diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
index 9c864bfc..d4a4cdbf 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
         leader = currentleader
     try:
         remote = connect_to_collective(cert, leader)
-    except socket.error:
+    except socket.error as e:
+        log.log({'error': 'Collective connection attempt to {0} failed: {1}'
+                          ''.format(leader, str(e))})
         return False
     with connecting:
         with cfginitlock:
@@ -78,10 +80,16 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
                 return False
             if 'error' in keydata:
                 if 'backoff' in keydata:
+                    log.log({
+                        'info': 'Collective initialization in progress on '
+                                '{0}, will retry connection'.format(leader)})
                     eventlet.spawn_after(random.random(), connect_to_leader,
                                          cert, name, leader)
                     return True
                 if 'leader' in keydata:
+                    log.log(
+                        {'info': 'Prospective leader {0} has redirected this '
+                                 'member to {1}'.format(leader, keydata['leader'])})
                     ldrc = cfm.get_collective_member_by_address(
                         keydata['leader'])
                     if ldrc and ldrc['name'] == name:
@@ -89,6 +97,10 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
                     return connect_to_leader(name=name,
                                              leader=keydata['leader'])
                 if 'txcount' in keydata:
+                    log.log({'info':
+                                 'Prospective leader {0} has inferior '
+                                 'transaction count, becoming leader'
+                                 ''.format(leader)})
                     return become_leader(remote)
                 print(keydata['error'])
                 return False
@@ -96,6 +108,7 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
                 follower.kill()
                 cfm.stop_following()
                 follower = None
+            log.log({'info': 'Following leader {0}'.format(leader)})
             colldata = tlvdata.recv(remote)
             globaldata = tlvdata.recv(remote)
             dbi = tlvdata.recv(remote)
@@ -138,6 +151,8 @@ def follow_leader(remote):
     try:
         cfm.follow_channel(remote)
     finally:
+        log.log({'info': 'Current leader has disappeared, restarting '
+                         'collective membership'})
         # The leader has folded, time to startup again...
         cfm.stop_following()
         currentleader = None