Public Affairs - Creative End Of Encampment Ideas?

[exFlight Officer]

Evening.
I am interested in creating an encampment memory book for the basics and staff. The problem is that encampment is right around the bend and ill have to provide the materials. So, this is sadly not an option.
Another idea is to create an encampment slideshow ten to fifteen minutes in length and burn it onto CDs to distribute. The problem here is buying the cd's and burning them one by one. I have researched companies who could turn out a mass quantity but the price is also a factor.
My question to everyone: What have you all seen given to cadets/seniors as a momento?  Any ideas?

Thanks.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

WIWAC, before CDs were that easy to burn, and cheap, you got a picture of your flight in front of a tank, and your encampment ribbon.

It would be cool to see something nice for memory.

[caphornbuckle]

You could put the slideshow on your wing's website and allow them to download it themselves.

[Struts]

You could put the slideshow on your wing's website and allow them to download it themselves.

Quick and easy.

[Pylon]

I don't quite understand what you mean by "you'd have to provide the materials" so therefore a memory book is out of the question?  In NYWG, the Cadet PAO's take and organize candid photos from throughout the encampment, plus they shoot "formal" shots of each flight, and headshots of all the cadet and senior staff.   They also put together a memory book which gets sent to a local Kinkos-type place (which actually specialises in legal copy) that turns around a proof same day, and the 300+ required copies (professionally bound) in less than 24 hours from proof approval.  And the price isn't prohibitive, it's just worked into the encampment budget.

Is that not an option at your encampment?

[exFlight Officer]

WIWAC, before CDs were that easy to burn, and cheap, you got a picture of your flight in front of a tank, and your encampment ribbon.

It would be cool to see something nice for memory.

This would work. Just have to purchase the paper and ink for it.

You could put the slideshow on your wing's website and allow them to download it themselves.

Brilliant. This just might work

I don't quite understand what you mean by "you'd have to provide the materials" so therefore a memory book is out of the question?  In NYWG, the Cadet PAO's take and organize candid photos from throughout the encampment, plus they shoot "formal" shots of each flight, and headshots of all the cadet and senior staff.   They also put together a memory book which gets sent to a local Kinkos-type place (which actually specialises in legal copy) that turns around a proof same day, and the 300+ required copies (professionally bound) in less than 24 hours from proof approval.  And the price isn't prohibitive, it's just worked into the encampment budget.

Is that not an option at your encampment?

Pylon, I was informed that if an encampment book is to be made that I would have to purchase all materials (ink cartidges, photo paper, industrial grade staples, etc). This is how the booklet was made at the previous encampments held by my wing. The total would be over $1000n no way I could pitch out that sort of money.   

[Spaceman3750]

You might be able to solicit the local copy shops for a donation (or at least doing it at-cost).

[Pylon]

Yeah, sorry to hear that, but I personally don't think it's appropriate for commands or activities to tell members "Sure you can do that project, but you're footing the bill out of your pocket for it."

But it would be way cheaper to have copies professionally made and simply bound (saddle stitch staple or tape) at a local Kinkos-type store than it would be to print it out yourself.  Ink jet isn't worth it no matter who is footing the bill from the standpoints of cost, time, and durability of the printed product.

You might be able to solicit the local copy shops for a donation (or at least doing it at-cost).

Great idea!  Call the local copy shops and ask if they'd be willing to provide a discount or donation of their services and materials for an advertisement in the back of the book and an in-kind donation receipt from the wing?


Also uploading the high-res photos to a photo sharing service like Flickr would allow people to view the still photos, download high-res versions, order prints, etc.  It would be a good alternative or compliment to a slideshow.

[argentip]

I don't have enough knowledge of the INWG Encampment yet to comment on what they do, but many of the items suggested previously have been done for years at the MIWG Encampment.

Every cadet leaves MIWG Encampment with a Flight Photograph.  Sometimes these are done with a professional backdrop and sometimes they are done on the flightline with CAP aircraft as the backdrop.  The photographs are printed by the local Walmart and paid for through a donation that the local Walmart makes to Encampment.

The PA staff also creates a slide show video each year that includes photographs and video clips highlighting various aspects of the week.  This video is then uploaded to YouTube and the photos are also shared on the Encampment website through an online photo-sharing site.

Members can then view and/or download the photos and video at their convenience.