Congratulations, your're the new National Commander...now what.

Started by Nick Critelli, July 15, 2007, 02:42:34 PM

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CadetProgramGuy

Quote from: James on September 04, 2007, 08:08:20 PM
:o whats a  e BoG, NB, NEC   ???
Next I will be elected president ;)

BOG = Board of Governors

NB = National Board

NEC = National Executive Commitee (I think)

I will have to look up the details on who sits on what though......

Skyray

Eliminate Corporate Officer blacklists that don't require a hearing or due process.
Doug Johnson - Miami

Always Active-Sometimes a Member

Dragoon

No matter what the process, I think it's safe to say that the loser will believe it was "undue."

Skyray

Quote from: Dragoon on September 05, 2007, 06:00:47 PM
No matter what the process, I think it's safe to say that the loser will believe it was "undue."

That, in fact, is likely to be a truism.  There are, however certain standards for due process which are generally accepted.  Those are notice, and an opportunity to be heard on the issue, with an impartial adjudicator and no command interference.  Many of the flags filed with National, the first notice to the flagee was when Susie Parker returned their renewal (too late to appeal) with the Notation "Xxxxx Wing Objects."  Quite an unpleasant surprise to someone who has never even received notice of charges being filed.
Doug Johnson - Miami

Always Active-Sometimes a Member

mikeylikey

Has anyone said "get rid of the US in US Civil Air Patrol"?  If not.....I do!  If someone already did....I second it!
What's up monkeys?

JC004

Reduce Burdens on the Membership
With the overall objectives of reducing costs and unnecessary time spent on non-mission items, I will:

  • Immediately stop all changes to CAP uniforms.  Uniforms are expensive and required changes, especially senseless changes are a burden on our membership and create confusion.  I will establish a committee to study the existing uniforms and recommend changes that will simplify the array of uniforms available.  They will establish clear standards and recommend changes based on member input.  Only one meeting during my term will cover the subject of uniforms unless an immediate and pressing concern, such as safety exists. If a room full of Colonels finds it necessary to make an arbitrary uniform change, let them establish a collection bin to pay for the new uniform item for each member required to wear it.
  • National buying power – reestablish CAP Supply Depot in some form to offer affordable operations gear and equipment.
  • Identify and eliminate any wasteful spending.
  • Continuously evaluate ways to simplify standards and establish clear processes across the board.  Confusing standards and systems create poor morale.
  • Eliminate any unnecessary administrative procedures
  • Examine ways for wings to provide maximum assistance to local units, thus alleviating many burdens on units with limited personnel.  Local units should be free to focus on mission accomplishment as much as possible.
  • Establish the comprehensive review of existing CAP regulations and, with proper input, update them to provide more clear guidance and resolve conflicts between regulations.

National Unity, Local Strength
It is important to promote the concept of one national organization, rather than 52 (or more) organizations, while recognizing the collective power of encouraging local innovation.  To do this, I will:

  • Recognizing that not all states are the same, evaluate ways for CAP to effectively accomplish its missions and cater to (or seek the change of, in the case of legal structures such as state SAR responsible agencies) cultural structures in various states
  • While striving for national standards, we need to recognize the ability for wings and subordinate units to develop unique and innovative solutions.  Grant waivers to test new programs as necessary.

Clear Communication
Communicating the commander's intent is important to the morale and development of the organization.  I will, in cooperation with the membership and their representatives on the National Board, establish a clear strategic plan with short- and long-term goals for the organization.  This will be developed in close collaboration with HQ-USAF, and made available for all members to see and use as a guide.  In addition, regular reports to the membership will be provided, outlining progress, developments, and changes.  Local "town hall" meetings at wing and region conferences will be held with National staff.  Other opportunities for "town hall" meetings could be made available by the web, or by other means, in order to facilitate maximum two-way communication between the membership and leadership.

Increase Operational Capabilities
Working closely with the Air Force and other responsible federal agencies, I will seek the development of CAP's operational capabilities by:

  • Finding new ways for CAP to better use its resources and accomplish its Congressionally-chartered missions
  • Working closely with stakeholders (federal and state agencies, and organizations such as NASAR) to bring CAP closer to national standards in emergency services

Member Retention

  • Increase the offerings of National Cadet Special Activities and various activities for senior members
  • Study membership retention patterns on both the micro and macro levels
  • Conduct comprehensive surveys of the membership to determine areas of weakness in member satisfaction, morale, and involvement.  This will include comprehensive exit surveys.

