Across the country, VFW Posts are discovering that the most effective path to membership sustainability is not a single campaign or recruitment push. Rather, it is the steady work of building authentic relationships within the communities.
By meeting veterans where they already gather, Posts can create meaningful connections that translate into long-term engagement, renewed purpose and stronger organizations.
Members of VFW Post 7356 in Parkville, Missouri, and members of the Kansas City Warriors hockey team distribute turkeys last Thanksgiving in Kansas City, at the Veterans Community Project of Kansas City. The partnership between the VFW and the Warriors highlights the importance of building authentic relationships with community partners.One such example comes from VFW Post 7356 in Parkville, Missouri, where an enduring partnership with the Kansas City Warriors hockey team demonstrates how collaboration with community-based veterans groups can create measurable results.
A NATURAL ALIGNMENT OF MISSION
The Kansas City Warriors are more than a hockey team. As a disabled-veteran hockey organization, their mission focuses on camaraderie, rehabilitation and continuing the bonds of service through sport.
That focus mirrors the VFW’s long-standing commitment to ensuring veterans remain connected, supported and engaged after military service.
Recognizing this alignment, leaders at Post 7356 approached the relationship not as a recruitment effort, but as a community partnership. Post members attended games, supported team events and took the time to understand the culture and needs of the Warriors team. The emphasis was simple: Build trust first.
For VFW Post 7356 Commander Joseph L. Wolfgeher Jr., supporting organizations such as the Warriors is important.
“The team serves as a valuable resource that positively impacts veterans by providing an outlet to build relationships, foster camaraderie and develop a support system,” Wolfgeher said. “Our support as a local Post has been equally reciprocated by members of the Warriors through their commitment to VFW membership and continued community service.”
FROM ENGAGEMENT TO MEMBERSHIP
As the relationship deepened, members of the Warriors began to see the Post not just as a veterans organization, but as an extension of their own community. Informal conversations at games and
social events led to invitations to visit the Post, participate in activities and learn more about the VFW’s advocacy and programs.
The result was organic and impactful. Several Kansas City Warriors chose to join the VFW, becoming active members of Post 7356. Today, they are not only participants but contributors, supporting
Post initiatives, attending meetings and helping shape outreach efforts to other veterans.
“After a couple of years out of the military, I missed a lot of the camaraderie and connection that I had in the military,” said Jeff Schmidt, Post 7356 member and Warriors hockey player. “I found my new tribe with the VFW and the Kansas City Warriors.”
BENEFITS BEYOND NUMBERS
While the increase in membership is significant, the broader impact on Post vitality is equally important. The partnership has:
- Expanded the Post’s visibility within the local veteran community.
- Brought in younger and recently separated veterans, strengthening generational continuity.
- Created joint events and service opportunities that benefit both organizations.
- Reinforced the VFW’s relevance as a hub for camaraderie and mission-driven activity.
For the Warriors, the relationship provides access to the VFW’s advocacy network, resources and a welcoming home base that supports their mission off the ice.
“I love the camaraderie I get from my VFW Post,” said Kevin Hutchison, Post 7356 member and Warriors team member. “We have a great mix of veterans from various wars, and I like how we come together to help in the community.”
A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR POSTS NATIONWIDE
The experience of Post 7356 offers a clear framework other Posts can follow:
- Identify organizations with shared purposes such as veterans’ sports teams, service groups, nonprofits and community coalitions.
- Invest time before asking for commitment; attend events, volunteer and listen.
- Create joint opportunities that highlight mutual value.
- Invite participation, not just membership, because engagement leads to membership sustainability.
This approach reflects a broader truth about today’s veteran landscape: Connection drives commitment. When Posts position themselves as collaborative partners rather than standalone institutions, they become more accessible, more relevant and more impactful.
STRENGTHENING THE FUTURE OF THE VFW
As the VFW continues to evolve, stories such as the partnership between Post 7356 and the Kansas City Warriors illustrate how tradition and innovation can work hand-in-hand. By honoring the organization’s legacy of camaraderie while embracing new pathways to engagement, Posts can ensure the VFW remains a vibrant force for generations of veterans to come.
In Parkville, that future is already taking shape — one relationship, one shared mission and, in this case, one game at a time.
This article is featured in the 2026 July/August issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Johnny Neal, assistant director for VFW membership.