Senior member recruiting via talks to other community groups

[RiverAux]

One of the things that is routinely advised as part of the general public affairs program as well as specifically for recruiting drives is to make presentations about CAP to other community organizations (Lions, Rotary, etc.) that not only educate them about CAP but perhaps generate a few prospective recruits.  How well has this worked for you in the past? 

More broadly, other than airshows and word-of-mouth from existing members, what has been your most effective tool for getting non-pilots in the door?

[RiverAux]

Nothing?  What happened to all our PAOs?

[Al Sayre]

I have had great luck in recruiting by attending the FAA Wings Seminars.  We usually substitute them for our montly meetings a couple times a year.  Get your AE Internal/External and Safety Briefing all in one stop too... 

[tdepp]

Nothing?  What happened to all our PAOs?

I'll bite, RAux.

Besides talking to community groups, our cadet color guard is our single most important recruiting tool.  Well groomed, polite, serious young people proudly carrying the flag at parades, athletic events, and other activities is great, free publicity. People are intrigued and impressed and want to learn more--both potential cadets and seniors.

My squadron also works a number of community events (non-aviation), such as parades.  We assist with parking, safety patrols, setting up, tearing down, and generally helping as needed.  Again, the public sees us in our BDUs and are intrigued.

We also have several of us who work in public affairs who are journalists or former journalists or very involved in the veteran and aviation communities.  We are typically pretty successful in getting placement for our stories.

We also attend as many TSA, airport, FEMA, law enforcement, State, and Guard meetings and activities as we can.  Not only does it assist with coordination with those stakeholders but sometimes they join our squadron as well.

Finally, we have enthusiastic members who talk up the program to friends, relatives, and anyone who will listen.  Like finding a good doctor, lawyer, or plumber, word of mouth is golden.

We have excellent leadership in our squadron.  Our commander is a sales executive by profession and has tremendous people skills.  He himself is able to get a lot of people through the doors to at least check us out.

[jimmydeanno]

I've never had a recruiting problem outside the "bang for your buck" events like airshows/community events.  I really believe that the key to recruiting is just doing it.  YMMV.

Sure, you'll get one or two people here and there when talking to other groups like the VFW, etc but the amount of time it takes for the return, I find is rather limited.

Community points of entry, I find, are pretty useful.  Find a place that everyone goes when they move to the area and work it.  Is there a place that informs people about places to volunteer? Youth programs in the area? Chamber of Commerce? 

I put in about 2 hours per month recruiting.  In the last three months our squadron (my new one) has grown 40%.  I don't talk to other community organizations as part of it.

[RADIOMAN015]

I'm not sure talking to community groups is really a senior member recruiting effort/tool.  Generally, it's just to get the word out as to who we are.  Also with some clubs such as Lions, Rotary, Kiwanas, American Legions, VFW's, military base civilian support organizations, etc,  there might be an opportunity for some financial support for specific projects in the future.  I think the National Commander Briefings specifically talks about 'friends first', asking for support later.

We've primarily utilized our color guard for these type of presentation. e.g. some sort posting the colors than the cadets talk with the members of that organization informally.   As the unit PAO, I'm not comfortable with the current briefing material CAP has developed, since I don't think it meets the general target market (you really need a separate briefing for every different target market you are presenting information to)  we are talking about and I don't have the time to really develop a good general briefing.   

As far as senior member recruiting goes, at least in my unit.  MY goal is to recruit adult members that have either specific training or the appropriate aptitude and desire to do the volunteer jobs we have a need to fill.  I've done this on the radio/ES side via a posting to a few mail list servers with a good result.

I'm just hesitant to just go out there and recruit adult members just for the sake of recruiting adult members.  We've got some that shortly are going to patron status because there's no way to justify most of us holding down more than one position because others lack initiative or lack the aptitude to be able to perform what is required.

RM