Civil Air Patrol - PA Essentials

Pacific Region Announces PAO Academy Phase II

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Pacific Region will host Public Affairs Officer Academy Phase II (PAOA II) on May 8-9, 2010, at Jim Bridger Middle School in Las Vegas, Nev. The purpose of PAOA II is to provide PCR's public affairs officers and mission information officers proficient and quality training to insure they perform their mission duties and responsibilities in a skillful and professional manner. PAOA II is open to all PCR and other region CAP senior members. Aside from PAOs and MIOs, unit commanders, incident commanders and those interested are encourged to attend. Click on the "Announcement" icon at right for more information on PAOA II, the "Agenda" icon for the PAOA II schedule and the "Application" icon to print an application and register for the PAOA II.

A Holiday Message From Our National PA Leader

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Dear PAOs,

   I apologize for the length of this message, but I wanted to take a moment to say hello, wish you a great holiday season and share some thoughts with you.

   First, I want to thank each of you for all of your great work this year on behalf of Civil Air Patrol. One of my great pleasures is coming home from work and receiving copies of many of your wing's magazines in the mail. In these magazines I see many stories written by our members about our people, units and activities. If more people saw those stories, we would be so much better off as an organization.

   I also enjoy the "Volunteer Now"" online news service because of your stories and images. I want to thank our NHQ PA team -- Julie, Steve, Dan and Kristi -- for all of the work that they do to make the Volunteer Now" the great site that it is.

   This team, with the addition of Barb Pribilick, also puts out our award-winning, flagship magazine the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer. Everyone I talk to loves the publication, and it gets better and better with each issue.

   There are so many others that I am thankful for.

   First, the region PAOs. These PAOs are a great resource, with their diverse backgrounds and interests. I appreciate them because of their leadership and their availability to me as a sounding board for ideas and the review of projects.

   Then, I am thankful for our wing PAOs. This group of PAOs really does the hard of work of leading and managing the programs at the wing level. They lead and mentor the unit PAOs and without them we would be in a world of hurt.

   I am also very grateful for the volunteers that step up to be PAOs for our squadrons. You get the word out in your communities about our great work. Most of you are not trained practitioners, but you step up and tell our story; for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. All of our PAOs do so much with so little in terms of resources but with a ton of dedication and love. You are truly the heart and soul of our PA program.

   I also deeply appreciate our extended NHQ PA team. Marc Huchette, Julie DeBardelaben, Jim Tynan, Steve Cox, Kristi Carr, Dan Bailey, Susan Robertson and Brad Holley are a true treasure, and I am proud to be associated with them. Thank you for all of your dedication and for your hard work in supporting us and telling the CAP story.

   In addition, I am thankful to our national leadership for allowing me to serve you. The past five months have been the most challenging of my life, but I would not give them back for anything.

   But, now, for the future.

   In 2010 look for our national PA team leader's plan to be published.

   This strategic document will outline my vision and be the practical blueprint for the work of our volunteer national PA team. It will go out to the region PAOs and NHQ PA team for final review this week. I will then submit this plan to our senior adviser, Col Skip Guimond, and then to the national leadership for their review, revision and approval.

   While this is going on, we do have several projects that are moving forward early in 2010. These include:

    A replacement for the AFAIDL PAO course. This course is going away and we plan to replace it with a CAP pamphlet titled "How To Guide for Civil Air Patrol Public Affairs." This guide was written by a team of PAOs and is is under review at NHQ. Once that review is complete, the region PAOs will have a chance to comment on these revisions and then we will have a new PAO handbook as well as a replacement for the AFAIDL course.

   In a nutshell a new PAO will review this guide and take an open-book, online test they must pass in order to complete the revised technician and senior tracks of the PAO specialty track, which will also be released in early 2010.

   We are also planning on completing development of an online and in-residence (and optional) PAO basic course. This course will build on the introduction new PAOs will receive from the online orientation for new PAOs that will also roll out this year.

   The PAOBC is a two-day hands-on, in-residence program conducted by regions and wings to share basic information and tools for squadron PAOs on conducting their PA programs. Topics will include "Planning for Success," "The News Release," "The Squadron Newsletter," "The Squadron Web site," "Becoming Part of the Community" and electives such as "Crisis Communications," "Working With Cadets," "Preparing for the SUI" and others.

   This course will also be available online later in the year.

   We will be moving on the "PAO Store" in very early 2010. This will be a one-stop store for PAOs to find that release template, presentation, training resource, graphic or other tool they need to do their job. The PAO Store will be stocked with resources provided by PAOs in the field. More on this after the New Year.

