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

Sat Oct 3 16:06:23 CDT 2015

And Jeff, the CAP PA Facebook group is official now!

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 1:54 PM, Lt. Col. Steven Solomon, National PA Manager <ssolomon at cap.gov> wrote:
> 
> 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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>> 
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