CAP Talk

Cadet Programs => Encampments & NCSAs => Topic started by: exFlight Officer on January 25, 2011, 04:15:20 AM

Title: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: exFlight Officer on January 25, 2011, 04:15:20 AM
Hello All,

I am asking for ideas or suggestions of what an Encampment PAO can do while at encampment.

If you have attended encampment, what did the PAO do during your encampment ? Did he/she create a newsletter or make a presentation at the end of encampment to the parents ?

I am turning to the CAPTalk community once again so that I can learn from the experiences of other members.


Thanks for your time!
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: Slim on January 25, 2011, 04:32:39 AM
Our encampment PAO section is set up like this:

Director/section leader:  senior member, serves as the "editor" of the newsletter, coordinates press releases, escorts the media on base, etc.

Anywhere from 1-5 photographers/story editors:  both seniors and cadets.  One has typically been a professional photographer who does all of the flight and staff "official" photos.  Others circulate around the different activities and schools going on, take pictures (I want to say they took somewhere around 7,000 pictures last year), write articles, and assist the director with layout.

They turn out a one page (front and back) newsletter every day of the encampment from day 1 to day 7.  At the end of the week, they put together a photo slide show that is anywhere from 10-12 minutes long that we play during graduation.
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: tsrup on January 25, 2011, 05:18:16 AM
In the past our intrepid PAO's have:
  -Contacted local news sources and arranged interviews, camera crews, etc.
  -created and circulated an encampment wide news letter
  -kept a "live feed" if you will, on facebook to let parents (who joined the group or liked the page) know what their cadets were up to.  Some parent's comments were then   
   added to the newsletter as sort of a "message from home" kind of thing for the cadets.  Photos were also updated here.   
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: Shotgun on January 25, 2011, 05:06:24 PM
I served as PAO for my Wing's encampment last summer and it was a great experience.

Here some of the things my staff and I did:

- Published a daily 1 page newsletter for the Cadets - included weather forecast for next day, safety tip, staff member profile, an article on a certain aspect of encampment tradition (challenge coin, guidon wars, dining out, etc, and quote of the day.)

- Posted all the pictures from that day's activities to the Encampment website (Parents REALLY appreciate that.)

- Made a highlight video shown as part of graduation ceremony

- Contacted local newspapers and TV stations (Unfortunately they weren't really interested. Something about an Oil Spill taking up most of their time and resources)

- Coordinated visits from VIPs (Region Commander, Squadron Commanders) - Greeted them, gave them a tours, set up meetings and briefings with Encampment Commander and selected cadets.


The Senior Member Officer is supposed to act as a mentor to the cadet PAO staff. It is important that the cadet staff do a majority of the work. Let them write the articles for the newsletter and take the pictures. Have them develop the video. etc.
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: exFlight Officer on January 25, 2011, 08:19:20 PM
I very much appreciate the responses so far! I have gotten great ideas!

I am interested in the outlines of the encampment newsletters. If anyone is willing, please send me the outlines via email.

Thanks! 
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: ol'fido on January 25, 2011, 10:43:39 PM
Contact BlueLakes 13, Maj. James Kalemis at GLRHQ, the Chief of Staff, Directorate of Cadet Programs. He is probably the best I've ever seen. He will be the PAO at ILWG SE this year again.
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: nesagsar on January 26, 2011, 03:32:34 AM
I knew Kalemis when I was a cadet 5 years ago, totally agree that he is a great person to talk to.
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: elipod on March 14, 2011, 07:22:20 PM
Here is an idea for you.
Our encampment PAO's in PAWG put together a short video for each day of ENC. It was pretty cool. Check the videos out...

Day 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHxkhn8ESPo

Day 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGR2FO01txI

Day 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RomFiu3fnHo&feature=related

Day 4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TprS3j1CAMk&feature=related

Day 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlefhBnVzqQ

Day 6.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwG6RbfgQYU

Day 7.

http://www.youtube.com/user/PAWGENC#p/u/2/nTUhaqmIg2Q


Might give you some ideas. I think that year was the best as far as PAO work.

C/Maj. Bendele


Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: ProdigalJim on March 14, 2011, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: elipod on March 14, 2011, 07:22:20 PM
Here is an idea for you.
Our encampment PAO's in PAWG put together a short video for each day of ENC. It was pretty cool. Check the videos out...
C/Maj. Bendele

So the opening and closing animations...did someone make those or were they bundled in with your editing package?
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: Bluelakes 13 on March 14, 2011, 08:56:25 PM
Quote from: Flight Officer on January 25, 2011, 04:15:20 AM
Hello All,
I am asking for ideas or suggestions of what an Encampment PAO can do while at encampment.
If you have attended encampment, what did the PAO do during your encampment ? Did he/she create a newsletter or make a presentation at the end of encampment to the parents ?
I am turning to the CAPTalk community once again so that I can learn from the experiences of other members.
Thanks for your time!

Is this J. Hall?  (I hate posting anonymously!)
If so, then this is redundant to what I sent you.
If not, then this is what I do as PAO of ILWG Summer Encampment.  And PAO of National Cadet Competition.

Daily Blog for parents to see:
http://ilcapnews.blogs.com/ilwgse2010/
http://ilcapnews.blogs.com/ilwgse2009/
http://ilcapnews.blogs.com/ilwgse/

Photos posted on a website, not Facebook since many parents do not have FB access:
http://kalemis.com/cap/summer100/index.htm
http://kalemis.com/cap/summer091/index.htm
http://kalemis.com/cap/summer081/index.htm

Videos on Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jkalemis1#p/a/f/0/D7g4BfDzQw0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NLMcvQz03c&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

And a daily newsletter posted during the encampment (usually the same as the blog).

Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: exFlight Officer on March 14, 2011, 09:13:57 PM
To All, Thank You! I appreciate the help!

I have made contact with Bluelakes 13. I agree, he is a great person to speak to!

Blueslakes 13; Yes, I am J. Hall, the PAO at the 2011 GAWG Encampment.

Thanks to All,

J. Hall
Public Affairs Officer
2011 Georgia Wing Encampment.
Title: Re: Ideas for a PAO at a Wing Encampment ?
Post by: elipod on March 17, 2011, 01:23:33 PM
Quote from: ProdigalJim on March 14, 2011, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: elipod on March 14, 2011, 07:22:20 PM
Here is an idea for you.
Our encampment PAO's in PAWG put together a short video for each day of ENC. It was pretty cool. Check the videos out...
C/Maj. Bendele

So the opening and closing animations...did someone make those or were they bundled in with your editing package?

Sorry it took me awhile to respond. I have very little idea how they were made. My guess is that it was probably a template that came with the program. It sure is sweet though :P