R 221950Z DEC 08
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 725/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PA//
SUBJ/FY09 WEST COAST COMMANDERS MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM//
POC/ETHAN E. ROCKE/SSGT/UNIT:LOS ANGELES /NAME:PUBLIC AFFAIRS /
TEL:310-235-7272/EMAIL:ETHAN.E.ROCKE@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  LOS ANGELES PUBLIC AFFAIRS WILL HOST THE 2009 MARINE CORPS WEST COAST COMMANDERS MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM AT THE CROWNE PLAZA REDONDO BEACH AND MARINA HOTEL, 300 NORTH HARBOR DRIVE, REDONDO BEACH, CA 90277 FROM 16-20 MARCH 2009.
2.  THE 2009 WEST COAST COMMANDERS MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MEDIA INTERVIEW TRAINING TO COMMANDERS AND OTHERS WITH DUTIES THAT DEMAND EXPERT COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS.  BRIEFINGS, PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND EXERCISES, AND GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS ARE SCHEDULED. 
3.  COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING THEIR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS.  QUOTA ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE USED AS GUIDELINES ONLY; MORE MAY BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.  ASSIGNMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: MARFORPAC: 2; MARFORRES: 19; MCRC: 8; I MEF: 8; II MEF: 3; III MEF: 3; MCB CPEN: 3; MCB KANEOHE BAY: 2; MCAS MIRAMAR: 2; MCAS YUMA: 1; MAGTFTC: 4; MCLB BARSTOW: 1; MCRD/WRR: 10; QUANTICO: 2. PARTICIPATION IS UNIT FUNDED WITH GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS USED FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL. RESERVE PERSONNEL SHOULD SUBMIT REQUEST FOR ORDERS THROUGH THEIR APPROPRIATE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND OBTAIN QUOTAS FROM MARFORRES PAO, NEW ORLEANS. NO DISBURSING OR TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE AT THE SITE. SHUTTLE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FROM LAX AIRPORT FOR $13 ONE WAY.  TAXI RATE FROM LAX AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL IS APPROXIMATELY $24. A PORTION OF THE COURSE WILL REQUIRE INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION; THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ATTENDEES FROM THE SAME COMMAND/GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION COORDINATE RENTAL CAR OR POV TRANSPORTATION.  HOTEL PARKING IS $10 SELF, $15 VALET PER DAY.
4.  THE UNIFORM IS SERVICE "C" FOR THE SYMPOSIUM.  BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE IS RECOMMENDED FOR NO-HOST RECEPTION, MEDIA "RIDE-ALONG" EVENT AND FINAL DAY OF TRAINING.
5.  CHECK IN WITH THE LA PAO DUTY OFFICER LOCATED IN THE LOBBY OF THE CROWNE PLAZA NLT 1800 MONDAY, 16 MARCH.  A MANDATORY NO-HOST RECEPTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CROWNE PLAZA LOUNGE STARTING AT 1800.
6.  NLT 26 FEBRUARY, REQ CMDS/ACTIVITIES SUBMIT NAME, GRADE, TITLE, CURRENT MILITARY UNIT AND ADDRESS, E-MAIL ADDRESS WITH ALTERNATE, WORK PHONE, CELL PHONE, FAX NUMBER, PRESENT DUTY ASSIGNMENT, HOTEL CONFIRMATION NUMBER, ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE DATES, CAR RENTAL (Y/N) TO SSGT ETHAN ROCKE AT ETHAN.E.ROCKE@USMC.MIL OR VIA PHONE AT 310-235-7272, OR TO CAPT BARRY EDWARDS AT BARRY.EDWARDS@USMC.MIL.
7.  BILLETING ARRANGEMENTS ARE THE PARTICIPANTS RESPONSIBILITY.  A BLOCK OF  ROOMS FOR THE 2009 WEST COAST COMMANDERS MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM HAS BEEN RESERVED AT THE CROWNE PLAZA REDONDO BEACH AND MARINA HOTEL. COST IS $153.00 PER NIGHT, THE SUM OF THE CURRENT PER DIEM RATE PLUS LODGING CONFERENCE ALLOWANCE. LODGING CONFERENCE ALLOWANCE MUST BE APPROVED THROUGH ATTENDEE'S TRAVEL MANAGERS. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN 6 MARCH.  PHONE 310-318-8888 OR 877-2-CROWNE (877-227-6963) OR 800-972-2576, HTTP://WWW.CPREDONDOBEACHHOTEL.COM.  REFERENCE GROUP BOOKING CODE MCC OR 2008 MARINE CORPS COMMANDERS MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM. CANCELLATIONS ARE THE ATTENDEES RESPONSIBILITY AND FAILURE TO CANCEL MAY RESULT IN ROOM CHARGES.
8.  TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL QUOTAS CALL LA PAO AT 310-235-7272. INFORM LA PAO ASAP IF QUOTAS WILL NOT BE FILLED.
9.  SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZERS WILL POST AMPLIFYING INFORMATION AND COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS AT HTTP://192.156.19.109/LAPA/SYMPOSIUM.HTM AND CONTACT ATTENDEES IN ADVANCE NLT 3 MARCH.//