From awoodgate at austin.rr.com Tue Jul 1 07:38:28 2014 From: awoodgate at austin.rr.com (Arthur Woodgate) Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 07:38:28 -0500 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> Message-ID: <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing their job, the brand can easily die. As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do the same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. Arthur ~ -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael Marek Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand promise, but they are not the promise itself. The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to be important, believable and distinctive. Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the brand promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching the public from many directions. -Michael- On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > I always liked /Missions for America/ best. > > Arthur ~ > > *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen > Copenhaver > *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM > *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers > *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once > we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy > can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in > our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell > the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up > the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different > strategies requiring different approaches. > > One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our > "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to > the overall "branding" confusion for our public. > > Karen~ > > > > > > / > > On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: > > Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - > I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct > answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to > put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and > letters coming... > > > I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the > field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message > brief explaining it. > > Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we > need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the > organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, > people invent their own, based on their local vision. > > > -Michael- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net > CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > > > > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From pa at natcapwg.cap.gov Tue Jul 1 16:02:03 2014 From: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov (Lt Col Paul Cianciolo) Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 17:02:03 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: <53B1F2AD.8070705@themareks.com> References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <53B1F2AD.8070705@themareks.com> Message-ID: Micheal, I do agree with you that certain subsections may be appropriate to have their own "branding" of sorts and communication strategy. And safety is definitely one of those. However, their branding should still fit within an overall CAP branding strategy. At the very least using the CAP logo with their specific logo in a less prominent placement. The same style should be the same across the board. And if a sub-organization has a need to be "separate" then there should be reasons outlined in some sort of communication strategy. Using safety as an example, let's look at how one gets the newsletter that the office produces. For me personally, I sometimes get it through email from a region email list, sometimes from the wing safety director, and sometimes forwarded from some other sources like a post on Facebook or a tweet. There is no consistency, and I don't know where to go to sign-up to get that information automatically sent. Are there any metrics in place to verify that this information is getting to the people who need it or want it? Some fixes could be automatic email based on duty position or a check-box in eServices that allows someone to sign-up for that news. There are many options, but without some sort of branding/marketing plan for all types of communication, information will continue to be fragmented and not reach the people who need it in a consistent way. Paul v/r -- *PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAPPublic Affairs OfficerNational Capital Wing* Cell: 301-751-2011 Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 7:28 PM, Michael Marek wrote: > Paul, > > I generally agree with what you are saying in the section I have quoted > below, but in Integrated Marketing and Brand communications, it can be > appropriate for subsections of an organization, or separate "products" to > have their own logos and even slogans, usually being segmented by being > aimed at different audiences. > > This is true because in brand communication "one size does not fit all" > and it is often appropriate to "tell the story"in different ways for > different audiences. But..... > > When this is done, it still must reflect the overall organizational brand > promise and positioning. So the foundation of the brand promise is the > same but we present it and "tell the story" differently for different > audiences. > > The example that I give in class when I teach IMC is that for university > marketing, the high school juniors and seniors don't have the same > questions about the school as their parents do, or that alumni do. We need > to give each group the information most focused to their interests, because > if we send them information they are NOT interested in, they may tune us > out. This MAY mean different logos, slogans, etc, as long as they are > consistent with the overarching brand promise and positioning. > > > -Michael- > > On 6/30/2014 3:57 PM, Lt Col Paul Cianciolo wrote: > > /I think the marketing focus needs to be on CAP as a single brand./ If >> >> you are going to spend money, then assisting the wings with specific >> projects would be useful, e.g., creating a national video promo to be >> used on YouTube, converting wing artwork to vector graphics, or >> assisting with creating a promotional commercial specific to the local >> audience. Here are 4 areas that make it near impossible for CAP to be a >> single, recognized brand, and here is how I think it can be fixed. >> >> *1. Prohibit the "branding" of CAP functional areas.* >> >> >> An example of this is the safety directorate >> (not sure what to call it, which is >> part of the problem) at NHQ. The /Safety Beacon/ >> > 2014_20CD6B78A00B3.pdf> >> >> is sent out around the Web to members and non-members alike. It doesn't >> even have the Civil Air Patrol logo or seal on the front page or >> anywhere in the "official" newsletter! /How can anything official not be >> branded like this?/ There are more functional area newsletters floating >> >> around than I can even count. >> >> "CAP Safety" also has it's own social media presence on Facebook >> . Looking in from >> >> the outside, it looks like it's a separate organization -- equipped with >> its own slogan, logo, and mission. /Is this the message CAP -- as a >> brand -- wants to portray?/ >> >> >> From another perspective, this same principle applies to national >> activities, encampments, and events. /Does every activity and program >> really need it's own logo and slogan?/ This type of leadership leads to >> >> clicks, which in-turn leads to hurt feelings and resentment when someone >> who created the "program" is removed or it needs to be shut down for >> budgetary reasons. Leadership decisions are based on the individuals >> involved and not the overall mission of CAP. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > -- ------------------------------ Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing *"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"* CFC Charity #26757 www.NatCapWing.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pa at natcapwg.cap.gov Tue Jul 1 16:12:02 2014 From: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov (Lt Col Paul Cianciolo) Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 17:12:02 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. Paul v/r -- *PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAPPublic Affairs OfficerNational Capital Wing* Cell: 301-751-2011 Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, > breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing > their job, the brand can easily die. > > As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high > quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's > contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do the > same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this > platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. > > Arthur ~ > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael > Marek > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand > promise, but they are not the promise itself. > > The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol > promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to be > important, believable and distinctive. > > Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the > brand > promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching the > public from many directions. > > > -Michael- > > > On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > > I always liked /Missions for America/ best. > > > > Arthur ~ > > > > *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen > > Copenhaver > > *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM > > *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers > > *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > > > /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once > > we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy > > can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in > > our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell > > the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up > > the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different > > strategies requiring different approaches. > > > > One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our > > "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to > > the overall "branding" confusion for our public. > > > > Karen~ > > > > > > > > > > > > / > > > > On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: > > > > Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - > > I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct > > answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to > > put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and > > letters coming... > > > > > > I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the > > field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message > > brief explaining it. > > > > Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we > > need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the > > organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, > > people invent their own, based on their local vision. > > > > > > -Michael- > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net > > CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > > protection is active. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > -- ------------------------------ Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing *"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"* CFC Charity #26757 www.NatCapWing.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From awoodgate at austin.rr.com Wed Jul 2 07:39:32 2014 From: awoodgate at austin.rr.com (Arthur Woodgate) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 07:39:32 -0500 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: <03c901cf95f2$accf3a40$066daec0$@austin.rr.com> Yes, Paul. In fact, they’re better than the AF at this. CAP would be far better off if we all did as NASA does. Arthur ~ From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Lt Col Paul Cianciolo Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 4:12 PM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. Paul v/r -- PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP Public Affairs Officer National Capital Wing Cell: 301-751-2011 Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing their job, the brand can easily die. As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do the same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. Arthur ~ -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael Marek Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand promise, but they are not the promise itself. The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to be important, believable and distinctive. Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the brand promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching the public from many directions. -Michael- On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > I always liked /Missions for America/ best. > > Arthur ~ > > *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen > Copenhaver > *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM > *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers > *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once > we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy > can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in > our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell > the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up > the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different > strategies requiring different approaches. > > One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our > "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to > the overall "branding" confusion for our public. > > Karen~ > > > > > > / > > On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: > > Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - > I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct > answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to > put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and > letters coming... > > > I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the > field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message > brief explaining it. > > Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we > need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the > organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, > people invent their own, based on their local vision. > > > -Michael- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net > CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > > > > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _____ Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond" CFC Charity #26757 www.NatCapWing.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From michael at themareks.com Wed Jul 2 09:06:28 2014 From: michael at themareks.com (Michael Marek) Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 09:06:28 -0500 Subject: [PAO] Optimizing Social Media Marketing Message-ID: <53B411E4.6080100@themareks.com> All, The Jeff Bullas blog consistently has good ideas about social media marketing. Here is a link to a recent entry with some particularly good points: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/06/27/8-insights-on-how-to-optimize-your-social-media-marketing-study/ or http://ow.ly/yHj5G -Michael- From stan.skrabut at gmail.com Wed Jul 2 11:49:17 2014 From: stan.skrabut at gmail.com (Stan Skrabut, Ed.D.) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 10:49:17 -0600 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: Greetings, Thanks for the NASA guide. Good stuff! Have a great day, STANLEY A. SKRABUT, Col, CAP Chief of Staff Rocky Mountain Region http://rmrcapnews.org/ Skype: skrabut skype: 307-222-4858 Cell: 307-287-8147 On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 3:12 PM, Lt Col Paul Cianciolo wrote: > That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides > > out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo > placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of > each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there > accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. > > Paul > > > v/r > -- > > > *PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAPPublic Affairs OfficerNational Capital Wing* > > Cell: 301-751-2011 > Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) > > > On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate > wrote: > >> A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, >> breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing >> their job, the brand can easily die. >> >> As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high >> quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's >> contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do >> the >> same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this >> platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. >> >> Arthur ~ >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael >> Marek >> Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM >> To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org >> Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> >> Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand >> promise, but they are not the promise itself. >> >> The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol >> promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to >> be >> important, believable and distinctive. >> >> Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the >> brand >> promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching >> the >> public from many directions. >> >> >> -Michael- >> >> >> On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: >> > I always liked /Missions for America/ best. >> > >> > Arthur ~ >> > >> > *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen >> > Copenhaver >> > *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM >> > *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers >> > *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> > >> > /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once >> > we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy >> > can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in >> > our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell >> > the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up >> > the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different >> > strategies requiring different approaches. >> > >> > One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our >> > "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to >> > the overall "branding" confusion for our public. >> > >> > Karen~ >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > / >> > >> > On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: >> > >> > Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - >> > I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct >> > answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to >> > put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and >> > letters coming... >> > >> > >> > I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the >> > field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message >> > brief explaining it. >> > >> > Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we >> > need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the >> > organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, >> > people invent their own, based on their local vision. >> > >> > >> > -Michael- >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net >> > CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > >> > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > >> > >> > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > -- >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus >> > protection is active. >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov >> >> CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > > > ------------------------------ > Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing > *"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"* > > CFC Charity #26757 > www.NatCapWing.