FY04 West Coast Media Training Symposium

1. PURPOSE: TO ANNOUNCE AND ASSIGN QUOTAS FOR
THE FY04 WEST COAST MEDIA TRAINING SYMPOSIUM, WHICH OCCURS
12 - 16 APR 2004 AT TORRANCE/SOUTH BAY HILTON, 21333 HAWTHORNE
BLVD, TORRANCE, CA, AND IS SPONSORED BY THE LOS ANGELES OFFICE
OF THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQMC.
2. PURPOSE OF SYMPOSIUM: TO PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND
MEDIA INTERVIEW TRAINING TO COMMANDERS, THOSE MARINES SELECTED FOR
COMMAND, CHIEFS OF STAFF, STAFF OFFICERS, SENIOR STAFF
NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND OTHERS WHOSE DUTIES DEMAND EXPERT MEDIA
COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THIS TRAINING IS PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL TO
MEU COMMANDERS AND THEIR STAFFS AND SENIOR MARINES ON INDEPENDENT,
I&I, RECRUITING AND
RESERVE DUTY ASSIGNMENTS, WHO MAY SERVE AS SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE
MARINE CORPS DURING OPERATIONS, DEPLOYMENTS, EXERCISES, ETC. MEDIA
RELATIONS TRAINING WILL COVER THE INFORMATION, TECHNIQUES AND
PROCEDURES NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH THE MEDIA AND "TELL THE
MARINE CORPS STORY."
3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVES: PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEFS OF THE ATTENDEES' PARENT COMMANDS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. THESE REPRESENTATIVES WILL WORK WITH THEIR
COMMANDERS/ATTENDEES TO PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS AND DEVELOP COMMAND
MESSAGES. THIS TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP
OF THE COMMANDER/ATTENDEE WITH HIS OR HER PAO/PA CHIEF, AND SHOW THE
ATTENDEE FIRST-HAND WHAT THE PA REPRESENTATIVE'S ROLE IS IN CRISIS
COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS.
4. REQUEST MAXIMUM SUPPORT FOR THIS SYMPOSIUM. IT REPRESENTS A
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS TO ATTENDEES AND THE
MARINE CORPS OVER THE LONG TERM. COMMANDS SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT
TO FILL ASSIGNED QUOTAS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO REQUEST MORE IF NEEDED.
5. QUOTA ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE USED AS GUIDELINES. ADDITIONAL
QUOTAS MAY BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. ASSIGNMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MARFORPAC 3
MARFORRES 30
MCRC 9
I MEF 10
MCB CPEN 3
MCB KANEOHE BAY 2
MCAS MIRAMAR 2
MCAS YUMA 1
MCAS CPEN 1
MAGTFTC 2
MCLB BARSTOW 1
MCRD SAN DIEGO 4 
6. RESERVE PERSONNEL SHOULD SUBMIT REQUEST FOR ORDERS TO CG
MARFORRES VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:
A. COURSE LENGTH: 1800 MON, 12 APR 04 TO 1230 FRI, 16 APR 04 .
B. ATTENDEES REPORT TO LA PAO DUTY OFFICER AT TORRANCE/SOUTH BAY
HILTON NLT 1800 MON, 12 APR 04 FOR REGISTRATION. A HOSTED RECEPTION
WILL BE HELD AT THE HILTON STARTING AT 1800, DURING WHICH THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS WILL ADDRESS THE ATTENDEES. ATTENDANCE
AT THE RECEPTION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. 
UNIFORM FOR THE RECEPTION IS APPROPRIATE CIVILIAN ATTIRE.
C. BILLETING:
 (1) THE SYMPOSIUM HOTEL IS THE TORRANCE /SOUTH BAY HILTON,
 TORRANCE, CA. PHONE 310-540-0500 OR 1-800-HILTONS.
 REFERENCE THE MARINE CORPS MEDIA SYMPOSIUM.
 (2) THE SYMPOSIUM ROOM RATE IS $106 PLUS TAX; FREE PARKING.
 ATTENDEES MUST PAY WITH A GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARD IN ORDER
 TO RECEIVE A TAX EXEMPT RATE.
 (3) ATTENDEES ARE REQUIRED TO CALL THE HOTEL DIRECTLY FOR
 RESERVATIONS. RESERVATION CUTOFF DATE IS MON, 15 MAR 04.
D. TRANSPORTATION: COMMERCIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FROM
THE AIRPORT AT THE APPROXIMATE RATE OF $12 PER PERSON. THE TAXICAB
RATE IS APPROXIMATELY $25 FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL. 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.
E. UNIFORM: "SUMMER" SERVICE "C".
F. FISCAL:
 (1) DISBURSING AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS NOT READILY
 AVAILABLE AT THE SYMPOSIUM SITE. IF NECESSARY, ATTENDEES
 SHOULD DRAW ADVANCE PER DIEM.
 (2) PARENT COMMANDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUNDING OF THEIR
 ATTENDEES.
G. COMMANDS SHOULD SUBMIT NAMES OF ATTENDEES AND
INFORMATION BY E-MAIL NLT 15 MAR 04 TO: MARINE CORPS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE LOS ANGELES [LAPAO@HQMC.USMC.MIL]. REGISTRATION MUST
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
 (1) LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL
 (2) RANK
 (3) CURRENT BILLET ASSIGNMENT
 (4) WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS
 (5) WORK PHONE NUMBERS
 (6) WORK FAX NUMBER
 (7) HOTEL ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES
 (8) SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR ARRANGEMENTS (I.E. EXTENDED DATES
AT SNM EXPENSE, SPOUSE ACCOMPANYING, ETC).
H. LA PAO REGISTRAR WILL E-MAIL DETAILED SYMPOSIUM INFORMATION
UPON RECEIPT OF NAMES. ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE WELCOME PACKAGES VIA
E-MAIL ON 22 MAR 04.
8. POC IS SSGT C.M. MCMEEN, USMC PAO, LOS ANGELES AT 310-235-7272,
FAX 310-235-7274, EMAIL:MCMEENCE@HQMC.USMC.MIL