   We are also moving forward on updating the PIO emergency services specialty.

   A group of PIOs developed a draft of new standards, and we have nearly completed work with NHQ PA and Operations in finalizing them. Once announced, we will also develop training to support these new ES specialties. Training will meet ICS/NIMS/FEMA standards.

   It will be a three-tiered track (like our incident commanders) that will require more training and practical experience but will result in having three groups of professioanlly trained and prepared PIOs.

   Our level 5 PIOs will be able to assist at routine CAP missions, Level 4 PIOs will be able to work a CAP routine mission as PIO and assist at high-profile Air Force assigned missions (AFAM's) and Level 3 PIOs will be able to work high profile AFAMs as PIO and a national CAP spokesman and also work with other agencies in a joint information center environment.

   This is being done to align CAP with FEMA standards and allow our PIOs to ultimately work with our peers in the NIMS world.

   That's a lot of information to take in, so let me close with this.

   I wish you and your families a very happy and safe holiday season. Please take some time to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. While you are celebrating the end of one year and the start of another, please take a moment to think about the work that you have done this year. Each of us has done good work in supporting CAP's public affairs program and in telling our story.

   Next year will be an exciting for PA. There will be changes in our programs and new opportunities to tell our story.

   These are exciting times, and I am very proud to be serving you as we move forward together in telling the CAP story.

   Best wishes for a happy holiday season.

         Al

         Al Pabon, Major,
         CAP National Public Affairs Team Leader Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol

         Cell: 612-296-0474
         E-mail: al.pabon@mncap.org

         "Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond"

Use the Wreaths Across America ToolKit To Promote Your Events

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To all PAOs:

The 2009 Wreaths Across America news release and media alerts are available for Civil Air Patrol PAOs to use in promoting their own events. To access them, go to the Wreaths Across America Media Kit, which also includes the latest news on scheduled 2009 events as well as news clips from the previous three Wreaths Across America observances. Print out the national news release, media alerts and fact sheets to help promote your local ceremonies.

Changes made in CAP news release tagline

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To all PAOs:

First Air Force has added a phase to the second sentence of the Civi Air Patrol press release tagline. The new CAP tagline also provides an updated figure for lives saved last year:

"Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years."

Please share this with your subordinate PAO's and please start to use this revised tagline in all of your news releases immediately.

Certificates Honoring PAOs

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

CAP National Headquarters now has a certificate of appreciation available for Outstanding PAO of the Year. The certificate is available for both wing and squadron PAOs upon request to the Public Affairs office. Send requests to scox@capnhq.gov or call 877-227-9142, ext. 251.

National Staff College HTNR

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The 2009 National Staff College opens tomorrow at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Eighty-nine students from across America are participating in the seven-day course, which provides executive-level training for CAP's leaders. A hometown news release (HTNR) has been prepared and posted online along with a list of all students participating. It can be found on the PA page of gocivilairpatrol.com. Click on the Members button at the top of the page, then the CAP National Headquarters button in the rail on the left. Scroll down to Public Affairs. Once there, click on "hometown news releases" on the page. The NSC hometown news release is on the bottom of the page, along with the student list. We encourage all PAOs to check the list to see if they have students from their communities attending. If so, please use the hometown news release to notify your local media.

PA PowerPoints

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

All six of the Public Affairs PowerPoint presentations made at the 2009 National Board and Annual Conference are now online, available to all PAOs. Just go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Click on the "Events" button at the top of the page and scroll down to the 2009 CAP Annual Learning Labs icon on the bottom of the page. Click on the icon and scroll again to "Public Affairs" at the bottom of the page. There you will see all six PowerPoints listed. Just click on the ones you would like to download.

VolunteerNow

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To all PAOs:

The latest issue of the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer magazine is now online. You can download it by going to NHQ/PA’s exciting new Web site, VolunteerNow, and clicking on the “CAP Volunteer” button at the top of the homepage.

Your copy of the magazine should arrive in the mail this week. In the meantime, remember NHQ/PA has an ample supply of magazines available for distribution at airshows, open houses, fly-ins, fall festivals and other events in your communities this fall. The magazines are great recruiting tools for your squadron and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Just e-mail your request to me at scox@capnhq.gov or call toll-free at 877-227-9142, ext. 251. Be sure to include a street mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses please) for easy FedEx delivery.