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: stan.skrabut at gmail.com > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alice at mansell.com Wed Jul 2 14:13:03 2014 From: alice at mansell.com (Alice Mansell) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 12:13:03 -0700 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: <03c901cf95f2$accf3a40$066daec0$@austin.rr.com> References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> <03c901cf95f2$accf3a40$066daec0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: If CAP did a small fraction of what NASA does for aero PR we would put a lot more flesh and blood on our PA efforts as well as our AE mission besides just our current internal AE plus the grammar and middle school programs we have now.... which are not truly robust in every state yet .... or updated very often... Does CAP have a current MOU with the public information and education offices of NASA? If budgets are tight all over, why not join forces with them for at least our external AE mission? Fact is CAP's AE mission was set up to foster "air-mindedness" with one purpose: to help USAF get startup budgets from Congress right after WWII when federal air budgets were super tight. Years later, NASA evolved out of NACA and took on a new public aero-ed mission, too, especially as budgets got tighter with the expensive manned space programs... but I have never seen CAP and NASA regularly coordinate their efforts for AE. Must we wait another 50 years for that? Or are CAP leaders afraid such coordination would mean CAP would lose independance, power, money or some other excuse? Seriously, what would CAP have to lose ... or gain? How about rising all boats instead of slicing the Only Pie in the World. Alice On Wednesday, July 2, 2014, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > Yes, Paul. In fact, they’re better than the AF at this. CAP would be far better off if we all did as NASA does. > > > > Arthur ~ > > > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Lt Col Paul Cianciolo > Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 4:12 PM > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > > > That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. > > Paul > > v/r > -- > PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP > Public Affairs Officer > National Capital Wing > > Cell: 301-751-2011 > Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) > > > > On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > > A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, > breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing > their job, the brand can easily die. > > As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high > quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's > contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do the > same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this > platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. > > Arthur ~ > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael Marek > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand > promise, but they are not the promise itself. > > The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol > promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to be > important, believable and distinctive. > > Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the brand > promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching the > public from many directions. > > > -Michael- > > > On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > >> I always liked /Missions for America/ best. > >> >> Arthur ~ >> >> *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen >> Copenhaver >> *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM >> *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers >> *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> >> /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once >> we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy >> can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in >> our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell >> the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up >> the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different >> strategies requiring different approaches. >> >> One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our >> "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to >> the overall "branding" confusion for our public. >> >> Karen~ >> >> >> >> >> >> / >> >> On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: >> >> Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - >> I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct >> answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to >> put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and >> letters coming... >> >> >> I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the >> field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message >> brief explaining it. >> >> Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we >> need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the >> organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, >> people invent their own, based on their local vision. >> >> >> -Michael- >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net >> CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> -- >> >> >> >> >> >> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus >> protection is active. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing > "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond" > > CFC Charity #26757 > www.NatCapWing.org > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pa at natcapwg.cap.gov Wed Jul 2 14:45:47 2014 From: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov (Lt Col Paul Cianciolo) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 15:45:47 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> <03c901cf95f2$accf3a40$066daec0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: No, not with NASA that I know of. Although our wing has had a CAP informational display at NASA headquarters a few times for CFC. Even the NASA Administrator came up to talk about CAP. CAP does have other AE type MOUs, like with FAA. See: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/general_counsel/national-mous-1665/ Paul v/r -- *PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAPPublic Affairs OfficerNational Capital Wing* Cell: 301-751-2011 Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 3:13 PM, Alice Mansell wrote: > If CAP did a small fraction of what NASA does for aero PR we would put a > lot more flesh and blood on our PA efforts as well as our AE mission > besides just our current internal AE plus the grammar and middle school > programs we have now.... which are not truly robust in every state yet .... > or updated very often... > > Does CAP have a current MOU with the public information and education > offices of NASA? If budgets are tight all over, why not join forces with > them for at least our external AE mission? > > Fact is CAP's AE mission was set up to foster "air-mindedness" with one > purpose: to help USAF get startup budgets from Congress right after WWII > when federal air budgets were super tight. Years later, NASA evolved out > of NACA and took on a new public aero-ed mission, too, especially as > budgets got tighter with the expensive manned space programs... but I have > never seen CAP and NASA regularly coordinate their efforts for AE. Must we > wait another 50 years for that? Or are CAP leaders afraid such coordination > would mean CAP would lose independance, power, money or some other excuse? > Seriously, what would CAP have to lose ... or gain? > > How about rising all boats instead of slicing the Only Pie in the World. > > Alice > > > On Wednesday, July 2, 2014, Arthur Woodgate > wrote: > > Yes, Paul. In fact, they’re better than the AF at this. CAP would be far > better off if we all did as NASA does. > > > > > > > > Arthur ~ > > > > > > > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: > cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Lt Col Paul > Cianciolo > > Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 4:12 PM > > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > > > > > > > That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides > out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo > placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of > each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there > accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. > > > > Paul > > > > v/r > > -- > > PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP > > Public Affairs Officer > > National Capital Wing > > > > Cell: 301-751-2011 > > Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) > > > > > > > > On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate > wrote: > > > > A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, > > breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing > > their job, the brand can easily die. > > > > As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high > > quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's > > contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do > the > > same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this > > platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. > > > > Arthur ~ > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael > Marek > > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM > > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question > > > > Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the > brand > > promise, but they are not the promise itself. > > > > The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air > Patrol > > promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to > be > > important, believable and distinctive. > > > > Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the > brand > > promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching > the > > public from many directions. > > > > > > -Michael- > > > > > > On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > > > >> I always liked /Missions for America/ best. > > > >> > >> Arthur ~ > >> > >> *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen > >> Copenhaver > >> *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM > >> *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers > >> *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question > >> > >> /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once > >> we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy > >> can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in > >> our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell > >> the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up > >> the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different > >> strategies requiring different approaches. > >> > >> One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our > >> "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to > >> the overall "branding" confusion for our public. > >> > >> Karen~ > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> / > >> > >> On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: > >> > >> Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - > >> I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct > >> answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to > >> put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and > >> letters coming... > >> > >> > >> I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the > >> field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message > >> brief explaining it. > >> > >> Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we > >> need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the > >> organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, > >> people invent their own, based on their local vision. > >> > >> > >> -Michael- > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net > >> CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > >> > >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > >> > >> > >> > >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> -- > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > >> protection is active. > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list > >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list > > > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > > CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing > > "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond" > > > > CFC Charity #26757 > > www.NatCapWing.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > -- ------------------------------ Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing *"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"* CFC Charity #26757 www.NatCapWing.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alice at mansell.com Wed Jul 2 19:51:18 2014 From: alice at mansell.com (Alice Mansell) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 17:51:18 -0700 Subject: [PAO] Marketing question In-Reply-To: References: <03D9E76F-3A21-44F1-BDE5-1F992D54270F@cap.gov> <5377C034.5030902@themareks.com> <53782EA0.2020804@themareks.com> <2585313c1b1a4710b8c4a410130d1fc9@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> <0CABCFC5-AAE8-401C-84A7-C90441B5A080@cap.gov> <141A030B-83B8-49F3-AF1C-E4D161D4742D@cap.gov> <53B17F24.3030703@themareks.com> <53B1878C.4030708@smyth.net> <036a01cf947d$08469520$18d3bf60$@austin.rr.com> <53B19F77.9000503@themareks.com> <00bd01cf9529$5c5b9fa0$1512dee0$@austin.rr.com> <03c901cf95f2$accf3a40$066daec0$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: CAP had a very active relationship and even an MOU with the NASA SAR Mission Office in the 1970's to the mid-90's. CAP used to help NASA get federal funds for multi-agency SAR programs like testing early ELTs, testified at Congress on the importance of funding the first rocket launches to place 121.5MHz repeators in orbit on NOAA weather satellites, and field test the first 406 MHz PLBs and ELTs (thanks Alaska and California Wings!). That sort of mutally supportive relationship can happen again. Alice On Wednesday, July 2, 2014, Lt Col Paul Cianciolo wrote: > No, not with NASA that I know of. Although our wing has had a CAP informational display at NASA headquarters a few times for CFC. Even the NASA Administrator came up to talk about CAP. > > CAP does have other AE type MOUs, like with FAA. See: > > http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/general_counsel/national-mous-1665/ > > Paul > > > v/r > -- > PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP > Public Affairs Officer > National Capital Wing > > Cell: 301-751-2011 > Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) > > > On Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 3:13 PM, Alice Mansell wrote: >> >> If CAP did a small fraction of what NASA does for aero PR we would put a lot more flesh and blood on our PA efforts as well as our AE mission besides just our current internal AE plus the grammar and middle school programs we have now.... which are not truly robust in every state yet .... or updated very often... >> >> Does CAP have a current MOU with the public information and education offices of NASA? If budgets are tight all over, why not join forces with them for at least our external AE mission? >> >> Fact is CAP's AE mission was set up to foster "air-mindedness" with one purpose: to help USAF get startup budgets from Congress right after WWII when federal air budgets were super tight. Years later, NASA evolved out of NACA and took on a new public aero-ed mission, too, especially as budgets got tighter with the expensive manned space programs... but I have never seen CAP and NASA regularly coordinate their efforts for AE. Must we wait another 50 years for that? Or are CAP leaders afraid such coordination would mean CAP would lose independance, power, money or some other excuse? Seriously, what would CAP have to lose ... or gain? >> >> How about rising all boats instead of slicing the Only Pie in the World. >> >> Alice >> >> On Wednesday, July 2, 2014, Arthur Woodgate wrote: >> > Yes, Paul. In fact, they’re better than the AF at this. CAP would be far better off if we all did as NASA does. >> > >> > >> > >> > Arthur ~ >> > >> > >> > >> > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Lt Col Paul Cianciolo >> > Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 4:12 PM >> > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers >> > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> > >> > >> > >> > That's because NASA has one of the best government style/branding guides out there. It includes everything from newsletters, to aircraft logo placement, to fonts used. Every office uses it, yet maintains uniqueness of each. NASA also has one of the best grasps of social media. See there accounts at http://www.nasa.gov/socialmedia/. >> > >> > Paul >> > >> > v/r >> > -- >> > PAUL S. CIANCIOLO, Lt Col, CAP >> > Public Affairs Officer >> > National Capital Wing >> > >> > Cell: 301-751-2011 >> > Work: 202-385-9599 (@FAA) >> > >> > >> > >> > On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:38 AM, Arthur Woodgate < awoodgate at austin.rr.com> wrote: >> > >> > A significant contributor to the brand promise is the quality, quantity, >> > breadth and depth of PA coverage. Make no mistake: if PAOs are not doing >> > their job, the brand can easily die. >> > >> > As an example, look at NASA and how they maintain a steady flow of high >> > quality articles concerning not only space exploration but NASA's >> > contributions to Earth science and aerospace advancement. We need to do the >> > same in order to take our story directly to the public. It is on this >> > platform that marketing will be able to do the best job. >> > >> > Arthur ~ >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Michael Marek >> > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 12:34 PM >> > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > Subject: Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> > >> > Slogans are not brand promises. Slogans interpret and represent the brand >> > promise, but they are not the promise itself. >> > >> > The promise is largely an internal statement that begins "Civil Air Patrol >> > promised that......" and says something that the public will consider to be >> > important, believable and distinctive. >> > >> > Then the marketing and public relations people present and explain the brand >> > promise to our external audiences using decentralized messages reaching the >> > public from many directions. >> > >> > >> > -Michael- >> > >> > >> > On 6/30/2014 10:04 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: >> > >> >> I always liked /Missions for America/ best. >> > >> >> >> >> Arthur ~ >> >> >> >> *From:*cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] *On Behalf Of *Karen >> >> Copenhaver >> >> *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2014 10:52 AM >> >> *To:* CAP Public Affairs Officers >> >> *Subject:* Re: [PAO] Marketing question >> >> >> >> /This would be a great subject to address at the national board. Once >> >> we understand what the "brand promise" is, then a specific strategy >> >> can be developed to address our target audiences. Being consistent in >> >> our market strategy is crucial, as Michael said, everyone should tell >> >> the same story from the larger perspective. However, lets not mix-up >> >> the two ... "marketing" and "public relations" are two different >> >> strategies requiring different approaches. >> >> >> >> One item that even confuses me.... is why we keep changing our >> >> "branding slogans"...... we've had several over the years. It adds to >> >> the overall "branding" confusion for our public. >> >> >> >> Karen~ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> / >> >> >> >> On 6/29/2014 2:39 PM, DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP CAP/PM wrote: >> >> >> >> Hey, everyone, so far, got some great ideas, which is what I wanted - >> >> I was more interested in seeking ideas and input than getting direct >> >> answers to my questions, anyway. I'm hoping we can get some folks to >> >> put our heads together and make them work. Keep those cards and >> >> letters coming... >> >> >> >> >> >> I am not sure that CAP's "brand promise" is well understood in the >> >> field. I don't believe that I have ever seen a strategic message >> >> brief explaining it. >> >> >> >> Once we know what our brand promise is, and our strategic messages, we >> >> need to find ways to integrate them from top to bottom in the >> >> organization, i.e. get everyone telling the same story. Otherwise, >> >> people invent their own, based on their local vision. >> >> >> >> >> >> -Michael- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net >> >> CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> >> >> >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus >> >> protection is active. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Subscribed Email Address: michael at themareks.