Q:Is there a better way than mentoring to engage senior members?

“Mentoring is essential.”

“Yes! To advertise more. More events to attract more young people, CAP to joint activities with other groups.”

“Social events in addition to Mentoring.”

“Give them a job and get them involved quickly.”

“Mentoring is O.K. If some officer was in charge and if members where given recognition as accomplishing something important.”

“Not better, but one on one attention with the commander and job assignment helps a lot.”

“Good mentoring should work along with getting everyone trained and involved.”

“A lot of seniors are still working, or married to wives that don't support being gone for classes; training should be done in a more convenient time frame.”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Just well informed personnel officers for referencing with new membership.  Meetings to new people seem confusing with the language used and streamlined conversation.  Maybe a reference sheet for language interpretation would be in order.  I t is hard to feel apart of something you don't understand.”

“It depends on the person whether they want to be involved in senior member stuff or just work with cadets and not really pay much attention to SM promotions or requirements.”

“The problem as I see it is that there are just to many basic requirements.  To much time on FEMA stuff and other requirements. This is a volunteer outfit and the members won't or can’t put in the time to meet all the necessary requirements for promotion, so you end up with a person like me who cares less about promotions, ribbons, etc.”

“The program generally good. The wing could put out specifics and milestones tasks for the mentors.”

“Too many prerequisite for doing anything of value to the community.”

“Yes, meaningful involvement in squadron operations and activities. Just attending meetings twice a month doesn’t cut it!”

“Mentoring for motivated members is probable the best way to help members (especially new, but also members who do not have primary responsibilities). Develop goals to be accomplished long term (either exercise preparation, completion of required courses or assigned tasks), encouragement of individual goals and direction on how to accomplish them.”

“Get their kids in the cadet program.”

“Local activities that are easily participated in.”

“I think it's a wonderful idea.”

“An impossible task... eliminate the "good old boy flying club" attitude and the cliquishness pervasive in some units.”

“More funded missions.”

“I realize limited funds play a large role in how many trainings are offered, but more would be good. A variety would also be beneficial. There are members who are not pilots, who would like mission base trainings or ground team trainings that aren't really offered.”

“There needs to be a light at the end of the tunnel. When am I going to be able to do something and how do I get the qualifications to do missions? These questions were never answered and I had to pull a lot of the information. There was limited mentoring.”

“Members must have a purpose to stay engaged in activity. Mentoring and other training is a start but it must be followed up with regular exercise by putting skills into actual practice.”

“Mentoring is a great honor there just isn't enough senior members that really take it serious.”

“Develop a way to listen to and understand the needs of individual members and what their expectations are when they join and as time goes by. Understanding why members join will help in satisfying their needs and should lead to better retention.”