Presentations
Roundtable discussions on PAOs’ best practices
Day One
Tips on Working with Print Media
Steve Cox
Public Affairs Manager, CAP National Headquarters
Learn how to work with the print media from Steve Cox, who edited both small and medium-size newspapers before joining the Public Affairs staff at NHQ. This former newspaper editor will give attendees ideas on how they can improve relationships with their own print media and ensure more hometown coverage of CAP.
How to Get Published in the "Civil Air Patrol Volunteer"
Julie DeBardelaben
Deputy Director of Public Affairs, CAP National Headquarters
Do you have a potential magazine story happening under your nose? Would the potential story attract new members and partners? Learn what kind of stories are covered in the “Civil Air Patrol Volunteer” -- CAP’s external, flagship bimonthly magazine and prime recruitment tool. Discover what steps you can take to develop an idea into a magazine-worthy story, photo op or regional news item. And find out how to recognize when newsworthy stories should be directed to local media and online news.
Teaming up on NHQ's CAP Journal & Multimedia Resources
Ryan Easterling
Multimedia Production Specialist, CAP National Headquarters
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth? Join Ryan Easterling over breakfast and take this question on. Discussion will center on the value of video productions such as the CAP Journal, Civil Air Patrol's video magazine, as well as other multimedia resources produced at National Headquarters. Keep in mind, we are always looking for creative and visual video stories to include in the journal and other projects, and submissions from PAOs in the field can get the CAP story told and make NHQ's productions even better. It's the ideal time to explore how to work CAP video projects as a team.
Preparing for the Wing CI and Unit Inspection
Maj. Al Pabon
Director of Public Affairs, North Central Region
The IG is coming! Well, he's actually not coming yet, but join us for a chat on how to help you prepare for the PA portion of the CI/SUI inspection. We will show you how to prepare an inspection binder, organize yourself, share stories and show you how to put your best foot forward at the inspection. A Resource CD will be shared with templates, best practices and more.
Uniform Compliance
Susie Parker
Chief, Personnel & Member Actions, CAP National Headquarters
What is a Feature Story?
Neil Probst
Staff Writer, CAP National Headquarters
What makes a feature a feature? It's a million-dollar question. Enjoy a casual discussion about what makes a feature story unforgettable and a prize winner rather than one only good for fireplace kindling.
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Day Two
Video Production for the PAO
Maj. Al Pabon
Director of Public Affairs, North Central Region
Join us for a discussion on tips, tactics and techniques that will help you get your story told on video and how you can share your story with the world. A variety of low-cost options will be discussed and demonstrated.
Uniform Compliance
Susie Parker
Chief, Personnel & Member Actions, CAP National Headquarters
Photographic Points Every PAO Should Know
Susan Robertson
Photographer, CAP National Headquarters
What is NHQ PA looking for in a good photo? Come sit and chat with me about what types of photos Public Affairs needs for the Volunteer magazine as well as the Annual Report to Congress.
Slideshow Alternatives to Web Site Video
1st Lt. Mark Swanson
Director of Public Affairs, New Jersey Wing
The Internet is playing an increasingly important role for print publications and many media outlets are seeing that photo slideshows with audio are attracting traffic to their websites. The slideshows are easy to put together, the technology is inexpensive and any PAO can pick up the basics for use on CAP Web sites in less than an hour.
Working with Cadet PAOs
Director of Public Affairs, Southwest Region
Would you like a fresh source of news, hardly ever tapped? Are you interested in novel ideas,
wonderful feelings and a chance to help shape the leaders of tomorrow? If yours is a composite or
cadet squadron, the answer is right in front of you. Cadets make up nearly half of all Civil Air Patrol
members, yet they are hardly ever heard from, though they have a valid story to tell. And the best
part of working with cadets is the joy of helping them express their ideas, as well as seeing the
world through their eyes. In short, it can be both enlightening and fun.
The PA Planning Process
Part I: I Barely Have Time to React, Let Alone Plan Ahead — But Should I?
Maj. Al Pabon and Julie DeBardelaben
"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." Thomas Edison
To succeed as a PAO you need direction, strategy and goals. In other words, you need a plan.
This session will review a simple 4-step planning process that can be applied to all echelons from squadron to region. Working together with your commander, unit leadership and higher-echelon PAOs, you will be able to craft a realistic and measurable plan that is in compliance with the requirements of CAPR 190-1.
More importantly you will be prepared with good planning to meet PA opportunities head on and, in the process, effectively brand CAP at the local level.
