Wing Conference: To go or not to go?

[Stonewall]

Wing Conference: To go or not to go?

As a cadet (1987 - 1991) I never attended a wing conference. In fact, I'm not sure if I had ever heard of one, let alone attend one. In 26 years, I've attended 3 wing conferences, 1 region conference, and 1 national conference. Just this past weekend I attended the Florida Wing (FLWG) conference in Orlando and had a blast! This year, I decided to exclusively attend the cadet seminars. After all, I'm a cadet programs officer.

Seminars I attended:

• Blue to Gray - making the transition from cadet to senior (this was taught by newly minted senior members who had been cadets)
  
• Emergency Services - cadets getting involved with ES, mostly ground operations since you have to be 18 to fly.
  
• Professionalism in Uniform - faux pas and the truth about proper uniform wear.
  
• Mary Feik briefing - by Colonel Mary Feik. I highly recommend this if you get the chance.
  
• Cadet Bowl - not sure if that's what it's called anymore, but the team knowledge competition; you get it.
  

All were very impressive seminars with a lot of attendance. My guess is that there were between 75 and 100 cadets present; a great showing if you ask me. In all, there were almost 400 attendees at the conference.

A few observations:

- Uniforms: For the most part, pretty good. But I noticed a large number of ribbons out of sequence, to include a rack that was completely upside down, with a single ribbon on top bottom. Remember, you don't have to wear ribbons. So if yours are dirty or frayed, opt out of wearing them. When you're attending a wing function where the wing and region commander, as well as honored guests, will be present, you may want to consider a haircut.

- Customs and courtesies: Most senior members, me included, don't go hunting for salutes, but I didn't get saluted once. Again, do I need salutes to build my self esteem? No, not in the least. But this observation has me curious to know if cadets are being taught C&C effectively.

- Emergency services: With a packed room at the ES seminar, I noticed there were A LOT of questions that I feel should have already been known by the cadets. Granted, some were asked by airmen, but even a few NCOs, SNCOs, and officers asked basic questions about General Emergency Services (GES) that I assumed most people knew. As a cadet, I sought out information on ES and how to get training. These days, with all the information at your fingertips, I was surprised so little information was known. Perhaps that's why it appears (to me, anyway) that there isn't a lot of involvement in ES here in FLWG.

- Class preparation: Every class that I sat in started off with some technical difficulties that could have been overcome by following the "Five Ps", Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Rehearsing and preparing your class is key to success. There shouldn't be an issue trying to figure out how to connect to the internet after you started the class, it should have been done before. By rehearsing, you won't run into the "lack of time" or "too much time" issue. Classes were scheduled for 50 minutes. Two were over and done in less than 20, while another ran over. Have a PLAN if this happens, but it shouldn't if you PLAN in advance, and rehearse. Finally, if you're working with another speaker, work out who is going to do what, and when. Try to get someone else to change the slides for you so you're not on your knees trying to talk and click simultaneously.

- Know your topic: The cadets did such a great job on the ES class, that I presented both of them with my original Ground Operations coin I had made in 2003 (I had a few left that I found the week before). However, call it nerves, or just a misunderstanding, they were passing on a few bits of misinformation. As an example, "243 MHz is only found in the newer ELTs." In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a big deal. Especially since the audience wasn't as knowledgeable as the speaker. But you get the picture. Also, try to plan for questions that the audience may ask. The common ones like "how do I find the GES test?"

Personally, I think a conference is more than a place and time to attend seminars and learn new things.  It is also, and equally as important, a venue for establishing and building relationships.  Call it networking or building your list of Facebook friends, there's no doubt that a conference can be a great place to make friends or learn more about the cadet you stood next to in formation during encampment, but couldn't really talk to.

I was very pleased with the conference, and I encourage others to attend in the future. Before I close, let me ask a few questions in an effort to spark responses...

What would you expect to get out of attending a wing conference?

What classes or seminars would you want to participate in?

Would you consider teaching a seminar yourself? If so, what topic?

If you have attended a conference, was it worth it? Did you gain anything from your experience?

At last weekend's conference, they had an after banquet party where I think Xbox games were played. Is this of interest to you? Could there have been other "after hours" activities that would have been more fun or interesting?