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > >> > Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> > >> > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov >> > CAP-PAO mailing list >> > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > ________________________________ >> > >> > Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing >> > "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond" >> > >> > CFC Charity #26757 >> > www.NatCapWing.org >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov >> CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> > > > ________________________________ > Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing > "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond" > > CFC Charity #26757 > www.NatCapWing.org > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tomt at theppigroup.com Thu Jul 3 13:51:11 2014 From: tomt at theppigroup.com (Tom Traver) Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2014 18:51:11 +0000 Subject: [PAO] FW: public awareness In-Reply-To: <53B5A338.3040708@smyth.net> References: <53B5A338.3040708@smyth.net> Message-ID: <8846ef50650b418f9ff04214967fef0f@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> Hi folks. There has been a lot of traffic on PAO-talk about raising our public awareness, partnerships, branding etc. In October, there is a very HUGE event across the country taking place.. http://shakeout.org This could provide a potentially major opportunity for ALL wings and units to participate nation wide At the local and national levels, partnering with local well known organizations such as the Red Cross and have our local folks actively participate just as we would in a real world event. Tom Traver Lt Col., CAP Deputy PCR/PA ________________________________ [Image removed by sender.] This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ~WRD000.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 823 bytes Desc: ~WRD000.jpg URL: From stan.skrabut at gmail.com Thu Jul 10 11:19:16 2014 From: stan.skrabut at gmail.com (Stan Skrabut, Ed.D.) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:19:16 -0600 Subject: [PAO] AF Video Contest Message-ID: Greetings, This is a great idea. I would love to see it happen CAP wide. http://airforcelive.dodlive.mil/contest/ Have a great day, STANLEY A. SKRABUT, Col, CAP Chief of Staff Rocky Mountain Region http://rmrcapnews.org/ Skype: skrabut skype: 307-222-4858 Cell: 307-287-8147 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From karenc at smyth.net Tue Jul 15 09:19:55 2014 From: karenc at smyth.net (Karen Copenhaver) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:19:55 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site Message-ID: <53C5388B.9000806@smyth.net> Good morning, We've recently had quite a bit of dialog on this list regarding "marketing & branding" and thought I would share the following email address with you to enhance some of our discussions. This email will lead you to a site whereby a multitude of subjects are discussed from strategic planning, what works for some companies/organizations, brand respect (which my current communication addresses), crisis management, to seminars/workshops and so much more. You might be surprised at this site and what it has to offer, if so inclined, please check it out! bulldog at bulldogreporter.com v/r Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com From awoodgate at austin.rr.com Tue Jul 15 09:26:50 2014 From: awoodgate at austin.rr.com (Arthur Woodgate) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:26:50 -0500 Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site In-Reply-To: <53C5388B.9000806@smyth.net> References: <53C5388B.9000806@smyth.net> Message-ID: <05be01cfa038$d12e9f20$738bdd60$@austin.rr.com> Thanks, Karen. The website is at www.bulldogreporter.com Some of the content is for members only, but it does have a lot of good information. Regards, Arthur ~ -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:20 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site Good morning, We've recently had quite a bit of dialog on this list regarding "marketing & branding" and thought I would share the following email address with you to enhance some of our discussions. This email will lead you to a site whereby a multitude of subjects are discussed from strategic planning, what works for some companies/organizations, brand respect (which my current communication addresses), crisis management, to seminars/workshops and so much more. You might be surprised at this site and what it has to offer, if so inclined, please check it out! bulldog at bulldogreporter.com v/r Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From karenc at smyth.net Tue Jul 15 09:39:25 2014 From: karenc at smyth.net (Karen Copenhaver) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:39:25 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site In-Reply-To: <05be01cfa038$d12e9f20$738bdd60$@austin.rr.com> References: <53C5388B.9000806@smyth.net> <05be01cfa038$d12e9f20$738bdd60$@austin.rr.com> Message-ID: <53C53D1D.80602@smyth.net> /You are most welcome, I thought I would share..... as I have subscribed for years for my professional use and membership is free. We have many PAOs who might like to have sources for information and another good site is CommPro which is again "free". So why not take advantage of information that could help further our public affairs initiatives. Karen~/ On 7/15/2014 10:26 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: > Thanks, Karen. > > The website is at www.bulldogreporter.com > > Some of the content is for members only, but it does have a lot of good > information. > > Regards, > > Arthur ~ > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen > Copenhaver > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:20 AM > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site > > Good morning, > > We've recently had quite a bit of dialog on this list regarding "marketing & > branding" and thought I would share the following email address with you to > enhance some of our discussions. This email will lead you to a site whereby > a multitude of subjects are discussed from strategic planning, what works > for some companies/organizations, brand respect (which my current > communication addresses), crisis management, to seminars/workshops and so > much more. You might be surprised at this site and what it has to offer, if > so inclined, please check it out! > > bulldog at bulldogreporter.com > > v/r > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From awoodgate at austin.rr.com Tue Jul 15 10:34:03 2014 From: awoodgate at austin.rr.com (Arthur Woodgate) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:34:03 -0500 Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site In-Reply-To: <53C53D1D.80602@smyth.net> References: <53C5388B.9000806@smyth.net> <05be01cfa038$d12e9f20$738bdd60$@austin.rr.com> <53C53D1D.80602@smyth.net> Message-ID: <061101cfa042$3509e3c0$9f1dab40$@austin.rr.com> That's good news. I did not know that membership was free. J Arthur ~ From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:39 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: Re: [PAO] Professional PR site You are most welcome, I thought I would share..... as I have subscribed for years for my professional use and membership is free. We have many PAOs who might like to have sources for information and another good site is CommPro which is again "free". So why not take advantage of information that could help further our public affairs initiatives. Karen~ On 7/15/2014 10:26 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote: Thanks, Karen. The website is at www.bulldogreporter.com Some of the content is for members only, but it does have a lot of good information. Regards, Arthur ~ -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:20 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: [PAO] Professional PR site Good morning, We've recently had quite a bit of dialog on this list regarding "marketing & branding" and thought I would share the following email address with you to enhance some of our discussions. This email will lead you to a site whereby a multitude of subjects are discussed from strategic planning, what works for some companies/organizations, brand respect (which my current communication addresses), crisis management, to seminars/workshops and so much more. You might be surprised at this site and what it has to offer, if so inclined, please check it out! bulldog at bulldogreporter.com v/r Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: karenc at smyth.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _____ This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From karenc at smyth.net Thu Jul 17 09:38:27 2014 From: karenc at smyth.net (Karen Copenhaver) Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:38:27 -0400 Subject: [PAO] Alternative to Power Point Message-ID: <53C7DFE3.1050105@smyth.net> Fellow PAOs, Here is another help tool that just arrived, if you want to take a look! Below is a new alternative to our PowerPoint presentation formats that I just received called "Prezi". I must confess, I haven't used it yet, but thought that as we build our presentation options, we could possibly use additional options such as this one. It's free and the claim is that it can help make presentations more exciting with it's format and ease of use. If anyone tries it, how about letting us know how it works for you! http://www.manta.com/small-business-tips/present-with-prezi/?su=MT1000793825&utm_medium=Email_Marketing&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=TOTD&utm_content=TOTD_Without_Columns_Send_A V/R Karen Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com From karenc at smyth.net Sat Jul 19 08:44:16 2014 From: karenc at smyth.net (Karen Copenhaver) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 09:44:16 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board Message-ID: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER From Barth7394 at comcast.net Sat Jul 19 10:49:38 2014 From: Barth7394 at comcast.net (Doug Barth) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 11:49:38 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> Message-ID: <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From awoodgate at austin.rr.com Sat Jul 19 10:53:27 2014 From: awoodgate at austin.rr.com (Arthur Woodgate) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 10:53:27 -0500 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> Message-ID: <00e901cfa369$94810250$bd8306f0$@austin.rr.com> Doug, We used to do that, some years ago. And some board meetings were video-cast live. I also agree with Karen that the NHQ conference cost is too high for many of us. Regards, Arthur ~ __________________________________ ARTHUR E. WOODGATE, Lt. Col., CAP Director of Public Affairs & Director of Organizational Excellence Southwest Region Civil Air Patrol - "Citizens Serving Communities" 512.432.0231 512.547.6997 <<< VoIP (secondary) 512.567.1935 (cell - not always on) awoodgate at austin.rr.com LtColWoodgate at gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 10:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: awoodgate at austin.rr.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From bsasse at sbcglobal.net Sat Jul 19 11:19:10 2014 From: bsasse at sbcglobal.net (Blake Sasse) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 11:19:10 -0500 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> Message-ID: <53CA9A7E.9000408@sbcglobal.net> I attend state, regional, and national scientific meetings on a regular basis and having hosted several, these prices don't seem terribly out of line for a conference with 500+ people (I'm assuming that is what our attendance is). If you're looking for a site that has lodging and conference facilities available for a group of that size in a city with commercial air service its unlikely to be found for less than $100 a night. You can usually save significantly on your lodging costs by staying at a cheap hotel and driving to the conference hotel (assuming parking is available and not too expensive). The registration fees do seem a little higher than I would hope, but costs for renting conference rooms and related expenses (food/beverages for breaks, projection equipment, etc) are probably not going to be much less than $150 for a larger conference these days. I do agree that the smaller metropolitan areas are where you should be looking for our venues. On 7/19/2014 8:44 AM, Karen Copenhaver wrote: > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding > organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and > participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our > wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly > increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. > However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national > board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can > afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus > room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus > the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the > entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is > $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then > Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into > Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can > easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many > National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would > like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the > work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like > Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the > numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our > members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across > our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one > must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to > attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are > escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these > sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national > board conferences. > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker > like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? > As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this > would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room > and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced > greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by > holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it > would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a > great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. > The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are > called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your > fellow members and national staff is something that you will always > remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting > friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience > that you'll want again and again. > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > Respectfully, > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: bsasse at sbcglobal.net > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > From djessmer at cap.gov Sat Jul 19 12:29:52 2014 From: djessmer at cap.gov (DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP. CAP/PM) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:29:52 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <53CA9A7E.9000408@sbcglobal.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <53CA9A7E.9000408@sbcglobal.net> Message-ID: <2276C206-8303-4B42-8529-8C7B6831387A@cap.gov> So next year, we'll see you at the Motel 6 in Portsmouth, Ohio! We'll leave the runway market lights on for you. I'll be here all week. Lt Col Douglas E. Jessmer, CAP Ubiquitous Wisecrack Officer Sent from my iPhone via AT&T This message is confidential and intended only for the addressed recipients. Do not forward without permission from the sender (me). > On Jul 19, 2014, at 12:19, Blake Sasse wrote: > > I attend state, regional, and national scientific meetings on a regular basis and having hosted several, these prices don't seem terribly out of line for a conference with 500+ people (I'm assuming that is what our attendance is). If you're looking for a site that has lodging and conference facilities available for a group of that size in a city with commercial air service its unlikely to be found for less than $100 a night. You can usually save significantly on your lodging costs by staying at a cheap hotel and driving to the conference hotel (assuming parking is available and not too expensive). > > The registration fees do seem a little higher than I would hope, but costs for renting conference rooms and related expenses (food/beverages for breaks, projection equipment, etc) are probably not going to be much less than $150 for a larger conference these days. > > I do agree that the smaller metropolitan areas are where you should be looking for our venues. > >> On 7/19/2014 8:44 AM, Karen Copenhaver wrote: >> Dear Fellow PAOs, >> >> As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. >> >> I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. >> >> One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. >> >> Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. >> >> Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. >> >> Respectfully, >> Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP >> Deputy Director, Public Affairs >> MER >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: bsasse at sbcglobal.net >> CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: djessmer at cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jaimielhenson at fuse.net Sat Jul 19 12:30:31 2014 From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net (jaimielhenson at fuse.net) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:30:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> Message-ID: <956143481.56074150.1405791031672.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> I am the only one from my unit attending. I work for an airline, so I fly free. I had made arrangements to room with someone to share the cost. It is, indeed, too expensive for most. The focus should be on the conference, not the entertainment and sight-seeing available outside the conference. Just my two cents... Jaimie Henson, Maj. Kentucky ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Barth" To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 11:49:38 AM Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: JaimieLHenson at fuse.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bklewis425 at msn.com Sat Jul 19 12:31:18 2014 From: bklewis425 at msn.com (Wm and Kandyce Lewis) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 10:31:18 -0700 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> Message-ID: I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From lockit3 at att.net Sun Jul 20 10:24:05 2014 From: lockit3 at att.net (lockit3) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:24:05 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> Message-ID: <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good idea. If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. With respect, Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. Civil Air Patrol FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager Group 1 Public Affairs Officer Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention Officer -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and Kandyce Lewis Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From dtamnet at gmail.com Sun Jul 20 10:39:53 2014 From: dtamnet at gmail.com (D Miller) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 10:39:53 -0500 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Message-ID: A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive. What did everyone think about that venue? DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG dtamnet at gmail.com On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 wrote: > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out > of > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them > this > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and > they > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of > Civil > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good > idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will > not > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back > to > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > Tallahassee Composite Squadron > Ser FL-432 > Public Affairs Officer > Recruitment and Retention Officer > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and > Kandyce Lewis > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. > You > can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many > rooms > being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know > as > I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less > amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year > was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have > felt > so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the > banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may > pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect > less > and less members are going to national boards. > > And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those > costs. > > Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. > WA Wing Staff > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, > > In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to > my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. > > While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I > think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to > reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these > types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and > post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. > > > Major Doug Barth, CAP > Group II > MDWG > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen > Copenhaver > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: [PAO] National Board > > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we > gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we > have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and > the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of > the > time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our > national > board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford > this > astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than > $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging > for > a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on > attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA > course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character > Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing > for > $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've > attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, > and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not > the work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las > Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers > of > attendees to support that type of location as we once did > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, > such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. > Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside > additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not > include > airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you > join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our > national board conferences. > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like > Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a > volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not > charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be > covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly > across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our > national > conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who > can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should > have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or > workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The > opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is > something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and > many times lasting friendships. If you can..... > please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > Respectfully, > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pmitcham at knology.net Sun Jul 20 11:01:38 2014 From: pmitcham at knology.net (Pat Mitcham) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:01:38 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Message-ID: <854CF29D-A508-4332-A314-6307BC02E1EF@knology.net> Good morning all, I agreed that many of us cannot afford multiple conferences in a year. By the time I've gone to wing and region conferences, the National Board is out of reach. Add in ES activities and my budget for supporting CAP is gone. Some of us have retired and need to make sure the budget for volunteering is realistic, no matter how much we want to participate. Thanks, Karen and others, for talking about this. Regards Pat Mitcham, Lt Col, CAP Huntsville Senior Squadron PAO Sent from my iPad > On Jul 20, 2014, at 11:24 AM, "lockit3" wrote: > > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good > idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good > idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > Tallahassee Composite Squadron > Ser FL-432 > Public Affairs Officer > Recruitment and Retention Officer > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and > Kandyce Lewis > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You > can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms > being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as > I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less > amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year > was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt > so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the > banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may > pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less > and less members are going to national boards. > > And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. > > Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. > WA Wing Staff > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, > > In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to > my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. > > While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I > think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to > reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these > types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and > post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. > > > Major Doug Barth, CAP > Group II > MDWG > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen > Copenhaver > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: [PAO] National Board > > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we > gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we > have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and > the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the > time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national > board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this > astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than > $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for > a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on > attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA > course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character > Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for > $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've > attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, > and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not > the work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las > Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of > attendees to support that type of location as we once did > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, > such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. > Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside > additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include > airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you > join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our > national board conferences. > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like > Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a > volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not > charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be > covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly > across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national > conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who > can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should > have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or > workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The > opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is > something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and > many times lasting friendships. If you can..... > please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > Respectfully, > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pmitcham at knology.net > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From hertelpcap at att.net Sun Jul 20 11:25:26 2014 From: hertelpcap at att.net (Lt Col Paul Hertel) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:25:26 -0500 Subject: [PAO] [Bulk] Re: National Board In-Reply-To: References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Message-ID: <011c01cfa437$37abb470$a7031d50$@net> My wife who is also a CAP member and I both attended the conference in Louisville. We enjoyed it very much. We stayed in a hotel less than a block away and it was less expensive. But with the associated costs, and now my wife is a contractor working for the Army Corp Of Engineers it’s even harder. No work, no pay and vacation time is VERY limited. I’m attending this year’s conference only because I was lucky and got my name pulled for completing the survey from last years and got the conference and banquet for free. The airfare and hotel cost is killing me. V/R PAUL HERTEL, Lt Col, CAP Chief of Staff Public Affairs Officer Illinois Wing 618-416-5180 From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of D Miller Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 10:40 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: [Bulk] Re: [PAO] National Board A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive. What did everyone think about that venue? DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG dtamnet at gmail.com On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 wrote: Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good idea. If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. With respect, Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. Civil Air Patrol FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager Group 1 Public Affairs Officer Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention Officer -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and Kandyce Lewis Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From paul.cianciolo at natcapwg.cap.gov Sun Jul 20 11:31:41 2014 From: paul.cianciolo at natcapwg.cap.gov (Cianciolo, Lt Col, Paul) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:31:41 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <854CF29D-A508-4332-A314-6307BC02E1EF@knology.net> References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> <854CF29D-A508-4332-A314-6307BC02E1EF@knology.net> Message-ID: I agree with Karen as well. There is no national board anymore, just a command council meeting. What is the purpose of the national conference? I would think a conference of this size would need to offer something that you just couldn't do in another way. The same goes for region and wing conferences. Maybe CAP should reevaluate the need and purpose of conferences. For me, the PAO Academy is the only reason I am going, but I will not be attending the "conference" part. There's no point that I can see that makes it worth it to attend the conference. The PAO Academy is worth it. However, it's technically not even part of the national conference -- it's a pre-conference workshop. So what does that tell you about the conference itself? Maybe there's a better way, like national sponsored conferences in different regions at the same time. There are lots of alternatives to the old fashioned expensive conference. Lt Col Paul Cianciolo Sent from my Droid DNA On Jul 20, 2014 12:01 PM, "Pat Mitcham" wrote: > Good morning all, > > I agreed that many of us cannot afford multiple conferences in a year. By > the time I've gone to wing and region conferences, the National Board is > out of reach. Add in ES activities and my budget for supporting CAP is > gone. Some of us have retired and need to make sure the budget for > volunteering is realistic, no matter how much we want to participate. > > Thanks, Karen and others, for talking about this. > > Regards > Pat Mitcham, Lt Col, CAP > Huntsville Senior Squadron PAO > > Sent from my iPad > > > On Jul 20, 2014, at 11:24 AM, "lockit3" wrote: > > > > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly > out of > > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of > our > > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them > this > > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and > they > > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. > We > > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to > the > > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size > of > > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of > Civil > > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a > good > > idea. > > > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could > > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will > not > > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let > alone > > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I > think > > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget > that > > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get > back to > > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > > > With respect, > > > > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > > Civil Air Patrol > > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly > out of > > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of > our > > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them > this > > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and > they > > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. > We > > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to > the > > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size > of > > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of > Civil > > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a > good > > idea. > > > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could > > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will > not > > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let > alone > > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I > think > > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget > that > > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get > back to > > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > > > With respect, > > > > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > > Civil Air Patrol > > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > > Tallahassee Composite Squadron > > Ser FL-432 > > Public Affairs Officer > > Recruitment and Retention Officer > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and > > Kandyce Lewis > > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM > > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > > > I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. > You > > can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many > rooms > > being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I > know as > > I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less > > amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last > year > > was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have > felt > > so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during > the > > banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may > > pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect > less > > and less members are going to national boards. > > > > And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those > costs. > > > > Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. > > WA Wing Staff > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug > Barth > > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM > > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > > > I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, > > > > In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit > to > > my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. > > > > While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I > > think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to > > reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these > > types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and > > post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. > > > > > > Major Doug Barth, CAP > > Group II > > MDWG > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen > > Copenhaver > > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM > > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > > Subject: [PAO] National Board > > > > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, > we > > gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, > we > > have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, > and > > the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of > the > > time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our > national > > board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford > this > > astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than > > $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging > for > > a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on > > attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA > > course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character > > Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing > for > > $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've > > attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such > fees, > > and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if > not > > the work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las > > Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers > of > > attendees to support that type of location as we once did > > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our > members, > > such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. > > Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set > aside > > additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not > include > > airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you > > join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for > our > > national board conferences. > > > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker > like > > Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a > > volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would > not > > charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to > be > > covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced > greatly > > across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our > national > > conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers > who > > can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone > should > > have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or > > workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The > > opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is > > something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact > and > > many times lasting friendships. If you can..... > > please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. > > > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > > > Respectfully, > > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > > MER > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: pmitcham at knology.net > > CAP-PAO mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pa at natcapwg.cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > -- ------------------------------ Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing *"Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"* CFC Charity #26757 www.NatCapWing.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kd4ios at embarqmail.com Sun Jul 20 12:57:51 2014 From: kd4ios at embarqmail.com (DAVID MOSELEY) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:57:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1215575913.28116632.1405879071899.JavaMail.root@embarqmail.com> Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come And Pay. The comments about approaching retirement are true.  I've been retired since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of  the increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there will be a band on  Cloud Nine, playing, "Who I n T he H**** Would Have Thought It!" Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members.  We now have less than half the members we had years ago.  Before some gets their panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold their tent and never tell anybody.  They just don't renew, don't come to meetings, etc. That puts the decision makers in a quandary.   Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is seriously wrong.  The problem is above my pay grade. The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that is exactly what is needed. FWIW. David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, Leesburg, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: "D Miller" To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 11:39:53 AM Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city.  Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive.   What did everyone think about that venue?   DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG dtamnet at gmail.com On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 < lockit3 at att.net > wrote: Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good idea. If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. With respect, Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. Civil Air Patrol FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager Group 1 Public Affairs Officer Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention Officer -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Wm and Kandyce Lewis Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that.  