just ignored. I would suggest outdoor dining with box dinners. Maybe with a tent roof or a building with all open sides for meals, bingo, and other activities. Indoor activities should be for those fully vaccinated and willing to wear a mask. I realize that the separation of groups is the opposite of the main idea of togetherness that veterans deserve - and it would be difficult and harsh, but we are living in difficult and harsh times. Several prominent medical Doctors believe that we will ALL have to live with this pandemic for up to 5 years. So, the Legion Post 347 and ALL indoor businesses in the US must make harsh and unpopular decisions. Who am I to blame them?

USMC vet. Thanks for your service. Consider checking out Band of Brothers in The Villages. We meet Tuesday’s at lunch, City Fire in Sumter. No politics and plenty of military brotherhood.

I can answer the last part of that question. The NEW Delta variant is different than the earlier variants. Delta can remain for some (yet to be exactly researched) period of time in a vaccinated person's nasal cavity. During that time a vaccinated person can infect an unvaccinated person (especially indoors) and that unvaccinated person could become hospitalized and DIE. Imagine what a simple sneeze could do indoors. This information is on the CDC website and has been explained in detail by many expert Doctors on many news programs.

Agreed

My husband is a member of AL #347. We went there on Monday August 9th. We had to friends with us. Apparently we didn’t read the notice on the door (or the paper) so we went in. We were told about the notice. They were all VERY polite. We understood the situation and respected it. We simply went elsewhere - it was no big deal. We have never met a condescending or rude individual on any occasion. Since then our friend was sworn in and we plan on returning tonight.

Just because a person has seen some horrific things doesn't give them the right to be a rude jerk. I would bet a few dollars that this person is well known in the club as being a rude jerk but no one has the guts to speak up about it to prohibit him from performing these duties. I'm quite sure the commander of this club is aware of this person's attitude. One thing a leader has to accept is they have to make hard decisions and do what is best for the organization. You aren't a leader if you can't do that.
First impressions are the ones that stick in a person's mind about an individual or an organization. This jerk has caused a number of people to decide not to join. This is how clubs die out after a while. Just how hard would it be to politely and in a friendly manner explain the new policy and to thank the person for their interest in the club. Trouble is that jerks have no idea about being friendly and treat other people with courtesy.
I quit belonging to social clubs many years ago for the same attitude of club members displayed by the jerk in the Legion Club. Pretty disgusting when a new member is told that they have to wait patiently for acceptance by the regulars. The current membership are the ones that should welcome a new member and not wait for the newbee to beg for acceptance.

OP, under High Year of Tenure requirements, how does an E7 serve for 35 years?

Earlier today I received a call from Joan Suelter, Post Commander of the American Legion Post 347. We had a very friendly conversation and she was gracious enough to explain the Post's recent decision to open the building only for Post members and their spouses. Though I do not necessarily agree with their policy, I understand and accept their decision. I explained to her that I did not feel my comments were directed to Post 347 as a whole but were actually a reference to how unwelcomed I was by the gatekeeper. I was born and raised in the hospitality industry and my parents owned a family restaurant in Iowa. My father once told me that he welcomed complaints because it was an opportunity to correct a problem. It was a lesson I carried through my entire life and whether you agree or disagree with my observation or complaint, there is a communication problem within this Post. Reading the threads of this discussion, I am not the only person who has experienced rude gatekeepers or employees. Now that the problem has been exposed, maybe it is time to fix it! Of course, I understand we all have bad days, but there is a trail of bad days that seems to contribute to a growing communication problem. I believe the Commander understands the situation and I can only hope for the Post, its members, and all veterans, she takes advantage of this negative publicity as an opportunity to find ways to improve communications and provide a more welcoming attitude for visiting American Legion Members.

Ok that answers my question.moved here a year ago was going to transfer to 347 maybe try the one on 44 instead.

Now that you have been educated about not being entitled to access every Post, Hopefully you have had an attitude adjustment towards The Villages as well. :clap2:

Very astute observation...
 

However, the High Year of Tenure was not fully implemented until after I retired. But for the record, because I have nothing to hide, I served three years, nine months, and twenty-one days on active duty. I received an honorable discharge (and a DD-214) after fighting a war in Southeast Asia. I returned to college and after graduation, I joined the Air Force Reserves where I had an opportunity to travel around the world for most of the other 32 years. I hope this clarifies any misconceptions you might have about my service record.

Sarcasm noted...
 

Could you do me a favor and point out where I said or wrote the word (entitled).

When you are in someone else's house you have access as a guest, but you are not entitled to roam through their closets.

If I did use the word "entitled", maybe you misunderstand what I was trying to explain!

Yes, every Amerian Legion member is a guest outside of the own Post. However, that being said, if you are a member in good standing with the American Legion and visiting another Post, you are entitled to the respect courted the local members.

That is call courtesy and incorporates common sense.

Your statement: Please reconsider this stupid policy! Don't shut your doors to those entitled to the privileges of membership with the American Legion.

:ho:

:boom:

You can complain about rudeness. You can disagree with a policy. But the title of this thread is not about either. It is about "denying access". It sounds like the gatekeeper did their job by denying access to the OP. One thing I like about the military is that, unlike many others, they are usually very good at following and enforcing their own rules. Suppose the gatekeeper had allowed access to a non-member who spread the COVID virus inside the Post? That would defeat the purpose of the policy established by the Post, and the gatekeeper's function.

I think the issue was less what he did, and more how he did it. (the gatekeeper)

I am a member of 347. I don't agree with the policy there, but it is their decision. Live with it or go back up north.

Fred: sorry for you experience. Please volunteer with Villages Honor Flight. We need men like you.

Try post 18 in Wildwood

I am a member of the VFW!