Did anyone see any information about a streaming video of today's national board meeting in Washington
^ What he said...
Looks like it isn't going to happen. Maybe for the summer board meeting...? ::)
No stream, let the conspiracies begin.. what are they hiding now?!!? ;)
Quote from: a2capt on March 02, 2012, 05:42:55 PM
No stream, let the conspiracies begin.. what are they hiding now?!!? ;)
obviously this
(http://www.nycsinglemom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/57011307642429-fd-ms-ad-0070r.jpg)
[darn] it! ExtremeP! You owe me a new key board!
Quote from: lordmonar on March 02, 2012, 05:51:51 PM
[darn] it! ExtremeP! You owe me a new key board!
I have like 50... >:D
Sorry to be late to the party, but I went next door to check and they are not streaming the meeting to save costs. I'm not an expert, but it sounds like the hotel was going to charge several grand for bandwidth and we saved another couple of thousand by not transporting the personnel and equipment.
The summer boards will be streamed.
Ned Lee
Could save more by ditching the multi year contracts at the swanky digs and use a meeting hall at a base. They have 50 SDs at their disposal, surely some of them could come up with space and billeting. ;)
a2capt - have you been to the DC metro area? What you are talking about would be a logistical nightmare if it were even possible.
While there are lots and lots of DoD facilities around here, one of the key components to the winter board meeting is legislative day. Legislative day involves several hundred members, which means that Metro is the only feasable method of transportation. Of some major facilities around here:
Andrews does not have easy metro access
Bolling does not have easy metro access
The Pentagon does have easy metro access...do you really think they are going to host the CAP national board for several days?
On top of that, quarters are at a premium. The large number of DoD facilities & offices around here have no lodging to begin with. Ones that do still seem to have a large number of personnel living off-base.
So that basically leaves...a hotel as the best option for where to have the meetings. I don't know if this particular hotel is necessarily the most cost effective one to have the meetings at, but it does have a lot going for it.
I say good riddence to the web stream anyways...it seems like it failed more than it worked, so why waste the money on it. If members really want to know what is going on, the meetings are (for the most part) open to the public, field reports could always be posted online, people could ask their board member, or even wait for the meeting minutes to be published.
I'm thinking of going down there tomorrow, especially if Vanguard is there to sell stuff.
Quote from: Ned on March 02, 2012, 06:40:38 PM
Sorry to be late to the party, but I went next door to check and they are not streaming the meeting to save costs. I'm not an expert, but it sounds like the hotel was going to charge several grand for bandwidth and we saved another couple of thousand by not transporting the personnel and equipment.
The summer boards will be streamed.
Ned Lee
A decent camera and a Youtube account could solve the issue permanently.
I find it highly suspicious that the new CAP/CC's first board meeting is not webcast.
At the very least, the proceedings could be taped and posted on YouTube after the fact.
Quote from: a2capt on March 02, 2012, 07:04:54 PM
Could save more by ditching the multi year contracts at the swanky digs and use a meeting hall at a base. They have 50 SDs at their disposal, surely some of them could come up with space and billeting. ;)
How many bases have meeting halls that can support something like the National Boards (let's just talk summer for now)? We'd need a large hall just for the board meeting, plus seating for spectators. We'd need various other rooms for the other seminars going on during that time, I'd wager 10-20. Then there is the logistical support for things as small as water for the participants. Then there is the banquet, going to need someone to provide the food and service for that. Members these days expect the meeting itself to be streamed (as evidenced by this very thread), so you need the backbone for that. Now, with all this in mind, how many bases can provide this for their own conferences, let alone an org like CAP?
Billeting is another issue, CAP only gets Priority 2 Space-A privs (AFI 34-246 Table 2.1 Rule 34), most bases I've dealt with won't even talk to you unless it is about 3-7 days out when it comes to reserving a single room, let alone the nightmare they'd have to deal with when reserving a block of rooms, especially when I higher priority group comes in.
I belong to an organization that has a similar, but larger annual conference (2000+). My local group is currently doing a proposal for the 2016 event. Yes, we have to plan them four years out. You can't usually plan out an event at a military base even 60 days ahead, these days. The CAWG encampment has had several relocations, postponements, or cancellations because of availability issues.
