Does CAP need more "Fellowship" activities?

Started by RiverAux, April 10, 2008, 02:35:19 AM

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RiverAux

One of the cornerstones of the CG Auxiliary program is "Fellowship".  This seems to be usually considered to involve having more "fun" outside of other CG Aux activities, such as having a cookout before a meeting. 

Now, I know a lot of cadet units have these sorts of activities and they usually seem to go over well, but outside of annual awards banquets, I've rarely, if ever, heard of officers getting together outside of normal CAP duties in any sort of organized way. 

Would this sort of stuff help strengthen the social bonds that might help in terms of retention? 


FW


JC004

Absolutely.  People interacting is a pretty good start for teamwork, to begin with.

SarDragon

Whenever we have a fifth meeting night available in a month, we do dinner somewhere as a social event. This time (April), we are apparently also having an award(s) presentation. We are a senior squadron, so it's a little different than a unit with cadets.
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
55 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

RickFranz

Quote from: SarDragon on April 10, 2008, 06:25:41 AM
Whenever we have a fifth meeting night available in a month, we do dinner somewhere as a social event. This time (April), we are apparently also having an award(s) presentation. We are a senior squadron, so it's a little different than a unit with cadets.
For over a year now we have been doing the fifth Tuesday Potluck dinner and the last one we had, we had over 50 people.  We have all the families and all the kids come.  We try to stay short on speeches and long on awards and just getting to know each other.  To say the least it has worked out very well!
Rick Franz, Col, CAP
KSWG CC
Gill Rob Wilson #2703
IC1

capchiro

From my own perspective I would say "yes".  Back in 1977, I was awarded my observer wings and had my 2Lt. rank pinned on at a Valentines Day dinner/ dance that my group put on.  It was great.  A lot of members and their spouses were there and it was memorable.  My wife was there and she was impressed.  In hindsight, it was probably the most meaning award/presentation I have had in CAP.  An experience I would wish on all of you.  Perhaps that is why I have stayed in for over 30 years??   I have been at Wing conferences that weren't near as much fun or as enjoyable. 
Lt. Col. Harry E. Siegrist III, CAP
Commander
Sweetwater Comp. Sqdn.
GA154

JohnKachenmeister

Every unit should have an officers' club and a parallel (and alcohol free) cadet club.

In two separate locations, of course, but near to one another.
Another former CAP officer

dwb

After most warm weather meetings, the senior staff in my squadron head down the street and get soft-serve ice cream.  We stand around and chat for about 20 minutes, then go home.  I find I look forward to that more than the meeting sometimes. ;D

When I was a commander, I hosted a CCQ (like BBQ, but with the CC... it seemed clever at the time).  I had my senior staff and the Group CC over to the house, cooked up some food, had some adult beverages, and chatted out on the deck until the neighbors told us to go to sleep.  Good times.

My squadron used to do a picnic every year, but we haven't done one recently.

I love social activities like that.  It's nice to hang out with your squadron members in a more relaxed setting every now and then.  This type of stuff really builds cohesion with your staff too, because everyone enjoys each other's company.

mmouw

With the number of years I have been in CAP, it has amazed me that squadrons don't do more of this. When it begins to feel like a job then comes retention problems.

You also see squadrons that are always "throwing each other under the bus" when it comes to cooperation. These ideas are a good for a group or wing level as well. Getting to know each other out of uniform, is a good bridge builder!

Why can't we all just get along?
Mike Mouw
Commander, Iowa Wing

LittleIronPilot

My former squadron and current one have "O" club meetings at the local burger joint after the meetings.

Some food, a beer, and good conversation.

I love the "fifth" day idea...I will have to bring that up to the squadron membership.

jeders

I always like to get to know people in my unit outside of CAP activities. Fortunately, right now I'm in a unit where the two other primary staff people, including the SQ/CC, and I are at the same university. So we're able to get together and hang out a lot more and we've all come to be friends. In fact several of us are going camping in a few weeks. So yes, fellowship, socializing, whatever you want to call it outside of CAP is a good thing for getting to know and understand people. And it does enhance unit cohesion.

In my previous unit, I got to know as many of the people that I was in regular contact with as possible, again because it makes life easier when you actually know people and have a vested interest in them through fellowship or friendship.

