FIFTH
ANNUAL PRE-CONFERENCE WITH AFCEA WEST
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What a Glorious
Conference for NIUSR and for AFCEA WEST 2008
We have attached THREE PHOTOS below just to give you the flavor of the
high spirits and excitement of the Exposition.
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| Becky Nolan and General John Dubia (left), Executive Vice Presidents of AFCEA, escort Admiral James Stavridis, USN from Forum at WEST 2008 - Photographed by William Carpenter |
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Our “Sailing into the Future”, our 5th Annual Pre-Conference with AFCEA in San Diego, , was the BEST we have ever done. But not to sound vain-glorious, we have had some superlative conferences in the past so we will say it TIES for the NIUSR AWARDS TWO BRONZE EAGLES TO NATIONAL WINNERS!! BOTH FROM CALIFORNIA—BOTH FROM SAN DIEGO
We had the highest attendance from NIUSR at an AFCEA Conference yet, and AFCEA itself sold out every seat at every one of their sessions. There were 700 people at the Awards dinner (700 folks!) to see us award our TWO bronze EAGLES that were highlighted on the stage!!
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| Photographed by William Carpenter |
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| Photographed by William Carpenter |
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Dr. Eric Frost, PhD, San Diego State University Professor, receiving the Perpetual Leadership Eagle Trophy from the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue. Dr. Linton Wells, II, Professor at the National Defense University, Washington, DC presented the trophy in the name of the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue (NIUSR). Dr Frost has been a guiding light for the exceptional advances of the Cities and County of San Diego in their Readiness and Response in the face of Disaster.
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Our first Pre-Conference Day was February 5th and had stellar folks presenting. Frank Cowan bought his stars to us (all volunteering their time) with news on our topics of interest: --Community Readiness; Forward Communications in the Field; Leadership, all in this CHANGED world. Remember to check your computer web sites and email regularly or relegate yourself to the national list of "has-beens". Lois kids you NOT. We are not entering a changed world. It has changed--past tense. Are you in it yet? Are you considering entering?. Hurry up the ship is sailing.
Our second day was even better even with a few less people -- That permitted us include everyone in the discussions. GREAT INTERCHANGE of smart viewpoints from SMART people. It was so lively that we were nearly over-hyped until I gave the summation. (Our facilitator was wiped. so I filled in for him and WOW.) That left everyone charged up for the GREAT demonstrations and Exercises we have scheduled and IN WHICH YOU WILL BE EXPECTED to participate -- at least in one. AT LEAST ONE.
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NIUSR
SCHEDULES HEAVY TRAINING DEMONSTATIONS FOR 2008
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The date for the first Training Seminar April 8-10. The 7th and 11 are suggested travel days. The program Outdoor Leadership for Indoor Executives is April 8, 9 & 10. The Agenda will feature short 1 hour and 15 minute sessions, each with a different slant on Leadership. Different leaders from the eminent leaders attending will preside at each session “in the round” with conversations open to the floor. These three days will be taped to be published as an folio following the conference. We look forward to establishing these Conversations” as a yearly series at this wonderful rustic site of El Capitan Canyon Resort and Spa. www.elcapitancanyon.com
A luxury double cabin is $ 189 a night. That is less expensive than a hotel room. and is a lot less than the special conference rates in San Diego last week. We will have the Marine 46th Aircraft Detachment leading one session. We hope to have the STAR-TIDES exhibit including the UAV with a 6 ' wing spread that was the hit of the convention floor at WEST 2008 (and which Eric Frost and NIUSR got to the exhibit 3 days before it opened)
It launches like you throw a Frisbee. Don't miss this Industry and NGO Conference a different focus for Leadership for us. Especially if you missed last weeks sessions, both military and the Vice President for Public Services from Microsoft last week in San Diego. He shared a lot of things I suppose I had heard but had not thought enough about. the Nation of China now has the second largest English speaking population in the world. By 2012 it will have passed the U.S. Here's an interesting factoid. 86% of the imported goods that arrive in the U.S. come by boat.
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AFCEA and U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE WEST 2008
CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION IN SAN Diego
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| RADM M.P. Tillotson, USN, Commanding Officer of the new command for close in support of Allied Forces, a new role for the U.S. Navy. - Photographed by William Carpenter |
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WEST 2008 – “U.S. at a Crossroads: Where—and How – After IRAQ” The attendees were mostly Navy and Marines. After all it was in San Diego, the largest naval installation outside of Hawaii on the Pacific Ocean.
Those Admirals and Generals all had the same message although couched in different words. Iraq and Afghanistan are only the first battles of a long "conflict" of ideology -- one of free peoples vs. oppressed populations.
Their message was "Moving our coalition troops out of Iraq will only see the site of the conflict move to another theater leaving an oppressed population in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then the extremists will rise again in a different nation/ Perhaps Indonesia? Pakistan? and to the United States homeland.
Our global economy and our global transportation of goods, food and material makes this even more hazardous to the survival of our country than a war of machines and fighting armies. This type of war is won INSIDE a country, but the strength and commitment of its people. How is America doing?
It was a message well delivered. Can we hope for an early end? That is for each of us to think about.
But Leadership is the KEY. And that is what our next conference will be about. It was obvious to the 6000 plus attendees at WEST 2008 that NIUSR is playing a large part in these formulative times. Press on 'me hearties". See you in April.
WE WILL EXPECT TO SEE YOU IN APRIL IN SANTA BARBARA
FOR MORE FUN like we had in San Diego. including tables for the Super Bowl in the Pub, the Mardi Gras Parade and fireworks across the street in the Gas Lamp Quarter.
Then Super Tuesday Caucus that put John McCain, our Gov Arnold, and the Secret Services. all rubbing elbows with our 6000 Conference attendees PLUS about 3400 Firemen all in the next "bay" over at that huge Convention Center with a chili cook-off.
P.S. We all survived but just barely!! heh, heh. Press on, lois
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