Extra copies of the 2008 Annual Report to Congress and the 2008 Financial Report are also available upon request. Both the ARC and Financial Report provide a comprehensive look at CAP’s many missions for America, which can be particularly useful as you look for ways to promote CAP’s upcoming 68^th anniversary in December.

Speaking of VolunteerNow, we hope you have taken the time to visit this brand new CAP “news” Web site. VolunteerNow is lively and highly visual, and it is rapidly gaining readership. Don’t be left out! Please let the members in your wing and squadron know about this new online magazine.

There are many ways to do that – word of mouth, announcements, e-mail. Some of you are already going beyond that, linking to VolunteerNow on your wing and squadron Web sites and talking about it in your newsletters. We thank you, and encourage others to follow suit.

It is important to let others know about this new communications initiative. Remember, too, that there are two ways to access VolunteerNow – through CAP’s national Web site, www.gocivilairpatrol.com (click on the “News” button at the top of the homepage), or directly at www.capvolunteernow.com.

Also, please know that we consider VolunteerNow to be a work in progress, with many more additions and improvements ahead. Stay tuned.

2009 Wreaths Across America

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Just a reminder that now is a critical time to plan for yearend Wreaths Across America ceremonies, which are now very much a holiday tradition for many Civil Air Patrol squadrons. Don't be left out! Last year, 240 CAP units sold 15,300 wreaths and participated in nearly 400 Wreaths Across America ceremonies nationwide and abroad. That partnership continues in 2009, but requires some prior planning by all involved, especially PAOs.

Helpful information is available on PA's Wreaths Across America Web page (http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/news/wreaths_across_america/index.cfm). There is a Wreaths Across America promo poster available on the page as well as the Wreaths Across America 2009 Media Toolkit. Just click on the buttons in the upper righthand corner of the page and allow time for them to download.

PAO Update

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To all CAP PAOs:

Welcome to another PAO Update, your last via magnet mail. We’ll keep this one short and sweet, with great news of interest to all Civil Air Patrol members, especially PAOs:

VolunteerNow – Civil Air Patrol’s brand new online initiative, VolunteerNow, is now live, accessible to all through CAP’s national Web site, www.gocivilairpatrol.com (click on the News button at the top of the homepage), or directly at www.capvolunteernow.com. We hope you will appreciate this latest initiative, which replaces the old CAP News Online site. Its goal is simple: To be your online source for the latest news and information about Civil Air Patrol and its citizen volunteers.

As CAP’s newest communication vehicle, VolunteerNow will provide meaningful, significant news in a timely and aesthetically pleasing fashion, embracing a multimedia approach with the same cutting-edge appeal of gocivilairpatrol.com. VolunteerNow will be chock full of stories and photos about

America’s premier volunteer organization. They will tell of CAP’s noteworthy contributions to search and rescue and humanitarian missions and U.S. homeland security, as well as the importance of aerospace education and cadet programs.

Keep in mind that VolunteerNow is a work in progress, with more enhancements planned over the next few months. One future feature will be the “Region News Journal,” which will include stories and photos from each of CAP’s eight regions. You will hear more about how you can be a regular contributor later this fall.

For now, we hope you will take the time to check out VolunteerNow. As with any CAP initiative, its success depends greatly on member input. This is a new opportunity for you to get national recognition and publicity for your squadron, wing and region. We encourage you to let us know what you think about the new site. Feel free to pass along any suggestions for changes or improvements. (Contact: Steve Cox - scox@capnhq.gov)

PA Essentials – One final note … In lieu of PAO Updates like this, we now encourage you to go to “PA Essentials,” the official NHQ/PA blog, for much quicker access to everything related to Public Affairs. To access the blog, go to the PA page on gocivilairpatrol.com --

http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/ and click on the PA Essentials link at the top of the page.

Regards,

Steve

Steve Cox

Public Affairs Manager

CAP National Headquarters

105 S. Hansell St., Bldg. 714

Maxwell AFB, AL 36112

Office: 877-227-9142, ext. 251

Office: 334-953-7748, ext. 251

Cell: 334-296-5881

scox@capnhq.gov

If you have questions or comments about this update, please contact me or NHQ/PA’s deputy director, Julie DeBardelaben, at jdebardelaben@capnhq.gov or 877-227-9142, ext. 250.

CAP Fact Sheet updated

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

For your information: the CAP Fact Sheet has been updated. Click here to download.

Posters available

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

CAP NHQ has created a variety of downloadable posters for your use, including a brand new poster featuring Eric Boe. Please use these to increase awareness of CAP in your spheres of influence.

