Magazines they edited earned three public affairs officers from the California and Alaska wing first-place Balsem Awards in the Maj. Howell Balsem Civil Air Patrol Public Affairs Exceptional Achievement Awards, with the California Wing’s Lt. Col. Noel Luneau honored for Best in Show.
Luneau and fellow Lt. Cols. Bryan T. Emerson of the Alaska Wing and David Oberhettinger of the California Wing were honored in the Magazine category.
Their Balsems were announced Aug. 27 at the CAP National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, along with three second-place Awards of Excellence in three categories and 11 Certificates of Merit in five categories. They were selected from 70 entries in nine categories.
Luneau is PAO for San Francisco Bay Group 2 and Tri-Valley Composite Squadron 156 . In choosing his group’s On Guard Magazine for not only a Balsem but also the Maj. Al Pabon Best in Show Balsem Award, one judge in the competition praised it as “overall very clean and easy to read.”
“The range of topics covered in each issue is extensive,” another judge said. “The use of embedded videos is a positive.”
Oberhettinger edits the California Wing magazine Bear Facts as assistant wing PAO. One judge lauded the publication’s “wide variety of stories,” adding that “the editor makes good use of larger images to make the magazine more visually appealing and easier to read.”
A second judge complimented the “good use of photos within a mixed two-column format.”
Oberhettinger edits the California Wing magazine Bear Facts as assistant wing PAO. One judge lauded the publication’s “wide variety of stories,” adding that “the editor makes good use of larger images to make the magazine more visually appealing and easier to read.”
A second judge complimented the “good use of photos within a mixed two-column format.”
Emerson is the Alaska Wing PAO and edits the wing’s Civil Air Patrol Magazine. “I really like the feel of this magazine, including the lavish photo spreads,” one judge said.
A colleague found the publication “far more graphically interesting than the standard print magazines we see in CAP. The use of large photographs — and lots of them — certainly helps in that regard.”
In all, 14 members from 12 wings and one region headquarters were recognized.
Two members received two awards each – Lt. Col. Kevin S. Divers, PAO of the Tennessee Wing’s Music City Composite Squadron, recognized with an Award of Excellence for Tempo Magazine and a Certificate of Merit for the 2021 CAP/Music City Composite Squadron Fact Sheet, and Capt. Christopher Freeze of the Virginia Wing’s Leesburg Composite Squadron, recognized with Certificates of Merit for his Photography entries “AirVenture Operations Begin” and “In Remembrance Upon Hallowed Ground.”
The Balsem awards program is named for Civil Air Patrol’s first PAO, who served as an Army Air Forces officer during World War II and then as CAP PAO from 1949-1956. The awards competition provides CAP PAOs with the opportunity for recognition for outstanding achievement in up to 11 categories.
The Best in Show Balsem Award is named for Pabon, former director of public affairs for the North Central Region and former national volunteer team leader for public affairs. He was named National PAO of the Year for 2006, and his newsletter and website were recognized with Balsem awards in 2007 at the first National PAO Academy in Atlanta, when the inaugural Balsems were presented. He died unexpectedly from natural causes at age 46 in July 2011.
Here is the full listing:
Balsem Award
MagazineLt. Col. Bryan Tiller EmersonAlaska Wing Headquarters“Alaska Wing Magazine”
Lt. Col. Noel LuneauSan Francisco Bay Group 2, California Wing“On Guard Magazine”
Lt. Col. David OberhettingerCalifornia Wing Headquarters“Bear Facts magazine”
Award of Excellence
External Media CoverageLt. Col. Todd EppSouth Dakota Wing Headquarters“CAP Member with a Disability Becomes Commander of the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron
MagazineLt. Col. Kevin S. DiversMusic City Composite Squadron, Tennessee Wing“Tempo Magazine”
Social MediaSenior Member Harel HaleviEagle Composite Squadron, Indiana Wing“Model Rocketry Recap” (Instagram)
Certificate of Merit
Brochure/Poster/FlyerLt. Col. Kevin S. DiversMusic City Composite Squadron, Tennessee Wing“2021 CAP/Music City Composite Squadron Fact Sheet”
Capt. Lisa BastianFox Cities Composite Squadron, Wisconsin Wing“Fox Cities Composite Squadron Info Flyer”
Capt. M. Janet BryantBowling Green Senior Squadron, Kentucky Wing“Bowling Green Senior Squadron 50th Anniversary Open House Flyer”
Capt. Maryan C. Tooker, Nevada Wing Headquarters“Nevada Wing 80th Anniversary Origins Poster”
Crisis Management Lt. Col. David A. MillerNorth Central Region Headquarters“CAP Member Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse”
Event Promotion Capt. Liz DunsterNorth Carolina Wing Headquarters“Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony”
PhotographyCapt. Christopher FreezeLeesburg Composite Squadron, Virginia Wing“Airventure Operations Begin“In Remembrance Upon Hallowed Ground
Social MediaLt. Col. Brian H. BerrySandy Springs Cadet Squadron, Georgia Wing“Dawn of a New Year” (Facebook)
Capt. Keith JamesNew York Wing Headquarters“New York Wing Emblem Contest” (multiple platforms)