Innovative and Cohesive Use of Technology
Technology, such as various web-based systems offers CAP more opportunities than ever before to reduce volunteer workload, improve consistency in data collection and management, disseminate information, and educate our members. To seize these opportunities, I will:

  • Encourage the development of meaningful, effective web-based training courses covering all possible areas of mission accomplishment, mission support, and member development
  • Direct the development of a comprehensive national member portal that includes official CAP e-mail addresses for all members, a customizable interface, administrative tools, personnel record information, e-mail groups for all units, a comprehensive national calendar with easy localization, etc.
  • Establish additional web-based means of reporting and general administration, including logistics.  This includes current reports on important information such as membership numbers, member trends, training, and other items to aid staff in accomplishing their jobs.
  • Dedicated CAP recruiting site similar to those used by the USAF and its ROTC (as well as other branches of the military)

A Closer Working Relationship with the U.S. Air Force
I will work to build a closer working relationship with the Air Force in all areas – Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.

Effective Member Training and Development

  • Revise outdated specialty tracks
  • Develop additional member training materials and opportunities
  • Offer intensive leadership courses
  • Provide standards-based, comprehensive online member training

Further Aerospace Education
We will examine and execute additional ways to further our Aerospace Education mission.

Use of Volunteer Developments and Input
We have countless members nationwide with unique and relevant experience. I will make it a special priority to see out member-developed best practices, materials, and experience to enhance the organization. 

A Comprehensive and Solid Marketing Plan
I will lead the development of a comprehensive, professional marketing plan for CAP that includes new television/radio spots, signage, van decals, printed materials, a standard national recruiting web site, a market-research-based message, an effective tagline, standard templates for local-level use, web marketing campaigns, valuable member public affairs training, a robust toolkit for local Public Affairs Officers, and a brand identity policy that includes standards for all CAP marketing materials.  I will involve CAP at more conferences and shows related to CAP's missions.  Also, we will conduct numerous national-level recruiting campaigns with intensive involvement from the local units.

No Term Extensions for National Commanders
Leaders of large organizations, no matter how capable, need to rotate regularly to provide fresh ideas and prospective.  I expect no term extensions.  If asked, I will not run; if reelected, I will not serve.

Continuity
No National Commander could be expected to complete all of these items during his or her term.  In addition, all is lost if the next National Commander neglects the changes.  I will ensure continuity planning from the very beginning.

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One nice thing is that I will seize power through my coup and we won't need any silly National Board elections.   ;)

RogueLeader

You have my vote/support.  That is one one of the best thought out policies/ ideas so far.
WYWG DP

GRW 3340

JohnKachenmeister

I like them, Jim.  The only thing I would amend is your reliance on Wing to support local units.  I think that establishing teams of units based on groups would provide for a more flexible organization.  In most cases, Group is simply an administrative HQ that moves stuff between Wing and Squadron.  Creating units within groups that specialize in the mission areas, ES, CP, and AE, then mutually support each other under Group command would create a more dynamic organization.

Plus, unless Wing would be configured differently than the current wing staff model, they are not set up for broad-spectrum support.
Another former CAP officer

topsecret

1.  End cronyism in promotions/awards.

     a.  No "exceptional" promotion waivers.  We don't need waivers for anything except predetermined qualifications (pilots, educators, medical personnel, etc.).  The Air Force works that way in its line officer appointments.  The Air Force Chief of Staff doesn't sign waivers to commission some non-prior service guy as a lieutenant colonel in the line of the Air Force.  Surely we can do the same.  The present waiver system allows a favored few to skip up the chain.

     b.  No commander's limbo.   If you meet the regulatory criteria, you should get the promotion/award...or the commander has to clearly document why not.  During my first membership in CAP, my commander (1st Lt) declined to sign off on my promotion to the exalted grade of flight officer.  Why?  I still don't know.  I met the criteria, except for commander's recommendation.  I asked why she wouldn't sign off.  No reason given.  I asked when that would change.  No time given.  I resigned on the spot.   Service is fine and good, but don't make people subject to arbitrary whim.

     c.  Stop the bottlenecks!  I don't care if the person is getting the SMV or a membership ribbon, or whether the promotion is to lieutenant or lieutenant colonel -- if the unit commander signs off, it should go straight to National.  Furthermore, the date of rank/date of award should be the date the commander approves it...not the date National processes it.  If some commander is sending slop to National, deal with him.  Otherwise, let's empower our unit commanders.  They can read; I'm sure of it.  Our folks not only have to achieve the right time in grade, but they have to wait out the added delays while stuff ages on group, wing, and region personnel officers' or commanders' desks. 