Please note that because these are high-res files suitable for printing, these may take a while to load.

Posters

2009 Wreaths Across America promotional poster
Eric Boe promotional posters, 8.5x11 and 11x17
Please Don't Toss Out Your Beacon! and Important Notice (regarding the transition to 406MHz ELTs)
Achievement
Excitement
Leadership
Teamwork

PA learning labs at the National Board

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference provides a yearly opportunity for networking and professional development. This year's event is no exception, with six Public Affairs learning labs offered. Take this opportunity to meet NHQ PA staff, as well as your fellow PAOs from around the nation, and expand your PA expertise. If you haven't already made your plans for San Antonio, please do so soon. Click here for more information.

The following learning labs are scheduled:

PA01 Creating PA Opportunities

Presenters: Julie DeBardelaben CAPNHQ/PA (Friday 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM)

Is your PA program stuck in the same planning cycle? Learn how to break out from the mold by relying on past performance as a springboard for envisioning creative new strategies for your future success. If you want to learn how to take your program to the next level, this lab is for you.
PA02 Overview of the PAO Program

Presenter: Lt. Col. Fred Mahadocon, PCR PAO (Friday 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM)

This lab covers everything PAOs need to know to perform the various tasks of CAP’s Public Affairs Program, including internal and external relations, media relations, community relations, the unit public affairs program, management and training, unit inspections and duties and responsibilities.
PA03 Manage to Maximize

Presenters: Kristi Carr, CAPNHQ/PA (Friday 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM)

Work smart to get the biggest bang for your PR efforts. Learn about different kinds of “news” and which media are appropriate for disseminating each kind. Then find out how to approach various media to enhance the chances your news will be used. You’ll see that one bit of news can be issued in multiple ways to multiple outlets so that you get the broadest news coverage for your unit.
PA05 Recruiting, Training and Retaining Great Public Affairs Officers

Presenter: Maj. Pabon, NCR PAO (Sat 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM)

The squadron and wing PAO are the most important members of the Civil Air Patrol's public affairs team, and you need one in your organization. A great squadron PAO tells the CAPs story to the community, the media and to our members. The problem every commander faces is "How do I get one!!!!!!" Join Maj.Al Pabon as he presents strategies, tactics and resources for you to use in attracting and retaining the right member as your public affairs officer.
PA06 PA Town Hall Meeting

Presenter: CAPNHQ and Volunteer Staff (Sat 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM)

Join the Volunteer and staff public affairs teams for updates on what is currently going on and the future of CAP Public Affairs. This Town Hall is the place to go to get your PA questions answered, find resources and network with the leading PAOs in CAP.
PA04 Major Mission Information Operations ... The Rest of the Story

Presenters: Maj. Pabon, NCR PAO (Sat 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM)

Emergency services missions provide a unique opportunity to tell our communities and the nation about the good works that we do. Maj. Al Pabon will present on how CAP can spread the word about our works to our communities, the nation and our own members. A major feature of this presentation will be Internet to communicate to our members and the nation about major missions.

Support your local journalists

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

For some, getting into the CAP News Online or the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer is a high point of their publicity work. Granted, getting into these publications does elevate the visibility of a unit. But there's one audience you should never forget -- the local audience. CAP members are busy this summer, and it's up to PAOs to share the news with their local media.

If you are unsure what would constitute a good news story, familiarize yourself with the media. Read the newspaper. Watch the local TV news. Ask yourself: What kinds of stories make the news? What is my local unit doing that would interest the general public? Is there a feature in the news program or publication tailor-made for my squadron, i.e. a feature that spotlights youths who make a difference in their communities, senior citizens on the go, or organizations that make a difference?

Here are some recent CAP headlines, which samples the type of stories that make news. Note that some of these stories may seem commonplace to the average CAP member:

Want to learn more about media relations? CAP NHQ PA has a great many resources available:

Meeting the Media guide -- provided courtesy of the Air Force's Air University
Hometown news releases -- ready-made news releases for national events, available for your adaptation
Prototype news releases -- which provides PAOs with sample news releases they can adapt
"Managing your Media Relations" -- a 2008 PAO Academy powerpoint by Maj. Paul Cianciolo
"What Should I Do with my News Releases?" -- a 2008 PAO Academy powerpoint by Maj. Paige Joyner
"How Do I Write a News Release for CAP?" -- a 2008 PAO Academy powerpoint by Maj. Steven Solomon

Financial report: Excellent public awareness tool

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, CAP NHQ released a financial report for 2008 in celebration of Civil Air Patrol's first unqualified audit, an awesome achievement that assures our partners and members that CAP's financial management practices are of the highest standard. The financial report was created in the style of a viewbook, with striking photographs throughout and succinct overviews of CAP's many outstanding missions. CAP's core values of volunteer service, integrity, excellence and respect served as the unifying theme.

