This monthly Marketing and Communications (MAC) e-newsletter is meant to help support marketing, communications, and brand management efforts throughout Civil Air Patrol. It is intended to be a valuable resource that can be shared and archived for future reference on MAC-related matters.

2023 Holiday Card

Each year our national artist, Maj. Ron Finger, paints a beautiful Civil Air Patrol holiday scene that we use as a greeting card. While previous cards have been aviation-centric, this year’s edition offers a more human touch featuring a mission pilot from the North Pole Composite Squadron. Cards will be available from Vanguard again this year, and if you’re searching for a unique holiday gift item, rumor has it this may be the first in a series of collectible holiday ornaments from Vanguard.

COMING SOON – More Recruiting Collateral

MAC is adding to the family of recruiting brochures with two new pieces — one geared toward chaplains and another for NCOs. Also being updated are the business cards with customizable QR code. The business card option provides a very quick and easy solution to recruiting/open house takeaways (and a very low-cost quick-turn item).

Photography Contest

Thank you to the more than 200 members who submitted entries in the Capture CAP Photo Contest. Images and videos were judged by photographers and marketers on the MAC national staff for subject matter, composition, brand compliance, and of course “wow” factor. We’ll announce the winners in PROPS in November, but regardless of who wins, you may see your images in a future issue of Volunteer, the Report to Congress, or other marketing material.

While the contest is over, don’t let that stop you from submitting more beautiful imagery — we always need fresh, compelling imagery, so please send them our way any time at this link. We always need high-resolution (300 dpi or greater), a cutline (names of people, location, activity shown, etc.), and an intuitive image file name — not img3574.jpg.

Wing Reports

As a friendly reminder, Wing Report copy and images are due no later than Nov. 17. All that’s required is about 300 words of compelling copy and a high-resolution image. Copy should focus on something that will resonate with state lawmakers and influencers to help them realize what an invaluable resource Civil Air Patrol is to the state in terms of disaster relief, life-saving measures, youth education, career development, and more.

Digital Magazine

The digital edition of the Fall Civil Air Patrol Volunteer is ready to be enjoyed. The print version will be arriving in mailboxes shortly. The cover story on Operation Wolverine was written by cadets, and just in time to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, the Legacy Profile story features Maj. Victor “Vic” Apodaca, the first American Indian to graduate from the Air Force Academy. Apodaca was also the first name highlighted on the cover art mock-up of the of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial wall in the Spring issue.

Registration Zone

Simplify your event management. CAP’s new Registration Zone app has launched, transforming the way we manage events. Say goodbye to the hassle of multiple solutions with Registration Zone, which brings all event essentials into one unified platform. Access RZ in eServices and learn more at Registration Zone.

Wing Website Unification

It’s official: Wings can begin updating their websites in SiteViz with new content imported from the Resource Library. When you’re ready to begin updating with the new template, email MAC at this link. A MAC SiteViz Support Team member will make a copy of the website and let you know when it has been created and is available for you to work on.

Information about the Wing Website Unification Project is listed on the CAP Websites page on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. The page includes these links to directions to make updates to your website(s) in SiteViz, several tutorials, recordings from the update meetings in September, and also FAQs for the project. Once the project is complete, all 52 wings will have the most up-to-date and accurate information about CAP programs and activities and will be ready to accept automatic updates as needed without anyone lifting a finger.

Brand Compliance

The Brand Management team meets biweekly to assist members and staff with brand compliance. If you have a brand-related question, can’t find what you need on the Brand Portal, have a request for something new, or need a review of an item you created, simply email the brand team at this link.

November 2023     |     Vol. 1     |     No. 4