While not applicable to National Events, most colleges have rooms and class space available during summers and seasonal breaks which could easily handle a Wing or Region Conference at a minimal cost.
The CAP national board is not a big meeting. Probably any town over 50K has multiple hotels with conference centers large enough for it.
Quote from: Eclipse on March 02, 2012, 10:46:06 PM
Quote from: Ned on March 02, 2012, 06:40:38 PM
Sorry to be late to the party, but I went next door to check and they are not streaming the meeting to save costs. I'm not an expert, but it sounds like the hotel was going to charge several grand for bandwidth and we saved another couple of thousand by not transporting the personnel and equipment.
The summer boards will be streamed.
Ned Lee
A decent camera and a Youtube account could solve the issue permanently.
It is being videod. I will ask to have it made available.
Will Youtube allow Multi hour videos or do we need to break it up?
Nothing very exciting today in any event. We did have a closed session this afternoon where Col Gloyd briefed about the huge challenges CAP USAF is facing with their drawdown. He had no problem with any of the NB publicly repeating some or all of the discussion. I would, but I was with the NCAC and missed most of the briefing.
But I'm sitting here with Gen Vasquez and he supports making the the video generally aválable.
501(c)(3)'s shouldn't have any problem getting past the 15 minute limit. But in any case, for mortals, here's how to get the limit lifted off your account:
https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1628029
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 12:48:00 AMWill Youtube allow Multi hour videos or do we need to break it up?
You should be able to with a verified account. Otherwise something like Google Video or similar could host the file as well.
This might be a good time to explore a Youtube brand channel.
Is ustream a viable option for live streaming? I've viewed a couple of live shows, but the audience was usually no more than a thousand viewers or so.
UStream = $$$.
It is a shame that we are forced to save money in this way, but it is what it is. I am not reading into this any sort of conspiracy. ( I know, shocking right?)
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 12:48:00 AM
We did have a closed session this afternoon where Col Gloyd briefed about the huge challenges CAP USAF is facing with their drawdown. He had no problem with any of the NB publicly repeating some or all of the discussion.
Again, not saying anything conspiracy wise....but why even waste everyone's time going into "closed session" when it can be talked about and repeated? Kind of defeats the purpose of closed door things, and fuels the already smoldering fires of conspiracy nuts....
The folks in a closed door session are on their honor not to repeat or discuss the goings on outside the meeting.
Quote from: SarDragon on March 03, 2012, 03:31:58 AM
The folks in a closed door session are on their honor not to repeat or discuss the goings on outside the meeting.
And a closed door session might not be to protect the briefing itself, but to allow the recipients to provide candid feedback about the contents thereof.
Well, first, why would you go into a closed session? I'm sure the rules governing CAP's national board are different than the open-meeting laws that government bodies are supposed to abide by.
Not to be a barracks lawyer, but I'd assume that any discussion of a drawdown would include a discussion of manpower. Personnel issues generally demand a closed-door session. I'm sure someone else on this forum can speak to the CAP closed-session rules with more authority than I can.
Because the stuff they discuss in closed sessions are stuff like pending lawsuits, personel matters and other stuff that needs to be kept private for one reason or another.
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 12:48:00 AM
[We did have a closed session this afternoon where Col Gloyd briefed about the huge challenges CAP USAF is facing with their drawdown.
That does seem like a strange thing to save for the closed session.
Well, the portion I did hear involved some inevitable changes that will have to be made. They have identified what they believe to be the essential functions of the SDs and now need to figure out what we can transfer to the remaining folks at CAP USAF, what can be handled by volunteers, and what we can no longer do.
And it did involve discussions of processes that will lead to specific people that we all respect and care for losing their jobs. It is impoftant to note that no names of specific. SD slots have been identified for reduction, but it is obviously an extremely sensitive personnel issue best taken up initially in closed session.
But the CAP USAF commander leans strongly towards openness and candor, so after the briefing and questions were concluded he indicated that NB members could discuss the issue with their folks.
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 05:41:33 AM
It is important to note that no names of specific. SD slots have been identified for reduction,
Really? That was not brought up? I know my SD is gone, as is his counterpart in Kentucky, Wisconsin and Michigan. That was announced publicly to the wing about a month back.
