This just in from the D8CR Winter District Conference... Divisions will become "Integrated Teams". Vice Comodore will become "District Chief of Staff". Rear Comodores will become "District Captains". Division Captains will become "Integrated Team Commanders". Division Vice Captains will become "Integrated Team Vice Commanders". No change for Flotilla Commanders or Vice Flotilla Commanders.

Wow! I'm glad I'm not in District 8.

Vice Comodore will become "District Chief of Staff".

That is redundant and repetitive - since he already is and has been for a long time.

AuxMan 4.F.11.a. Vice Functions

quote:

The principal duty of Auxiliarists in a vice capacity (NAVCO, VCO, VCP, and VFC) is to help the unit’s senior Auxiliarist as follows:
• Function as the unit’s chief of staff.

The above is still true of all levels except Nat. Nat, stupidly, divorced the COS job from NAVCO 4 years ago and created NACOS or NCOS - the correct acronym being dependent on the direction of the windsock on any given day. Nat "encouraged" the Districts to follow suit but I don't think any did. Smart move since now they would have to undo what they did at Nat's bidding.

OTOH - it appears that they might be eliminating the VCO title all together and just leaving him with COS. See next on demotions.

Rear Comodores will become "District Captains".

Division Captains will become "Integrated Team Commanders".

I expect a hue and cry over those 2 title demotions.

Wow! I'm glad I'm not in District 8.

I think that is Aux wide.

Yes, Auxiliary-wide...to be reflected in the next published AUXMAN (with over 1000 additional changes).

The reasoning was communicated as simplification and clarification -- in line with the appearance of the office insignia (i.e. 4 stripes for RCO & VCO, etc.). The Integrated Team was explained to go along with the Sector format now in use by the Gold side.

I'm low on the food chain, but I see no offense to the renaming of the positions to more adequately reflect the office insignia...

At our last division meeting there was a hint at some re-organization. Is this it? A name change? Whoop-de-doo! I was (foolish me) expecting something a lot more substantial like the consolidation of dead and dying flotillas into a viable group.

I guess Flotilla consolidation would depend upon your area. There was discussion in my Division meeting regarding the consolidation of Flotillas with marginal membership in a couple of areas. However,the decision was made to assist those Flotillas with recruting and retention efforts in an attempt to "bring them back to life".

My Flotilla has the opposite "problem"... We're busting at the seams (consistently exceeding the meeting facility capacity), and have recently formed a detachment in a neighboring community (with 12 members). Chances are, that the detachment will develop into a new Flotilla in 2009.

At our last division meeting there was a hint at some re-organization. Is this it? A name change? Whoop-de-doo!

Does the expression:

quote:

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Auxtanic

come to mind.

I wonder if they thought thru the confusion this will cause:

DCP - old meaning Division Captain

DCP - new meaning District Captain

If they were going to monkey around with titles you think they could have done something real easy. The USPS solved this years ago. The head of every eleced unit is a Commander - Squadron, District and National. So you get Squadron Commander, District Commander, Chief (National) Commander. Real simple. The number 2 is the the Exectuive Officer, with the proper unit level before the EO. Real simple - easy to understand and remember.

If Divsion Captains are now gone are Divsions also gone and replaced by Teams - so for example, Division 5 is now Team 5?

"Integrated Team"??? Absolutely horrible, so will you be Integrated Team 6 of District 8 (or whatever)? Sounds pretty stupid to me.

That being said, since "Division" is generally used within the CG to refer to an internal unit of a cutter, using it as the Aux does is probably not right.

Since our local units are already "flotillas", representing numerous individual boats. Is there another more appropriate designation for Division out there? Fleet would obviously not be right. Squadron maybe?

More on the name changes. The "Integrated Team Commander" designation will probably be changed to something else, NFI. Probably won't stay as Division. Group Commander has apparently been suggested but got some pushback as there are still some active Groups in the Coast Guard. District 5SR will probably reorganize by the start of the new year with the consolidation of divisions. I see the next step in the process as working to consolidate underperforming (also NFI) or artificially-created flotillas.

BTW, interesting posting dates!

quote:

My Flotilla has the opposite "problem"... We're busting at the seams (consistently exceeding the meeting facility capacity), and have recently formed a detachment in a neighboring community (with 12 members). Chances are, that the detachment will develop into a new Flotilla in 2009.