2.  Elect Wing and higher level CVs, ending the "it's who you know" perception.  It seems to me that at certain levels, there is more politicking going on in CAP than among our Air Force counterparts.  This blows me away, because USAF officers at least get paid when they advance.  We just get titles, bling, and eligibility for higher levels of training.

     a.  National CAP/CC and CV should be elected by popular vote of all senior members.

     b.  All region CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that region.

     c.  All wing CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that wing.

3.  Strengthen relations with HQ USAF.

     a.  Our tone with the USAF needs to be "this is what we can give to you," not "here's what we want you to do for us."  Sometimes they're going to have other priorities.  Pity, but we'll suck it up and drive on.  Educate them, put our best foot forward, etc.  Appreciate what we get, and make sure they know how we put it to good use.

     b.  The Air Force style uniform should be worn by those who meet Air Force weight standards.  Use their weight table, not ours.  No 15-pound exception.  If we want to dress like our active duty counterparts, we should look like them when we have the blues on.  The public doesn't know the difference, and we shouldn't make our active duty counterparts look bad.

     c.  Get rid of the TPU.  The Air Force doesn't want us to so closely resemble Air Force commissioned officers.  We won't get hard rank back.  Pushing for it just makes us look like Wannabes instead of Here-to-serves(TM). 

     d.  Make uniforms uniform!  There needs to be one standard array of non-USAF style uniforms for CAP, just like there is one standard array of USAF-style uniforms.  They call them uniforms because they look alike, after all.  The array of "uniforms" is almost as wide as the array of civilian clothes my flight wore on our first day of Air Force basic military training.

     e.  Get our house in order and clearly keep it that way.  The Air Force's jurisdiction over us is just like LCDR Galloway's over LT Kaffee's in A Few Good Men -- pretty much in our faces.  Financial oversight, especially of appropriated funds, should be strict.  Wrongdoing which adversely affects our relationships (AFIADL improprieties, financial wrongdoing, Salute Me Airman Or Else martinets walking around USAF bases) should be severely dealt with.  If we're dealing with this stuff promptly and appropriately, Big Blue won't have to deal with it for us.

4.  Online or correspondence versions of SLS, CLC, RSC and NSC.  If we're going to tie these to advancement, let's remember that some of our folks have lives and are unable to get to the once-a-year (in some wings) offerings of these courses.  There is really no reason that these courses couldn't be made online/correspondence.

5.  A huge, huge, huge lifetime pension for former National Commanders.  Hey, you said I'm the commander.  I'm human.

Bill Johnson, Major, CAP

Ned

Quote from: topsecret on September 06, 2007, 01:54:44 PM

2.  Elect Wing and higher level CVs, ending the "it's who you know" perception. 

     a.  National CAP/CC and CV should be elected by popular vote of all senior members.

     b.  All region CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that region.

     c.  All wing CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that wing.
Bill Johnson, Major, CAP



Bill,

I support the exercise of democracy as much as the next guy.  Heck, people fight wars over these very issues.


But as long as we are implementing democracy in CAP, what earthly reason could you have to disenfranchise thousands of dues-paying members?

Wing+CCs/CVs make decisions that affect all members, not just seniors.

Wing+CCs/CVs set the dues rates for all members, not just seniors.

Wing+ CCs/CVs spend the dues money paid by all members, not just seniors.

I'm pretty sure some perfectly good tea was thrown overboard in Boston over just these sorts of issues . . .

Unless you are suggesting that King George and his Parliment were correct with the whole "taxation without representation" thing.


Ned Lee
Cadet Programs Enthusiast


ZigZag911

I'm not convinced that a popularity contest -- that is, elections -- would necessarily improve the quality of corporate officers and subordinate commanders.

Of course, it probably could not make things much worse, either!

topsecret

Quote from: Ned on September 06, 2007, 11:44:10 PM
Quote from: topsecret on September 06, 2007, 01:54:44 PM

2.  Elect Wing and higher level CVs, ending the "it's who you know" perception. 

     a.  National CAP/CC and CV should be elected by popular vote of all senior members.

     b.  All region CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that region.

     c.  All wing CCs/CVs should be elected by popular vote of all senior members in that wing.

Bill Johnson, Major, CAP

Unless you are suggesting that King George and his Parliment were correct with the whole "taxation without representation" thing.


I don't think my proposal merited quite that level of sarcastic response, and I don't believe I've treated any of you in that manner during my brief tenure here.  Why not just ask "why not let cadets vote?"  Five words get the point across, and you don't even have to misspell "Parliament" to get there.

Okay, that was sarcastic.  Even steven.

