Hi all,
I wonder if I can pick your brains about Civilian Committee ‘recruitment’. I speak to all parents at every intake, we send letters out to all of them about it at least once a year and I’m advertising it in our website etc regularly.
Does anyone have a good method for getting interest / involvement in the CWC? Mine is dwindling and since they aren’t doing anything to expand it, I feel like I need to do something now before its too late.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Runner
When you talk/write to people, explain to them what it’s about
It’s not a PTA
They only need to commit to one meeting every (x)
They could get some jollies out of it
It can be fun
They don’t need any experience
as above really.
we have an annual review at the end of the year, chance for the NCOs to get up and “publically speak” in front of their parents what they got up to (Flying, marksman, Nijmegen, camps etc) and awards.
apart from the Cadets, CO and guest of honour our Chairman gets 10mins to explain what they have achieved in the year (mainly funding what has gone in and out) he mentions they are always looking for new members explaining commitment can be as simple as preparing the food for that evenings awards night (sandwiches, and other nibbles etc).
the past three years we have gained at least one person year year post review.
it probably works as we’ve just given them the success story and cherry of being part of it without major commitment…
Good luck!! Myself and the Chairman speak at each intake, the awards evening and write to all parents when we have the AGM and you’d think we were asking them to give a limb, they can’t even be bothered to turn up for the AGM. My happiest hunting ground has been the RBL and RAFA.
My advice would be avoid anyone who has been on a PTA (as intimated by ON) or been a fundraiser for a ‘local charity’ as they don’t undertsand that the CO decides how to spend the money, not them. I’ve had both over the years and initially I thought brilliant, but they soon left after they got to fully understand how it worked.
When looking at CWCs they have a critical mass of about 7, any more and it gets messy. Less is OK as long as they are focussed.
Normally I use our AGM as the ideal time to get on with admin because for once I’m not instructing.
However I might actually listen in to the Chairman and Treasurer this year. I’d love to know what they’re going to say since they don’t fundraise, don’t organize anything, don’t actually seem to do anything at the monthly meetings (except apparently mutter about the fact that 50% of the cadets aren’t paying subs)…
Makes me wonder what it is he tells parents the committee are for?
Might not be a PTA. But they are definitely a PITA (sometimes)! 
Seriously though, as above really. However, I’d also target “impartials” - so not cadet parents. It’ll diversity your committee and bring about a mixture and shake things up a bit - ex Cadets, members of the RBL/RAFA, “professional committee types” (you know the ones!), even people from your volunteer bureau, local teachers - all can make a massive difference to a committee and bring in fresh blood with new ideas.
Might not be a PTA. But they are definitely a PITA (sometimes)!
Seriously though, as above really. However, I’d also target “impartials” - so not cadet parents. It’ll diversity your committee and bring about a mixture and shake things up a bit - ex Cadets, members of the RBL/RAFA, “professional committee types” (you know the ones!), even people from your volunteer bureau, local teachers - all can make a massive difference to a committee and bring in fresh blood with new ideas.[/quote]
Badum-tish
:worthy: Thankyou all for your advice! It seems I’m not the only one struggling for civ com numbers. It really is as though their children aren’t even in cadets at times. Getting parents to show the slightest bit of interest is like pulling teeth at times.
I’ve written a letter for the AGM… Fingers crossed it gets at least 1 parent to even attend, let alone join the civ com.
Joys!
They are fully aware that their children are in the ATC, as for many dumping them off at the teenage babysitting service every week for two nights and weekends and allows them to do other things (watch the latest Flora Buttery advert).