You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs.  I know as I have done that in the past.  You just keep telling them you need a less amount.  I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members.  And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about.  I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more.  I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP.  Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website.  I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate.  Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost.  Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45,  and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10.  We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many.  I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future.  We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers  of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees.    We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC,  and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too.  I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service?  As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend.  It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend.  The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal.  The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff  is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships.  If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: kd4ios at embarqmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jaimielhenson at fuse.net Sun Jul 20 14:16:03 2014 From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net (jaimielhenson at fuse.net) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 15:16:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <1215575913.28116632.1405879071899.JavaMail.root@embarqmail.com> Message-ID: <684855843.57277640.1405883763702.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> I agree with everything being said on this thread; however, we probably need to talk about it in a more formal way so those making the decision on where to hold Nationals is hearing from the rank and file. I am privileged to get to go to Nationals this year, and will look for an opportunity to address this with the powers that be. Look for a follow up sometime after Nationals... Jaimie Henson, Maj. Kentucky ----- Original Message ----- From: "DAVID MOSELEY" To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 1:57:51 PM Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come And Pay. The comments about approaching retirement are true. I've been retired since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of the increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there will be a band on Cloud Nine, playing, "Who In The H**** Would Have Thought It!" Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members. We now have less than half the members we had years ago. Before some gets their panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold their tent and never tell anybody. They just don't renew, don't come to meetings, etc. That puts the decision makers in a quandary. Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is seriously wrong. The problem is above my pay grade. The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that is exactly what is needed. FWIW. David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, Leesburg, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: "D Miller" To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 11:39:53 AM Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive. What did everyone think about that venue? DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG dtamnet at gmail.com On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 < lockit3 at att.net > wrote: Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good idea. If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. With respect, Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. Civil Air Patrol FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager Group 1 Public Affairs Officer Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention Officer -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Wm and Kandyce Lewis Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: kd4ios at embarqmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: JaimieLHenson at fuse.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From karenc at smyth.net Sun Jul 20 15:30:24 2014 From: karenc at smyth.net (Karen Copenhaver) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:30:24 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board Message-ID: <53CC26E0.5050407@smyth.net> Thanks to each and everyone who is responding to the original post. Our national staff do indeed monitor this list, and hopefully even more responses will continue to be offered. I believe we all have agreed that our national board is now beyond the reasonable scope of many members ability or choice to pay. There have been some very sincere responses that include retirement, limited vacation (time off), multiple conferences, ES, and.... our training SAR exercises and more, that impacts our ability to participate in our missions, including conferences. As mentioned previously, the national board, like many conferences usually offer praise and recognition in front of ones peers, and conduct learning labs usually not like others..... and lets not forget the networking too! However, it has become necessary to make some difficult decisions. I hope more voices on this list will share their thoughts too, maybe together we can be a voice to encourage a difference in how our national conference is offered in the future. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER From alice at mansell.com Sun Jul 20 16:03:47 2014 From: alice at mansell.com (Alice Mansell) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 14:03:47 -0700 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: <684855843.57277640.1405883763702.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> References: <1215575913.28116632.1405879071899.JavaMail.root@embarqmail.com> <684855843.57277640.1405883763702.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> Message-ID: Jaime, Thanks for working to improve things for us who will not be there! I've been a member of CAP since 1987 and gone to a bunch of national conferences since 1998. Didn't go to one until I had a very specific reason to interact with particular people on ES and legal issues I cared about deeply. Here are some random thoughts: - If you want to make an impact on national level, the conventions are almost mandatory, especially for issues which may take years to resolve. It can be very fun to spend time with fellow members working on things you care about together. - Many go just to tick a box for promotion, silently come and silently leave, while it seems more than half or more who go are the same people with the same ideas and agendas. - A very high percentage who go wear AF style uniforms covered with ribbons but way out of "weight and balance" the entire conference, sadly, including many National and wing command staffs. Former and current military attendees glower all over the venue. - The most active local volunteers who do the most work in the the field virtually never take the time and money to go to national conventions unless they can sleep at home or carpool and share hotel rooms with fellow unit members. Most of them go just once and leave disgusted declining to wade in to fix national issues. - We are most often stuck in a rut of Only Big or Hub Airport Venues. Why not a smaller airport town in a new location with killer hotel rates? Do smaller airport venues always prove a bust? Vegas airfares are attractive, but hotel rates over $100 are surprising. - There are some odd written and unwritten rules about who can fly in CAP aircraft from out of state to a convention. I've never seen CAP try to organize an all-come fly-in with member-provided aircraft with or without help from cheaper military field AvGas and overnight costs. More often than not, most CAP national leadership I've seen wants USAF to disappear down a dark hole instead of building mutually beneficial relationships with each other. - The ES, AE and Cadet silos have amazingly thick walls and the conventions have very few activities to break those walls. Maybe it will take an Oshkosh-style airlift to punch holes in those walls? - Nickel and diming members for courses which can be held during the conference must be included in the registration fee to encourage and enable more members to come. - My local wing members have been offered free registration at somewhat short notice to get enough CAP vehicles and drivers there to "ferry VIPs" and do other "volunteer" jobs. That offer raises disturbing thoughts... Regards to all, Alice Alice Mansell, LtCol, CAP California On Sunday, July 20, 2014, wrote: > I agree with everything being said on this thread; however, we probably need to talk about it in a more formal way so those making the decision on where to hold Nationals is hearing from the rank and file. I am privileged to get to go to Nationals this year, and will look for an opportunity to address this with the powers that be. > > Look for a follow up sometime after Nationals... > > Jaimie Henson, Maj. > Kentucky > > ________________________________ > From: "DAVID MOSELEY" > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 1:57:51 PM > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come And Pay. > > > > The comments about approaching retirement are true. I've been retired since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. > > > > My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of the increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there will be a band on Cloud Nine, playing, "Who In The H**** Would Have Thought It!" > > > > Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members. We now have less than half the members we had years ago. Before some gets their panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold their tent and never tell anybody. They just don't renew, don't come to meetings, etc. > > > > That puts the decision makers in a quandary. > > > > Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is seriously wrong. > > > > The problem is above my pay grade. > > > > The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that is exactly what is needed. > > > > FWIW. > > > > David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP > > Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, > > Leesburg, FL > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hertelpcap at att.net Sun Jul 20 16:27:06 2014 From: hertelpcap at att.net (Lt Col Paul Hertel) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:27:06 -0500 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: References: <1215575913.28116632.1405879071899.JavaMail.root@embarqmail.com> <684855843.57277640.1405883763702.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> Message-ID: <01be01cfa461$5bdbace0$139306a0$@net> Everyone has raised some very good points. I would love to go to the national conference every year. But the way things are, that's not possible. I've saved up for this years. Everything locally is more expensive so there is less money for extracurricular activities. Military airlift…………….. I’ve been checking Base Ops at Scott AFB and there are no scheduled flights. Any idea where 2015's will be held? V/R PAUL HERTEL, Lt Col, CAP Chief of Staff Public Affairs Officer Illinois Wing 618-416-5180 From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Alice Mansell Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 4:04 PM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board Jaime, Thanks for working to improve things for us who will not be there! I've been a member of CAP since 1987 and gone to a bunch of national conferences since 1998. Didn't go to one until I had a very specific reason to interact with particular people on ES and legal issues I cared about deeply. Here are some random thoughts: - If you want to make an impact on national level, the conventions are almost mandatory, especially for issues which may take years to resolve. It can be very fun to spend time with fellow members working on things you care about together. - Many go just to tick a box for promotion, silently come and silently leave, while it seems more than half or more who go are the same people with the same ideas and agendas. - A very high percentage who go wear AF style uniforms covered with ribbons but way out of "weight and balance" the entire conference, sadly, including many National and wing command staffs. Former and current military attendees glower all over the venue. - The most active local volunteers who do the most work in the the field virtually never take the time and money to go to national conventions unless they can sleep at home or carpool and share hotel rooms with fellow unit members. Most of them go just once and leave disgusted declining to wade in to fix national issues. - We are most often stuck in a rut of Only Big or Hub Airport Venues. Why not a smaller airport town in a new location with killer hotel rates? Do smaller airport venues always prove a bust? Vegas airfares are attractive, but hotel rates over $100 are surprising. - There are some odd written and unwritten rules about who can fly in CAP aircraft from out of state to a convention. I've never seen CAP try to organize an all-come fly-in with member-provided aircraft with or without help from cheaper military field AvGas and overnight costs. More often than not, most CAP national leadership I've seen wants USAF to disappear down a dark hole instead of building mutually beneficial relationships with each other. - The ES, AE and Cadet silos have amazingly thick walls and the conventions have very few activities to break those walls. Maybe it will take an Oshkosh-style airlift to punch holes in those walls? - Nickel and diming members for courses which can be held during the conference must be included in the registration fee to encourage and enable more members to come. - My local wing members have been offered free registration at somewhat short notice to get enough CAP vehicles and drivers there to "ferry VIPs" and do other "volunteer" jobs. That offer raises disturbing thoughts... Regards to all, Alice Alice Mansell, LtCol, CAP California On Sunday, July 20, 2014, wrote: > I agree with everything being said on this thread; however, we probably need to talk about it in a more formal way so those making the decision on where to hold Nationals is hearing from the rank and file. I am privileged to get to go to Nationals this year, and will look for an opportunity to address this with the powers that be. > > Look for a follow up sometime after Nationals... > > Jaimie Henson, Maj. > Kentucky > > ________________________________ > From: "DAVID MOSELEY" > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 1:57:51 PM > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come And Pay. > > > > The comments about approaching retirement are true. I've been retired since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. > > > > My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of the increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there will be a band on Cloud Nine, playing, "Who In The H**** Would Have Thought It!" > > > > Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members. We now have less than half the members we had years ago. Before some gets their panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold their tent and never tell anybody. They just don't renew, don't come to meetings, etc. > > > > That puts the decision makers in a quandary. > > > > Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is seriously wrong. > > > > The problem is above my pay grade. > > > > The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that is exactly what is needed. > > > > FWIW. > > > > David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP > > Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, > > Leesburg, FL > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jaimielhenson at fuse.net Sun Jul 20 22:53:11 2014 From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net (jaimielhenson at fuse.net) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:53:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1876205055.57695803.1405914791829.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> I will take all of those thoughts with me. I wish I had been printing everyone's responses... Jaimie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alice Mansell" To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 5:03:47 PM Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board Jaime, Thanks for working to improve things for us who will not be there! I've been a member of CAP since 1987 and gone to a bunch of national conferences since 1998. Didn't go to one until I had a very specific reason to interact with particular people on ES and legal issues I cared about deeply. Here are some random thoughts: - If you want to make an impact on national level, the conventions are almost mandatory, especially for issues which may take years to resolve. It can be very fun to spend time with fellow members working on things you care about together. - Many go just to tick a box for promotion, silently come and silently leave, while it seems more than half or more who go are the same people with the same ideas and agendas. - A very high percentage who go wear AF style uniforms covered with ribbons but way out of "weight and balance" the entire conference, sadly, including many National and wing command staffs. Former and current military attendees glower all over the venue. - The most active local volunteers who do the most work in the the field virtually never take the time and money to go to national conventions unless they can sleep at home or carpool and share hotel rooms with fellow unit members. Most of them go just once and leave disgusted declining to wade in to fix national issues. - We are most often stuck in a rut of Only Big or Hub Airport Venues. Why not a smaller airport town in a new location with killer hotel rates? Do smaller airport venues always prove a bust? Vegas airfares are attractive, but hotel rates over $100 are surprising. - There are some odd written and unwritten rules about who can fly in CAP aircraft from out of state to a convention. I've never seen CAP try to organize an all-come fly-in with member-provided aircraft with or without help from cheaper military field AvGas and overnight costs. More often than not, most CAP national leadership I've seen wants USAF to disappear down a dark hole instead of building mutually beneficial relationships with each other. - The ES, AE and Cadet silos have amazingly thick walls and the conventions have very few activities to break those walls. Maybe it will take an Oshkosh-style airlift to punch holes in those walls? - Nickel and diming members for courses which can be held during the conference must be included in the registration fee to encourage and enable more members to come. - My local wing members have been offered free registration at somewhat short notice to get enough CAP vehicles and drivers there to "ferry VIPs" and do other "volunteer" jobs. That offer raises disturbing thoughts... Regards to all, Alice Alice Mansell, LtCol, CAP California On Sunday, July 20, 2014, < jaimielhenson at fuse.net > wrote: > I agree with everything being said on this thread; however, we probably need to talk about it in a more formal way so those making the decision on where to hold Nationals is hearing from the rank and file. I am privileged to get to go to Nationals this year, and will look for an opportunity to address this with the powers that be. > > Look for a follow up sometime after Nationals... > > Jaimie Henson, Maj. > Kentucky > > ________________________________ > From: "DAVID MOSELEY" < kd4ios at embarqmail.com > > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" < cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 1:57:51 PM > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come And Pay. > > > > The comments about approaching retirement are true. I've been retired since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. > > > > My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of the increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there will be a band on Cloud Nine, playing, "Who In The H**** Would Have Thought It!" > > > > Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members. We now have less than half the members we had years ago. Before some gets their panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold their tent and never tell anybody. They just don't renew, don't come to meetings, etc. > > > > That puts the decision makers in a quandary. > > > > Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is seriously wrong. > > > > The problem is above my pay grade. > > > > The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that is exactly what is needed. > > > > FWIW. > > > > David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP > > Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, > > Leesburg, FL > _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: JaimieLHenson at fuse.