Q: Do you have a "best practice" to help with retention?

"Stress member involvement in the CAP."

"Keep everyone involved.  This is different for each person because some only want to fly while others only want to do SAR, etc."

"Keep every member involved.  Make every member a valued part of the whole."

"Make sure member has an assignment if he/she is willing to accept one. If not, continue to try to find something in which they are interested."

"Have a Mentor Coordinator."

"Make new members knowledgeable as soon as possible.  I feel like I have attended many meetings of no use.  Too much of the business, I don't understand.  I want to learn to fly missions, and get familiar with other members and fly.  It is a very slow process."

"Every staff officer should have an assistant(s) who is being groomed. Too many officers in leadership roles are doing clerical work when they should be doing strategic planning and engaging members."

"The best is a newsletter that reports Squadron accomplishments and activities; include info about new members. Members need to know what they are doing is making a positive difference."

"Include people in activities - communicate with those who do not attend regular meetings with updates and lists of unit. Mentoring is fine and a practice I have used in the past but the other staff officers have to do their part."

"Encourage them to stay with the service give them the backing that is needed to succeed. Don't ignore them or forget them."

"Have dept heads include assistants in decision-making and give task assignments to them. At weekly or bi-weekly squadron meetings, hold a SAREX related training or hands on training sessions at least on a quarterly basis. (i,e,. Hands on radio operations, GPS utilization, search procedures, etc).Have  bi-annual SAREX exercises including cadets if a composite squadron. Can be simple or complicated, but have everyone involved."

"I have a chart with all available awards in CAP, showing all members' awards and whether or not the award has been presented.  This is updated weekly.  Our squadron has award presentation at EVERY meeting (at the beginning).  A certificate is presented.  Photos are taken and placed on our web site.  If the member is inactive, it is mailed to their house.  As PDO, I e-mail and/or call 'dwindling' members and inquire about problems/issues.  I update the Organization chart, senior roster, cadet roster and emergency call list and mail them out the 1st of each month and post same on the bulletin board."

"I think mentoring would be great if it were actually done. When a member is "official", assign a mentor to go over the different tracks and opportunities are available. The mentor would help with navigating eservices and the national web site, paperwork requirements, and the specific steps involved for reaching each level within a specialty track. For example, helping with a checklist for completing Level 1."

"Personal contact."

"Make the meetings interesting and helpful."

"Friendship."