June 14, 2003


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June 14,  2003 Minutes

 

 

 

INDIANA CHAPTER
DINFOS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 26925
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46226-9001

 

 

 

 

The nineteenth meeting of the Indiana Chapter of the DINFOS Alumni Association was held on June 14, 2003, at ll:00 am at The Garrison at Ft. Harrison State Park.  Attached is a listing of those who attended.

 The President, Dr. Jack Rubak, opened the meeting and asked all present to introduce themselves.

He then mentioned Jan Walton’s suggestion to have students at Ft. Meade complete a post card with their correct address and send for membership in the Alumni Association.  This suggestion was approved and seconded.

Dr. Rubak briefed Colonel Hiram Bell’s update on DINFOS as follows:  (A copy of Colonel Bell’s update is attached)

bulletThe reorganization of DINFOS is complete.
bulletThe first “official” training seminar from DINFOS’ new Digital Training Facility (DTF) was broadcast recently.  A digital imaging workshop was presented to personnel at over 100 locations worldwide.  The DTF enables DINFOS to provide responsive training support to its customers worldwide.
bulletThe 2002 Military Photographer of the Year, Military Graphic Arts of the Year and Thomas Jefferson Award competitions are complete, and next year photography and graphic competitions will inaugurate categories for civilian competitors.
bulletThe school supported a small number of contingency or mobilization training requirements for troops deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
bulletPersonnel continue reporting to the school without required waivers of prerequisites.
bulletCourse development procedures are being refined to provide a more effective link between DINFOS training and the “skill sets” required by public affairs and visual information professionals.
bulletCurrently, DINFOS cannot deliver all of the class seats requested by the services for the 2004-2009 planning cycle.
bulletA variety of means is being looked at to make best uses of the school’s resources.
bulletThis year’s “structured manning decision review,” began with an April customer conference.  The process was started six months earlier to link the determination of customer requirements directly to programming and budgeting processes.
bullet DINFOS is working with a variety of agencies and commands in a comprehensive effort to collect public affairs (and visual information) lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
bullet“Student action packages” are being fully automated to making the process paperless.  This is accomplished entirely on the DINFOS local area network, seamlessly linked with the school’s student records databases. 
bulletThe current contract with Syracuse University to provide full academic year advanced programs in still and motion media photojournalism expired with the 2002-2003 class, and at this time, funding is not available to start this program in FY03.
bulletAn “Executive Grammar Workshop” will soon be available for download from the distance learning portion of the school’s website.
bulletThe PA Officers’ Qualification Course (PAOQC) will undergo a major revision and will serve as a model for future development and revision of all DINFOS courses.
bulletAn evaluation of the attrition rates from the Basic Public Affairs Specialist courses (Writer and Broadcaster), as they are significantly higher than the average for most enlisted technical training courses.
bulletDINFOS staff and counterparts from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense and Canadian forces recently concluded a workshop to develop proposals for coalition public affairs staff training.
bulletFollowing a nearly eight-year hiatus, senior-level professional training programs will return to DINFOS.
bulletFollowing a competitive portfolio review, 25 enlisted and civilian photographers and photojournalists were selected to attend the one-week 11th annual Department of Defense Photography Workshop.

 

Dr. Rubak said he had good news to report on Bob Foster’s condition.  Several weeks ago, Bob suffered an aneurysm and was in intensive care in the hospital.  However, he had made a miraculous recovery and is doing well. 

Next, Caryn Smola, Manager of the Lawrence Campus of the Community College of Indiana, explained a handout (enclosed) showing what has been done with the building where DINFOS was once housed.  The building is now known as the Roosevelt Building.  She discussed the following: 

bulletA problem arose when the Community College was renovating what had once been the DINFOS broadcasting studios.   A decision was reached to raise the flooring over the basement space.
bullet Enrollment at Ft. Harrison has increased since the Community College first had classes there to almost 2,000. 
bulletThe college is trying to move all medical-related courses into the building that will occupy three-fourths of the building.
bullet Plans are being made to move in a school library.
bullet The Lawrence Campus is trying to become the first degree-granting site away from the main campus.  Before this is done, a science class on-site is needed.

 Mrs. Smola ended by saying that the Community College is trying to carry on the legacy that the military started.

 The next speaker was Don McAllister with the National Veteran’s Historical Archive.  He explained that his organization videotapes stories of veterans and their military experiences.  He said if there were any veterans present who would be interested in having their experiences taped to let him know.

Bob Dittmer introduced the guest speaker, Karin Ricketts.  Her father was in the military, and she grew up at Ft. Harrison.  She knows several people from DINFOS to include one of her former professors, Mr. Pat McKeand, who was in the audience.  She earned her degree from IUPUI.  Upon graduation, she took her first job at Conseco, and is currently employed at Eli Lilly where she does a lot of their public relations via the Internet.

Karin Ricketts began her presentation by explaining that she uses the web for PR.  The web is another tool to do an easier job.  She displayed slides of steps she takes to get the word out within the company as well as other countries and to the news media. 

 The Deputy Mayor of Lawrence, LTC Chuck Ricks (USA-Ret) gave an updated report on Ft. Harrison.  He said the Wal-Mart is up and running.  Plans continue to tear down the old Hawley Hospital and build a new PX and Commissary.  MG Ronald Brooks is working with Senators Bayh and Lugar on this, and the plan is still on track. 

 LTC Ricks further stated he wrote the plans and policy on the military and the media that is now in practice in Iraq.

 With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Jack Rubak, President

Helen Stritt, Secretary

 

Attendees at June 14, 2003, AAS Meeting:

Hal Barron

John & Susan Cheeley

Tom Conrad

Bob Dittmer

Dean Farr

Betty Galbreth

Louie & Mary Hamner, Jr.

Manny & Evelyn Harper

Steve Lawson

Ken & Sandra Lord

Don McAllister

Pat McKeand with 5 guests

Karin Ricketts

Chuck Ricks

Jack Rubak

Carlyn Smola

Helen Stritt

Mary Poole Taggart

Ray Waldkoetter

Roy Whitton

Winnie Withers

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