Now as far as making the 5th night a social night, that can be good, but it's still sort of a CAP activity. I prefer to get to know people way outside of CAP, as in 2 people from CAP hang out with other non CAP people and really get to know everyone. Plus then you can try and recruit those non CAP people  ;D

Basic answer, yes, fellowship helps, always, no question.
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

DrDave

I have two senior squadrons tending our two corporate aircraft in my group.

The last time they did a plane wash of the both aircraft, they combined that with cadet orientation flights and a BBQ with spouses invited.

It was a great day.

Dr. Dave
Lt. Col. (Dr.) David A. Miller
Director of Public Affairs
Missouri Wing
NCR-MO-098

"You'll feel a slight pressure ..."

Gunner C

A squadron that I was a member of would have an "after meeting" at the base O Club.  We got lots of extra business done and everyone bonded.  It was less formal and everyone loosened up.  It got to the point that the O Club would stay open a half hour later so we could stay.

Occational Socials are a must.  Breaking bread (beer if you like) lets people get to see the humanity in each other.  WIWAC, we had occasional social events.  They were great - not just dances, but also the occasional bowling night or off to the movies.  Of course, things were much cheaper then, but you get the picture.  Some of us still stay in touch.

For officers there's three types:  unit members only; members and spouses; and members, spouses and kids.  Inviting the spouses from time-to-time makes a huge difference.  It gives them a window into what their significant other is doing every week when they disappear in that funny costume.  When they're included, their support goes way up.

GC

jpnelson82

I'm sure it would help, but you have to be careful about those sorts of things. When I was a cadet we had these little "accidental gatherings of certain people." Calling it an official anything would mean regulations kicked in and made a pig's breakfast of the whole thing. That said, it's a very good thing for officers and cadet officers to find a coffee shop or bar and meet up for coffee or special coffee after a meeting. I don't think it can be recommended to cadets officially, but you might let it slip. Every once in a long while we'd have paintball games so sure they're great ideas, but if you want it to be fun you've got to be discreet about it.
Captain Nelson, John P.
SWR-AZ-064 (senior)
SER-GA-116 (cadet)

Mitchell Award 43981
Earhart Award 10643
IACE 2000

JohnKachenmeister

I commanded a cadet squadron that met before the meeting at a coffee shop.  It got to be a tradition that once a cadet earned his Curry, he was invited to meet with the rest of the gang for coffee before the meeting.  (My meetings were on Saturday mornings). 
Another former CAP officer

SarDragon

My original unit in NJ had a "staff meeting" after the regular meeting each week. It was open to any squadron member with a driver's license, or with a parent willing to claim their cadet(s) at the diner.
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
55 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

MattPHS2002

In my old old squadron (yes I've transferred again) a bunch of us (Cadets and Seniors) would meet up at whatever local restaurant seemed good at the time, the cadets would sit at one table and the seniors another, we always had a blast. I wish we did a bit more of that now but the old crew has moved on for the most part...
1Lt Matt Gamret

NER-PA-002 Drug Demand Reduction Officer

RickFranz

Quote from: MattPHS2002 on April 16, 2008, 03:33:48 PM
In my old old squadron (yes I've transferred again) a bunch of us (Cadets and Seniors) would meet up at whatever local restaurant seemed good at the time, the cadets would sit at one table and the seniors another, we always had a blast. I wish we did a bit more of that now but the old crew has moved on for the most part...

So that means it is your turn to start a new tradition with your new unit, see if anyone wants to get together and start from there.
Rick Franz, Col, CAP
KSWG CC
Gill Rob Wilson #2703
IC1

MattPHS2002

Quote from: RickFranz on April 16, 2008, 06:36:28 PM
Quote from: MattPHS2002 on April 16, 2008, 03:33:48 PM
In my old old squadron (yes I've transferred again) a bunch of us (Cadets and Seniors) would meet up at whatever local restaurant seemed good at the time, the cadets would sit at one table and the seniors another, we always had a blast. I wish we did a bit more of that now but the old crew has moved on for the most part...

So that means it is your turn to start a new tradition with your new unit, see if anyone wants to get together and start from there.

Never really bonded that well with the old squadron because I was working and not around a lot, I'm group now so I'm sure we will be getting together a bit. I've only recently been assigned myself but with my dad being in Group for years now I know everyone, so the tradition does continue.
1Lt Matt Gamret

NER-PA-002 Drug Demand Reduction Officer