Dear Leaders and those looking for permanent homes,

I have listened to the conversations surrounding the container crews. I have heard how some feel that they are competing with these traditional crews. So I have come up with a stellar idea. Here on this little bit of street I would like everyone to gather their thoughts.

Leaders gather yours on the members you are looking for and those looking for permanent housing gather yours on the type of leader that you are looking for.

Take a few moments to plan your words out. Not every leader is meant for every member and not every member will fit under every leader so let's work together and make everyone happy.

Now as far as I understand the permanent homes are looking for members. I would like to invite leaders to take the time and maybe state something that they are looking for. Why is your crew different? What are the things that are important to you?  There are people looking for homes and they may  not know much about the leaders currently standing. Perhaps giving them some food for thought would be helpful.

I realize potential associates could speak to you directly, some people may still not feel comfortable approaching those in the bold suits. So they wait around.

Now people that are looking for permanent homes, maybe you can mention what it is you are looking for? What kind of leader inspires you? If you are new to our shores maybe this will just help you get a better feel for the leaders that you may not be comfortable to approach.

Ultimately I want to see everyone happy in permanent homes and moving forward with their goals, and lives in our community. I am confident that the insight on what crew leaders and job seekers are both looking for will benefit both parties in chasing their goals.

I cannot force anyone to have a voice but perhaps this could be a start to getting you where you would like to be. To where we would all like to be, an active community with everyone working productively.

Thank you for your time.

Bender listens to everything Dusty had to say on the topic of efficiency in recruitment. He had mixed opinions about the topic. However, since his opinion was being requested he decided to take a few moment gathering his thoughts before sharing them.

"Well. First of all, miss dusty in her va...cuum cleaner. Who are you to be claiming credit for a stellar idea that isn't yours? Every organisation in this country of ours has jobs boards and on said board they already have space to introduce themselves if they choose to. The idea that a boss should take time to introduce them self was a debatable one to say the least. Not every criminal organisation around here wants to broadcast their business and as such may keep the qualities of suitable candidates on a need to know basis. 

However, as we've seen already bosses who're openly recruiting through various means have made their desires and interests known and in some cases have gone so far as to encourage people to prove themselves worthy of the benefits of being a member of their social circle. 

Don't get me wrong. I do appreciate a call out for more leaders to be a little more specific for what it is they're looking for, as no doubt in a few weeks time we'll see many of these leader's HQ's filled with comatose drunkards who've not bothered to get out of bed since first lying down in the thing. So yes, in a time where spaces are few and people are having to actively seek permanent work with a family instead of the usual offer on a plate, leaders and wannabe associates alike could stand to benefit from being more stringent with their hiring policy and applications, but to see it done publicly in the streets? Well, I can't say I agree with that. 

I would suggest however, if you feel the jobs board is too impersonal or doesn't leave enough room for adequate introductions then I'm sure a boss who owns properties can clear a back ally or two between their businesses and advertise on boards there. That way they can be open about it without letting every bobby on the beat see it.

That's just my two cents on the topic, take it or leave it. I'd prefer you leave it as that two cents could buy me a whole loaf of bread... You know I remember a time when bread only used to cost 1 cent, the damned cheek of some of these store owners these days..."

Bender continues rambling angrily about the price of bananas and such as he walks off into the streets.

I was rather intrigued by what you said there Dusty, so I decided to head on out into the streets where these familys needing members are known to reside and looked around the area to see if I could find any such details about their organisation. I hope you find comfort in seeing these results;

Slash promptly pins a large piece of paper against a wall so that anyone may take a look in their own time

Family: Evolution

Leader: Evolve

Mafioso desired: Hard workers that simply do what they can to the best of their ability. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sounds to me like this Evolve chap has given plenty information as to what he expects from any recruits. Could he elaborate? Maybe. But as that shiny looking fella Bender said; who wants to advertise the ins and outs of their operation? Anyway, on I went to my home town to see what they had on offer, knowing already space was hard to find I knew just where to go...

Family: Whispering Shores

Leader: Deces

Mafioso desired: People that are awake and alert for at the least an average amount of hours per day, and whilst awake can show that they have a level of respect for themselves and others around them and also likes to have a bit of fun.