What else?

[BHartman007]

I had debated whether or not I should try to attend the Wing Conference here, as it will be about a month after my join date (waiting for NHQ to approve my app at the moment), and I didn't know what I would get out of it being that new. On the other hand, I don't know when they'll be holding another one 20 minutes from home.

[ColonelJack]

I joined in November of 1981 and attended my first Wing Conference the same month.  It was a fantastic experience that cemented in my mind that I'd done the right thing joining CAP.

BHartman007 ... I highly recommend that you go.  You'll enjoy it.

Jack

[BHartman007]

I joined in November of 1981...

Would it be poor form to point out that I was born in November of 1981?

[Duke Dillio]

I've been to five different conferences through the years.  I haven't been to one wing's conference twice (been to one each in Oregon, Colorado, and California.)  It always seemed to me that the smaller wings put on a better conference than the larger ones for whatever reason.  For example, the Oregon and Colorado Wings have fewer members than CA but their conferences were much better in all aspects (location, activities, after-hours, socially, training, etc.)  If I had the chance, I would instruct at a wing conference and I would most likely teach either some professional development class or give a primer on ground team operations (how it works, what we do, etc.)

[ColonelJack]

I joined in November of 1981...

Would it be poor form to point out that I was born in November of 1981?

(Dr. Smith)  Oh, the pain ... the pain ... (/Dr. Smith)

Poor form?  Of course not ... excuse me now, sonny, I have to go rub some liniment on my lumbago ...

Jack the Elder   

[West MI-CAP-Ret]

I thought the breakout sessions for Mich Wg Conference today were too specific.  Not enough content.  I think I've gone to my last conference.

Dave

[SarDragon]

How were they too specific? The breakouts I've been in at the CAWG Conf, and the National Boards, were a good way to get up to date on procedures, and get Qs answered about some of the more obscure aspects of the different specialties.

That said, I go to the conferences as much for the social aspect as anything else. I get to meet folks from other units, and the wing staff.

[Stonewall]

I thought the breakout sessions for Mich Wg Conference today were too specific.  Not enough content.  I think I've gone to my last conference.

Dave

I had some instant feedback on the MIWG conference today and heard nothing but positive things.

[Slim]

I thought the breakout sessions for Mich Wg Conference today were too specific.  Not enough content.  I think I've gone to my last conference.

Dave

I had some instant feedback on the MIWG conference today and heard nothing but positive things.

And I'm sure it probably was.  But, after a while, wing conferences just get to be the same old thing year in-year out.  I would estimate that my conference count is probably about the same as my encampments (close to 30), and they all pretty much say the same thing every year:  "We did this, we did that, XXX ops hours flown, XXX o rides flown, XXX CD, XXX training/proficiency.  Now here's what we're going to work on for next year..." 

In the last twelve or so years, I'll bet I can count on one hand the number of breakout sessions I've been to.  I spend most of my time in the halls networking, catching up with friends old and new, or somehow stumping for encampment.  The year I was wing CP officer of the year, they had to send someone to get me because I was with the encampment commander finalizing cadet staff during the award ceremony.  Since I have no involvement with encampment this year, or much of anything else right at the moment, there wasn't really much sense in burning three vacation days (of the seven I get a year) to go listen to the same old speeches.  I'm hoping that changes in the future, and I can reengage into the areas I enjoy the most in CAP, but until then I'm holding off on some of the investments I make to CAP.

Knowing our wing commander the way I do, I'm sure his presentations and speeches were very informative and entertaining, but I didn't feel the need to take a weekend off work to go listen to it again.

[GroundHawg]

As a cadet, I went to Wing Conference every year. Now that I am a SM, I have not went to one yet. It could be that Kentucky hasnt had one since I rejoined in 2009 I am considering Indiana or Ohio (maybe Michigan) for next year. There is alot of the training that is required that is not being offered to us that I could get knocked out at a conference.