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The PA Planning Process
Part 2: Hands-on Crisis Communications Planning
Capt. Phil Norris, Sr. Mbr. Dennis Steinbock
Participants will hear crisis planning success stories from their fellow PAOs, have the chance to study good crisis planning techniques and then work with other PAOs in their region to actually develop a crisis plan. Participants will leave this seminar with the good bones of a crisis plan.
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BASIC: How Do I Write a News Release for CAP?
Capt. Steven Solomon
This seminar is for the new PAO who has never written a news release or the PAO with a little bit
of experience who would like to confirm that they are on the right track. Can you recognize what is newsworthy about your wing or squadron? Do you know how to use the AP Stylebook? Are your first few sentences compelling enough to grab the reader’s attention from beginning to end? Did you double check your facts? Did everyone quoted or referenced in your story have a chance to review it for accuracy?
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ADVANCED: Writing in Various Genres
Steve Cox and Neil Probst
Attendees will learn to write an informative, colorful feature story written in an active voice.
Emphasis will be on interviewing the best sources and intertwining detail and color into the narrative. Writing for electronic and social media also will be discussed.
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Role of the Web Site
James F. Tynan
A Web site can be an excellent addition to your internal and external communications arsenal, boosting your unit’s professional image. In the 21st century, Web sites are rapidly increasing in importance, going from a nice informational option to a must-have resource. Learn what potential Web site visitors must see on your site, how to coordinate your unit’s web content, and low-cost alternatives that CAP units can utilize for a 21st century web presence that will impress members, potential members and partner organizations.
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BASIC: What Should I Do with My News Releases?
Maj. Paige Joyner
Where? When? How? To whom? You have a press release approved and ready to go…..now what do you with it?
Matching press releases with media outlets is extremely important. Determine your audience and get the release rates you desire. Pick the right media: email, TV, radio, magazine, newspaper….internal or external audience.
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ADVANCED: Managing Your Media Relations
Maj. Paul Cianciolo
The presentation will detail the organization and responsibilities of a media relations team, building relationships with reporters and how to pitch the same story to different media. There will also be a group discussion about the local media market and how it affects PAOs at different levels of command in CAP.
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The Future of Public Affairs
Col. Rick Greenhut
This topic will cover a number of different issues on how the PAO's task will change going forward. PAOs will need an even greater understanding of the three missions of CAP; but more to the point, a greater understanding of what the local news media are looking for when qualifying a potential story. Greenhut will bring some insight into what is and is not considered newsworthy by local broadcast and print outlets in a local community. A proactive PAO will have to understand what the other party (the news media) are looking for, and tailor their approach to the reporter's needs – not the other way around.
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Legal Issues for the PAO
Gordon Odell Jr.
At the completion of this topic, you should be able to meet legal duties and honor the rights of others while serving as a public affairs officer. Areas of focus will include the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, copyright, defamation, privacy and commercial speech. The topic will provide an overview of related issues: freedom to gather news and information, internet law, restraints on freedom of speech (e.g. obscenity), restraints on freedom of the press (e.g. national security.) Consideration will be given to recognizing the need to confer with counsel and higher authority before releasing information.
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BASIC: How Can I Learn More about Being a Better PAO?
Maj. David Miller
Just been “voluntold” you’re the new PAO for your squadron? Don’t sweat it! “How Can I Learn More about Being a Better CAP PAO?” will provide many of the basic nuts and bolts of being a successful PAO at the squadron level. Leaning heavily on the newly revised CAPR 190-1, resources and techniques will be discussed to help you do your job well and better present your story to, both, internal and external audiences. You might even win a Balsem Award in the process!
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ADVANCED: Components of an Effective Networking Program
Capt. James Ridley Sr.
Learn the art of networking, both internally with CAP resources at the squadron, group, wing, region and national levels and externally with other sources such as local media, military base public affairs offices, local colleges, governments and political offices. Utilizing all these resources, PAOs can gather needed information for relevant stories and find the outlets for which to distribute their output.
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Newsletters: Design Is Important but Good Content Is Key
Capt. Jerry Porter
Learn to incorporate complementary content and design techniques to create a newsletter that informs, educates and motivates your membership. Both novice and experienced newsletter editors are provided practical, easy-to-apply tips to help them identify relevant and timely newsletter stories, develop basic writing style, “create” rather than “take” photographs, and apply fundamentals of newsletter design that create an attractive publication with impact.
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Topic To Be Announced
Col. Mike Caldwell
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Keynote Speech
Miles O'Brien
Get an inside view on how to secure national media coverage from a proven media professional.
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NOTE: LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES.
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