CAP Suggestion Program?

[RADIOMAN015]

In my AF career, I submitted numerous "suggestions" via the AF Suggestion Program (now known as the  Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) program), including getting some awards for my suggestions.  Many private for profit companies also have suggestion programs.  Would it really be that difficult for CAP to initiate a program similiar to what the AF has implemented?   I would like to suggest this but of course since there's no suggestion program, well.....
RM       

[JohnKachenmeister]

NHQ does not seem to be interested in suggestions from the field.

[DC]

I'm not sure that would be real practical. The Air Force, and for-profit corporations have the ability to pay people to sit and read through a suggestioin box. In CAP you would have to find reliable, knowledgeable volunteers willing to sift through a mountain of crap looking for a few small gems. Not likely.

[Senior]

I would volunteer for a job like that.  I believe it could be beneficial. Yes,
there would be a lot of crap.  It would benefit the member to tell them why a suggestion wouldn't work through regulation, best practices or it has been tried and doesn't work.

[RADIOMAN015]

I'm not sure that would be real practical. The Air Force, and for-profit corporations have the ability to pay people to sit and read through a suggestioin box. In CAP you would have to find reliable, knowledgeable volunteers willing to sift through a mountain of crap looking for a few small gems. Not likely.

I think some members in CAP get frustrated when they try to bring up their ideas, that for whatever reason, may not get a fair hearing (Generally at the squadron level, I find that informal suggestions do get evaluated & implemented).  You seem to be of the opinon, that there would be a "mountin of crap" --- Is this because right now the organization does not have a valid means of the "volunteer" "grass roots" members suggesting potential improvements  Why not start small with perhaps a wing or region running a test program.  The suggestions could even be summarized on a website OR for that matter could be just inputed on a website.  

It's ironic that the USAF and other organizations have found many good ideas from the grassroots level that have saved money & improved effectiveness.   Gee don't we as the Official Auxiliary want to emulate what the AF is doing
RM
     

[swamprat86]

Make them members to CAPTalk! 

[RiverAux]

We definetely need something along these lines.  Our structure is designed to make it as difficult as possible for an idea to get from the field to the decision makers.  Lowly SM Smith may have a great idea but if his Squadron Commander just happens not to like it thats as far as it might go. 

[ZigZag911]

I think this is a good idea; someone should come up with a practical means of implementing it!

Of course, we'll need to suggest that thru channels to make it happen!

[swamprat86]

We need to send the idea up the chain of command to create a means of submitting ideas because they get "lost" going up the chain of command?     This may take a while.

[DC]

I'm not sure that would be real practical. The Air Force, and for-profit corporations have the ability to pay people to sit and read through a suggestion box. In CAP you would have to find reliable, knowledgeable volunteers willing to sift through a mountain of crap looking for a few small gems. Not likely.

I think some members in CAP get frustrated when they try to bring up their ideas, that for whatever reason, may not get a fair hearing (Generally at the squadron level, I find that informal suggestions do get evaluated & implemented). You seem to be of the opinion, that there would be a "mountin of crap" --- Is this because right now the organization does not have a valid means of the "volunteer" "grass roots" members suggesting potential improvements  Why not start small with perhaps a wing or region running a test program.  The suggestions could even be summarized on a website OR for that matter could be just inputed on a website.  

It's ironic that the USAF and other organizations have found many good ideas from the grassroots level that have saved money & improved effectiveness.   Gee don't we as the Official Auxiliary want to emulate what the AF is doing
RM
     

I'm not saying that there aren't many valuable ideas sitting in the minds of our members, but there are bound to be thousands of idiots that think there latest uniform idea or <insert incredibly vague, impossible to implement plan here>. A membership suggestion box may generate some great ideas, but it will be inevitably abused as well.

[FW]

NHQ does not seem to be interested in suggestions from the field.

Kach, pardon my "french" however, that is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in quite a while.  Thank you for making me smile. 

Some recent "suggestions" from the field:
1. The Wing Banker Program
2.  Aircraft Consolidated Maint. Program
3.  CAP NCO development
4.  K-6 school enrichment program
5.  Uniform (multiform) combinations
6.  On line tests
7.  On line reports
8.  On line Flight releases and scheduling (soon)
9.  Picture membership cards
10. Fifty year memberships

YMMV however, keep those ideas coming.

I could go on but...   

[Always Ready]

The chain of command is supposed allow us to suggest ideas. The problem is getting those voices heard by people who have the power to change the problems. A lot of people have a lot of good ideas but a lot of times that suggestion does not get to the people it needs to get to. It could be that the next higher echelon doesn't like the idea and doesn't submit it up or the commander doesn't send it up the food chain quick enough because they don't have the time. There are some commanders who will help you get the suggestion up ASAP and others who could care less about your problems or suggestions.

I think having an independent suggestion program (ran by NHQ) would be a good idea. This way the commanders have less to worry about and everyone's ideas are still being heard.

[JC004]

I kind of wish we had something like this:

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaHome

I'm implementing a version of this elsewhere.  Maybe I will try to convince PAWG to do it at some point...

[ZigZag911]

I wonder how many ideas are generated right here? I'm pretty sure "The Brass" are well aware  of CAP TALK.

[JC004]

I wonder how many ideas are generated right here? I'm pretty sure "The Brass" are well aware  of CAP TALK.

This is true.  However, they are kind of mixed in with threads.  I like the idea management system idea like Starbucks has.  Just have some ground rules, such as it isn't a system for complaints, FWA issues, etc., set it up in eServices - members only.

[RiverAux]

I do think we would need a separate subset of the suggestion box just for uniform ideas.  That would probably take care of 75% of them. 

[JC004]

I do think we would need a separate subset of the suggestion box just for uniform ideas.  That would probably take care of 75% of them. 

I think so too.  Maybe even the area that also doubles as the recycling bin.

[ZigZag911]

Administrators -- how about a separate area for suggestions? It should be subdivided (ES, awards, Cadet Program, etc).

This would give corporate officer & NHQ folks a place to look to see what ideas are surfacing at the grass roots.