As most are already well aware, the HMA is a volunteer organization. Everyone from the FCs dropping boosts and compression, to security keeping you safe, to enforcers muscling out the competition are there because that is what they want to do with their game time. So, it’s important to understand that no one is obligated to provide any of these services. However, from time to time we run into people that are both not appreciative of this but actively hostile when their expectations are not met. To these entitled assholes I say, “Go fuck yourself.” However, if you are genuinely interested in seeing an improvement in the quantity and quality of our fleets there are a number of things you can do.
Donate. To be clear, no one is expecting to get rich running boosts for High-Sec mining fleets. However, donations go a long way toward both making the FCs feel appreciated and covering the cost of providing boosts and compression. If they make a little extra, even better, as that can incentivize them them to keep showing up.
Volunteer. If you join a fleet and find that there is no one running security or providing boosts consider doing that yourself. Likewise, if you login and don’t see a fleet running, start one. Even if you don’t have boosts or compression to offer, your presence will encourage others to join and someone will show up who does. While 90% of people who join our fleets are there purely to mooch of the free boosts it is that 10% who actively give back that make this organization work. You can be part of that 10%. If you don’t know how you can contribute, just ask.
Advocate. As a small grassroots organization, we rely predominantly on word of mouth to fill our fleets. So, spread the word. Let your corp and alliance mates know what’s going on. I can speak from experience that the HMA is an exceptional recruitment tool but in order to achieve that it needs active participants. Let random people in your random channels know what’s going on. If you have had a good experience, or even a bad experience, consider adding your testimonial.
