NAGC News

NAGC News: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | NAGC Member Spotlight Archive

 

FEMA, FCC and NOAA to Conduct First Nationwide U.S. National Emergency Alert Test on Nov. 9, 2011

(25 Oct 2011) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Office, in close coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first Nationwide U.S. EAS Test on Nov. 9, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Test will last approximately three and a half minutes.


The national-level EAS leverages the communications support of participating radio, television, cable, satellite, and wireline providers throughout the country. FEMA administers the EAS, and conducts training, tests, and exercises as directed by Executive Order 13407.


FEMA, the FCC, and NOAA’s vision for improving the EAS is incremental, which means testing the readiness and effectiveness of the EAS as it currently exists is the first step. A more effective and functional EAS requires continual testing to identify necessary improvements so the system can deliver critical information that will save lives and protect property.


In order to prepare the public, FEMA will provide continuous and timely information through a number of resources via the FEMA IPAWS website.

National Institute of Corrections Seeks Proposals to Publish Its Quarterly Newsletter

(08/16/11)

DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 2:00 p.m. EDT, Monday, August 29, 2011.
Please follow the link to download a full copy of the solicitation

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. Its mission is to be a center of learning, innovation, and leadership that shapes and advances effective correctional practice and public policy.


NIC is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups or individuals to enter into a cooperative agreement for a twelve-month period to publish the “Corrections Mental Health Newsletter” quarterly and provide up-to-date information, news, research, relevant issues, highlighted training and programs, etc. to a correctional audience responsible for and interested in mental health issues in community corrections, prisons, and jails. It is expected that such a newsletter will be released in Fall/Winter 2011 and continue quarterly thereafter for the next fiscal year. The recipient of this award may be awarded a cooperative agreement for up to two successive years in 2012 and 2013 to continue the publication.The Corrections & Mental Health e-publication is budgeted at $32,000 annually.

Required Expertise: The successful applicant will need skills, abilities, and knowledge in the following areas:

  • knowledge of mental illness and behavioral health issues in jails, prisons and community corrections, or be able to access such knowledge and expertise
  • knowledge and skill in designing, editing, and publishing an electronic newsletter
  • knowledge and skills in soliciting content, articles, and features for inclusion in the newsletter
  • project management experience
  • effective written and oral communication skills


NAGC Leaders Meet with

Government Communicators from Azerbaijan

08/09/11

NAGC leadership met Aug. 9, 2011, with government communicators from Azerbaijan. NAGC President Jennifer Lohr, Professional Development Director John Verrico and Executive Director Beth Armstrong are shown here with officials from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Transportation, Public Relations Protocol–State Property, Environmental Awareness, Labor and Social Welfare, and Internal Affairs. Topics included citizens’ perception of government public affairs spokespersons, disaster messaging, and related issues.

 

NAGC 2011 Board Elections – Call for Candidates 

Response Deadline: March 5, 2011

Would you like to serve on the NAGC Board of Directors? Use your skills to benefit fellow government communicators. At the same time, serving on the NAGC Board is an exceptional way to network and learn what others are accomplishing at all levels of government service.

It’s time for candidates to step forward for NAGC Board positions whose terms expire this spring. There are five open positions: Treasurer, Professional Development Director, Communications Director, Development Director and Marketing Director. Each position is for a two-year term to begin during the 2011 Communications School, May 10-12 in Saint Paul.

  • The Treasurer monitors all funds and financial records of the NAGC in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures, and reports regularly to the Board on the NAGC’s fiscal status.
  • The Professional Development Director plans and coordinates the NAGC’s annual Communications School and other educational offerings.
  • The Communications Director produces and distributes NAGC’s e-newsletter, and oversees the organization's web site and other external promotions of NAGC activities.
  • The Development Director generates operating and scholarship revenues for the NAGC, including obtaining sponsors, exhibitors, partnerships, and grants. A federal government employee cannot hold this position.
  • The Marketing Director oversees the development and implementation of an annual marketing plan.

