Historian Specialty track requirment

Dutchboy · September 18, 2008, 03:51:02 PM

FYI for any Squadron Historians out there, I found a solution to getting the required book that needs to be published by individual historian for free. YES I said Free. They charge nothing to set up the book. http://www.lulu.com/

I hope this is allowed (this post), because I think us CAP members already pay enough for other things, why do we need to publish a book to get a promotion.

Eclipse · September 18, 2008, 04:02:48 PM

Setup may be free, publishing is not.

This looks to be about the same as Kinkos, especially once you incorporate shipping.

A "Perfect" Bound book of 32 pages is $5.40 w/o shipping. 740 pages (the largest they can accomodate) is about $20.00.

Add color and the price increases 3x.

Dutchboy · September 18, 2008, 04:20:05 PM

Sorry , I guess

your not published unless you buy one book anyway.

alamrcn · September 18, 2008, 04:38:28 PM

Publishing your manuscript on-line is another idea, and you can probably do that for free.

My "authored" website, previously known as the Civil Air Patrol Patch and Insignia Collectors Homepage, was approved as a qualifying monograph for my Historian Master Rating back in 2000. Apparently it was the first "electronic publication" ever submitted for this, and surprisingly it was accepted without any question or resistance.

The HO training guide, dated 1986, has not been updated with this yet - we should get Col Blascovich on top of that!

If something more tangable is preferred, publishing on CD-ROM is very cheap and allows for the reader to print out their own copy if needed. Hopefully there will be some historical monographs coming out from the National Archives soon, and talk has been having them available in both print and CD versions from either Vanguard or preferably the National Museum website.

Eclipse · September 18, 2008, 04:46:49 PM

A monograph or study could just be .pdf'ed and sent up the channel for approval.

The content, of course, is subjective.

James Shaw · September 18, 2008, 05:41:32 PM

An updated Historian track is allready being worked on by Col. Blascovich and some other Historians. The manuscript in question does not have to be "mass produced" to be considered published. The amount you need is going to depend on the type of publication and how large your audience will be. It can be done in electronic format as well. I just received one a few months ago that is about patches, pins and the like and it is 300+ color pages.

alamrcn · September 18, 2008, 06:58:05 PM

Thanks for the update, Jim. Hopefully an updated Specialty Track will get more member's into the Historian program. Usually someone is placed in the position of Unit Historian, rather than seeking it out. And unfortunately, it's usually filled with someone that isn't very active - which is the opposite of what it needs to do a good job. I'm a pack rat, which can be very good for this type of duty!

Who's large manuscript did you just receive?

Have you seen Col Schell's new Catalog of CAP Insignia yet? The full-color patches book I got earlier this year is pretty nice - I'd recommend it as a unique coffee table book for everyone in CAP.

Did you get a copy of Charlie Weist's California Wing patches and insignia history book yet? It's FANTASTIC, one of the best uniform history manuscripts I've ever seen... in or out of CAP.

tarheel gumby · October 14, 2008, 01:55:32 AM

Thanks for the FYI. I hope that I can find some of the books that have been mentioned in the specialty track, they seem to be very hard to find. Can anybody tell me how to find these or any of the Historical Monographs that Historians are supposed to read.

James Shaw · October 14, 2008, 02:15:25 AM

Quote from: tarheel gumby on October 14, 2008, 01:55:32 AM
Thanks for the FYI. I hope that I can find some of the books that have been mentioned in the specialty track, they seem to be very hard to find. Can anybody tell me how to find these or any of the Historical Monographs that Historians are supposed to read.

You can sometimes find the books on ebay. we are also in the middle of trying to put all of the historical monographs on a pdf format so they can be shared with others. You would have to print them out yourselves.

tarheel gumby · October 17, 2008, 03:45:50 AM

Any idea when the updated specialty track will be released? That might make things a little better to follow. Historian and Professional development specialty tracks have been neglected in favor of the ES specialties.

Cecil DP · October 17, 2008, 08:18:03 AM

If you do publish, who own's the right's? Is it considered a "donation" or do you as the author retain the copywright?

SJFedor · October 17, 2008, 09:28:37 AM

Quote from: tarheel gumby on October 17, 2008, 03:45:50 AM
Any idea when the updated specialty track will be released? That might make things a little better to follow. Historian and Professional development specialty tracks have been neglected in favor of the ES specialties.

Um...considering the ES Speciality track hasn't been updated since 98. Ops/Flight Ops/Stan Eval haven't been updated since 85. It wouldn't appear they're spending much time on any of the speciality track pamphlets nowadays.

SarDragon · October 17, 2008, 09:36:33 AM

Quote from: Cecil DP on October 17, 2008, 08:18:03 AM
If you do publish, who ~~own's~~ owns the ~~right's~~ rights? Is it considered a "donation" or do you as the author retain the ~~copywright~~ copyright?

Under current law, an author owns copyright to all works, unless "for hire", or explicitly released.

James Shaw · October 17, 2008, 10:15:36 AM

Quote from: alamrcn on September 18, 2008, 04:38:28 PM

The HO training guide, dated 1986, has not been updated with this yet - we should get Col Blascovich on top of that!

If something more tangable is preferred, publishing on CD-ROM is very cheap and allows for the reader to print out their own copy if needed. Hopefully there will be some historical monographs coming out from the National Archives soon, and talk has been having them available in both print and CD versions from either Vanguard or preferably the National Museum website.

We are currently working on a revision which includes electronic publication of items. I know a historian who has made a catalog that has 300+ pages and will publish electronically. I accept electronic versions that arer sent to me for review through the SER.

tarheel gumby · October 19, 2008, 07:48:15 PM

Can anybody tell me where to send a monograph of study as far as Professoinal Development requirements go. My wing dosen't have a Wing Historian..... and I don't know who the MER Historian is.

alamrcn · October 20, 2008, 02:27:49 PM

Quote from: tarheel gumby on October 19, 2008, 07:48:15 PMMy wing dosen't have a Wing Historian.....

Time to experience the full meaning of "TDY" heh!

NCWG probably has one "on the books" but unfortunately like many HOs, it's a possition filled by someone who is not very active... as some don't see it for as important of a possition as it truely is.

I've found that Wing Public Affairs Officers are usually interested in helping Historians in a crunch, so that might be a good route. However, I think you might be referring to the manuscript for your Master specialty track requirement, which would go through your Professional Developement folks.

This does point out the need for a HO "org chart" of sorts on the National website, showing Wing, Region, and National levels. A great idea for all duty possitions!