[ol'fido]

I am not going to the ILWG conference this year is December. We held the last one in Springfield, IL which is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive north of me in central Illinois. This years conference is in Chicago at some fancy hotel/conference center. My gas up there and back will cost more than my expenses for the whole weekend for an alternate location I suggested in Springfield that had all the facilities and billeting we needed. So unless something overwhelmingly compels me to attend, I won't be going. Silly me, I thought Springfield was in the center of the state(It is the state capitol) but apparently it is in Southern Illinois. Now I live in "Southern Illinois" and I have to drive 3 hours to get there? That ain't "southern"!!

[Walkman]

I really enjoyed MIWG Conference this year.

I just realized that I've been a presenter for a break-out session for every Wing Conference I've attended. Next year I might not do one just so I can relax a little.

[Woodsy]

I really enjoyed MIWG Conference this year.

I just realized that I've been a presenter for a break-out session for every Wing Conference I've attended. Next year I might not do one just so I can relax a little.

Most people don't realize the amount of work that goes into a wing conference for the organizers and wing staff members.  It's constant action, doing this, doing that, making sure everything runs smoothly.  We do it for the other members, not for ourselves obviously, because we really don't get to enjoy it.  My favorite part of conferences is catching up with friends I don't get to see often, but there's really not much time for that. 

[Eclipse]

I am not going to the ILWG conference this year is December. We held the last one in Springfield, IL which is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive north of me in central Illinois. This years conference is in Chicago at some fancy hotel/conference center. My gas up there and back will cost more than my expenses for the whole weekend for an alternate location I suggested in Springfield that had all the facilities and billeting we needed. So unless something overwhelmingly compels me to attend, I won't be going. Silly me, I thought Springfield was in the center of the state(It is the state capitol) but apparently it is in Southern Illinois. Now I live in "Southern Illinois" and I have to drive 3 hours to get there? That ain't "southern"!!

Springfield may well be in the geographic center of the state, but it is not where the majority of the membership lives.  The entire local Group is struggling just to maintain viability, and few members from that area (a couple of active posters here who are the exceptions not withstanding), participate in anything outside their home unit(s).

For the record, the conference is not scheduled for "Chicago" - very few members actually live there, either.  It's also not in a "fancy hotel", unless you consider "Holiday Inn" as "fancy".  It's actually in a major suburb which has a glut of conference and hotel rooms so rates can be negotiated "off book" fairly readily.  It is also easily accessible for those from National and Region who would be expected to attend, as well as those coming in from neighboring wings which have a fair number of members who participate in ILWG activities.

There's no point in having conferences and missions outside where the majority of the membership lives just to be politically correct - generally speaking the members from the local area don't attend anyway, which means that the overall costs for the activity were significantly increased with no justification.

Outside the immediate area of the state capital, there is very little in Springfield in regards to lodging, etc., and the majority of the decent places near the capital are artificially expensive because they are a small market.

We had the same issue recently with the cadet competition.  Having it in your neck of the woods simply meant that less teams competed,
and interestingly, not one team from the local area, including the unit on the base where the activity was held.

The "fix", as I always say, is more people.  The area has the resources and experienced personnel, not to mention the only significant USAF presence in the Region, to grow the membership if the will was present, not the least of which includes the #1&2 people in the wing.  For whatever reason, the #'s have been static for a decade, just like the rest of the wing.

The wing can't change where people live, nor should it be expected to drag the majority of the membership all over the state just
for appearances sake.

[ol'fido]

We could have had the conference at the IMA in Springfield. Plenty of room for lodging, conference rooms, a large auditorium , and room for a banquet. It would haveg  cost both the organization and the members a fraction of what any hotel or conference center would cost. We could probably have let the cadets stay for free. Expensive is a relative term. Many of the counties down here are at double digit unemployment. My own county is at nearly 14o/o . And just because the majority of members are in the "Chicago" area doesn't mean that the rest of the wing should always have the burden of travelling to the opposite end of the state for conferences,missions, or training. BTW, the cost per night for a private BOQ room at the IMA is 20 dollars. I don't think that the Holiday Inn could negotiate for that. Plus, conferences shouldn't be convenient for the AF , region, or NHQ folks.That's their job. Make conferences happen in a way that doesn't cost 4-5 hundred dollars for a weekend.