Hi Flyandscuba:

That is great to hear. Somebody is doing something right. Could you give us your impressions of what it is about your flotilla that supports and nurtures such growth and membership?

quote:

This just in from the D8CR Winter District Conference... Divisions will become "Integrated Teams". Vice Comodore will become "District Chief of Staff". Rear Comodores will become "District Captains". Division Captains will become "Integrated Team Commanders". Division Vice Captains will become "Integrated Team Vice Commanders". No change for Flotilla Commanders or Vice Flotilla Commanders.

I like the idea of change in this area and I like the idea of removing the word "captain" from the division level leadership. That "captain" designation seems to be very mis-leading to enough who are elected to that position to contribute greatly to a distorted leadership.

OTOH, I am opposed to changing any of our organizational structure just to force a match with the USCG structure. It simply does not fit, our missions are completely different. Forcing our structure into the USCG vision continues to create many problems for the Auxiliary.

Finally, I am always worried about the unintended consequences. So I hope that, whoever came up with this, did not do so just to make us "more like them", but did so after long and careful consideration as to the ramifications specific to the Auxiliary.

For sure, as the Auxiliary membership is very conservative when it comes to any changes, there will be a lot of gnashing and wailing about this. It will be interesting to see if National has a well thought out plan to respons with as an explanation, or whether it's just another knee-jerk reaction to USCG oriented sycophants. It will also be intresting to see how it is introduced. We typically make big changes about as hard as possible to implement by shoving it down the members throat. Again, we;re volunteers who vote with feet. The drop trousers, "military way" does not work in the Auxiliary.

It sounds like they want a good name for the RCOs area of responsibility. That’s not a bad idea. But Im not sure how re-naming "Division" will help the auxiliary.

quote:

That "captain" designation seems to be very mis-leading to enough who are elected to that position to contribute greatly to a distorted leadership.

Why do you think the title "captain" is misleading? And you think it distorts leadership? In what way?

quote:

Originally posted by ENGELJ:
Hi Flyandscuba:

That is great to hear. Somebody is doing something right. Could you give us your impressions of what it is about your flotilla that supports and nurtures such growth and membership?

The FSO-PS has been actively recruiting members during 2007. He was successful in bringing in 25 or so new members during the year. 16 have already entered the boat crew training program. Our FSO-MT has also been aggressive in his pursuit of the training opportunities. A retired Marine Colonel, he definitely has the "take the hill" approach to making sure the training opportunities are frequent and contain relevant substance. Actually, he was nominated for and received the Division 1 outstanding FSO-MT award this past weekend. In addition, our Flotilla received the D8CR Most Outstanding Flotilla Award for 2007 during the Winter Conference.

I'm convinced that aggressive recruiting -- quickly followed by relevant training opportunities led to the success in membership development. If members stagnate shortly after sign-up -- with little opportunities to learn and participate in meaningful ways -- they'll not last long.

The source of new member prospects has been broad. Our FSO-PE has sought candidates through the regularly scheduled Boating Safety Courses offered at various retail marine supply dealers. Our FSO-PV has made sure that Flotilla recruiting information is included with the material provided to the program partners. The FSO-VE has identified suitable candidates (especially those with potential future OPFACs) during the ramp days. Our FSO-CS has obtained a website address that is easy to rise to the top of search engine results when the public searches for boating safety information in our community. The material on the web remains current -- and the area dedicated to visitors/prospective new members has produced a fair share of membership prospects. The PA opportunities we have prosecuted during the past year (Blue Angel Homecoming Airshow, Boat Shows, Community Festivals, etc) have generated member prosects. Many of the 2007 new members are in their 30s and early 40s -- thus adding some additional energy to the Flotilla...

It really has been a team approach. Although, as with most Flotillas -- we have occassional trouble spots among the staff officers -- we truly have sought to develop a cohesive team to make things happen. One of the changes I made when I accepted the FC position -- was to eliminate the lengthy and unneccessary staff officer reports from the regular monthly membership meetings. I know of no better way to chase off a guest/prospective member -- than to eat up 30-45 minutes of a meeting with such typically rambling reports.

Our FSOs send a written staff officer report to my VFC the week before the membership meeting (3rd Thursday of the month). We have a staff officer meeting the Monday before the membership meeting and review what's happening in their respective areas. Thus, the membership meeting is free to be used for recognition, training, and fellowship.