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From flyerthom at gmail.com Mon Jul 21 01:59:26 2014 From: flyerthom at gmail.com (Tom Cooper) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:59:26 -0700 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net><005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net><004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Message-ID: One travel consideration is ease. Can people get there direct or with few connections. Tom Cooper From: D Miller Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 8:39 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive. What did everyone think about that venue? DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG dtamnet at gmail.com On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 wrote: Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good idea. If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. With respect, Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. Civil Air Patrol FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager Group 1 Public Affairs Officer Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention Officer -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and Kandyce Lewis Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. WA Wing Staff -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. Major Doug Barth, CAP Group II MDWG -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen Copenhaver Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Subject: [PAO] National Board Dear Fellow PAOs, As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our national board conferences. One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best organizations of which you could ever be a part. Respectfully, Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs MER _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: flyerthom at gmail.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pao at pawg.cap.gov Mon Jul 21 06:25:04 2014 From: pao at pawg.cap.gov (Lt Col Annette Carlson) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 07:25:04 -0400 Subject: [PAO] CAP-PAO Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi all... I'm seriously reconsidering my role in CAP. For a volunteer organization with such an overwhelming majority of the people-power lying on the volunteer side of the scale... 60,000 volunteers vs ~200 paid staff, I have witnessed over the past years the increase in costs shifted to the volunteer. As a volunteer, my pockets are not deep enough to support the corporate payroll. On Monday, July 21, 2014, wrote: > Send CAP-PAO mailing list submissions to > cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > cap-pao-request at lists.sempervigilans.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > cap-pao-owner at lists.sempervigilans.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of CAP-PAO digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: National Board (jaimielhenson at fuse.net ) > 2. Re: National Board (Tom Cooper) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:53:11 -0400 (EDT) > From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > Message-ID: > < > 1876205055.57695803.1405914791829.JavaMail.root at md10.cincibell.synacor.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I will take all of those thoughts with me. I wish I had been printing > everyone's responses... > > Jaimie > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alice Mansell" > > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" > > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 5:03:47 PM > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > Jaime, Thanks for working to improve things for us who will not be there! > > I've been a member of CAP since 1987 and gone to a bunch of national > conferences since 1998. Didn't go to one until I had a very specific reason > to interact with particular people on ES and legal issues I cared about > deeply. Here are some random thoughts: > > - If you want to make an impact on national level, the conventions are > almost mandatory, especially for issues which may take years to resolve. It > can be very fun to spend time with fellow members working on things you > care about together. > - Many go just to tick a box for promotion, silently come and silently > leave, while it seems more than half or more who go are the same people > with the same ideas and agendas. > - A very high percentage who go wear AF style uniforms covered with > ribbons but way out of "weight and balance" the entire conference, sadly, > including many National and wing command staffs. Former and current > military attendees glower all over the venue. > - The most active local volunteers who do the most work in the the field > virtually never take the time and money to go to national conventions > unless they can sleep at home or carpool and share hotel rooms with fellow > unit members. Most of them go just once and leave disgusted declining to > wade in to fix national issues. > > - We are most often stuck in a rut of Only Big or Hub Airport Venues. Why > not a smaller airport town in a new location with killer hotel rates? Do > smaller airport venues always prove a bust? Vegas airfares are attractive, > but hotel rates over $100 are surprising. > - There are some odd written and unwritten rules about who can fly in CAP > aircraft from out of state to a convention. I've never seen CAP try to > organize an all-come fly-in with member-provided aircraft with or without > help from cheaper military field AvGas and overnight costs. More often than > not, most CAP national leadership I've seen wants USAF to disappear down a > dark hole instead of building mutually beneficial relationships with each > other. > > - The ES, AE and Cadet silos have amazingly thick walls and the > conventions have very few activities to break those walls. Maybe it will > take an Oshkosh-style airlift to punch holes in those walls? > - Nickel and diming members for courses which can be held during the > conference must be included in the registration fee to encourage and enable > more members to come. > - My local wing members have been offered free registration at somewhat > short notice to get enough CAP vehicles and drivers there to "ferry VIPs" > and do other "volunteer" jobs. That offer raises disturbing thoughts... > > Regards to all, > Alice > > Alice Mansell, LtCol, CAP > California > > > On Sunday, July 20, 2014, < jaimielhenson at fuse.net > wrote: > > I agree with everything being said on this thread; however, we probably > need to talk about it in a more formal way so those making the decision on > where to hold Nationals is hearing from the rank and file. I am privileged > to get to go to Nationals this year, and will look for an opportunity to > address this with the powers that be. > > > > Look for a follow up sometime after Nationals... > > > > Jaimie Henson, Maj. > > Kentucky > > > > ________________________________ > > From: "DAVID MOSELEY" < kd4ios at embarqmail.com > > > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" < cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > > > > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 1:57:51 PM > > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > > > Sadly, this is an example of why people say sarcastically that CAP=Come > And Pay. > > > > > > > > The comments about approaching retirement are true. I've been retired > since 1999 and can't afford to go to the National Boards, or rather, I > choose not to spend my resources on something so expensive. > > > > > > > > My father, a CAP member for years said once when the subject of the > increasing costs of belonging, "The day I pay that kind of money, there > will be a band on Cloud Nine, playing, "Who In The H**** Would Have Thought > It!" > > > > > > > > Looking at the number of our fellow blue suiters who have left our ranks > should cause some serious discussions about the costs to members. We now > have less than half the members we had years ago. Before some gets their > panties in a wad because I'm not exactly correct, in the last 59 years that > I've been a member, I've seen the numbers drop, and the sad thing is that > there is no way to do an exit interview as most members who leave just fold > their tent and never tell anybody. They just don't renew, don't come to > meetings, etc. > > > > > > > > That puts the decision makers in a quandary. > > > > > > > > Realizing how many people are gone should tell us that something is > seriously wrong. > > > > > > > > The problem is above my pay grade. > > > > > > > > The Lt. said he didn't want to appear to be complaining, but maybe that > is exactly what is needed. > > > > > > > > FWIW. > > > > > > > > David Moseley, Lt Colonel, CAP > > > > Commander Emeritus, Lake Composite Squadron, > > > > Leesburg, FL > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: JaimieLHenson at fuse.net > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/pipermail/cap-pao/attachments/20140720/888d5f1c/attachment-0001.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:59:26 -0700 > From: "Tom Cooper" > > To: "CAP Public Affairs Officers" > > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > One travel consideration is ease. Can people get there direct or with few > connections. > Tom Cooper > > From: D Miller > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 8:39 AM > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, > Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members > were able to drive. > > What did everyone think about that venue? > > DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG > dtamnet at gmail.com > > > > On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 > > wrote: > > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly > out of > line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of > our > members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral > rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them > this > conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, > concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If > the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and > they > will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. > We > do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to > the > activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not > attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While > other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size > of > our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting > somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of > Civil > Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a > good > idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could > at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from > our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will > not > see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let > alone > an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I > think > in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget > that > our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get > back to > servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer > Tallahassee Composite Squadron > Ser FL-432 > Public Affairs Officer > Recruitment and Retention Officer > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On > Behalf Of Wm and > Kandyce Lewis > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. > You > can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many > rooms > being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I > know as > I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less > amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last > year > was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have > felt > so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during > the > banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may > pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect > less > and less members are going to national boards. > > And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those > costs. > > Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. > WA Wing Staff > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On > Behalf Of Doug Barth > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, > > In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit > to > my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. > > While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I > think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to > reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these > types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and > post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. > > > Major Doug Barth, CAP > Group II > MDWG > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org ] On > Behalf Of Karen > Copenhaver > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: [PAO] National Board > > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, > we > gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, > we > have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, > and > the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of > the > time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our > national > board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford > this > astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than > $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging > for > a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on > attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA > course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character > Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing > for > $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've > attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such > fees, > and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if > not > the work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las > Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers > of > attendees to support that type of location as we once did > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our > members, > such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. > Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set > aside > additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not > include > airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you > join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for > our > national board conferences. > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker > like > Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a > volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would > not > charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to > be > covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced > greatly > across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our > national > conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers > who > can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone > should > have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or > workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The > opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is > something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact > and > many times lasting friendships. If you can..... > please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > Respectfully, > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO > mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO > mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > > Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO > mailing list > > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: flyerthom at gmail.com > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/pipermail/cap-pao/attachments/20140720/576b1982/attachment.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > End of CAP-PAO Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1 > ************************************** > -- Thanks! Annette Thank YOU for all YOU do in CAP! Annette Carlson, Lt Col, CAP Wing Public Affairs & Information Officer (PAO/PIO) Civil Air Patrol Pennsylvania Wing P: 412-731-4547 C: 215-262-9888 E: pao at pawg.cap.gov www.pawg.cap.gov www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com CIVIL AIR PATROL Pennsylvania - - Mission 4: Excellence! - -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From djessmer at cap.gov Mon Jul 21 06:57:13 2014 From: djessmer at cap.gov (DOUGLAS E. JESSMER, Lt Col, CAP. CAP/PM) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 07:57:13 -0400 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: References: <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> Message-ID: There used to be USAF airlift to the NB. Too bad we can't make those arrangements anymore, but budgets are what they are now. Sent from my iPhone via AT&T This message is confidential and intended only for the addressed recipients. Do not forward without permission from the sender (me). > On Jul 21, 2014, at 2:59, "Tom Cooper" wrote: > > One travel consideration is ease. Can people get there direct or with few connections. > Tom Cooper > > From: D Miller > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 8:39 AM > To: CAP Public Affairs Officers > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > A few years back, the National Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, a smaller city. Was also more centrally located so many members were able to drive. > > What did everyone think about that venue? > > DAVID A. MILLER, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director of Public Affairs, MOWG > dtamnet at gmail.com > > >> On Sun, Jul 20, 2014 at 10:24 AM, lockit3 wrote: >> Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. >> >> The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly out of >> line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for many of our >> members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and any peripheral >> rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we are calling them this >> conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount of rooms guaranteed, >> concessions should be able to be reached on the room rate for members. If >> the facility will not make such concessions because it is Las Vegas and they >> will get that rate from someone then let them get it from someone else. We >> do not have to conference in Las Vegas. >> >> First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to the >> activities that are available outside of the conference, you are not >> attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. While >> other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle the size of >> our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns about meeting >> somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are about the image of Civil >> Air Patrol and the image that casts on the Air Force, is this really a good >> idea. >> >> If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee could >> at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz cadet from >> our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing members will not >> see him receive the award because we cannot afford the conference let alone >> an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. >> >> I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I think >> in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we forget that >> our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We need to get back to >> servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. >> >> With respect, >> >> >> Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. >> Civil Air Patrol >> FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager >> Group 1 Public Affairs Officer >> Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer >> Tallahassee Composite Squadron >> Ser FL-432 >> Public Affairs Officer >> Recruitment and Retention Officer >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and >> Kandyce Lewis >> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM >> To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' >> Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board >> >> I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like that. You >> can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree to so many rooms >> being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in other costs. I know as >> I have done that in the past. You just keep telling them you need a less >> amount. I didn't check the cost of the dinner but I thought $70 last year >> was out of line for our