[PAO] CAP PA and the SWR

[Jeff Carlson, Grp 5 HQ]

Colonel Woodgate,
I would be one of the first to agree that CAP SWR has benefited from strong
PA leadership and would well serve as evidence for my argument that key
positions within the PA hierarchy need to be filled by a member with
advanced leadership abilities, not just PA experience.  By my estimation,
you have done well to promote PA activity especially in your home wing of
Texas.  There are some talented PAOs in Texas and I am certain it is because
of the environment you have fostered.  Your longevity has also held
influence.  Across the nation, the majority of PAOs have eighteen months or
less time in duty.  Many have never been properly engaged in the duty and
simply fill the purpose of compliance. Upper echelon positions are typically
filled based on PA experience rather than leadership skills.

Newsletters can be an effective option.  They are an old-school style of PR
that require a tremendous amount of effort for one person.  I think they are
only practical when you have an effective system for gathering submissions
from other authors.  I think specialty newsletters such as the legislative
day brochure should be a well-worn tool in every unit's PA kit.  Your track
record for consistency in publishing a newsletter is truly remarkable,
though I have often wondered why a move into social media has been slow to
develop in your area.

As you mentioned, SER has not had a traditional newsletter for many years.
Instead they opted for a syndicated Online News feed.  Every PAO in the
region is eligible to be assigned a logon with the ability to upload their
story.  The articles are reviewed before being published online. The news
feed can be inserted into a local unit website and the stories can be
filtered based on the unit. 
You can view the region level feed here http://sercap.us/default.aspx.   
Here is the same news feed at wing level http://flwg.us/default.aspx.  
Here is the same news feed filtered for Group level.
http://units.flwg.us/FL370.aspx  
The system allows editors to determine which stories are displayed at what
level.  Not all local stories need to be published on a region or even wing
level.  The system is a work in progress and has not yet been adopted by all
SER wings.

FLWG's old-style newsletter stopped several years back with the untimely
death of the member who was its champion, Capt. Eileen Tonkinson. FLWG has
adopted the SER Online News feed and, more recently, a magazine format
called "Wingspan" was added.  These magazines have become popular in recent
years, partly because of the income potential.  At this point in time, I
could not point you to the archive of past issues.

It is a challenge to lead volunteers.  It is even more so from a remote
location.  It definitely helps to have a relationship between leader and
follower.  In reality, it is impossible for NHQ/PA to directly lead squadron
volunteers.  That is the purpose of the hierarchy.  However, I do hold the
leaders at the top accountable for creating an appropriate environment that
lower levels work within.  I find the ivory tower approach to be
counterproductive and is a primary reason that I have become critical of
current PA leadership's approach with some initiatives.  

As far as the regulations, you are correct that they reflect the attitudes,
and sometimes egos, of those who have risen to a position that can influence
what is included in the guidance.  The downside is that these individuals
represent only a small fraction of members.  While I am certain the
intentions are good, the choices made are not always the most effective for
leading a large diverse team of volunteers.  It appears to be wishful
thinking and, in some cases, an attempt to clone oneself.  Regulations in
professional development should not erect barriers that hinder progress for
the majority of candidates.  They should encourage continual progress along
a pathway of development.  Any hurdle that is inserted should be accompanied
by support mechanisms to assist the member in meeting the requirement.  When
it comes to regulations, the current national commander was right on target
when he said that "we are our own worst enemy".

Speaking of cloning oneself.  How are you developing your successor? Will
SWR public affairs be the same when you are no longer at the helm? Why? Why
not?  I believe questions about continuity are important, especially when a
level of success has been achieved.  I am constantly monitoring for
candidates that would benefit from the leadership experience.  I would
happily step aside, even temporarily, if it helped to expand the available
pool of qualified PA leaders.

Keep up the good work, Colonel!  The example serves the CAP PA program well.

Maj Jeffrey P Carlson, CAP
Public Affairs Officer

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Arthur Woodgate [mailto:awoodgate at austin.rr.com] 
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 8:57 AM
To: jcarlson at flwg.us; 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'
Subject: RE: [PAO] The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public
Relations

No one can speak for anyone else but oneself, Jeff!

Not all wings do or can present to the public a clear idea of what it is
that CAP does. Nor can regions, for that matter. However, one should never
underestimate the power of past activities presented in a good light. In
SWR, I gather the best from the wings to put together the region's quarterly
publication: The Fly By http://swrcap.com/public-affairs/ - You might want
to consider a similar effort for your group, and suggest it up the chain for
SER (where an empty page greets the visitor to its website). For some
reason, FLWG seems to have archived newsletters only up to Nov. 2009,
relying on the occasional online entry for the rest. The importance of
presenting all information in one place cannot be emphasized enough.

At any rate, at the same SWR link above, I offer all PAOs (especially in the
region) some basic tools they can use to get started and improve their work.
Including support for marketing, that is essential for the National CC's
priority #1 (Recruiting and Retention).

Individually my assistant and I work with wing PAOs who, in turn, work with
the PAOs in their wing, because PA cannot thrive in a vacuum. When
requested, I also work with lower-echelons PAOs and even cadets. PA is, and
always has been, a team effort. Notice that the operative word is "work."

That said, Ken chose to blame NHQ, and this made it sound a lot like sour
grapes. CAP is a regulatory organization, and we guide ourselves by the
published regulations, manuals and pamphlets (that I'll call collectively
"regulations") that tell us what to do (and we promise to follow, as the
oath of membership states). If we think that any of it is wrong, then the
procedure is to send a request for change to NHQ, where cooler heads will
decide on the value of implementing such change. In all cases, though, what
is published and what is changed is based on the personal experience of
those who rose to the top and continue to  reach out to those who are
practicing the specialty in the field with vigor and success. 

The idea is to create an organization that can fine-tune the regulations to
make it more effective in Fla. Wing, Texas Wing, Calif. Wing, Hawaii Wing or
any other CAP wing. Bottom line, the job of publishing, preserving and
making available to the public the many CAP success stories is in the hands
of the squadron, group, wing and region where it happens. This is not a
trivial task, it is implemented by volunteers, and some volunteers are more
effective than others. 

Regards

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 Jeff Carlson,
Grp 5 HQ
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 3:01 PM
To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'
Subject: Re: [PAO] The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public
Relations

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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