De Soto County (LST 1171) - Naval Cruise Book

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3. Investigate the availability of suitable berthing locations which have adequate parking and lighting facilities and are accessible tolarge numbers in thedowntown area. B. SPECIFIC 1. Special units such as the Underwater Demolition Team, helicopter, Karate Team, Marine Chorus and Navy Band provide flexibility inarranging suitable ,special programsor capitalizing on existing programs or events Cconcert series, dances, parkdepartment, YMCA, college and university activitiesi. In addition, the use of these units with .speakers at club meetings seemed to create interest inthe ship's visit and to attract media coverage. The inclusion of these units would be crucial tothe success offuture cruises 'of -this type. 2. Additional materials important- to the success of future cruises are: a. Lights to illuminate the ship at night and attract attention. Large Hollywood type spotlights should. be carried by the ship. b. y An adequate portable sound system for use in areas adjacent t to the ship, during demonstrations. c. A portable platform for use withthe Karate Team -demon- strations should .be provided by the ship. d. Balloons with appropriate message to be released upon arrival in port. e. Tapedspots by CO ship and CO troops should be provided for radio. Sound on film clips are useful for TV, 'lnclude 60-second spots. f. Posters - window cards announcing dates, visiting hours and location of the ship to be placed in display windows, hotel lobbies, etc.. by, local recruiters. An audio vehicle. A sound truck was used on two occasions during the DESOTO COUNTY cruise. As the vehicle traversed city streets the driver repeated a short message inviting the public to visit the ship. It was our experience that a vehicle with an audio system could often be borrowed from the police department or some other branch of city government. Direct mail. A mailer aimed at businessmen and leaders of local service and social organizations, telling them about the ship and inviting them to bring members of .their organization aboard as a group. An appropriate mailing list can easilybe obtained through the local recruiter, the local project officer, or the Chamber of Commerce. The mailing pieces should be sent to the project officer we-lil in advance of the ship's visit, and he should be instructed to get them out approximately two week's prior to the ship's arrival. i ..3- g. h. - .... ... . - p p, , li

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--. -gil- -'U --' -- as - A W i. Street Banners. These can be effective in any downtown area where there is a great deal of traffic., 3. Send a,Navy All-American football player. LTJG Greg Mather was a valuable method of introduction to media and a means of attracting media to the ship for feature coverage. . 4. Provide a clipping service as a means of accumulating an accurate record of publicity coverage and 3 method of evaluating cruise results. 5. The importance of the Advance Liaison Team's function in making final ,schedule commitments, placing additional cruise information with media, promoting pre-arrival and post-arrival interviews, andin general, creating interest and awareness of the ship's visit cannot be over-emphasized Experience proved that one team had difficulty in performing these essential functions due to tight operating schedules. Therefore, it is recommended that two Advance Liaison Teams be formed under the direction of the Cruise Public Information Officer. Two teams would permit more , advanced-workto be accomplished and greater assistance be provided to Area Project Officersat the ,future ports of call. A In addition, a team would always be available for public information assistance to the ship during the entire length of the visit in a particular port. Rarely could the Advance Liaison Team. remain with the DESOTO A COUNTY more ,than a day or two in any port before departing for the next port of call. It was also a rare occasion when the team reached a port more than three days ahead of the ship. Area Project Officers often commented ' that they required more-:advanced guidance and assistance to do the advanced planning.