members. And having gone many others must have felt >> so as well as there were lots of members eating at other places during the >> banquet as I saw them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may >> pay for national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less >> and less members are going to national boards. >> >> And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. >> >> Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. >> WA Wing Staff >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug Barth >> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM >> To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' >> Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board >> >> I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, >> >> In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to commit to >> my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. >> >> While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face conferences, I >> think we should look more extensively into webinar/webex events, both to >> reduce cost to the membership and to increase the availability of these >> types of topics across CAP. Or perhaps video tape the presentations and >> post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. >> >> >> Major Doug Barth, CAP >> Group II >> MDWG >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org >> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen >> Copenhaver >> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM >> To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org >> Subject: [PAO] National Board >> >> Dear Fellow PAOs, >> >> As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding organization, we >> gladly donate our resources to train and participate. Across the years, we >> have attended conferences for our wing, region and our national board, and >> the cost has slowly increased, mainly because of the economic posture of the >> time. However, after reviewing the current cost associated with our national >> board, personally I am voicing a concern of how many members can afford this >> astronomical cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than >> $100+ per night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for >> a total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan on >> attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the FEMA >> course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character >> Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant Writing for >> $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for many. I've >> attended many National Board Conferences, but never experienced such fees, >> and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not >> the work labs, and associated hand-outs. >> >> I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board >> Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like Las >> Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the numbers of >> attendees to support that type of location as we once did >> with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations >> that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our members, >> such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. >> Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set aside >> additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does not include >> airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know how many of you >> join me in these sentiments, but we need a more economical platform for our >> national board conferences. >> >> One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker like >> Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? As a >> volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our >> communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this would not >> charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room and meals) to be >> covered to get him/her to be our speaker. >> >> Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced greatly >> across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by holding our national >> conference in a less costly location, and it would increase the numbers who >> can afford to attend. It indeed is a great experience that everyone should >> have the opportunity to attend. The labs, breakout sessions, or >> workshops... what ever they are called, are always phenomenal. The >> opportunity to network with your fellow members and national staff is >> something that you will always remember as you also establish a contact and >> many times lasting friendships. If you can..... >> please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. >> >> Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best >> organizations of which you could ever be a part. >> >> Respectfully, >> Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP >> Deputy Director, Public Affairs >> MER >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Subscribed Email Address: dtamnet at gmail.com >> CAP-PAO mailing list >> CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org >> http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: flyerthom at gmail.com > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: djessmer at cap.gov > CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tomt at theppigroup.com Mon Jul 21 10:19:51 2014 From: tomt at theppigroup.com (Tom Traver) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:19:51 +0000 Subject: [PAO] National Board In-Reply-To: 1405955624799-071-00000784.cap-pao-bounces.lists.sempervigilans.org@127.0.0.1 References: <854CF29D-A508-4332-A314-6307BC02E1EF@knology.net> <53CA7630.4090509@smyth.net> <005101cfa369$0c2be2d0$2483a870$@comcast.net> <004501cfa42e$a5b8db40$f12a91c0$@att.net> 1405955624799-071-00000784.cap-pao-bounces.lists.sempervigilans.org@127.0.0.1 Message-ID: <42ba1c6facf745c28dafe8feea4c8b3d@PPIEXCH-01.PortlandPrecision.local> Karen and Pat speak for many of us in our retirement years concerning participating and Supporting CAP. I was just a pup in 1970 when I first joined and attended numerous conferences albeit via USAF transport. Now in my impending retirement years, the budget Just cannot support these type of expenses. The conferences are important, but so are our Limited budgets that only become more so as time goes on. Tom Traver Lt Col, CAP Deputy Director, Public Affairs, PCR -----Original Message----- From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Pat Mitcham Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 9:02 AM To: CAP Public Affairs Officers Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board Good morning all, I agreed that many of us cannot afford multiple conferences in a year. By the time I've gone to wing and region conferences, the National Board is out of reach. Add in ES activities and my budget for supporting CAP is gone. Some of us have retired and need to make sure the budget for volunteering is realistic, no matter how much we want to participate. Thanks, Karen and others, for talking about this. Regards Pat Mitcham, Lt Col, CAP Huntsville Senior Squadron PAO Sent from my iPad > On Jul 20, 2014, at 11:24 AM, "lockit3" wrote: > > Thank you Lt. Col. Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly > out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for > many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and > any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we > are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount > of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the > room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions > because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then > let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to > the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are > not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. > While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle > the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns > about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are > about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the > Air Force, is this really a good idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz > cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing > members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford > the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I > think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we > forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We > need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Thank you Lt. Col. > Copenhaver for bringing this subject up. > > The fact of the matter is, that even if these rates are not "terribly > out of line" for a conference this size, it is still unaffordable for > many of our members, me included. If we pay for the meeting hall and > any peripheral rooms needed for the breakout sessions, or whatever we > are calling them this conference and the hotel knows it has "X" amount > of rooms guaranteed, concessions should be able to be reached on the > room rate for members. If the facility will not make such concessions > because it is Las Vegas and they will get that rate from someone then > let them get it from someone else. We do not have to conference in Las Vegas. > > First of all, it has been my experience that if you have time to go to > the activities that are available outside of the conference, you are > not attending the conference. My answer that would be take a vacation. > While other cities may not have the outside venues, they could handle > the size of our event and perhaps for a lesser price. I have concerns > about meeting somewhere like Vegas anyway. As concerned as we are > about the image of Civil Air Patrol and the image that casts on the > Air Force, is this really a good idea. > > If we save on the price of the hall and classrooms, then maybe our fee > could at least cover the banquet and everyone could attend. A Spaatz > cadet from our Wing is National Cadet of the Year and most of our Wing > members will not see him receive the award because we cannot afford > the conference let alone an additional fee for a banquet that should be included. > > I did not intend this to sound like a gripe session, but sometimes I > think in an effort to look like an organization of high prestige, we > forget that our members are volunteers, mostly of middle America. We > need to get back to servicing the needs of the members who service the needs of our country. > > With respect, > > > Curtis "Wayne" Hooks 1st Lt. > Civil Air Patrol > FLWG Online Newsfeed Manager > Group 1 Public Affairs Officer > Group 1 Recruitment and Retention Officer Tallahassee Composite > Squadron Ser FL-432 Public Affairs Officer Recruitment and Retention > Officer > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Wm and > Kandyce Lewis > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:31 PM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I have done conferences for our wing and I don't have prices like > that. You can get hotels to not charge for the the rooms if you agree > to so many rooms being rented by members, and guaranteeing so much in > other costs. I know as I have done that in the past. You just keep > telling them you need a less amount. I didn't check the cost of the > dinner but I thought $70 last year was out of line for our members. > And having gone many others must have felt so as well as there were > lots of members eating at other places during the banquet as I saw > them out and about. I realize we have more guest we may pay for > national conferences but it can't be that much more. I suspect less and less members are going to national boards. > > And yes as members get closer to retirement they are looking at those costs. > > Kandyce Lewis, Lt Col. > WA Wing Staff > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Doug > Barth > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 8:50 AM > To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers' > Subject: Re: [PAO] National Board > > I totally agree with Lt Col Copenhaver, > > In particular, as I move toward retirement and have more time to > commit to my volunteer activities, I also am very cost sensitive. > > While I understand and encourage the value of face-to-face > conferences, I think we should look more extensively into > webinar/webex events, both to reduce cost to the membership and to > increase the availability of these types of topics across CAP. Or > perhaps video tape the presentations and post them to CAP website. I am not aware that we do that. > > > Major Doug Barth, CAP > Group II > MDWG > > -----Original Message----- > From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org > [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Karen > Copenhaver > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:44 AM > To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org > Subject: [PAO] National Board > > Dear Fellow PAOs, > > As we continue our volunteer commitment to an outstanding > organization, we gladly donate our resources to train and participate. > Across the years, we have attended conferences for our wing, region > and our national board, and the cost has slowly increased, mainly > because of the economic posture of the time. However, after reviewing > the current cost associated with our national board, personally I am > voicing a concern of how many members can afford this astronomical > cost. Registration - $205 per person plus room of more than $100+ per > night (don't forget tax and tax); (plus the extra days lodging for a > total of 5 nights if you stay for the entire event) then if you plan > on attending our PAO Academy it is $45, and if you want to attend the > FEMA course it is $20, then Incorporating the Medal of Honor Character > Development Program into Character Development for $20 and Grant > Writing for $10. We can easily add these costs to be exorbitant for > many. I've attended many National Board Conferences, but never > experienced such fees, and would like to know what the "registration" is suppose to cover, if not the work labs, and associated hand-outs. > > I would like to see a more reasonable cost for our National Board > Conferences in the future. We do not necessarily need a place like > Las Vegas, Washington or Atlanta, or the like, as we do not have the > numbers of attendees to support that type of location as we once did > with totals of upward of 2,000+ attendees. We have some locations > that could support the size of our event, with less expense to our > members, such as Charlotte, NC, and communities of that size across our country. > Our overall cost has escalated to a level whereby one must truly set > aside additional funds up to more than $1,000 to attend, and that does > not include airline tickets, which are escalating too. I don't know > how many of you join me in these sentiments, but we need a more > economical platform for our national board conferences. > > One other comment, wouldn't it be nice to have a non-military speaker > like Bill Cosby to entertain and inspire us to continue our service? > As a volunteer organization, who gladly gives and gives so much to our > communities and nation, I would hope that an individual like this > would not charge, but to have airfare and other related costs (room > and meals) to be covered to get him/her to be our speaker. > > Realizing our organizational funds are somewhat limited and reduced > greatly across the board, we could certainly reduce our cost by > holding our national conference in a less costly location, and it > would increase the numbers who can afford to attend. It indeed is a > great experience that everyone should have the opportunity to attend. > The labs, breakout sessions, or workshops... what ever they are > called, are always phenomenal. The opportunity to network with your > fellow members and national staff is something that you will always > remember as you also establish a contact and many times lasting friendships. If you can..... > please attend as it is an experience that you'll want again and again. > > Thank you for your commitment and dedication to one of the best > organizations of which you could ever be a part. > > Respectfully, > Karen L. Copenhaver, Lt Col, CAP > Deputy Director, Public Affairs > MER > > > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: barth7394 at comcast.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: bklewis425 at msn.com CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: lockit3 at att.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao > > _______________________________________________ > Subscribed Email Address: pmitcham at knology.net CAP-PAO mailing list > CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org > http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: tomt at theppigroup.com CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao From ssolomon at cap.gov Mon Jul 21 15:54:42 2014 From: ssolomon at cap.gov (Steven Solomon) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:54:42 -0700 Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments Message-ID: Hello, There has been much discussion the last few days on this list-serv about the cost, location and even the necessity of CAP's annual conference. Some of my PAO colleagues have even gone so far as to question renewing their CAP membership. I'd like to share a few of my thoughts. Although many of you said you wouldn't be attending this year's conference due to the cost, the latest stats (three weeks prior) show that more than 650 people are registered at this point and we expect to have between 700-800 by the time registration closes. This means that this conference will be one of the largest (if not the largest) national conferences CAP has had in the past 10 years. That's a success by any measure. But this doesn't mean that concerns about cost fall on deaf ears. I know personally that the National Staff takes the input of all our members very seriously. Past conference survey comments have indicated that reducing the cost of the conference hotel is very important to our members and the National Staff is doing its best to do that. For example, this year’s hotel rates were the lowest we know of in recent history: $75 for Mon-Thurs and $110 for Fri-Sat. This includes free parking and free Internet in guest rooms. The hotel waived its normal conference/resort fee of $19.99. The hotel sold out of the CAP room block before the cutoff date because so many CAP members took advantage of the low room rates. The hotel provided many additional rooms to CAP members at the same low contracted price even though they were not obligated to do so. Also, food and beverages are expensive at hotels. On top of food costs most hotels charge a 22% service fee plus taxes. This is true whether you go to a smaller city or a larger one. The total is usually 30-32% above the cost of the F&B. (CAP is not tax exempt in many states when purchasing F&B). To reduce the cost of meals for our members, like the prayer breakfast ($15) or the banquet (early bird registration was $60), CAP subsidized the cost of these events. The actual cost of these meals is much higher. The early bird registration fee was $99. This is the same it has been for many years. Most other non-CAP conferences that provide similar professional development opportunities charge $400 or more for their conference fees. Check it. The banquet speaker, Air Force Maj Gen Kevin McLaughlin, and special guest speaker, famous aviation fiction author Dale Brown, are not being compensated for speaking. Both have special ties to CAP. Gen McLaughlin and his wife are very active in CAP as are their three sons. Gen McLaughlin is also commander of AF Cyber Command so this is another tie to CAP’s important cyber role. Capt Dale Brown is a CAP squadron commander in NV. In general, holding conferences at smaller cities could help reduce the cost of hotel rooms but it is usually more expensive to fly into cities like that, so the out-of-pocket expenses might offset each other unless you are driving. NHQ plans on National Conference attendance being between 500-800. These numbers and the fact that we require a lot of breakout rooms to hold between 50-60 Learning Labs during the conference limits the hotels we can use to only larger ones. Using conference centers is usually more expensive overall than using larger hotels that can accommodate CAP. NHQ tries to move the conference around the country each year so it will be close to a large population of CAP members who could drive in to attend. In 2015 CAP is planning to have it nearer the eastern part of the United States, because it has been farther west in 2013 and 2014. Finally, at the upcoming conference we are delighted that we will be conducting limited testing on the ability for our members to virtually attend key professional development sessions via webinars. If the tests go well this year, and we expect they will, CAP will increase the number of Professional Development sessions that will be broadcast via webinars in 2015. This will allow more CAP members to participate in specific events even if they can’t attend the conference in person. I hope my input helps answer some of the questions you've had. But because NHQ doesn't monitor this list-serv, I suggest using the chain of command if you'd like official feedback. And as always, you may call me at any time. Regards, Steven STEVEN SOLOMON, Lt Col, CAP National Public Affairs Officer Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters 105 South Hansell St., Building 714 Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5937 s solomon at cap.gov Cell: 240-505-6279 * [image: CAP Prop Logo 2012 small] ... Citizens Serving Communities* [image: cid:image001.