POST FALLS - Some members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3603 are talking to the post's neighbor to help the organization survive.

Post members on Saturday will consider releasing ownership of the VFW's land and building to the senior center next door during a special meeting at noon on Saturday.

The senior center would take over maintenance, insurance and monthly bills of the facility and allow the VFW, Boy Scouts and Military Order of the Cootie, the honor degree of the VFW, to continue to meet there for free.

Clay Larkin, a member of the senior center and charter member of the VFW, said the proposal is a win-win.

The senior center, which is in expansion mode thanks to retiring Baby Boomers, would be able to rent the VFW to groups for income. The VFW, meanwhile, is struggling due to declining membership.

"It would take pressure off of the VFW and any money it raises would be spent on its activities and not monthly bills," Larkin said. "It's tough when you can't even get five members to show up at a monthly meeting to pay the bills."

At least five VFW members in good standing are needed at Saturday's meeting for a vote to be taken on the proposal. A simple majority (50 percent, plus one) is needed for the vote to pass.

The transfer of the property would take effect immediately. If five members don't attend, a vote would be taken at the VFW's regular meeting on March 25.

"I anticipate we'll have 12 or 13, but it would be great if 25 showed up," Larkin said.

The post has 108 members, but many aren't actively involved, Larkin said.

"The average age is well above 60 years old," he said.

Larkin said he plans to ask members at Saturday's meeting what the post can do to have a more active membership.

Larkin, also a member of the Post Falls American Legion, said the VFW meeting at the Legion is not a possibility.

"There's a little rough blood between the two," he said.

Larkin said it's important to keep the VFW facility available to the public.

"If it's not, the national VFW would sell it and the money would probably be taken to the East Coast," he said.

Alison McArthur - the senior center's executive director and Larkin's daughter - said the VFW proposal does not change the center's expansion plans for its existing building.

"We'd be excited to help out another organization so that they could continue their mission and grow our mission as well," she said.