Quote from: davidsinn on March 03, 2012, 03:04:02 PM
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 05:41:33 AM
It is important to note that no names of specific. SD slots have been identified for reduction,
Really? That was not brought up? I know my SD is gone, as is his counterpart in Kentucky, Wisconsin and Michigan. That was announced publicly to the wing about a month back.
Those were slots.....now comes the tricky issue of bodies.
SD X in State X may not want to retire yet....so the GS rules over seniority and such kick in. So wile Slot X in State X is gone....the GS employee in slot X may move to Slot Y in State Y and that employee may find themselves out of a job.
Not saying this is going to happen.....but it may happen. Hence the reason why they are being careful not to talk about names.
Quote from: lordmonar on March 03, 2012, 03:09:21 PM
Quote from: davidsinn on March 03, 2012, 03:04:02 PM
Quote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 05:41:33 AM
It is important to note that no names of specific. SD slots have been identified for reduction,
Really? That was not brought up? I know my SD is gone, as is his counterpart in Kentucky, Wisconsin and Michigan. That was announced publicly to the wing about a month back.
Those were slots.....now comes the tricky issue of bodies.
SD X in State X may not want to retire yet....so the GS rules over seniority and such kick in. So wile Slot X in State X is gone....the GS employee in slot X may move to Slot Y in State Y and that employee may find themselves out of a job.
Not saying this is going to happen.....but it may happen. Hence the reason why they are being careful not to talk about names.
My SD is gone I do know that.
Comments in bold black belowQuote from: Ned on March 03, 2012, 05:41:33 AM
Well, the portion I did hear involved some inevitable changes that will have to be made. They have identified what they believe to be the essential functions of the SDs and now need to figure out what we can transfer to the remaining folks at CAP USAF, what can be handled by volunteers, and what we can no longer do.
For a volunteer in a volunteer organization there's a lot of administrative mumbo jumbo that the volunteer has to jump through that cost the volunteers their hard earned money -- that's an issue also. To a certain extent there's a degree of distrust exhibited against the volunteers. Each mission reimbursement (primarily I believe for aircraft fuel) claim having to be reviewed by the state director ??? :( So how does The State Director making a personal annual visit to your unit with basically a checklist help your unit ??? :-\ Now's the time to look at streamlining EVERYTHING in this organization (which I would also assume will result in additional staff reductions at National HQ and even more utilization of computers and other telecommunications to reduce travel/support costs).
And it did involve discussions of processes that will lead to specific people that we all respect and care for losing their jobs. It is impoftant to note that no names of specific. SD slots have been identified for reduction, but it is obviously an extremely sensitive personnel issue best taken up initially in closed session.
I believe the people affected at the SD level have already been notified. Of course the issue in any RIF is within their commute area, other federal and military agencies are also cutting personnel (example Hanscom AFB cut 357 civilian positions). I would think that many will jump ship (and one couldn't blame them for doing this) if they get another federal job offer even before the end date of September 2012.
But the CAP USAF commander leans strongly towards openness and candor, so after the briefing and questions were concluded he indicated that NB members could discuss the issue with their folks.
Well it's no secret that the DOD/ AF are going to have to make some very significant mandatory by law cuts and which at least right now also has a proposal to increase significantly the costs of medical care cost share for all the dedicated active duty family members & retirees and their family members, who have served (continue to serve) their country faithfully, with distinction, and very significant personal sacrifice. >:( :( Somehow I personally can't get too excited about CAP getting cut. HOWEVER, hopefully this won't increase the personal costs for volunteers giving their time & talent to the organization, since volunteers will also re evaluate what they can reasonable spend on their efforts :( :-\
RM
The reality is that many of the previous duties of state directors have changed over the years. CAP is better about manging CAP finances and federaly funded property. Improvements in WIMRS have made CAP-USAF and 1stAF oversight of CAP missions real time instead of a monthly report from a state director. The CAP-USAF budget for oversight was greater than the CAP budget for mission execution- so somthing had to give. Unfortunately there were many additional duties and contacts with state officials that will have to be picked up by voluteer staff in the future. Those personal contacts by a Air Force state director with a base commander on behalf of a wing will be lost as the positions move to a regional focus.
I can see CAP stepping into new AF support roles, if we play our cards right, as the drawdown ensues. This could be making the best of a bad situation.