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0] [image: cid:image002.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0] [image: cid:image003.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 2324 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 2110 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 1566 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1370 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jaimielhenson at fuse.net Mon Jul 21 22:20:47 2014 From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net (jaimielhenson at fuse.net) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 23:20:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <836944824.59050554.1405999247524.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> Great information, Steve! Thank you for taking the time to clarify. Jaimie Henson, Maj. Kentucky ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Solomon" To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 4:54:42 PM Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments Hello, There has been much discussion the last few days on this list-serv about the cost, location and even the necessity of CAP's annual conference. Some of my PAO colleagues have even gone so far as to question renewing their CAP membership. I'd like to share a few of my thoughts. Although many of you said you wouldn't be attending this year's conference due to the cost, the latest stats (three weeks prior) show that more than 650 people are registered at this point and we expect to have between 700-800 by the time registration closes. This means that this conference will be one of the largest (if not the largest) national conferences CAP has had in the past 10 years. That's a success by any measure. But this doesn't mean that concerns about cost fall on deaf ears. I know personally that th e National Staff takes the input of all our members very seriously. Past conference survey comments have indicated that reducing the cost of the conference hotel is very important to our members and the National Staff is doing its best to do that. For example, t his year’s hotel rates were the lowest we know of in recent history: $75 for Mon-Thurs and $110 for Fri-Sat. This includes free parking and free Internet in guest rooms. The hotel waived its normal conference/resort fee of $19.99. The hotel sold out of the CAP room block before the cutoff date because so many CAP members took advantage of the low room rates. The hotel provided many additional rooms to CAP members at the same low contracted price even though they were not obligated to do so. Also, food and beverages are expensive at hotels. On top of food costs most hotels charge a 22% service fee plus taxes. This is true whether you go to a smaller city or a larger one. The total is usually 30-32% above the cost of the F&B. (CAP is not tax exempt in many states when purchasing F&B). To reduce the cost of meals for our members, like the prayer breakfast ($15) or the banquet (early bird registration was $60), CAP subsidized the cost of these events. The actual cost of these meals is much higher. The early bird registration fee was $99. This is the same it has been for many years. Most other non-CAP conferences that provide similar professional development opportunities charge $400 or more for their conference fees. Check it. The banquet speaker, Air Force Maj Gen Kevin McLaughlin, and special guest speaker, famous aviation fiction author Dale Brown, are not being compensated for speaking. Both have special ties to CAP. Gen McLaughlin and his wife are very active in CAP as are their three sons. Gen McLaughlin is also commander of AF Cyber Command so this is another tie to CAP’s important cyber role. Capt Dale Brown is a CAP squadron commander in NV. In general, holding conferences at smaller cities could help reduce the cost of hotel rooms but it is usually more expensive to fly into cities like that, so the out-of-pocket expenses might offset each other unless you are driving. NHQ plans on National Conference attendance being between 500-800. These numbers and the fact that we require a lot of breakout rooms to hold between 50-60 Learning Labs during the conference limits the hotels we can use to only larger ones. Using conference centers is usually more expensive overall than using larger hotels that can accommodate CAP. NHQ tries to move the conference around the country each year so it will be close to a large population of CAP members who could drive in to attend. In 2015 CAP is planning to have it nearer the eastern part of the United States, because it has been farther west in 2013 and 2014. Finally, at the upcoming conference we are delighted that we will be conducting limited testing on the ability for our members to virtually attend key professional development sessions via webinars. If the tests go well this year, and we expect they will, CAP will increase the number of Professional Development sessions that will be broadcast via webinars in 2015. This will allow more CAP members to participate in specific events even if they can’t attend the conference in person. I hope my input helps answer some of the questions you've had. But because NHQ doesn't monitor this list-serv, I suggest using the chain of command if you'd like official feedback. And as always, you may call me at any time. Regards, Steven STEVEN SOLOMON, Lt Col, CAP National Public Affairs Officer Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters 105 South Hansell St., Building 714 Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5937 s solomon at cap.gov Cell: 240-505-6279 CAP Prop Logo 2012 small ... Citizens Serving Communities cid:image001.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0cid:image002.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0cid:image003.png at 01CE2BC7.1FAC87D0 _______________________________________________ Subscribed Email Address: JaimieLHenson at fuse.net CAP-PAO mailing list CAP-PAO at lists.sempervigilans.org http://lists.sempervigilans.org/mailman/listinfo/cap-pao -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1370 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 2110 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 2324 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 1566 bytes Desc: not available URL: From pao at pawg.cap.gov Tue Jul 22 05:52:15 2014 From: pao at pawg.cap.gov (Lt Col Annette Carlson) Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 06:52:15 -0400 Subject: [PAO] CAP-PAO Digest, Vol 64, Issue 4 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Steven, I'm truly not trying to be argumentative... just additional discussion here... National conference 650 / 60,000 members = 0.011 response rate. our Wing conference designed - held locally, and at a venue that allowed lower cost for both the conference and lodging - attracted 256 / 2,075 = 0.12 response rate My point here is: - *Travel* is central to the mass population - *Registration* cost is low ($50) for both conf and banquet - *Lodging* cost is low ($55) /night (university housing on campus) - venue and program is standard to CAP conferences the key is accessibility - the bottom line is cost to the volunteer - the $$ flying out of our own pockets - in all areas: registration, lodging and travel. Perhaps the local wing conference will always attract a higher rate over the National conference, simply because it's closer to home for our volunteers. Thanks, Annette Thank YOU for all YOU do in CAP! Annette Carlson, Lt Col, CAP Wing Public Affairs & Information Officer (PAO/PIO) Civil Air Patrol Pennsylvania Wing P: 412-731-4547 C: 215-262-9888 E: pao at pawg.cap.gov www.pawg.cap.gov www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com *CIVIL AIR PATROL Pennsylvania -- Mission 4: Excellence in the Spirit of Service! * > > Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:54:42 -0700 > From: Steven Solomon > To: "cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org" > > Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments > Message-ID: > < > CAFVMVuQTvK4-YXC7Ux1RK_O4TKENM91UKy5BPAe1Ti6kHnimhQ at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hello, > > There has been much discussion the last few days on this list-serv about > the cost, location and even the necessity of CAP's annual conference. Some > of my PAO colleagues have even gone so far as to question renewing their > CAP membership. I'd like to share a few of my thoughts. > > Although many of you said you wouldn't be attending this year's conference > due to the cost, the latest stats (three weeks prior) show that more than > 650 people are registered at this point and we expect to have between > 700-800 by the time registration closes. This means that this conference > will be one of the largest (if not the largest) national conferences CAP > has had in the past 10 years. That's a success by any measure. > > > But this doesn't mean that concerns about cost fall on deaf ears. I know > personally that the National Staff takes the input of all our members very > seriously. Past conference survey comments have indicated that reducing the > cost of the conference hotel is very important to our members and the > National Staff is doing its best to do that. > > > For example, this year?s hotel rates were the lowest we know of in recent > history: $75 for Mon-Thurs and $110 for Fri-Sat. This includes free parking > and free Internet in guest rooms. The hotel waived its normal > conference/resort fee of $19.99. The hotel sold out of the CAP room block > before the cutoff date because so many CAP members took advantage of the > low room rates. The hotel provided many additional rooms to CAP members at > the same low contracted price even though they were not obligated to do so. > > > Also, food and beverages are expensive at hotels. On top of food costs most > hotels charge a 22% service fee plus taxes. This is true whether you go to > a smaller city or a larger one. The total is usually 30-32% above the cost > of the F&B. (CAP is not tax exempt in many states when purchasing F&B). To > reduce the cost of meals for our members, like the prayer breakfast ($15) > or the banquet (early bird registration was $60), CAP subsidized the cost > of these events. The actual cost of these meals is much higher. > > > The early bird registration fee was $99. This is the same it has been for > many years. Most other non-CAP conferences that provide similar > professional development opportunities charge $400 or more for their > conference fees. Check it. > > > The banquet speaker, Air Force Maj Gen Kevin McLaughlin, and special guest > speaker, famous aviation fiction author Dale Brown, are not being > compensated for speaking. Both have special ties to CAP. Gen McLaughlin and > his wife are very active in CAP as are their three sons. Gen McLaughlin is > also commander of AF Cyber Command so this is another tie to CAP?s > important cyber role. Capt Dale Brown is a CAP squadron commander in NV. > > > In general, holding conferences at smaller cities could help reduce the > cost of hotel rooms but it is usually more expensive to fly into cities > like that, so the out-of-pocket expenses might offset each other unless you > are driving. > > NHQ plans on National Conference attendance being between 500-800. These > numbers and the fact that we require a lot of breakout rooms to hold > between 50-60 Learning Labs during the conference limits the hotels we can > use to only larger ones. Using conference centers is usually more expensive > overall than using larger hotels that can accommodate CAP. > > NHQ tries to move the conference around the country each year so it will be > close to a large population of CAP members who could drive in to attend. In > 2015 CAP is planning to have it nearer the eastern part of the United > States, because it has been farther west in 2013 and 2014. > > > Finally, at the upcoming conference we are delighted that we will be > conducting limited testing on the ability for our members to virtually > attend key professional development sessions via webinars. If the tests go > well this year, and we expect they will, CAP will increase the number of > Professional Development sessions that will be broadcast via webinars in > 2015. This will allow more CAP members to participate in specific events > even if they can?t attend the conference in person. > > > I hope my input helps answer some of the questions you've had. But because > NHQ doesn't monitor this list-serv, I suggest using the chain of command if > you'd like official feedback. And as always, you may call me at any time. > > > Regards, > Steven > > > STEVEN SOLOMON, Lt Col, CAP > National Public Affairs Officer > Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters > 105 South Hansell St., Building 714 > Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5937 > s solomon at cap.gov > Cell: 240-505-6279 > > > > End of CAP-PAO Digest, Vol 64, Issue 4 > ************************************** > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jaimielhenson at fuse.net Mon Jul 21 22:20:47 2014 From: jaimielhenson at fuse.net (jaimielhenson at fuse.net) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 23:20:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <836944824.59050554.1405999247524.JavaMail.root@md10.cincibell.synacor.com> Great information, Steve! Thank you for taking the time to clarify. Jaimie Henson, Maj. Kentucky ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Solomon" To: cap-pao at lists.sempervigilans.org Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 4:54:42 PM Subject: [PAO] Annual Conference comments Hello, There has been much discussion the last few days on this list-serv about the cost, location and even the necessity of CAP's annual conference. Some of my PAO colleagues have even gone so far as to question renewing their CAP membership. I'd like to share a few of my thoughts. Although many of you said you wouldn't be attending this year's conference due to the cost, the latest stats (three weeks prior) show that more than 650 people are registered at this point and we expect to have between 700-800 by the time registration closes. This means that this conference will be one of the largest (if not the largest) national conferences CAP has had in the past 10 years. That's a success by any measure. But this doesn't mean that concerns about cost fall on deaf ears. I know personally that th e National Staff takes the input of all our members very seriously. Past conference survey comments have indicated that reducing the cost of the conference hotel is very important to our members and the National Staff is doing its best to do that. For example, t his year’s hotel rates were the lowest we know of in recent history: $75 for Mon-Thurs and $110 for Fri-Sat. This includes free parking and free Internet in guest rooms. The hotel waived its normal conference/resort fee of $19.99. The hotel sold out of the CAP room block before the cutoff date because so many CAP members took advantage of the low room rates. The hotel provided many additional rooms to CAP members at the same low contracted price even though they were not obligated to do so. Also, food and beverages are expensive at hotels. On top of food costs most hotels charge a 22% service fee plus taxes. This is true whether you go to a smaller city or a larger one. The total is usually 30-32% above the cost of the F&B. (CAP is not tax exempt in many states when purchasing F&B). To reduce the cost of meals for our members, like the prayer breakfast ($15) or the banquet (early bird registration was $60), CAP subsidized the cost of these events. The actual cost of these meals is much higher. The early bird registration fee was $99. This is the same it has been for many years. Most other non-CAP conferences that provide similar professional development opportunities charge $400 or more for their conference fees. Check it. The banquet speaker, Air Force Maj Gen Kevin McLaughlin, and special guest speaker, famous aviation fiction author Dale Brown, are not being compensated for speaking. Both have special ties to CAP. Gen McLaughlin and his wife are very active in CAP as are their three sons. Gen McLaughlin is also commander of AF Cyber Command so this is another tie to CAP’s important cyber role. Capt Dale Brown is a CAP squadron commander in NV. In general, holding conferences at smaller cities could help reduce the cost of hotel rooms but it is usually more expensive to fly into cities like that, so the out-of-pocket expenses might offset each other unless you are driving. NHQ plans on National Conference attendance being between 500-800. These numbers and the fact that we require a lot of breakout rooms to hold between 50-60 Learning Labs during the conference limits the hotels we can use to only larger ones. Using conference centers is usually more expensive overall than using larger hotels that can accommodate CAP. NHQ tries to move the conference around the country each year so it will be close to a large population of CAP members who could drive in to attend. In 2015 CAP is planning to have it nearer the eastern part of the United States, because it has been farther west in 2013 and 2014. Finally, at the upcoming conference we are delighted that we will be conducting limited testing on the ability for our members to virtually attend key professional development sessions via webinars. If the tests go well this year, and we expect they will, CAP will increase the number of Professional Development sessions that will be broadcast via webinars in 2015. This will allow more CAP members to participate in specific events even if they can’t attend the conference in person. I hope my input helps answer some of the questions you've had. But because NHQ doesn't monitor this list-serv, I suggest using the chain of command if you'd like official feedback. And as always, you may call me at any time. Regards, Steven STEVEN SOLOMON, Lt Col, CAP National Public Affairs Officer Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters 105 South Hansell St., Building 714 Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5937 s solomon at cap.gov Cell: 240-505-6279 CAP Prop Logo 2012 small ... 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Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 1566 bytes Desc: not available URL: From michael at themareks.com Sat Jul 26 08:27:41 2014 From: michael at themareks.com (Michael Marek) Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 08:27:41 -0500 Subject: [PAO] New CAP Communications Blog Message-ID: <53D3ACCD.3040502@themareks.com> FYI. -Michael- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: CAP-DC: New CAP Communications Blog Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:02:08 -0500 From: Kyser, Malcolm To DCs and all communicators: Some of you may have already noticed, but the Communications Program has recently established a blog on CAPMembers.com. You can find the blog at: http://www.capmembers.com/emergency_services/communications-blog/ As the initial "Welcome" post notes, one of our biggest challenges in the Communications Program is making sure CAP members in the field at unit level understand the WHAT and WHY of policy decisions related to communications. This new comm program blog will be an additional way of reaching a broad audience of people interested in CAP Communications. The subject matter inspiration will often be questions YOU ask that come across my desk or issues that come to the attention of the National Comm Team. If the answer to a question seems like it would be of interest to a wider audience, it may be a candidate for a blog post (keeping the person asking the original question anonymous, of course). This blog is not directive in nature, but I hope that you will find it to be a source of good information, ideas and advice. The blog will not contain any OpSec information, because it is visible to the general public. When a new blog entry goes live, we will provide a notification here in CAP-DC, in the CAP-COMM listserv, and in the CAP-COMM Facebook page. Many thanks to LtCol Mike Marek, one of our assistant national communications officers and a member of the National Comm Team, for his work in creating and maintaining our new blog. Because of his background and expertise Mike will be serving as the unofficial Comm Program PAO. We hope that you will find this blog to be informative and helpful. If you have suggestions for a future blog post, let me know or email Mike at michael at themareks.com . --------------------------------- Malcolm C. Kyser Jr. */Chief of Communications/**//* US Air Force Auxiliary / Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters, Maxwell AFB