The Secret To Success In CAP

[FW]

Joe, motivation for volunteer work is only internal to the extent we actually join up as a member.  To keep motivated, we need all sorts of external factors.  It is these external factors which drives an organization with "happy" members. 
I am saddened when good CAP officers who, even after good rewarding work, feel unappreciated, unheard and, marginalized for any number of reasons. Our "drive" can veer off a cliff if we let our members feel trivialized. 
The key to success "for" CAP is in the value we place on our members, the missions we perform and, how they are performed.  In our case, when we are successful with this, we please not only ourselves but, our external customers, donors and contributors.
YMMV 

[EMT-83]

As this thread has drifted over to motivation... remember the power of a simple "thank you" to your members.

A few years ago, my department was dispatched to a house fire on a bitterly cold winter night. It was a crappy, smoky fire that beat the snot out of us, and then our gear froze where it got wet. You guys that have been there know exactly what I mean. We put the fire out, return to quarters and get everything thawed out and back into service. Just as the sun is starting to come up, we head for home to get ready for our real jobs. As we're walking out the door, I dropped a quick "thank you" to the guys for a job well done.

I thought that one of the guys was going to burst into tears. He couldn't believe that while I was the one calling the shots, and led my crew through a pretty tough situation and gotten them home safely, I would thank him. He felt that he should be the one thanking me instead. Of course, it was a team effort that led to our success. The moral of the story isn't that I'm God's gift to the world as a fire captain, because that certainly isn't true. The real lesson is in motivation and loyalty. To this day, that guy would walk through fire for me (pun intended).

[RADIOMAN015]

And, to start the process, I would suggest looking more to the BSA, American Red Cross, and other similar organizations to look for potential answers.

Yes they (BSA & ARC) do have "respect" for their volunteers were CAP Inc is only interested in CYA of the corporation with all the various "certifications" members have to sign and the kicker of it all "privilege to remain a member, not a right".   Example is members that have accidents and are judged "neglegent" (hint this is whatever CAP decides) and have to pay for damages to aircraft or vehicles.   NO volunteer member purposely gets in an accident (Definition --- An accident is a specific, unexpected, unusual and unintended external action which occurs in a particular time and place, with no apparent and deliberate cause but with marked effects. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence).  Comparision -- the American Red Cross (local chapters) that have vehicles, realizes that volunteers (regardless of who caused accident), and carry appropriate collision/vehicle damage insurance to cover the potential for accidents.

The bottom line is CAP is NOT the best organization to be an unpaid volunteer in for an individual IF somethings goes "astray" (and with all of CAP regulations one has to know, it's somewhat easy to get stuck in an astray!!! ) -- and as I advise all new senior members, take a very good look at what you are signing and be sure you understand the potential personal financial ramifications to you and plan accordingly.   
RM 
     

[Short Field]

Yes they (BSA & ARC) do have "respect" for their volunteers were CAP Inc is only interested in CYA of the corporation with all the various "certifications" members have to sign and the kicker of it all "privilege to remain a member, not a right". 

I was on a ARC Disaster Response Team and we spent at least two 4-hour sessions in some type of certification or re-certification program each month. I had to carry a binder in order to store all my certification cards.  CAP is not near as bad.

Example is members that have accidents and are judged "neglegent" (hint this is whatever CAP decides) and have to pay for damages to aircraft or vehicles.   

See Paragraph 2-27 from  CAPR 174-1 Property Management and Accountability, 22 JULY 2010, for a correct definition of what is negligent and what the assessments could be.  If you don't trust the CAP leadership to honestly evaluate an accident, then you really shouldn't be in CAP. 

[RADIOMAN015]

Yes they (BSA & ARC) do have "respect" for their volunteers were CAP Inc is only interested in CYA of the corporation with all the various "certifications" members have to sign and the kicker of it all "privilege to remain a member, not a right". 

I was on a ARC Disaster Response Team and we spent at least two 4-hour sessions in some type of certification or re-certification program each month. I had to carry a binder in order to store all my certification cards.  CAP is not near as bad.
I have no issue with anyone in CAP being further certified for Emergency Services and being required to perform practice sessions in order to maintain their currency.  In fact I think CAP is not strict enough on the amount/frequency of practice required.  There's a fair number of folks out their that like to collect ES qualifications, but lack depth of experience.    I am referring more to the overall general membership aspects of joining and some of the legal mumbo jumbo that's been added to likely be detrimental to the volunteer, unpaid, dedicated member when things go astray.

Example is members that have accidents and are judged "neglegent" (hint this is whatever CAP decides) and have to pay for damages to aircraft or vehicles.   

See Paragraph 2-27 from  CAPR 174-1 Property Management and Accountability, 22 JULY 2010, for a correct definition of what is negligent and what the assessments could be.  If you don't trust the CAP leadership to honestly evaluate an accident, then you really shouldn't be in CAP.

