Help Wanted - NHQ is Looking for a Project Officer

[Ned]

Greetings,

Gen Courter and I need your help.

She has a vision of a strong and dynamic Cadet Alumni Association to reach out to the roughly one million former CAP cadets floating around this country of ours and allow them to reconnect. 

Similar to a academic alumni association, a CAP Cadet Alumni Association would allow former cadets to keep in touch with each other, and perhaps serve cadet programs as a development and force structuring tool.

We are hoping to find a volunteer with experience in cadet programs and also has a stong business skillset to help create a structure and business plan for our alumni association.

Please take a look at the position description, and consider applying if you can help us out.  Note that this is an IAOD-type position, and you will need the permission of your CAP boss to participate.

Position Description for Cadet Alumni Association Special Project Officer


Background:  Approximately one million former CAP cadets live and work in the United States, representing an untapped resource with enormous potential.  Gen Courter's vision includes a vibrant, active Cadet Alumni Association that would allow former cadets to reconnect with each other and CAP, while serving as a potential development and force structuring resource to help support current and future cadet programs operations.  A Cadet Alumni Association Special Project Officer will bring the necessary expertise to develop the framework and business plan for a vital and successful Cadet Alumni Association.

Position Description:  Reporting directly to the National Cadet Advisor, the Alumni Association Special Project Officer's primary responsibility is to develop a framework and business plan for a CAP Cadet Alumni Association that meets the following criteria:

   1.  Allow CP Alumni to re-engage with CAP and their former colleagues through websites, electronic and printed media, periodic alumni reunions, sub-affiliation groups, etc.

   2.  Serve as a significant revenue stream to support current CP operations through tools such as paid memberships, planned giving opportunities, periodic direct appeals and the establishment of a CP endowment fund.

   3.  Serve as a CP force structuring resource by identifying CP alumni with time and resources to return to active CAP membership supporting CP.

This is a volunteer position designed to be performed by a current senior member in addition to their regular duties at their home unit.


Desired Qualifications:

1.  Senior or Master rating in CP

2.  Documented business management experience including creation of business plans and expertise in financial management in a nonprofit arena.

3.  Experience with academic or youth group alumni associations highly desirable

4.  Outstanding written and oral communications skills.

5.  Ability to coordinate complex projects and proposals with other volunteers and paid staffers.


Application Procedures:

Applicants should send a CV and cover letter to the National Cadet Advisor, Lt Col Ned Lee.  Email preferred: nedlee6@aol.com .  Applications should arrive by February 15, 2010. 

Questions can be directed to Lt Col Lee at the email above, or phone (408) 832-0917 (Pacific time).

Ned Lee
National Cadet Advisor

[Spike]

Wow.  This is a huge undertaking.  Usually things like this on a national scale require a team of full time staffers to undertake.  My neighbor is a contact rep of an alumni organization and it is his fulltime job.  Are there going to be funds available for this? 

I only ask these things because it will take resources and money to undertake and operate that I don't think CAP can spend at this time.  HOWEVER, this is a great idea.

I would suggest asking the Air Force Association for assistance.  As well as other such organizations.   

[Gunner C]

How about one of the former national commanders?  They have HUGE contacts, plus it gives a great deal of prestige.  I was thinking the same as Spike, this would be a huge job.  But, it would reap CAP great rewards.  There's plenty of Mitchel Award+ types who still hold CAP close to their hearts.  I think we'd find a number of them joining the association, then coming back to CAP.

[Fuzzy]

 I like where this is going. Best idea I've heard in CAP all year.

[Al Sayre]

Sounds like a great idea, but I know NHQ has only limited membership records going back.  For example, I was a cadet in the 70's and they have no records for me even though I know my CAPSN...

[Eclipse]

Sounds like a great idea, but I know NHQ has only limited membership records going back.  For example, I was a cadet in the 70's and they have no records for me even though I know my CAPSN...

That's why the marketing and outreach are important.

I would suggest being a former cadet of some level of success should be a requirement.

[Spike]

I would suggest being a former cadet of some level of success should be a requirement.

Exactly.  Perhaps Mitchell.  NHQ should have those records going back to the creation of the milestone.  However, people move, get married, die etc. 

This is a big undertaking that may be unwarranted at this time.  However, if it can be accomplished with minimal manpower, and little or no funds I would support it now.  Though, it may be more fiscally sound to table it for the future when CAP is not making cuts to Programs and resources. 

We already have the patron member program, as well as business members.  I understand this is for the raising of money from previous Cadets who may be able to share the cash, but wouldn't they have sought out CAP if they were a member when they were younger, and wanted to do something for or with CAP??

[RiverAux]

I think it is a good idea in concept, but I think CAP may be going just a little too far in opening up all these forms of quasi-membership in CAP, each of which come with their own limitations on what they can and can't do.

Besides the official quasi members (Student AE member, Organizational AE member, Business Member, Patron, Cadet Sponsor, Retired, Affiliate, Congressional, Legislative, Honorary, 50-year, and Life) we also have the pre-teens in the ACE program. 

My question would be whether we're getting the value we want out of some of these forms of membership before starting something else.

For example, might the easy way be to make alumni members become CAP Patron members?
 

[Ned]

To avoid any confusion, the project officer will have responsiblity to do the initial planning for the alumni association (including a business plan), but will not be tasked with actually forming or running such an enterprise.  Actually standing up and running the association is indeed a substantial undertaking which would normally require the efforts of a team of volunteers working with full-time staffers at NHQ.  And will only be undertaken after careful coordination with our volunteer and professional leadership.

And if the project officer requires additional resources in terms of some more folks with specific skills or something similar, we will do our best to provide the resources.

I understand this is for the raising of money from previous Cadets who may be able to share the cash, but wouldn't they have sought out CAP if they were a member when they were younger, and wanted to do something for or with CAP??

There is certainly some truth to that, but I note that each of the colleges and universities that I have attended have active alumni associations - they did not feel that it was sufficient to sit back and passively wait for their alumni to seek them out to contribute time and resources to the school.  It seems to work for them.

For example, might the easy way be to make alumni members become CAP Patron members?

Again, if we use an academic alumni association as a model, most members appreciate the newsletters, websites, alumni merchandise, etc.  tailored specifically to them.  Our current Patron member model is a substantially different animal, involving no more outreach than the Volunteer.

How about one of the former national commanders?

Although I am not familiar with the business experience of very many of our former CCs, we are looking for someone to do some of the legwork and write up a sound business plan that will allow us to set this up on a fiscally-sound basis.  That would not seem to benefit from things like contacts and prestige.  OTOH, the first president/CEO/Commandant of (Former) Cadets/whatever would certainly benefit from those attributes.

Let's not put the cart before the horse.

It is impossible to address some of the other helpful criticisms offered in this thread unless and until we get started with the necessary research and planning.




Please spread the word and encourage qualified members to apply.

Ned Lee

[RiverAux]

Again, if we use an academic alumni association as a model, mostmembers appreciate the newsletters, websites, alumni merchandise, etc. tailored specifically to them.  Our current Patron member model is asubstantially different animal, involving no more outreach than the Volunteer.

Well, considering that just about every Volunteer seems to have a "former cadet makes good" story in it, I think it is already half-way geared towards that.  Once you've got them signed up, you can direct market via email to them for merchandise or make it part of what Vanguard sells.