Well i sent a request to join, and got a load of paper work. I then filled it out, and sent it all in (PSI, member papers). I got a few letters saying i was accepted etc, and to contact my flotillas commander, training officer..

I then tried a number of times to contact both.. I received no reply from aether of them, and its been a few months since i got the accepted letters. So i guess aether they don't care about getting new members are just have no interest in there volunteer activities. I find that to be disappointing, as i have been a volunteer firefighting for a number of yours..

So after a number of tries, i have decided to move on, and stop wasting my time with this.

I wish all the auxiliary that are active the best, and keep up the good work.

I've never heard of anyone joining without actually having made personal contact with the unit they were trying to join in the first place. I'm not even sure that is possible to do as someone local has to sign off on the forms0.

Why in the world would you try to join without even going to a local meeting first?

quote:

Originally posted by wayne242:
Well i sent a request to join, and got a load of paper work. I then filled it out, and sent it all in (PSI, member papers). I got a few letters saying i was accepted etc, and to contact my flotillas commander, training officer..

I then tried a number of times to contact both.. I received no reply from aether of them, and its been a few months since i got the accepted letters. So i guess aether they don't care about getting new members are just have no interest in there volunteer activities. I find that to be disappointing, as i have been a volunteer firefighting for a number of yours..

So after a number of tries, i have decided to move on, and stop wasting my time with this.

I wish all the auxiliary that are active the best, and keep up the good work.

___________________________________________

Don't be too fast to bail unless you weren't serious in the first place, sounds like you contacted somebody who was an idiot. Your first contact should be a Flotilla Staff Officer for Personnel Services who will help you with the applications and get you started on basic qualifications. If you go to the CG Auxiliary National website, you can make yourself known, they will pass the word.
If I can help, email me.

troll

Yeah... It's impossible to join without meeting someone face to face...

RiverAux

I did go to the meeting be for joining, how else would i know i wont to join(and get the member pack with PSI)... After filling out the paper work, i was assigned to a different flotilla then the one i went to the meeting with. So looks as you fact are off some what. Go to a meeting at one flotilla, get the member pack, and fill it out. Then wait for letters saying accepted, and your stuck in a different flotilla, that you can not make contact with to save your life. So don't jump to conclusions so fast..

16016989:

Thanks for you reply, and after 6 months of running from one person to another trying to get answers. I have about had enough of it.

Gimpycoxn:

I like spam 2...


Edit: Sorry i did leave out about going to meeting. The person was not there to give me the paper work, so i ask the member to have him mail it to me.

National cannot assign you to a different flotilla. They messed up. You can be a member of any flotilla you want. The one they sent you too probably thought you were nuts when you tried to contact them.

Go back to the first place you went too. They should be able to get it straightened out for you.

Technically, I was right by the way-- you tried to join a flotilla you had never been too --- of course this was a mistake on the part of someone else...

You can do pretty much anything while you wait for the PSI except aviation and coxswain... No need for you to sit around and twiddle your thumbs.
You should take some of the courses/tests online to get started, and try contacting the division leadership as well if no one gets back to you from the flotilla.

National cannot assign you to a different flotilla.

True but districts and divisions can and have. See next.

They messed up.

Not necessarily - it may have been done on purpose. The purpose being some Bright Bulbs idea on how to save a dying flotilla by assigning all the newbees to it. Dont' scoff, I know this has been done in the 7th District in the past.

You can be a member of any flotilla you want.

Once you get the PTBs to process the paperwork the way you want - not the way they want. See above.

The one they sent you too probably thought you were nuts when you tried to contact them.

They could be really ticked off. If the flotilla is trying to disestablish then they are probably being thwarted by the PTBs - who don't want it to have a flotilla 'fail' on their watch - so they keep assigning the newbees to it.

There is (actually now 'was') a flotilla near my old one. It should have been put out of its misery at least 7 years ago - but 'they' kept trying to save it. Finally the flotilla had enough and voted to disestablish. So the DCP was going to join the flotilla the year he became IPDCP and 'take it over' with the help of the VFC of my old flotilla - a member of the Gang of Three. The two Take-over Artists tried to force their own SOs and FSOs to transfer into the flotilla but they refused. When the SOs and FSOs were 'ordered' to assist the flotilla they were practically evicted bodily from the meeting and told 'we don't want your help'. It took a while but finally the message got thru that it was time to bury the already dead and the flotilla was disestablished.

The Aux will put a tremendous amount of effort (usually the wrong effort) into keeping the dysfunctional breathing and fogging that mirror. And those efforts include assigning newbees to the flotilla when the newbee would prefer to be somewhere else.

the first place you went too. They should be able to get it straightened out for you.