Per our bylaws, NAGC President Jennifer Lohr has appointed Laura Kirkpatrick (Public Information Officer, County of Monmouth, NJ) to chair a nominating committee, which also consists of NAGC Past President George Selby (Director, Communications and External Affairs, Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled), Teresa Rivera (Outreach & Awareness Manager, US Department of Interior) and Marissa Ellison-Brown (Community Relations Manager, Missouri Department of Transportation).

Please contact NAGC Nominating Committee Chair Laura Kirkpatrick at laura.kirkpatrick@co.monmouth.nj.us for more information or to seek a nomination for one of the opportunities indicated above. Qualified members also may announce their candidacy for office individually as write-in candidates, and may use the NAGC’s mailing list for campaign purposes at their own expense.

Discounts for NAGC Members

(02/10/11)

Log in to Members Only to find out out about special discounts for NAGC members on products and services.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Announces Campus Safety and Violence Prevention PSA Challenge to Virginia College Students
Public Will Select Winners Through Online Voting; Winning PSA Will Air on Television Statewide

    • Complete Info, Entry Form, FAQs here
    • Contest runs January 31, 2011 through April 30, 2011

(Richmond, Va., Feb. 2, 2011) Governor Bob McDonnell launched today the “College Campus Safety and Violence Prevention Public Service Announcement Challenge” during an afternoon press conference at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Governor is challenging college students all across the Commonwealth to utilize their artistic talents and collaborate with their peers to create their own PSA addressing these major issues affecting our college communities. The PSA challenge is open to students enrolled at any Virginia public, private, four-year or two-year college or university. The winning video will air on television statewide.

Speaking about the PSA challenge, Governor McDonnell remarked, “As parents of three children attending Virginia public universities, Maureen and I understand firsthand the importance of ensuring our students are learning in a safe environment. That’s why we are launching the ‘College Campus Safety and Violence Prevention PSA Challenge’ to encourage students to collaborate with each other and use their talents and personal insights to get out important messages about campus safety. The more we do to engage our students, start conversations, and educate the public about these difficult issues, the easier it is to address them head-on. We hope this contest will provide students the opportunity to weigh in on issues they are facing, leave a lasting impact on Virginia’s college and university campuses, and truly institute real positive change within these campus communities.”

First Lady Maureen McDonnell added, “Virginia is a great place to attend college. However, there is much more we can do to ensure students are learning in a safe environment. This contest is an excellent way to engage our college students by challenging them to use their skills to create videos about the tough issues affecting their campuses. I hope this contest will begin to start a conversation among our students about how to effectively ensure a safe learning environment is found at every campus in the Commonwealth.”

This contest is similar to “Project SafetyNetVA,” a youth Internet safety contest Governor McDonnell launched when he was attorney general. This initiative challenged students in grades 6-12 to create television ads about Internet safety. Click here for more information about “Project SafetyNet VA.

All video entries for the College Campus Safety and Violence Prevention Public Service Announcement Challenge must be postmarked or submitted online by April 30, 2011. Videos must be 30 seconds or less in length. Students may form teams of up to six people to work on the videos, and there is no limit to the number of people who participate in the video. The public will select the winners through online voting. The Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention will narrow entries to a select group which will be posted online for voting. For more information about the College Campus Safety and Violence Prevention Public Service Announcement Challenge, please visit: www.gosap.virginia.gov.

Ithaca College Announces Updates to the Online Professional Certificate in Strategic Communication Management

 

In response to feedback from NAGC members, Ithaca College has updated its online professional certificate in Strategic Communication Management. Highlights include:

  • Choose from a flexible menu of 16 seminars representing the breadth and depth of contemporary practice in communications management and allied disciplines
  • Earn a Level 2 certificate by completing only 4 additional seminars
  • Three new seminars in break through areas of practice:
    • Crisis Communication
    • Developing Organizational Knowledge
    • Solving Performance Problems Across Culture
     

In addition to these updates, NAGC and Ithaca College are pleased to offer members the opportunity to enroll in Ithaca’s new online program, the Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership.

The Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership is designed for practitioners who want to improve their skills in leading and managing sustainability initiatives within their organization.

Please visit www.ithaca.edu/certificates for more information about special offers for NAGC members. Download this news item as a PDF.