[PAO] National Board

[Doug Barth]

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



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