I have personally observed the regulation not being followed with a long time member that had a perfect safety record, until he/she had an accident.    Regardless, volunteers should not be penalized for being a volunteer and having an accident while serving to the best of their ability.  That's why an organization should carry adequate insurance.   The simple matter is personally I won't be driving a CAP owned van/vehicle nor will I be transporting CAP members in my personal vehicle.  That's my decision, and again IF CAP wants to keep the current policy fine, BUT I will do what I feel is best for me in regards to limiting ANY potential monetary liability issues.  I would recommend that anyone considering driving CAP vehicles or flying CAP aircraft ensure they have adequate insurance coverage (specificially verify with your insurance company that you will be covered for damages).  I personally just don't want the "hassle" with CAP if anything went astray :angel:   

RM

[James Shaw]

Secret to success:

Enjoy the work you do.
Listen more talk less.
Be truthful in your dealings.
Praise in public, counsel in private.

Applies to anything you may do. Thats what I tell my operators.

From reading some of the posts lately on CAPTalk I wonder why people have to complain so much. If members put half the amount of energy in supporting instead of complaining then we would probably all be better off.

[Short Field]

I I am referring more to the overall general membership aspects of joining and some of the legal mumbo jumbo that's been added to likely be detrimental to the volunteer, unpaid, dedicated member when things go astray.

I hope this red shows up better on your monitor than it does on mine.  I really don't understand what you mean by "Legal Mumbo Jumbo".  Yes, there is training that requires the member acknowledge CAP policy and formally agree to abide by that policy.  If you have a problem, then don't participate.

I have personally observed the regulation not being followed with a long time member that had a perfect safety record, until he/she had an accident.

It shouldn't make any difference how long the person has been a member or what their safety record was prior to the accident.  Were they at fault according to the CAP definition of negligence for Type I, II, or III incidents?   If you don't want to drive or fly CAP vehicles, then don't.  If you do then buy personal liability insurance.  If you really don't trust CAP, then invest in pre-paid legal services. 

[FlyTiger77]

... If you really don't trust CAP, then invest in pre-paid legal services.

I would not belong to an organization which I did not trust and I certainly wouldn't pay >$50/year for the privilege.

Based solely on reading posts here, I wonder why some people are still in CAP if they really think it is as fouled up as their posts seem to imply.

Edited to correct formatting

[FW]

We join CAP for many reasons.  We stay in CAP for many reasons.  Complaining  is a deep and well loved tradition in CAP.  It's even more of a tradition here on CapTalk.  What needs to be understood is; dissent is a means to progress in an organization.  Dissent is actually a sign of health; especially in a volunteer organization.  Hearing counterpoint to an issue is a means for leadership to bend in it's thought processes and come to decisions which may be satisfying to more of the membership. 
It's the known opportunity for each member to be heard (in CAP through the chain of command) which gives us a feeling of inclusion and, in part, a reason to stay.

[EMT-83]

My bad; I thought descent was how you got back to the airport.   

[FW]

  Darn spellcheck...

[O-Rex]

Two simple rules I tell people to keep them out of trouble it CAP:

Maintain your sense of perspective

Work within the organization framework

Everything else is window-dressing.

[Al Sayre]

The secret to success is not really a secret.  Take the time to read the regulations, manuals and pamphlets for yourself.

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how many of our GT and Aircrew personnel have ever bothered to read CAPP-2?

[Spaceman3750]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how many of our GT and Aircrew personnel have ever bothered to read CAPP-2?

It would help if it was mentioned somewhere other than in your last post (of course, it's possible that it's been stuck in a PowerPoint somewhere and I've just missed it). I have never seen that pamphlet before, but now I'm going to read it. It looks like most of what is contained in that pamphlet is taught in the green bible and through hands-on learning anyways.

[RVT]

My bad; I thought descent was how you got back to the airport.   

It was also a fairly decent video game of the late 90's

CAp has both regulations regarding Indemnification as well as  making financial claims

But read this first as it covers most of what you read here.

[Hilltop]

My only curiosity is, does anyone read CAPTalk that is in a position to make any of the changes? If so, Would they actually make the changes being that the suggestions/complaints are coming from a forum such as this?

[jimmydeanno]

A lot of people read CT.  Sometimes you'll see suggestions find their way into new materials, etc.  One of the active members on here is a member of the BoG, there's a "NHQ PITA" roaming around here too.  Additionally, there's some region level folks, members of NHQ committees, etc.

[Hilltop]

Well cool, maybe one of them will take the suggestion to have the 39-1 remade to heart, I know I have seen it on here a lot, and I have read and gone through the 39-1 many times myself and find that I am still rather confused about many things. Not to mention the uniforms on some of the photographs don't seem to quite match up with what is written in the regulations. I would just love to see some clarity. There are many other things that need looked at again to if nothing else give clarity.

[Eclipse]

But we don't have the option to just borrow one for the week end and jet off to vegas. (I guess prop would be a better word )

Just sign your daughter up in CAP, then take a multistate multi-day cross-country "proficiency flight" so you can watch your grandson graduate from basic training.  Or sign out the squadron aircraft for a week so you can take it TDY.  True stories and not in the ancient past.

Framed correctly, neither of those is really an inappropriate use, and both would have needed approval, probably by the Wing CC.

[BillB]

And if the flight was outside the Region, The Region Commander would also have to approve.