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

Sun Oct 4 13:51:31 CDT 2015

Sir,

I guess the quality of PAO that comes from my mentorship will determine
whether I am a good mentor or not. I'd really like to get this on the PAO
group page so more may participate. It is my belief that we should steer
this conversation towards solutions. 

For example, you have already mentioned the overwhelming amount of
information on the National site, that by the way is sometimes very
difficult to drill down and find specific, heavily used, information. Such
as the perpetually changing information like the boilerplate for instance.
While a boilerplate is defined by the British dictionary as "a unit of
writing that can be used over and over without change," ours is perpetually
changing and the link is buried half way down the PA page halfway in a
paragraph. Something like that should be in the main links on the right
column of the page with the branding guide link. That aside, the biggest
issue I see facing the PA duty position in C.A.P. right now is that most
commanders at squadron or for that matter group, wing, and region have
either the wrong idea or no idea at all what role we serve to them. As a
result, the usual line to sell a member on becoming the unit PAO is "I need
someone to take some pictures and write some articles to send to the paper
about our cadets." The reason, is not the commander trying to lure someone
into the duty position so they can fill the slot and then drop the whole
picture on them once they are in, but that is what the commander really
thinks the position is all about. We need to institute a training program
for commanders to fix that, then we may see a difference in who gets
appointed to these positions. We have advanced the specialty a great deal
just in the three years I have been in C.A.P. but we have not brought the
commanders along with us.

The second biggest issue didn't really crystalize for me until National PA
academy this year in Orlando. That is, we need to figure when it is time to
decide when "all news is local" and when it is time to take it national. For
instance, at the PA Academy Julie reeled off 4 or 5 events that gave us
great coverage. I.E. the congressional gold medal, the family in Arizona
that got lost in the desert, etc. I could give my own list. Now I am
probably more aggressive than most with google alerts and various other
methods of following news events, and all of the examples she gave got some
local coverage but no blanket national effort from NHQ. The congressional
gold medal was covered by each wing about that wings recipiants, but nothing
in the form of a national press release was aired on the major networks.
Even with my monitoring of news, I would not have been aware of C.A.P.
involvement in the Arizona family search had I now gotten it from C.A.P.
channels, I would submit that those same channels should have aimed at ABC,
NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, MSNBC and so on. 

This is not to stab at the powers that be, but to say the job is not
finished and these might be the next avenues we follow.

Respectjully,

Wayne Hooks
Florida Wing

-----Original Message-----
From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org
[mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Arthur
Woodgate
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 1:44 PM
To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'
Subject: [Bulk] Re: [PAO] [Bulk] Re: The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air
Patrol Public Relations

Wayne, 

Indeed, mentoring and training are essential to becoming a productive and
happy PAO. The problem is that the amount of information available at the
NHQ website can be overwhelming. This is why mentoring is a must. And there
are not enough mentors in CAP. 

There used to be a time when the PA specialty was an "easy Master" and as a
result there are many holding a Master PA rating who never really wanted to
be PAOs. Some have held the job but done nothing, mostly because doing
nothing was safe. I tell all my students the same thing, "PAOs are like
fish. We die through the mouth." 

The day that CAP gets real PAOs who are also PIOs, have experience at both,
and can mentor, CAP will be a much friendlier place for us. 

On the other hand, I developed many cadet PAOs, some of whom have now
graduated from service academies, or got scholarships to the likes of Embry
Riddle and got commissioned upon graduation, or plain got a Journalism
major. Every now and then, I hear from them. 

I hope you're a good mentor.

Kind regards,

Arthur Woodgate
SWR DPA

-----Original Message-----
From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org
[mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of lockit3
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 11:17 AM
To: 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'; jcarlson at flwg.us
Subject: Re: [PAO] [Bulk] Re: The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol
Public Relations

Gentleman,

I have watched the banter since Ken's initial email. I was going to simply
watch the exchange and try to learn from the educational points made during
the discussion. However, with the exception of a very few valuable insights
into how another organization has set up their PA program, all I am really
seeing is the equivalent of a bunch of kids on the playground who got
embarrassed and now have to save face by being the bigger bully. 

To begin with, Ken obviously got his feelings hurt when he did not get the
rating he thought he should have gotten on his SUI. He took it personally
because he put a lot of work and time into preparation. From his initial
contact, I know he got less than satisfactory because he did not use the 4
step planning process. Something he either was not aware of, or did not know
where to find. Then he went on to state what he saw as short comings to the
P.A. program. Now I do not know whether he resigned because of what he saw
as a lack of support, or because of the attitude of the S.U.I. team. (not
all of them have P.R. skills, nor do they all see their role as one of
mentorship.) In any case because of this he resigned, something I personally
would not have done, but everyone handles things differently. 

Having said all of this, we should probably take the personalities out of
this and move this onto the "Official" national Facebook group. As, I feel
we could ALL benefit from the discussion and the solutions that would
inevitably come from it. Including the all-knowing and infallible superiors
who have seen fit to reply back to Ken. 

As fodder to start that discussion, I will offer this, the attitude that
Ken's ignorance of resources available to him is all his fault, shows that
because it is in CAP P201 we think it happens that way. The Pamphlet states
that we will serve under a mentor for 6 months, presumably to learn about
such things and what resources are available and where they are located. I
assure you this does not happen at least as often as it does. When I joined
Civil Air Patrol, there was no P.A. O. assigned in my squadron and had not
been for quite some time.  Further, I had no one at the group level to help.
Had I been hit with an S.U.I. shortly after taking the position, it would
have been ugly.

So would it be possible for everyone who is supposed to be mentors here to
quit getting upset because a shortcoming may have been pointed out and start
acting like mentors instead.

Thank you,

Wayne Hooks
Florida Wing

-----Original Message-----
From: cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org
[mailto:cap-pao-bounces at lists.sempervigilans.org] On Behalf Of Arthur
Woodgate
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 8:57 AM
To: jcarlson at flwg.us; 'CAP Public Affairs Officers'
Subject: [Bulk] 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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