NYC Public Affairs wraps it up for 2009
Welcome to final edition of the NYC Public Affairs monthly report for 2009. The material in this report provides information to Marines and friends of Marines in New York to help tell the Marine Corps story and create opportunities. As always, we look forward to your input as well. We look forward to a productive 2010 and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
OVERVIEW:
November and December proved to be busy months consumed with a great deal of community relations and special events. Our office continues to aim and reach out to every unit or association with Marine Corps interests to increase communication and create needed synergy to communicate in New York City and beyond. We are developing a strategic campaign launching in January, which will continue to identify and round up opportunities and develop meaningful venues to share the most up-to-date information about our Corps across a wide spectrum. The program will educate varied and targeted publics on the many facets of the Marine Corps. The organization of the campaign is simply broken down into three “Lines of Operation,” covering a lot of ground, which include: People, Operations and Equipment.
The “People Line” will focus on inviting Marines (active and former) to speak on the culture, ethos and history of our Corps at various venues in New York City and the greater northeast. This “line” may prove to be the biggest area of operations in regards to strategic communication in that we wish to utilize active duty, reserves, recruiting, Marine Corps and Navy League members and other groups. The intent is to coordinate communication from the CMC, on down, among all of our speakers to advance important concepts to uninformed publics and, of course, to maintain our support of informed circles as well. As we know, the individual Marine is the most important part of the success of the Marine Corps. The target audiences include: schools, universities, industry, opinion makers and influencers. A few examples of venues include: symposiums, panels, leadership training sessions, guest speaker appearances, media interaction and outreach events like visits to The National Museum of The Marine Corps.
The “Operations Line” will seek to gather active duty and reserve Marines to participate in panels, speaking engagements, symposiums, and media opportunities to explain our missions of today and tomorrow. As we all know, the public continually needs updated information from the “horses mouth” about current operations to maintain robust public support, but they also need information about where we are going. It is imperative that we communicate what we are doing for America. We can also relay what support we need from them and our government to continue to ensure that “the Marine Corps is ready when the nation is least ready.”
Finally, our “Equipment Line” will seek out opportunities to invite and host senior Marines and “end user level” experts to talk about our current equipment and how it is employed. We can also talk about the CMC’s vision on what else is needed for the future. These opportunities will be focused on influencers and opinion makers and what tools we need to be successful in the future.
PAST OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS:
A. Redesigned website – Thanks to a personal visit from Mrs. Lisa Gleason from HQMC, Sgt Clinton updated and created a more user friendly site: http://www.marines.mil/unit/divpa/nycpa/Pages/NYCPAwelcome.aspx# Our “face book” site www.facebook.com/nycmarines still continues using social networking. As we move through 2010, we will continue to find new and better ways to leverage the internet to share our information.
B. Toys For Tots – Special thanks to Marines from 6th Communications Battalion, 2/25, 1st MCD for their fine work with Toys for Tots this year. SSgt Kelcinski and SSgt Lebron the area coordinators from 6th Comm Bn., deserve some leave after their demanding month. There were literally hundreds of events involving many organizations in NYC including the FDNY and NYPD. From a Telemundo project with Spanish speaking Marines from 6th communications Battalion, Trade Union and grammar school donation projects to appearances with Toys for Tots CEO LtGen H.P. Osman (ret.) participating in local and national morning show appearances, local COMREL visits, a Disney on Ice appearance and the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on 25 Nov, the toy drive appears to have been very successful this year, especially with the rough economy. www.toysfortots.org
C. New Veterans Group – The Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Veterans Association hosted LtGen H.P. Osman (ret.) as the key-note speaker at the Inauguration of this new organization. http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/.
D. Tree Lighting – The NBC Rockefeller Center Tree lighting http://www.nbc.com/movies-specials-more/Zales/ featured returning Marines from 6th Communication Battalion.
E. The USO Van Cleave Awards – LCpl. Matthew Bradford was awarded “The Marine of The Year” award at the USO Gala in December. Bradford was injured on Jan. 18, 2007 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province. His injuries resulted in the amputation of both legs and injuries to his face and eyes which left him legally blind. The award is presented to one member of each service for selfless commitment to country which inspires others and uplifts the spirits of their comrades, their families, and the American people. Thanks to Capt. Reyes at the WWR for her assistance in submitting this inspiring Marine for the award and additional thanks to Tina Atherall from “Hope For The Warriors” and The FDNY for providing logistical support during his visit to NYC.
F. Fox and Friends Christmas Special – http://www.foxnews.com/foxfriends/ Fox and Friends Christmas special airing at 8:00 pm tonight pays tribute to our military. Local Marines were invited to be part of the audience thanks to Producer, Gavin Hadden.
G. Glenn Beck Christmas Special – http://www.foxnews.com/glennbeck/ Glenn Beck invited Marines to be part of his studio audience for his Christmas Special.
H. Fox Radio Card for Troops – Fox Radio recently printed and sent an online holiday card that was posted on their website to Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq as display of support from their loyal listeners. http://www.foxnewsradio.com/troops/
FUTURE OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS:
A. NHL Winter Carnival – Military members including US Marines from 25th Marine Regiment will be featured in the opening events of this special match at Fenway Park in Boston on 1Jan 2010. http://www.nhl.com/ice/eventhome.htm?location=/winterclassic/2010
B. Black History Month – The Armed Forces Public Affairs Offices in NYC are planning to participate in multiple events. Stand by for more information.
C. Marine Week Boston (3-9 May): http://www.marines.mil/community/MarineWeekBoston/Pages/Welcome.aspx Marine Week Boston Mid-Planning Conference is being held in Boston 12-13 Jan. MARFORS and HQMC agencies are working this event and coordinating many venues/activities. Stay tuned for more.
D. The National Museum of The Marine Corps – http://www.usmcmuseum.org/ The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines — past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, the Museum’s soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to its 118,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology will surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. The NYC PAO Office will begin to conduct outreach trips to the museum.
E. John Basilone Documentary – Our office continues to assist Ms. Hawkins, niece of John Basilone, to realize plans for a John Basilone documentary. Anyone with good contacts for producing documentaries, please chime in.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CORPS:
A. USMC Web Site: www.marines.mil If you have not checked out the official Marine Corps web site lately, there is a wealth of information available.
B. Marine Corps News – If you would like to receive more news about the Corps, let me know and I’ll add you to some distributions. http://www.marines.mil/news/Pages/usmcnews.aspx?Page=1
C. Marine Corps Recruiting Command –commercial at http://our.marines.com/ Official website: http://www.marines.com/?WT.mc_id=AXW123AXXAXX0207
D. The Pentagon Channel: http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/images/PentagonLogo.gif>
E. HBO Series – http://www.hbo.com/events/pacific/ HBO has created a new series about The Pacific theatre in WWII.
F. Frozen Chosin – http://www.frozenchosin.com Marine Capt Brian Iglesias has undertaken an ambitious documentary about The Korean War that is sure to be a hit. Special thanks to GySgt Randazzo for his continued efforts to spread the news about this worthy project. http://www.frozenchosin.com/pdf/April.9.2009-NavJournal-NJ.pdf
G. Helpful and Interesting Links:
- http://www.mca-marines.org/
- http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
- http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/
- http://www.spiritofamerica.net/site/blog/1051
— Semper Fidelis, Neil F. Murphy Jr.
United States Marine Corps
Division of Public Affairs, New York City Branch
805 Third Avenue, Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10022-7513