Seeking advice for Unit Membership Board

DKruse · January 07, 2011, 02:27:16 PM

I've been asked by my squadron commander to set and lead a unit membership board. The only mention of a UMB that I've been able to find in the regulations is in CAPR 39-2 Section 1-5. I have been unable to find any other guidance in the regulations about setting up or operating a UMB. This is a new thing for our squadron, so I would appreciate any advice from other members about setting up and running a UMB. Specifically, I'm interested in best practices/pitfalls, optimal number of board members, and which members should be on the board (DCOS, DCOC, etc.).

MSG Mac · January 07, 2011, 06:03:39 PM

The UMB is "supposed" to meet to evaluate the credentials of incoming members, renewing members, and those persons who's continued membership may be inquestion.

Examples: Maj M has been out of the state for a year and despite telling the CC that he would transfer asap when he got settled is still on your roles. UMB may recommend that he be transferred to the xx-000 unit. another is a new candidate for membership may just be asked to sit down with the UMB to discuss what he/she can do for the squadron and what his qualifications are. They may also ask for references if they don't know him. The UMB may not recommend accepting him or that he join another unit that may be a better fit for him.

Most units have a UMB (It;s actually a requirement), but never use them. It's a good tool and should meet monthly, if only to have a record that a meeting was held.

jeders · January 07, 2011, 07:20:19 PM

Quote from: MSG Mac on January 07, 2011, 06:03:39 PM
Most units have a UMB (It;s actually a requirement), but never use them. It's a good tool and should meet monthly, if only to have a record that a meeting was held.

No it's not. There's a big difference between should and shall.

DKruse · January 07, 2011, 09:29:32 PM

Quote from: jeders on January 07, 2011, 07:20:19 PM
Quote from: MSG Mac on January 07, 2011, 06:03:39 PM
Most units have a UMB (It;s actually a requirement), but never use them. It's a good tool and should meet monthly, if only to have a record that a meeting was held.

No it's not. There's a big difference between should and shall.

This is my understanding also. CAPR 39-2 does not make it a requirement, just a recommendation.

Major Lord · January 07, 2011, 09:41:39 PM

A number of years ago, a couple of members decided our Squadrons' review program was inadequate. One brought the Air Force model ( as a "medical" LTCOL in USAF) he thought that the membership review board should not just be used to evaluate applicants, but as an "advise and consent" model for all positions within the squadron. One example of his thinking was that no Cadet should be removed for cause from any leadership position unless a six month process of rehabilitation was first undertaken with rehabilitative steps documented at every moment. Clearly, his view of things had been perverted beyond belief by his particular area of expertise.

The other member was an executive in a major software company, and he came with a somewhat liberal viewpoint, which included awarding new applicants "points" based on various life experience, etc, but he also believed that the process should be weighted to ensure adequate membership levels of women, minorities, and gay, lesbian, and transgendered applicants.

They met my suggestion that we have new applicants attend meetings until we decide whether we think they are good fit, with horror! The idea that we could decline an applicant merely because we did not like them, or thought they were suspicious, was just totally unfair! That we don't even need to tell the applicant ( or the other members of the Membership Review Board) our reasons for voting them down was just mean!( we might have a Klan member sworn to keep the Catholics out on the board or something!)

Having a good review process can save you months of horror. ( I initiated a 2B of a member and it took several years, lawyers, restraining orders, intentionally disregarding orders from competent authorities, police, and letters to Congress to resolve-It) It just ain't worth the chance of a bad-actors coming aboard to take anyone who walks in the door. Use your Committee, use your judgment, and use your intuition ( if you have any) to keep an evil-doer away from our cadets and out of our hair.

Major Lord

IceNine · January 07, 2011, 09:52:38 PM

You should probably clarify right away the intention of this board.

Are you charged with reviewing new members? Transfers? Renewals? In question?

After you have that it is a matter of a single sheet of questions handed to each board member.

I would suggest a courting period where potential members attend your meetings and talk to your members. They should be given a clear and well framed description of CAP. This should specifically address the member responsibilities as well as locally available opportunities.

This romance period is great for determining peoples character.

Then you sit and have a formal Q&A period. This is a two way street, you ask and they ask. Everyone makes their decisions, and submits them to the commander. Final decision and tie breaks are the responsibility off the commander.

EMT-83 · January 07, 2011, 10:56:35 PM

As to who should be on the board, I would suggest staffing it with the right people, not just who currently happens to hold a specific job. I've been on these types of boards with folks who didn't have a clue, just a job title.

When talking to prospective members, treat it like a job interview. Try to determine why they want to join and what their goals are. Sometimes they're there for all the wrong reasons, and you can figure that out right away, saving everyone lots of time and heartache.

IceNine · January 07, 2011, 11:46:19 PM

The unit commander should be appointing these people, in writing on a PA.

Kojack · January 10, 2011, 05:40:25 PM

I teach good gatekeeping at UCCs all the time. I strongly recommend the Membership board. (I kind of look at it like this. If the entire National Board says you "should" do something, that all but a direct order to do it. Before you argue, yes I know it's actually not)

The Commander should insist that anyone wishing to join attend at least three meetings before even being handed a form 12. The board should consist of people that are not afraid to say no to a particular person joining that unit, and they SHOULD make recommendations of NO for membership, membership in a different unit more suited, etc.

The board should look at: Is this person a professional? (ANY type of professional), Is this person a wanna be? Just joining to learn to fly?, has a forceful interest in working with kids but has none? Been kicked out of any other volunteer organizations? Is a member of every volunteer organization they can get an application for?

There is no requirement ever for a commander to sign the line on the form 12. None. Unless they want that person in their unit. Not signing takes about zero seconds. Getting rid of someone you signed for can take months.

JeffDG · January 10, 2011, 05:43:32 PM

Quote from: Kojack on January 10, 2011, 05:40:25 PM
I teach good gatekeeping at UCCs all the time. I strongly recommend the Membership board. (I kind of look at it like this. If the entire National Board says you "should" do something, that all but a direct order to do it. Before you argue, yes I know it's actually not)

To counter that...the entire National Board specifically chose the word "should" instead of the directive "shall". I presume they had a reason when approving the regulation to not make it a mandate.

lordmonar · January 10, 2011, 07:28:31 PM

At my squadorn we use the UMB to insure the appicant truely understands what we are asking of them when they join and to make sure that we really want them in the first place.

They don't have to be too formal.

We ask a few typical inteview questions..."tell us a little about yourself", "What do you want out of CAP", "What do you think you can bring to CAP".

For cadets, we ask how they are doing in school, what other outside activities they do, how much time they can devote to CAP.
For SM we stress that we are not a place to get Full Metal Jacket on the cadets. We ask about any experince working with youth, Emergency Services, military.

For the most part it is just a formality......but it is an important one because once in a while you get someone who does not give you a warm fuzzy and the UMB is the first line of keeping them out of CAP.

One of the nice things about it.....you don't have to accept anyone.....so long as you are not using race, creed, religion, sex. Someone gives you a bad vibe....you just say..."we don't think you will fit into our program" and that is all there is to it.

Defender · January 13, 2011, 02:03:40 AM

We also have a Membership Board, used primarily for monitoring...for lack of a better word, conduct of our newer members to help with questions/procedures/protocols and such those who have no prior affiliation with the military might have. Items that might not have been addressed by leve one CAP indoc training.

Myself and DC are often the "interview"board for senior membership....starts off with "what do you bring to CAP, and what do you expect CAP to bring to you?"

This usually opens up a pretty good dialogue.

However, to answer the previous question....a good board composition would be 3, but no more than 5, of your more knowledgeable and mature senior members.