Again another solid bit of information was found easily there. Safe to say anyone looking to be a member of Whispering Shores knows exactly what they are in for really. With Chicago being effectively full I headed over to LA to see what was going down there...

Family: Brotherhood

Leader: Bozeman

Mafioso desired: Fun lovers (perhaps a penchant for Motorcycles, too?). Thats about the short and skinny of it, they just want people that will come along and enjoy themselves. However there is also a definite strong feeling of family in the group and would like newcomers to be open to embracing that too.

Now that sounds really reasonable and really rewarding! Fun AND a family thats tight knit. Had I not already been promised to Kurgan I might very well have stuck on some ass-less chaps and hoped on my Harley and headed on over there. Again though, plenty of information easily found on their operation so it looks like those unsponsored are still getting all the details they need.

So.. all in all... I guess I have to slightly disagree with your view here Dusty, it appears to me that there is a fantastic amount of information out there for one and all to digest before choosing which person to call Boss. Sure, there are other familys available, but spaces are slim to none and so any newcomers would generally find themselves gravitating towards those named above. Unless they were from New York, which has its very own fantastic open door style policy for new comers to grind it out on their own provided they make a claim to whatever patch they are working on.

So really, I fail to understand the reason for asking for Leaders to make themselves known to the little guy, when the little guy has all the details they need should he or she be too shy to approach the leader themselves. Granted your thoughts here were expressed also to those recruits to make their own voices heard as to what they seek, but perhaps thats something they should do directly with the person they feel suits them best after looking at the information I mentioned above, which was readily available near each HQ.

Still, thank you for bringing the topic to attention as I guess it did give me the reason to go take a walk around near HQ to learn that little bit more about each family.

Dusty had listened to Bender but since he wandered off she moved onto what Slash was saying. She had looked over the facts that were given and smiled.

Thank you Slash for taking the time to venture out here and speak with me.

As to why I feel the need to be out here with this is simple: There is clearly a little bit of conflict regarding competition between traditional and the container crews. I see that you have pointed out some information that leaders give but there is something about the personalization behind their own words rather than a billboard posted.

I had hoped to invite them into speaking up. Not just the leaders but the civilians as well.  While some of the newer people to the shores have an ancestor that has taught them how to go about things there are some that may not know where to look for the information that you are sharing.

I apologize if it seems like a bad idea. I remember a time when it seemed like leaders were unapproachable for whatever reason and felt maybe others may feel the same way. I do not mean for them to share what is behind their own headquarters or share all their inner most feelings and thoughts. I was hoping to invite them to open a door for those civilians, and vice versa.

I am glad that it got at least one person to look around and learn about other families.

Oh I certainly wouldn't call it a bad idea, if anything I appreciate the effort on your part to try and help to stem some sort of resolution for this apparent conflict. Personally I haven't noticed anything of that ilk, though I will admit I do personally harbour some confusion about the necessity for these temporary familys when it would be more prudent for permanent familys to be established. However, that is a little above my pay grade so I've elected to leave that subject alone.. I guess until now, really.

Thanks for your speech Dusty. I would first like to say that I am loving the streets become a place again for people to openly and respectfully debate things, this can only be a good thing.

I was conflicted when making the choice to be a part of a container crew for all of the reasons already mentioned - I choose to develop with this world of ours at a unique time. 

To me it appears that most / all container crew's uppers have come out loud and clear to say they understand the role and position they take in the community and have openly offered transparency and even crew lists to established crews. 

This is a harsh world - step up or step aside....recruiting selective new members is a skill and takes judgement and insight and gut instinct sometimes..Crew leaders during this period of time it appears to me are being more selective that perhaps before - I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing though, having somewhere to call home for as long as you live is a privilege not a right.

Thanks for stirring up the waters on this one Dusty! Let's see who has the next voice in this debate....

