CAP Middle School Cadet Squadrons

[capsr]

There has been a proposal for the city council to potentially include our CAP Middle School Squadron here in D.C. for next summer's "Summer Youth Employment Program." This would allow children to join our Middle School Squadron and attend it as part of our regular summer school program where the children are paid $5.25 an hour. This should increase our CAP membership ten-fold without a single cost to CAP since starting this year it is funded by the D.C.. Has anyone else ever worked with their city on a similar type of program involving a Middle School Squadron? Below is an article on the program we are trying to get CAP included in the summer school curriculum as we already have for the regular school year. Appreciate the feedback.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/d.c.-students-being-paid-for-summer-school/article/2503405

[ol'fido]

This was tried several years ago in Chicago. It did not go well. That may have been due to the person running it, but also, when you pay kids to be cadets, it takes some of the self-discipline and self-motivation out of the program. The cadets end up doing the bare minimum to get paid and don't really invest themselves in the program.

[Private Investigator]

This was tried several years ago in Chicago. It did not go well. That may have been due to the person running it, but also, when you pay kids to be cadets, it takes some of the self-discipline and self-motivation out of the program. The cadets end up doing the bare minimum to get paid and don't really invest themselves in the program.

That is a good point. The children will be more interested in $5.25 then being Cadets.

[Eclipse]

Paying someone to be a volunteer misses the point entirely.  It is only through self-motivation that
most people excel in CAP.

We don't need more empty shirts, especially cadets.

At a high-level, I think this entire idea is problematic - it's one thing to motivate students for high grades, with
nothing if they don't get there, but to pay students just to show up?

No.

[Dad2-4]

  I really don't see the point of something like this. Pay kids to attend a summer activity? Join CAP only for the summer?
I don't see the kids being motivated. I see it creating false numbers because a lot, if not most, of the kids will quit once the paycheck stops.
Very wrong-headed in my opinion.
DC funding the project? OK. Invite kids to come on their own motivation? OK.
The pay thing just boggles my mind.

[FW]

I don't think this is a good idea either. If DC wishes to do something for the kids, they should fund the middle school program in the school district. The program needs teachers/unit commanders to be there for the after school program and, to improve the quality of the cadets' experience.  I think the funds would be better utilized in this way.

[LTC Don]

Looks like the DC City Council doesn't understand (definitely no surprise there) what the CAP cadet program is, and does.  Great opportunity to provide a good briefing to better educate them (as if would do any good /sarc )

[Eclipse]

We've had similar issues around me - people wanting to start new units because they think CAP is some kind of "boot camp" program for troubled youth.

[krnlpanick]

I just had a similar argument in another professional volunteer organization that I am part of regarding paying volunteers to do what they volunteered to do. Unfortunately I lost that argument to an extent and we are already seeing the repercussions of the decision to do so.

While the situation is slightly different, I absolutely agree with Eclipse on this one, paying volunteers completely undermines the Volunteer Spirit that is ultimately what gives any volunteer organization it's power. People become involved in things because they are passionate about it, not because it is an easy way to supplement their income. As soon as you start handing out hard currency to your volunteers, you create an expectation of continuance of the practice. If the practice does not continue, then your membership will drop; so even using this as a means to increase your membership has detrimental long-term effects.

There are much better ways to use money coming into the organizations, no matter what that organization is, to create benefits for your membership. In something like Cadet Programs - the correct approach would be more rewarding activities for the cadet membership - celebrations and recognition for achievements, and using that money as a resource to further improve the cadet program in your unit in general.

It sounds to me like a briefing on the Cadet Programs to the city, accompanied by ways that the same money can be used to improve on the program would be a good approach. Simply going in and telling them that "That's not how we do things around here, mmk?" will likely result in a negative response and straining the relationship between the program and the city, however - remember that you are dealing with politicians (notoriously lazy) so if you go in having done 75% of their job for them you are much more likely to walk away with something that benefits your relationship and the program.

Just my $0.02

[AngelWings]

Paying volunteers ends bad. Hell, giving them free things beyond what they need doesn't end well either. One time my militaria collection was so overflowing I had to get rid of part of it, so I put it up for grabs at the squadron. Some people were butthurt they didn't get anything, even though if they showed up to the meeting on time they would have gotten something. People automatically feel entitled to free things when someone else gets something for free.

I'd say to speak about other usages for the money. You'll find many things can bought to sustain your squadron with saved money. Especially if your squadron is using its van, mini-van, truck, etc. to pick people up and bring them to the program. Gas is expensive. Paying for activities is expensive. Buying uniforms for people is expensive. That money will see better uses than paying kids to do something. It's a idea coming from a good place, and sometimes I even wish I was payed for work I do, but it'll attract the wrong crowd and you'll see people will not have motivation if that funding is cut.

[Struts]

You can't pay anybody to be a volunteer. Kids won't want to do any summer activities or do anything productive if they are being paid to do it. If they don't want to participate and only want the money, then that isn't any help to this organization.