[Stonewall]

Cost for me at FLWG conference:

After all was said and done, including taxes and "related" fees, hotel alone cost me $250 for 2 nights.
Conference itself, plus banquet, I think was $75.
Round trip fuel: $75
Food/Drinks: $200 (including the first night where I willingly paid for a rather large tab at the bar)

Total:  $600 (would have been closer to $475 if it wasn't for the "bar situation".

I also spent about $30 at Vanguard.

Plus, I spent $175 for a new service coat prior to the conference.  I "needed" it anyway, but probably would have held off getting it.

[Eclipse]

We could have had the conference at the IMA in Springfield. Plenty of room for lodging, conference rooms, a large auditorium , and room for a banquet. It would haveg  cost both the organization and the members a fraction of what any hotel or conference center would cost. We could probably have let the cadets stay for free. Expensive is a relative term. Many of the counties down here are at double digit unemployment. My own county is at nearly 14o/o . And just because the majority of members are in the "Chicago" area doesn't mean that the rest of the wing should always have the burden of travelling to the opposite end of the state for conferences,missions, or training. BTW, the cost per night for a private BOQ room at the IMA is 20 dollars. I don't think that the Holiday Inn could negotiate for that. Plus, conferences shouldn't be convenient for the AF , region, or NHQ folks.That's their job. Make conferences happen in a way that doesn't cost 4-5 hundred dollars for a weekend.

Actually, that's exactly what that means.  You're suggesting that the majority should support the minority?  That doesn't make sense on any scale, and makes even less sense in the practical reality that the odds are the participation from those areas won't be any greater just because the activity is in their backyard.

As to unemployment and other non-CAP factors, not relevant.  Things are tough all over.

As to the AF, Region and NHQ folks, most of those people are volunteers just like the rest of us, and again, you don't drag the majority of people around to the benefit of the minority, especially when the odds of the minority even showing up are minimal.

We've been having this conversation in our wing forever - most of it is based on North / South bias and issues that are based in economic and population reality and are not related to CAP.  More then 2/3rds of the membership as a whole is in the Northern part of the state,
and if you factor in being active, probably even more then that.

The only way that is ever going to be fixed is for the areas with lower membership and participation to step up and build their numbers so they are a legitimate factor in planning. we're told "that's not possible", etc., etc., fair enough, but you can't have it both ways.

Most wing conferences are an exercise in checking boxes anyway - a few breakouts that rehash information readily available to all and months old by the time its presented, schedules that never take into account that the same people do everything so you don't run major OPS and CP classes at the same time because you cannabilze your audience and defeat your own purpose, and a rubber-chicken banquet
to hand out awards where 1/2 the people on the list didn't show.

Add-in the "We need something for cadets..." which is nearly impossible, 1/2-empty commander's calls and CAC meetings (because not everyone showed up), and a lot of smoke with little fire.

Getting people interested at all is difficult enough, let alone expecting them to drive 3-5 hours for no other reason then to
"move things around", only to find that no one in the local area could be bothered to show and the drive was a complete waste of time and money.

Some activities have no choice in venue - they require a specific facility or the options are limited, but when options are available,
you don't plan something with a location where 100 people drive for 4 hours just to avoid 10 people driving 6.

[Walkman]

Cost for me at FLWG conference:

After all was said and done, including taxes and "related" fees, hotel alone cost me $250 for 2 nights.
Conference itself, plus banquet, I think was $75.
Round trip fuel: $75
Food/Drinks: $200 (including the first night where I willingly paid for a rather large tab at the bar)

Total:  $600 (would have been closer to $475 if it wasn't for the "bar situation".

I also spent about $30 at Vanguard.

Plus, I spent $175 for a new service coat prior to the conference.  I "needed" it anyway, but probably would have held off getting it.

Whoa...

I drove an hour, put in a tank of gas and spent $49 for the conference & banquet fees. But then again, I was there and back again. No overnight stay, no meals out to socialize, etc.

[A.Member]

There is alot of the training that is required that is not being offered to us that I could get knocked out at a conference.

This is exactly what a Wing conference should not be.  We have SAREX's, etc. for that.   

A Wing conference is a place to bring the membership together to celebrate accomplishments, network with fellow members (and ideally partner agencies and vendors), share ideas, and align the membership with a vision for the future.