CAP's Oklahoma Wing Conference

I represented CAP's National Headquarters at the Oklahoma Wing's annual conference last weekend in Oklahoma City. I was picked up at the airport on March 10, and taken to the Crowne Plaza OKC Northwest. I was given keys to a CAP van for my use and also was provided with a gift basket containing fruit, snacks and brochures about area attractions. On Friday, I visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum and also the National Cowboy Museum.

Giving the briefing from NHQ at the General Assembly.
 

The Oklahoma Wing Conference kicked off with an informal meet and greet on Friday evening, March 11, where I met and chatted with many of the Wing's officers, who all welcomed me warmly.

The general assembly on Saturday morning began with a color guard opening ceremony and I was introduced after a short introduction from Wing Commander Col. Dale Newell. I presented the NHQ PPT and when finished the Southwest Region Commander, Col. Mark Smith, thanked me and gave me his commander's coin. He then gave a presentation, emphasizing the importance of aircrews, professional development, training, mentoring, recruitment and retention, and new missions for CAP customers.

Oklahoma Rep. Gary Bantz, commander of the state's legislative squadron, attended the general assembly and was introduced.

Later that day, I attended the Wing's commander luncheon, and sat with four squadron commanders. After lunch I presented a 50-minute public affairs seminar to a room full of PAOs, distributing some coins still left over from previous National PAO academies at the conclusion. The Wing PAO, Maj. David McCollum, was very appreciative of my presentation.

Other seminars that were offered were about uniforms, communications, WMIRS, ES/OP qualifications, leadership, finance, the Yeager Award and Windows 365.


Talking to PAOs about PA best practices.

At the evening's banquet, I sat with several CAP members and their spouses, and I was the first person asked to stand as a distinguished guest. There were approximately double the number of attendees at the banquet than at the conference that day, due mostly to the presence of cadets from several different squadrons as well as spouses.

Always willing to help out, I watched the banquet check-in table.

My visit to Oklahoma, my first time to the state, was enhanced by having exclusive use of a CAP van. My thanks go out to Lt. Col. David Heck, the wing transportation officer, who went out of his way to be accommodating. With the van, I was able to satisfy my tourist curiosity, so in addition to the two museums I visited on Friday, on Sunday and Monday I was able to go to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Museum of Osteology and the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots.

At the banquet I sat at a table with a squadron PAO, Capt. Robert Schlotte, and his wife. He had attended my PA seminar and they invited me to dinner the next day at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse, a famous Oklahoma restaurant. They picked me up and treated me to the dinner. Later, they showed me the city's Stockyards area.

Lt. Col. Kacy Harsha, the conference director, and Marlene Webster, the wing administrator, were both accessible, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I attribute the smooth running of the conference and my personal comfort to their keen attention to detail. I enjoyed talking with both of them very much.

Lastly, everyone I talked to, and this includes a large number of members who approached me during the conference, expressed their appreciation that I, on behalf of NHQ, was at their conference. I was treated with the utmost respect and lost count of how many times I was thanked for being there to see what they do and to listen to their comments.

It was an honor for me to represent NHQ at this OKWG Conference.