R 221135Z MAR 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 180/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PA //
SUBJ/2011 USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS LEADERS CONFERENCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE//
POC/ESKALIS, AL/CAPT/UNIT:HQMC, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/NAME:DIV PA/TEL:(703) 614-1494/TEL:224-1494/ EMAIL:ALBERT.ESKALIS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS WILL HOST THE MARINE CORPS PUBLIC AFFAIRS LEADERS CONFERENCE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE AT THE WESTIN NEW ORLEANS CANAL PLACE IN NEW ORLEANS, LA, FROM 13 - 16 SEPT 2011. THE CONFERENCE RUNS CONCURRENTLY WITH THE U.S. MARINE CORPS COMBAT CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION (USMCCCA) CONFERENCE. THE USMCCCA CONFERENCE AGENDA AND OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE SENT VIA SEPCOR; POC FOR THE USMCCCA CONFERENCE IS MR. JACK PAXTON AT USMCCCA@CFL.RR.COM OR (352) 748-4698.
2.  THE USMC PA LEADERS CONFERENCE AGENDA WILL FEATURE INFLUENTIAL SPEAKERS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IN A SERIES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND BRIEFINGS FOCUSING ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGIES, BEST PRACTICES, AND APPLICATION. SESSIONS WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH METHODS, COMMUNICATION PLANNING, SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE CORPS' PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT. 
3.  ALL PA DIRECTORS AND PA CHIEFS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE USMC PA LEADERS CONFERENCE. THE NEXT SENIOR PA REP SHOULD ATTEND IF THE DIRECTOR OR PA CHIEF IS UNABLE. PARTICIPATION IS UNIT FUNDED WITH GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS USED FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL.
4. THE USMC PA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE ADVANCED MOS TRAINING IN SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNIQUES, ADVANCED CAMERA, VIDEO AND WRITING SKILLS.
5.  ALL COMBAT CORRESPONDENTS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE USMC PA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE. PARTICIPATION IS UNIT FUNDED WITH GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS USED FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL.
6.  THE USMCCCA AWARDS DINNER AND CEREMONY, THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, IS AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE CONFERENCE.  ALL PA LEADERS AND USMCCCA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
7.  APPROPRIATE CONFERENCE ATTIRE IS BUSINESS CASUAL. APPROPRIATE UNIFORM FOR THE AWARDS DINNER IS MESS DRESS, EVENING DRESS OR DRESS WHITE ALPHAS FOR SNCOS AND OFFICERS, DRESS BLUE ALPHAS FOR SERGEANT AND BELOW.
8.  RECOMMEND PARTICIPANTS ARRIVE NLT THE AFTERNOON OF 12 SEPTEMBER. THE PA LEADERS CONFERENCE AND PA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE WILL COMMENCE PROMPTLY AT 0730, 13 SEPTEMBER AND END AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROFESSIONAL BREAKFAST ON 16 SEPTEMBER. THE USMCCCA CONFERENCE CONCLUDES FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER, AFTER THE USMCCCA BUSINESS MEETING. USMCCCA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES SHOULD PLAN TO DEPART NO EARLIER THAN 1700, 16 SEPTEMBER. 
9.  NLT 15 AUG, REQ CMDS/ACTIVITIES SUBMIT NAME, GRADE, AND BILLET OF ATTENDEES ON THE PANET UNDER LISTS AT HTTP:SLASH SLASH EHQMC.USMC.MIL/ORG/PA/LISTS/201120PA20CONFERENCE20REGISTRATION/ALLITE MS.ASPX. SELECT "NEW" TO OPEN A BLANK FORM.
10. BILLETING ARRANGEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS. A BLOCK OF ROOMS FOR THE USMC PA LEADERS CONFERENCE/PA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE HAS BEEN RESERVED AT THE WESTIN HOTEL. THE COST IS 98.00 DOLLARS PER NIGHT PLUS APPLICABLE ROOM TAX. MAKE RESERVATIONS NO LATER THAN 31 JULY ONLINE AT HTTP:SLASH SLASH WWW.STARWOODMEETINGCOM/STARGROUPSWEB/BOOKING/ RESERVATION?ID1101197775KEYDBECF OR BY PHONE. CALL (888) 627-8180 AND USE THE CODE "UMI11A". ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN CANCELLATIONS.
11. PARTICIPANTS MAY TRAVEL TO THE HOTEL VIA SHUTTLE. THE CLOSEST AIRPORT IS THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
12. MARINES MUST REGISTER WITH USMCCCA AND PAY CONFERENCE FEES PRIOR TO JUNE 30. JACK PAXTON IS THE POC FOR ALL USMCCCA INFORMATION. AFTER JUNE 30 REGISTRATION FEE WILL BE 115 DOLLARS.  MEMBERS SHOULD CONTACT JACK PAXTON OR GO ONLINE AT WWW.USMCCCA.ORG FOR CURRENT RATES. ACTIVATED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARDS MAY BE USED TO PAY THE FEE. PA SHOPS MAY AUTHORIZE GOVERNMENT PURCHASE CARD HOLDERS TO PAY THE CONFERENCE FEES FOR THEIR TRAVELERS.
13. A DETAILED CONFERENCE AGENDA WITH AMPLIFYING INFORMATION AND COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT VIA SEPCOR AND POSTED TO THE USMC PA INTRANET.
14. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY COL B. F. SALAS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQMC.//