We encourage PAOs and unit commanders to add this publication to their communications arsenal as a recruitment and marketing tool. The publication's viewbook format provides a two-page spread on CAP's missions for America that can be readily printed for use in supporting each unit's communications, promotions and marketing goals. This publication will duly impress external audiences, including potential members, the media, state and local government, fellow benevolent organizations and other potential partners.

If you would like copies of the financial report shipped to your unit, please contact Steve Cox. This publication is also available online.

Pacific Region to host PAO Academy in August

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Pacific Region will conduct another Public Affairs Officers Academy on Aug. 15-16 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. This event is open to all CAP senior members. Aside from public affairs officers and mission information officers, unit commanders and those interested in public affairs are encouraged to attend.

The application deadline is Aug. 3. A downloadable application and agenda are available to the right of this blog entry.

The purpose of this academy is to provide the region's public affairs officers and mission information officers quality training to insure that they perform their duties and responsibilities in a skillful and professional manner as they promote CAP within their units, communities, state and country.

This academy, Phase I, will cover all the basics a PAO and MIO will need to know to accomplish their various tasks. Since all aspects of being a PAO and MIO cannot be covered in this two-day activity, handouts will be provided and are excellent references/resources.

Training will consist of presentations and talks on all matters regarding the Civil Air Patrol Public Affairs Program. Actual “hands on” and “how to” will be covered in the PAOA’s Phase II sometime in early 2010.

Expenses for this academy, Phase I, will be transportation to and from McChord AFB, meals and billeting for two nights. As of this date, billeting rates is $39 per day. Upon receipt of your application, billeting reservations will be made for you. Attendees within a half hour of driving time may decline billeting, but is required to be present during all academy activities. There will be no fees for the academy or handouts.

Attire for this activity will be any authorized CAP uniform other than flight suits, BDUs and golf shirt combination.

For more information, contact Lt. Col. Fred Mahadocon Jr., director of Pacific Region Public Affairs, at 951-371-2154
or cell: 951-640-3253.

PAO Update

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Courtesy of Steve Cox, NHQ/PA manager

To all CAP PAOs:

It’s time for another PAO Update.

Annual Conference – Civil Air Patrol’s 2009 Annual Conference and National Board Sept. 3-5 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter will spotlight two of CAP’s stars – astronaut Eric Boe and “America’s Got Talent” finalist Paul Salos.

Boe, who piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station in 2008, will be the keynote speaker for the conference banquet, which begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Entertainment for the banquet will be provided by Salos, whose velvet voice earned him millions of fans during the 2008 season of “America’s Got Talent.”

Don’t miss out on the excitement! Meet Boe and Salos and hundreds more of America’s finest volunteers. Register before July 24 for the best rates. Visit the conference registration site for details. (Contact: Julie DeBardelaben)

VolunteerNow – Civil Air Patrol’s Public Affairs and Creative Services teams are wrapping up preparations for “VolunteerNow,” a new online initiative that will replace CAP News Online. VolunteerNow will be part of CAP’s dynamic new national Web site. It will be a daily version of the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer, CAP’s printed national magazine. One of the features of the online initiative will be the “Region News Journal,” which will be similar to the old “Coast to Coast” newspaper pages of the CAP News and the current “Region News” in the Volunteer. As its name implies, it will include news and photos from each of CAP’s eight regions. (Contact: Steve Cox)

Quarterly Magazine – Speaking of the Volunteer, beginning with the 2010 calendar year, it will be published quarterly. Members can expect to receive the magazine in January, April, July and October of 2010. The publication change is necessitated by escalating print and mail costs. As mentioned earlier this year, NHQ/PA is already altering publication of the Volunteer for the remainder of 2009. An August-September-October issue will be published in mid-August and a November-December issue in mid-November. (Contact: Julie DeBardelaben)

Extra Copies – NHQ/PA has an ample supply of the current Civil Air Patrol Volunteer available for distribution at airshows, open houses, fly-ins and other events in your communities this summer. The magazines are great recruiting tools for your squadron and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Just e-mail your request to me or call toll-free at 877-227-9142, ext. 251. Be sure to include a street mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses please) for easy FedEx delivery. Extra copies of the 2008 Annual Report to Congress are also available upon request. (Contact: Steve Cox)