Maybe but it wouldn't be proper procedure. Now that he is officially a member of flotilla B, the way to fix it is to file an ANSC 7056 Member Transfer Request with the FC of flotilla B to transfer to Flotilla A. The FC has to certify that the member doesn't owe the flotilla (that he has never been to) any money or property. FC "B" then sends the transfer work to the DirAux, who signs it and transfers the member. Flotilla A, the one the member wants to join has no say in the matter at all. Nothing happens until FC "B" signs the paperwork and it is effective when signed by the DirAux.

It looks like a classic Aux Catch-22. He cannot get the flotilla to communicate with him but the only way out of the situation is to have the flotilla communicate with him.

Well, the powers that be can try to do all that stuff, but when it comes right down to it, the member can go whereever they want.

Personally, I suspect a general mistake on the part of somebody rather than one of the ploys you suggest.

I still stand by my advice to go to the original flotilla. They will very likely want him as a member and can get things initiated and might actually get someone from the second flotilla to return a call.

In this case, I think Hal's theory is right. I doubt a Diraux office would make a mistake on the flotilla designation, but I have personal experience with a Diraux office doing everything they could do to prevent a flotilla from being disestablished. Bad for the stats you know.

In my 20+ years in the Aux, the "powers that be" continue to insist that if new members are recruited - by others of course - to join a failing flotilla, that the flotilla will somehow be brought back to life. It may have worked here and there, but for the most part, we lose good prospects who are turned off for good. What new member wants to go to a meeting of 4-5 individulas who are burnt out and holding too many positions? They'll flee so fast that the ink won't be dry on their paperwork before they've disappeared.

The best thing you can do for a dying flotilla is put it to rest, and introduce the few remaining members to nearby "active" units. I've done it despite Diraux intervention, and know for a fact that it works. The remaining members can once again devote their energies to the programs they enjoy rather than wearing a bunch of hats they never wanted in the first place.

I wish Wayne well and hope for his sake, and ours, that he gets this straightened out ASAP.

Happy Holidays to all.

Hey Wayne,
If you haven't given up yet you'll notice that some of us will spend a huge amount of time just blathering about your problems. By now we could have had you trained as boat crew

Thanks for the replays. I filled out all the paper work, and request to join the flotilla i meet with. How i got stuck in one that i cant make contact with is beyond me. I have been studying on the site, and taking the test. I have knocked a few test out already. Thats what i have been doing the last 6 months since i could not do anything else (not knowing what to do, due to no contact). I may try to contact the flotilla i meet with, and see what they can do for me. I thought they where a great lot of guys, and what made me wont to join(easy going, and seemed like a fun group of active members). I tried contacting at least 5 people in the flotilla i was stuck in (that held office), and no replays. If the flotilla is going down hill, and i was put there for that.. Well that kind of goes over me the wrong way.. You have some one really excited about joining one flotilla, and they stuck him in a dead one.

I have not fully giving up yet as you can see. I just thought i had gave up at the time of my first post, until a read a few of the replays.

What District are you in?

Well, that's a new one on me. I have never heard of a member being unilaterally transferred or moved to a different flotilla than the one they originally signed the papers with.

I can't see any procedural way that can be done without your explicit agreement. You have to sign the transfer forms too.

On your original application for membership form, you selected the flotilla you wanted to join. That form must be signed off by you and by that flotilla commander (or his designate) and your check ($$$) must be made out to and deposited to the flotilla bank account.

So if things transpired as you say, something is definately wrong with the process there.

The division does not have the authority to unlaterally move folks around no matter what their situation.

Well the only thing i can think of, is a mishap in paper work. That still has no baring on the lack of contact from the flotilla i am assigned to. I talked to some one today, and got a few names from him to call. I was told to call them, and ask whats the deal basically. As for the member dues, never paid them. How do you pay member dues, if you don't know who to write the check out to.. I would say that as no baring in them not contacting me(if it is, thats a good laugh). As i am on there list as member. I found all contact info, and that i am on the list http://www.auxedirectory.org/ here.

With the holidays on top of me, i have to put this to the side for now.

I am in the Eighth Coast Guard District.

Edit: There was no transferring.. I was never put with the unit i wonted. I have no copy of the paper work, but I'm sure i put the right one. As there is only 2 close by (the one i wonted, and the one I'm stuck with..).

Which district, wr western rivers, or coastal region. If in cr, then let me know where as you can and should contact our diraux to help you get this sorted out. as our diraux says "I work for you, it is my job to buy, barrow, bend, or brake anything that stands in the way from you doing your job." If not in our district, I can only hope your diraux would be as supportive.

Semper Paratus shipmate, and welcome to the Coast Guard family although it sounds like you have had a time of it.

Thanks for all the help. I finally received a reply tonight with contacts, and meeting dates.

Thanks again for the helpful info.

Join and then got kick out.. was not up to their narrow standards..They suck.

quote:

Join and then got kick out

Probably a Felon.