To answer you:  No, but even the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave doesn't let minors vote.  In recognition of our cadets who are over age 18, I hereby adjust my (never to be approved anyway) proposal to "adult members" instead of "senior members."

I think adding cadets to the mix would be overkill.  Some of the more impressionable younger cadets might be subject to pressure or "encouragement" by seniors.  Some might vote for a candidate just because an officer they admired supported that candidate.
Hopefully adults would resist such pressure and really think about their votes.

While the present system has given us some good folks, we've also had our share of less-than-stellar senior officers.  I think that by and large, the rank and file can tell the difference between our feather merchants and our genuine articles.  I'm not saying it's a cure-all...but I think that an educated electorate could have stood betwen some of our feather merchants and certain positions of power.

Ned

Sorry, but cadets are just as much a member of the corporation as you or I.

The fact that some of them might not vote in a way you think is appropriate is not a reason to deprive them of the basic rights of membership.

Cadets and cadet-program related seniors combined are over half the membership in this corporation and pay a substantial percentage of the dues --  far more than is returned to CP from corporate and appropriated dollars.

Cadets have been subsidizing the seniors for many years, and depriving them of the vote while taking their money is downright un-American.



Eagle400

Quote from: topsecret on September 06, 2007, 01:54:44 PM5.  A huge, huge, huge lifetime pension for former National Commanders.

Do you really think that all former National Commanders deserve a huge lifetime pension?  If TP is acquitted of all the charges against him and is allowed to resign, do you really think he would be deserving of a lifetime pension?

You may want to rethink that, Major Johnson. 

topsecret

Quote from: Ned on September 07, 2007, 06:02:38 AM
Cadets have been subsidizing the seniors for many years, and depriving them of the vote while taking their money is downright un-American.

Eh, I don't know that you could accurately call my (never to be implemented) proposal un-American.  America does withhold the right to vote from all minors, no matter what they pay in taxes. 

Your objection is noted:  One "no" for that portion of my answer to a question whose circumstances (my becoming CAP/CC) have about as much chance of occurring as my winning the Powerball while being simultaneously hit on by Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie.

Happy?

topsecret

Quote from: ♠ on September 07, 2007, 06:07:39 AM
Quote from: topsecret on September 06, 2007, 01:54:44 PM5.  A huge, huge, huge lifetime pension for former National Commanders.

Do you really think that all former National Commanders deserve a huge lifetime pension?

Three huges, not just one.

In the interest of fiscal discipline, I amend my original proposal so it only applies former national commanders named William D. Johnson. 

Good catch, though.

Skyray

QuoteIn the interest of fiscal discipline, I amend my original proposal so it only applies former national commanders named William D. Johnson.

If the "D" stands for Douglas, I am totally freaking out.
Doug Johnson - Miami

Always Active-Sometimes a Member

ZigZag911

I can't see enfranchising anyone to vote for CAP commanders....but in point of fact, I can't see letting ALL the cadets vote.

Here's a suggestion.....only members with two years (or more) service in CAP and one of the following should be given a vote (in elections I still don't think we should have!):

1) completion of Level II in senior program

OR

2) earned Mitchell Award

This guarantees the voters will have some experience of and commitment to CAP.

It also prevents electoral mischief ("recruiting" a bunch of people at election time....mom, dad, grandma, etc....to vote the 'right' way, but do nothing for CAP)

topsecret

Quote from: Skyray on September 07, 2007, 02:07:28 PM
QuoteIn the interest of fiscal discipline, I amend my original proposal so it only applies former national commanders named William D. Johnson.

If the "D" stands for Douglas, I am totally freaking out.

It does.  We should run on a joint ticket.  If we get the top two jobs, it'll make the cadets' task in memorizing the chain of command way easier.

Dragoon

Quote from: ZigZag911 on September 07, 2007, 05:50:06 PM
I can't see enfranchising anyone to vote for CAP commanders....but in point of fact, I can't see letting ALL the cadets vote.

Here's a suggestion.....only members with two years (or more) service in CAP and one of the following should be given a vote (in elections I still don't think we should have!):

1) completion of Level II in senior program

OR

2) earned Mitchell Award

This guarantees the voters will have some experience of and commitment to CAP.

It also prevents electoral mischief ("recruiting" a bunch of people at election time....mom, dad, grandma, etc....to vote the 'right' way, but do nothing for CAP)



I think that's a neat concept - while I'm not really in favor of electing officials in a supposedlly "military" organization (the popularity contest for National Commander has already turned my stomach on several occasions) the idea of requiring a certain degreee of tenure or "buy in" before helping decide such issues seems like a good idea.