I can't say this approach will work for everyone -- in every area -- but it seems to be working for us, with 72 or so current members...although we continue to have a need to grow and improve in many other areas.

Regards.

The Pensacola boy writ:

quote:

I know of no better way to chase off a guest/prospective member -- than to eat up 30-45 minutes of a meeting with such typically rambling reports.

Actually there is one: spend that same forty-five minutes fighting about budget items and expenditures.

Actually there is one: spend that same forty-five minutes fighting about budget items and expenditures.

I have an even better one. Spend the same 45 minutes arguing over the rules & regs (per the AuxMan and/or OpsPolMan - which the elected leadership never read) and/or the Flotilla Standing Rules (which the elected leadership never read) or Robert's Rules of Order (which the elected leadership never read either).

Yes, Auxiliary-wide...to be reflected in the next published AUXMAN (with over 1000 additional changes).

I have been meaning to ask if you were serious about the 1000 additional changes. There is simply no way, even with the best of intentions and effort, that they will be able to get that many changes into the AuxMan. I speak from experience, I was part of the editing team for the last AuxMan and the compiler of the Errata Document. The Errata Document began life before publication. It was the list of errors the Auxie committee found and submitted for correction before the manual went to publication. After publication the compiler simply took out the things were fixed leaving the items still to be fixed. Then as the final product was re-reviewed items were added to the list that were found to be errors post producition. For example, many of the errors in the ribbon chart were not in the draft but got 'in there' somewhere between the Auxies final edit run and publication.

And there is simply no way the Aux will be able to 'digest' 1000 changes to the AuxMan unless they are simple typo corrections.

That was the statement offered at the meeting...I'm just the messenger.

quote:

Why do you think the title "captain" is misleading? And you think it distorts leadership? In what way?

Good question.

First and foremost, captains of Auxiliary divisions are not "Captains" at all. That is to say it is clearly defined in the Auxiliary manual that a division captain is not to be addressed or referred to in correspondence as "Captain Smith". The correct designation is "Mr. Smith, division xx captain."

And the spelling of captain is to be always to be uncapitalized. That's also on purpose, to prevent confusion with a "real Captain as in the military."

But the most important reason is to prevent a misuse through misunderstanding of the a perception of authority that the honorific "captain" combined with three silver stripes that ARE NOT an indication of rank or authority, can cause.

The division captain has no authority over the members of a division. The position is voluntary and division captains serve at the pleasure of the division members. Members can, at any time, disregard the personal wishes of a division captain without sanction.

Authority in the sense that he/she can compel a member to do anything. Nor can a division captain impose sanctions, or punishment, or impose their own local rules or policies, unless you consider being relieved of a division SO position a punishment. Division captains who forget these limitations are operating outside of Auxiliary policy.

The good leaders understand and thrive under these guidelines. The bad ones corrupt their office and their honor by operating in that "I'll get even with you" mode. If a division captain ever tries to insist you call him/her captain, run away! <BG> They're wrong and have a distorted view of their position.

The division captain's primary job is to motivate, support and encourage his/her members through the his/her staff officers, the flotilla commanders (also uncapitalized and also not "Commanders" in any sense of the authoratative concept) and interaction with the member.

Interestingly, I have found that flotilla commanders seem to understand their position and work in that environment better than division captains. So in some cases something happens to that perception when FC's get elected to division captain.

quote:

The FSO-PS has been actively recruiting members during 2007. He was successful in bringing in 25 or so new members during the year.

Hi F&S:

Everyone please read F&S post in entirety. Because that's absolutely the right way to do it. That is textbook, classic, effective leadership and manangement and LOOK AT THE RESULTS!

I have never accepted the argument that a flotilla was foundering because the Auxiliary had no compelling attraction because (fill in the blank - whatever your excuse is).

F&S's "system" can be applied to any flotilla in any environment. And I would absolutley guarantee great results. We've seen it work here too.

So that's at the core of my frustration at National. If you take F&S's system and roll it back up the chain and determinedly restructure all of the National departments concerned, to provide maximum support to the nuances and components of F&S's system, as a National organization, we'd be off to the races. We'd be at 100,000 member in three years.

But that would take breaking of a lot of rice bowls and a hard over helm. And frankly, that's not going to happen.

Well done F&S and all the members of your flotilla!