The document provides guidance on how to successfully recruit new members to a Civil Air Patrol unit and retain existing members. It recommends thorough planning for open houses, including assigning tasks, sending invitations, and setting up informative displays. During the open house, greet visitors, give a presentation on CAP's missions, and consider including a promotion ceremony. To retain members, the document advises establishing goals in each program area, creating a quarterly and annual plan to meet goals, executing the plan through regular unit activities, and recognizing individual efforts.

1. How to get and keep your
membership
Col Stan Skrabut, CAP
Wywg.pdo@capwyhq.org
@wywgcap

2. Civil Air Patrol turns over its membership
(61,000) every three years.

3. You are in a leadership role within a local unit.

4. You are struggling with getting members in
the door and keeping them.

5. You want a successful recruiting campaign
as well as a membership that stays.

6. Let me show you how the Laramie Squadron
recruits, and how we try to keep our members.

7. Successful open
houses are based
on thorough
planning and
preparation.

8. Here are tasks to complete 31-90 days out.

9. Most importantly agree to date and place it on
your annual calendar. Hold it on meeting night.

10. Order your recruiting materials from
National or print your own.

11. Assign tasks to members; develop displays,
sending out materials, planning refreshments.

12. Have public affairs officer send out press releases.

13. Compile lists of government officials,
principals, and school administrators.

14. Send invitation letters to local officials

15. Print out posters for distribution throughout town.

16. Here are tasks to complete 10-30 days out.

17. Send packets to schools including information letter, school
announcements, cadet recruiting brochures, open house
posters, and teacher recruiting brochures.

18. Go business to business to post posters in the window.

19. Assemble new member packets.

20. Here are tasks to complete in the last week to 10 days.

21. Have cadets wear uniforms to school the
day prior to open house.

22. Review schedule and assignments with
unit members.

23. Explain how open house displays will be set up.

24. Assign door guard/ greeter and display
presenter positions.

25. It is important to
put on the most
professional
presentation
possible.

26. Arrive early to set up for open house.

27. Set up displays and seating, if you did it
right plan for 40 or more visitors.

28. When visitors arrive, have escorts guide
them to their seats of display area.

29. Ensure all members are briefed to engage
with visitors not fellow members.

30. Ensure you develop displays that focus on
all three missions.

31. Set up displays with attractive posters.

32. Set up displays with typical CAP equipment
and resources.

33. Set up displays with handouts and takeaways.

34. Give a presentation that clearly spells out
CAP’s capabilities and missions.

35. Either create or modify a visual
presentation that shows the CAP missions.

36. If possible, have a couple cadets give a
presentation from their perspective.

37. An open house is an ideal time to have a
promotion or award ceremony.

38. Once you get
members, it is now
a matter of
keeping them.

39. One of the most important things to do is
establish squadron goals.
70102189

40. Work with members to establish goals for
Aerospace Education program.

41. Work with members to establish goals for cadet program.

42. Work with members to establish goals for
emergency services program.

43. Work with members to establish goals for other programs
such as public affairs, professional development, etc.

44. Once you have your goals in place, start
building a plan to meet the goals.

45. Start with an annual plan and identify your
core focus for each quarter.

46. Identify the wing and squadron monthly
activities aligning with quarterly activities.

47. Have a set meeting schedule, each week a
different focus.

48. Let the members know what is on the
schedule.

49. Now it is a matter of executing your plan
and measuring the results.

50. Naturally, you will have to make adjustments to your
plan; however, they should not be radical changes.

51. Periodically, review your goals to see if you
are making a difference.

52. Recognize individual efforts throughout the process.

53. Questions?