Hometown News Releases – The hometown news release page for this summer’s National Cadet Special Activities has been updated with releases for most of the 30 events. These hometown news releases are an effective and efficient PR tool available to each of Civil Air Patrol’s more than 900 public affairs officers for publicizing members’ involvement at the local level. (Contact: Kimberly Wright)

Anniversary Planning Guide – Even though Civil Air Patrol’s 68th anniversary is nearly six months away (Dec. 1), now is the time to begin making your preparations. The Anniversary Planning Guide has been updated with suggestions on publicizing wing and squadron events in observance of CAP’s 68th anniversary. (Contact: Julie DeBardelaben)

Wreaths Across America – It is also a good time to begin planning for Wreaths Across America ceremonies, which are now very much a holiday tradition for many Civil Air Patrol units. Last year, 240 squadrons sold 15,300 wreaths and participated in nearly 400 Wreath Across America ceremonies nationwide and abroad, including Arlington National Cemetery near the nation’s capital. That partnership will continue in 2009, but will require some prior planning by all involved. The wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington are scheduled for Dec. 12. Make plans now for your squadron to be a part of this rapidly expanding movement to honor America’s fallen heroes. CAP’s 2009 Wreaths media toolkit and promotional poster, as well as other useful resources, are available. You can also go to Wreaths Across America’s newly redesigned Web site to find out more, or to place your wreaths order.

New PA Blog – Speaking of resources for PAOs, “PA Essentials,” the NHQ/PA blog is now online. Here you will learn about the latest happenings in Public Affairs, including updates to online resources. We hope you will find it to be a valuable resource for everything Public Affairs-related. (Contact: Kimberly Wright)

PAO Academies – Talk about resources for public affairs officers, a third region PAO academy – this one for the Southeast Region – is planned for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25 at Dobbins Air Force Base near Atlanta, Georgia. Three other PAO academies have already been held in 2009 in CAP’s Northeast, Pacific and North Central regions. (Contact: Maj. Paige Joyner)

Regards,
Steve Cox
Public Affairs Manager
CAP National Headquarters
105 S. Hansell St., Bldg. 714
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
Office: 877-227-9142, ext. 251
Office: 334-933-7748, ext. 251
Cell: 334-296-5881

If you have questions or comments about this update, please contact me or NHQ/PA’s deputy director, jdebardelaben@capnhq.gov

National Cadet Special Activities hometown news releases available

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Please feel free to make use of the hometown news releases posted regularly here. Please localize and distribute these hometown news releases to the media in your area, as well as posting them on your unit’s Web site and in your unit’s newsletters.

We’re in the middle of prime cadet activity season, and this is a wonderful opportunity to share with the community the development activities the cadets do in their free time. This helps potential members our constituents and potential members discover the countless volunteer and partnering possibilities available through Civil Air Patrol.

In addition to the hometown news release, these news release prototypes provide news release samples you can use when creating news release for other local newsworthy events such as encampments. These tools and others posted in the PAO Toolkit have been developed to make your lives easier, so please put them to use.

Wreaths Across America 2009 Media Toolkit

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Wreaths Across America 2009 Media Toolkit has been posted on the Wreaths Across America web page. Please feel free to use the tools provided in coordination with your unit's Wreaths Across America activities. It's an 8 MB file, so please allow time for it to download.

Registration open: Annual conference and national board

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The 2009 Civil Air Patrol Annual Conference and National Board will be held Sept. 3-5 in San Antonio, Tex. Registration is now available. Please promote the conference among your CAP colleagues by linking from your unit’s Web site to the annual conference registration and information site. Please feel free to use this thumbnail.

This year’s conference promises to be an out-of-this-world experience you and your fellow members will not want to miss! More conference news and additional promotional items for your use will soon be released. Stay tuned!

Latest issue of the 'Civil Air Patrol Volunteer' now available

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

This is the inaugural post of PA Essentials, the NHQ PA blog. Here you will find the latest happenings in the Public Affairs track, including updates to the online resources available for your use.

The latest issue of the magazine, the May-July 2009 “Civil Air Patrol Volunteer,” is now available for download on the Civil Air Patrol Volunteer page, as well as individual story pdfs. In addition, story pdfs from this year’s previous issues are available here. Please share these stories with your friends, relatives and potential members.