Last year I was FC for our flotilla and I utilized the time as a test drive of new ideas to ultimately review the information to promulgate  it district wide – my goal was exposure of the flotilla and new membership.  I am fairly new to the Auxiliary – but I knew our flotilla had some problems – one of which was that since I joined there has only been 1 new member in the previous two year period. This resulted in a lot of burn-out by existing people doing the same thing over and over –

Needless to say – we ended up with 17 new members at the end of my watch…. Does this imply that I am beating my chest and claim to be the new guru of recruiting… NO!!!!.... it was a test drive that took several drivers and could not have been accomplished without the aid of several people in the flotilla – but here is what the basis is.

When I joined – it was at a time that it took 6 months to get my clearance – and for nearly that entire period of time – I felt as an outsider – I felt – why am I even involved with this outfit – why can’t I do anything – and like many I have known – some quit – and I suppose for me there was too much attraction to stay – but given the opportunity to get involved with the old CC program and funneled over into the PS program.
 

I took a swing – the very first thing I did last January – was to sit down with those dedicated folks in our flotilla and we devised a plan to get ready for new member/s.  I said 20 - so we end up at 17 – but the fact is – that almost all of these new members are very active – even at a time without clearances (all have cleared but one) – we set up continuous events – and had teams that constantly called on them – just on a social level to say Hi, how you doing – anything you need – the tie up is coming up can you be there it is so much fun… etc etc.  

We set up a challenge that if a new member:

      Goes with a VE person to view a VE

      Goes with a PV person to view a PV

      Goes out on a check ride on our lake

      Attends two straight flotilla meetings

      And a couple of other things

Then they are given a “Flotilla Commanders” award

We had our first “Auxiliary Boot Camp”

We had 12 of the 17 new members there – and it was all day and it basically covered the APC course of which they all took the test. 

Next month we are having an all day crew Auxiliary boot camp training to help them get sign offs etc.

So- what is the point of me telling you all this-?.  It is very obvious that district wide there are some very successful flotilla’s and some that aren’t doing so well. It is about volunteers who really put in a lot of time vs. those that capture a position and watch the year go by.

It is RETENTION
– if we are NOT ready for a new member, what is the purpose ....