Dusty, like others i welcome a presence in the streets especially ones that have good intentions to help, im guessing that is why you're out here. I dont think finger pointing or putting the ownness on one specific side of the coin is the correct approach. There isn't any way of standardizing how we recruit or who makes the first move because as you've rightly said, different people have different traits. Different leaders lead different and thats the beauty of having enough crews to be allowed to choose from. Thats why the gods have currently blessed us with container crews, not because there isn't enough mobsters to actually put on a bold suit but because there isnt enough choice and new recruits are currently limited to a very few crews, which in the eyes of the gods, isnt a fair way to new recruits picking their new home. That there is one of the main points, recruits picking their own place to call home. 

I think though, there are lessons to be learnt on both sides. its a marriage when picking a new family, "till death do us part"   so its incredibly important that you choose correctly. but that relationship will only start on the right foot if effort is put in from both sides. Work is required from all parties involved and not just down to leaders to chase every fresh off the boat scallywag. This world is about goign and taking want you want by the balls and making it happen, so those who are new, need to go looking for answers. For me, they need to be making the initial contact, they need to approach and thats when the leaders start to take control of the interactions. All leaders have a jobs board that new mobsters can do, these are simple tasks but show leaders and their chosen sponsors that you are willing to roll your sleeves up and get dirty for them. Its at that point that dialogue should take place. Its the way the gods intended it to happen. 

I know being new to this place just over a week ago, i had to go out there armed with what i wanted to achieve and how im going to do it. i approached a few leaders and set out my stall, i eventually picked the one that i felt was right for me. That gut instinct, if you like, only came from speaking and getting involved with the leaders who replied. So it wouldnt be fair to put all the emphasis on one side, as it simply cant work that way. Yes, you can argue leaders should lead and they do, but i know if i was a leader and someone put the effort in to come to me and break the ice id be very welcoming of that person and we wold push on from there.

But you can not say that its one side only that should be first to make contact, the burden falls on all involved.  

Hello Dusty, thank you for offering the opportunity to share thoughts on this matter.

Ultimately I believe in the strength of personal contact, an in-depth conversation between a sponsor and a recruit. However, having prior knowledge about the standing or vision of a crewleader can be welcoming for people looking for a job. During recruitment I expect both parties to be generally respectful and that they will try to come across as a proper choice. It can however quickly become a shallow show of identity. When leaders have a complete public image - within the criminal underworld, not  with the FBN or civilian society of course - it can tell a lot more to potential recruits than the presentation of the family during the recruitment process itself. We can assume that each familyleader aims for the good for themselves and their members, so discussing that part during recruitment talks almost feels like a waste of time to me. I think that the identity which leaders carry outside of the context of recruitment will more concretely show what they are truly about. If we move to a society with more diverse employment opportunities, I suspect that this public image will get more attention.

Hearing from possible associates what they look for in a leader can be interesting on an abstract level, but interpretation of said things will vary on a per person basis.
 

Although I personally stopped my recruitment efforts for the time being, what I generally seek for in members would be a willingness to be efficient in the time they plan to spend on this side of the law. Prior experience, great ancestry, being able to speak well - these are all great things to have, but without the efforts and motivation to put it to good use, it's worthless to me. On top of that I like people who communicate a lot, as it helps creating a meaningful relationship. I obviously value someone who is a great hitter or a great earner, but it's important that I really get to know someone as well if I am to trust them with responsibilities in our business.

Thank you Slash for sharing your thoughts on the matter. I appreciate it.

Tellurium, you make a good point that leaders are more selective. It definitely is by no means a bad thing but as you also pointed out we are at a unique time. A time where housing was very badly needed. What happens to the people that maybe no one wants? I almost feel bad if there are individuals like that. I am hoping with such diverse leaders that as soon as more permanent homes are available they will find a spot that is suitable to them. Maybe none exist at the current time.  Thank you for also sharing your thoughts.

insta, you would be correct that I am only interested in helping. I get the impression that you feel I was saying that it was only one sided. I suggested that both sides need to make an effort, the leaders and the people in search of permanent housing. I would never suggest the blame lay on one side or the other, but that both need to work on communicating if they wish to find what they seek. Communication is after all the key to anything in our community really. I am really glad that you shared your own story of being new to the shores though. Hopefully it will inspire others to go out seeking for themselves the right place to call home.

Thank you for joining us RobOakheart. I was really interested in hearing from a leader and their take on the subject so I appreciate the insight.