Chamber's luncheon puts everything into perspective

Even though I served in the Air Force for 20 years, I forget about the sacrifices that military folks make for our country. However, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce's Celebrate America Military luncheon brought everything into perspective. The chamber invited Sig Christiansen and Nicole Fruge from the San Antonio Express News to speak about their deployments to Iraq.

As a retired military guy, I have always thought that Sig has done a pretty good job of covering the military. However, Fruge's photos brought into perspective the cost of the war. Nicole showed two portfolios of her work during the luncheon with the first about the death of some south Texas ANG helicopter pilots and the separation of an Army NCO and her daughter.

I look forward to seeing more of her work in an upcoming Express News editions, both the print and the online version. If you have questions about the commitment of our troops and their sacrifice, I hope you take time to read Sig's stories and look at Nicole's photos. It will change your perspective on the militry conflict in Iraq.

As cities cut back on their police force, will it increase the purchase of better security systems?

Buried behind the front page articles on the economy and the campaign was this interesting Wall Street Journal article about the drop in police positions in California. For my security customers, this could represent an increase in sales, as more and more communities will turn to surveillance cameras, wireless configurations, new doors and open architecture software systems. One client, HBMG, has introduced a wireless solution that allows the local police to have a video feed of construction projects. Another ABM Data Systems has a pending partnership with a video verification company.

The implementation of these solutions is still in its early development, but perhaps as more police administrators recognize the potential of a video feed that goes directly to a laptop where the officer can see a surveillance camera's video signal, it will help this Austin client grow in sales. Right now, most companies and home owners like me use a keypad alarm system which sends a signal to a monitoring station who then contacts the police. As many police and industry officials will tell you, about 90 to 95-percent of all keypad systems (think ADT and Brinks) are false alarms.

So, with the decrease in police in some communities, the movement to connect homes and businesses with a video feed like HBMG's ArmidaWare product could grow considerably. So, I see this trend as a chance to help my customers tell businesses and home owners why it's a good time to change their old system to one where a video system can monitor an intruder. The problem will be convincing my wife that an updated system is better than the current one. The folks at Brinks have done a good job of targeting her fears so getting a change will be a long uphill battle. Perhaps, we'll change it when we move to a new home someday.

Still, for those building or renovating their businesses and homes, the opportunity to upgrade a security system is something they should address with their builder and architect.

How I-phones are revolutionizing our 2008 election

I just saw a Tweet from my friend, Raven Zachary, the wireless application and I-phone expert, who spoke at Innotech Austin two weeks ago. Raven reported that his clients at the "Elect Barack Obama" reported that nearly 10,000 unique callers made over 35,000 calls using their new custom I-phone application to support their candidate. That leaves me wondering what the next Raven I-phone app will be.... Could the folks at Ford put together an I-phone campaign inviting people to look at their newest truck or could Burger King push their newest sandwich with Raven's app. It makes you wonder.

Is your web site 508 compliant?

Talk to most web developers, and it's a good bet that most have never heard of 508 compliance. Yet, if you are doing web development work where the site acts as an interface with customers who have disabilities, it's time to take a serious look. To one friend and colleague, 508 compliance for many public sites is like a federal building where the folks in wheel chairs have to be carried up the steps to get inside it.

With new tools available, it's time for the government and commercial web developers to start updating their sites so that they can become 508 compliant. Like the lawsuits that brought about the changes resulting in the American With Disabilities compliance for new construction, it's only a matter of time before a similar round of lawsuits occur against government and companies like a public utility or even the local grocery store chain.

Why public relations professionals should shadow journalists from time to time

Thanks to my friend Omar Gallaga, the cyber-journalist from the Austin American Statesman, I found this wonderful little blog: http://stuffjournalistslike.com/. I have worked both sides of the street as they say, having done stints with the San Antonio Express News and KSAT 12.

My initial impression as one who has lived in both worlds is that this is a pretty interesting little blog, written by someone who has actually observed journalists like Omar. For those young public relations type who haven't spent any time working with journalists, this is a good starting point for understanding the life of reporters.

However, the best education is to ask a reporter from the print, radio and TV to shadow them. My first Air Force supervisor, Katie Cutler, made me tote video cameras and lights for the local cable news channel in Guam. From this little exercise, I learned how TV professionals stage a story, edit it and then produce the final product. Because Katie made me carry the "sticks," I learned how important it is to make sure that journalists get good locations to carry their gear. I also understood a lot of other nuances that make for a good interview.

So, while this new blog is a good starting point for those who are just entering professional public relations, it's not the total solution either. Public relations professionals should shadow a media professional from time to time. Even seasoned professionals like me should take a day off to shadow a cyber journalist like Omar or Roy Bragg at the Express News.

So, Omar or Roy, if you are interested, please let me know. I would love to shadow y'all someday to learn how to get you the information you need. And, I'll pay for the coffee and lunch as long as it's at the Olive Garden. (Note: I still have a $25 gift certificate from there.)

Lone Star Brewery to host first party and open house

If you are tired of mowing the grass and that long commute to your office in downtown San Antonio, my client, Lone Star Brewery wants to show you that alternative in urban living. Mark Tolley, the developer for the project, is hosting a party Nov. 7 from 6 to 11 p.m. to showcase his vision. Tolley and his staff will give tours of the project from 6 to 7:15 p.m. with an executive presentation on the property. The John Pointer Trio will then play a 3-hour set.

Pointer has won nine Austin music awards and has appeared in numerous national commercials as a human beatbox. Lone Star Brewery's first concert will include John's friends Darrell Phillips on bass (most well known as bassist for Sister 7 and the Dirty Wormz) and Rob Hooper on drums (Guy Forsyth's drummer).

And, Tolley said that there will be plenty of complimentary Lone Star Beer. Reservations are needed. You can contact Lone Star's staff via email at Kelsey (at) thelonestarbrewery (dot)com or call (210)757-4530 ext. 301. Invitation info is available at this link.

Note: Lone Star Brewery is but a short walk via the San Antonio River hiking trail from San Antonio Southtown and the Blue Star Brewery. As this is First Friday, it will be easy to park the car at the brewery and then walk over to Southtown for a nightcap.

And don't forget that the Lone Star Brewery project is qualified for special San Antonio Historic tax easements.

In memory of MSgt (Retired) Wayne Bryant

While out at Lackland AFB, Texas, today to get some information about the Nov. 1-2 airshow, I learned that my colleague, MSgt. (Ret.) Wayne W. Bryant had died a year ago. After retiring from his job at Lackland public affairs, Wayne died in his sleep during a 30-day vacation of Germany.

For over three years, Wayne worked with me while I was assigned to Hessisch Oldendorf. His job as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe newspaper manager was to teach me how to become a better copy editor. With his help, I know all of the variances of the AP stylebook, and I can easily spot the most common of errors -- the capitalization of a common noun.

I am saddened that I didn't get to make it to Wayne's funeral, but I wanted to share a couple of memories about him:

1) Getting him out of his German hotel at 5 a.m. in the morning so that we could drive three hours to watch a major organization from my unit deploy their radar equipment. As the hotel didn't have a 24-hour front door service, we had to open his window to get him safely outside.

2) Wayne's creative Halloween costume of industrial trash where he wore a garbage sack filled with all sorts of garbage on it during the U.S. Air Force in Europe editor's conference held in Berlin in 1985. His costume won a prize at the NCO Club's Halloween party.

3) His always famous: "Are you sure about that?" when making young military editors like me check our facts.

Wayne, I miss you, but I am thankful for all you did to help me. Rest in peace, brother.