[PAO] The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public Relations

Sat Oct 3 15:54:31 CDT 2015

Ken is a former CAP PAO who continues to bring up solutions for problems that don't exist. The National PA Team has twice distributed a package this hurricane season with news release templates.

Lt Col Steven Solomon, CAP
National Public Affairs Manager
(C) 240.505.6279
Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
http://GoCivilAirPatrol.com

> On Oct 3, 2015, at 1:00 PM, Jeff Carlson, Grp 5 HQ <jcarlson at flwg.us> wrote:
> 
> Speak for yourself Arthur!  
> 
> What it sounds like to me is inexperience.  Based on his comments, I don't
> believe Ken was in the duty position long enough to uncover what resources
> are available to support the local PAO.  They really do exist.  For many
> geographic areas, leadership and mentoring is thin in the PA directorate.
> To the neophyte, it can seem like being abandoned in a desert.  I remember
> my early days as a CAP PAO and feeling completely unsupported.  During my
> first couple of years of duty, I had to organize my own CAP PAO workshops to
> get training; PAOs came from all over the wing to participate because it was
> all that was available.
> 
> While I don't agree with everything, Ken's two emails have touched on some
> valid points and should not be completely discounted. 
> 
> As far as comparing CAP and ARC... I voluntarily serve as  both a CAP
> PAO/PIO and as a member of the Red Cross Public Affairs team.  The reality
> is that CAP public affairs does not have the same resources as ARC public
> affairs.  ARC has hundreds of paid staff members and much larger budget.  It
> is not a fair comparison.  The Red Cross has one of the strongest brand
> images on the globe, while CAP is huffing and puffing to develop a brand and
> gain a foothold.  That being said, there are numerous best practices that
> CAP could borrow from ARC.
> 
> What Ken doesn't seem to realize is that this email listserv is from a
> bygone era that has seen minimal activity in recent years.  His voice is
> only carried so far, though I am certain his comments have been received by
> members of the national PA team.  The unofficial Official CAP Public Affairs
> Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/4305419935/  is where the
> action is these days. 
> 
> If Ken wants to shout at the wind, let him do it. The typing will keep his
> fingers nimble and the release of frustration is the only satisfaction he'll
> ever get from his efforts expended in this direction. If you don't want to
> read it, use the delete key.
> 
> Howl away, Ken!
> 
> Maj Jeffrey P Carlson, CAP
> Public Affairs Officer
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org
> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Arthur
> Woodgate
> Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 2:17 PM
> To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'
> Subject: Re: [PAO] The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public
> Relations
> 
> Ken,
> 
> Please be advised that by not giving your full name and affiliation, what
> you have to say sounds a great deal like sour grapes - and most of us view
> it in that light.
> 
> Lt. Col. Arthur Woodgate, CAP
> SWR Director of Public Affairs  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org
> [mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Ken
> Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 12:27 PM
> To: CAP Public Affairs Officers
> Subject: [PAO] The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public
> Relations
> 
> IMHO admit that the American Red Cross by far seems to have a consistent &
> successful public relations plan in regards to everything they do
> nationally, regionally, and locally.
> 
> From a natural disaster standpoint they appear to have ready to go media
> release/talking points for the preparation, response, & mitigation 
> phases of disasters.   Volunteers & paid staff are in a consistent 
> uniform, easy identifying them as ARC, with what appears to me to be
> standard talking points.  They have the ability to get immediate media
> coverage showing them doing good things!  The news media definitely sees 
> them as an organization to provide coverage for!   Even during local 
> type incidents (e.g. apartment fires) this same type of public relations
> presentation to the media occurs and aids them in obtaining funds.
> 
> Contrast this with CAP.  No really consistent uniform (in fact if BDU, BBDU
> are worn and the orange safety vest is worn, total organization identify is
> missing).  IF assisting another government organization perception is that
> nothing can be released about CAP's support.  Very little released regarding
> CAP preparedness to provide assistance (e.g. 
> photo recon training exercise with local pictures released).   
> Inconsistent approach (actually missing opportunities) to providing releases
> to the news media.  With hurricane season upon us many opportunities for
> getting the word out about CAP!
> 
> Perhaps National should consider developing a disaster/emergency services
> internal operations support kit (e.g. pre prepared type media releases
> (templates) that certain information just has to be filled in for specific
> type incidents, as well as general type media releases on 
> CAP's typical disaster relief missions).   Perhaps even a National PAO 
> Duty officer needs to be immediate/near immediate available to assist field
> PAO's with successfully writing/releasing news media releases, perhaps even
> sending the releases on behalf of the field PAO's.
> 
> A good gauge to see the Red Cross' news media success is to use google news
> search engine "American Red Cross".
> 
> Ken
> Former PAO
> 
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