Media Training Practice

Chuck Zimmerman

Media Training WorkshopI brought a home video camera for the media training workshop and got to tape the practice interviews like this one.

As a reporter it was interesting to see the process. Being put in front of a camera and having a microphone stuck in your face can be very intimidating. Practice makes perfect though.

Participants in the session got to hear from a number of individuals in the industry who have to deal with the media. Then it was time to volunteer and practice.

I recorded a short video clip of this participant being interviewed and videotaped: Watch wmv file Media Training Practice (wmv file)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress, Video

Media Training Workshop

Chuck Zimmerman

Jenna HigginsOne of the first workshops offered here is on media training. It’s being conducted by Jenna Higgins who I interviewed last week.

Besides talking about the importance of doing a good interview Jenna will be conducting mock interviews with participants.

That’s always fun. Get interviewed, then get critiqued. It’s the best way to learn though.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress

Conference Chairman Will Kleindienst

Chuck Zimmerman

Will KleindienstLet’s meet the Chairman of the Clean Cities Congress, Will Kleindienst.

Will is an architect by training and former two-term Mayor of Palm Springs, CA. He drives an alternative fuel vehicle so he knows what he’s talking about. I interviewed Will as registration got going this morning. You’ll hear how passionate he is about the alternative fuels industry. He talks about how he got involved and what it’s going to take here in America to move away from our dependence on oil.

You can listen to my interview with Will here: Listen To MP3 Will Kleindienst Interview (10 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Registration Running Smoothly

Chuck Zimmerman

RegistrationYou always have to show registration.

These folks working behind the counter do a lot of work and need some recognition. They get a lot of questions.

I’m set up in the room right behind them so I can see and hear it all. Full registrants get some very nice GM bags.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress, Miscellaneous

Training For The Coordinators

Chuck Zimmerman

Clean Cities Coordinators MeetingAfter a rough night at the ballpark the Clean Cities Coordinators had to be in a morning long meeting.

I didn’t get to be at the meeting for very long. This one was held at the Wyndham Hotel.

This was in a big room.

I mean big since it was set in a square so everyone could see each other.

Clean Cities Coordinators Meeting

I was there toward the end and people were taking turns making remarks on different topics.

After a lunch break the first sessions get kicked off back at the Convention Center.

A lot of excitement was generated this morning by the local morning newspaper, The Arizona Republic, which did a huge cover story on the conference. You’ll need to register to see the story.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress

Cinco de Mayo Festival

Chuck Zimmerman

Cinco de MayoI know this doesn’t have anything to do with the Clean Cities Congress but it’s part of the local scene in downtown Phoenix this weekend.

Cinco de Mayo may have been Friday but it’s being celebrated this weekend.

There’s a lot of food vendors and multiple music stages. So to let you have a taste of the event I’ve got a couple of short video clips for you. In this first one you’ll see the bell ringing vendors who wander around: Watch wmv file Jingle Bells (wmv file)

To get an idea of what one of the stage shows was like you can watch this one: Watch wmv file Stage Show (wmv file)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress, Video

Clean Cities Coordinators

Chuck Zimmerman

Clean Cities CoordinatorsI am very impressed with these Clean Cities coordinators.

Even after having started the party at the Diamondbacks game they sat still just long enough for this picture.

These are the people from all over the country who are working hard to make this program work.

We’ll be interacting with them more over the next several days.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress

Interviews From The Dinner

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim Snider & Colleen CrowninshieldAt the Clean Cities Coordinators Dinner I spoke with the sponsor and one of the coordinators.

Pictured are Jim Snider, DaimlerChrysler and Colleen Crowninshield, Clean Cities Program Manager, Tuscon, AZ. I spoke first with Colleen. She is a full time coordinator and is here for some very specific reasons which she explains in our interview. You can listen here: Listen To MP3 Colleen Crowninshield Interview (2 min MP3)

After speaking with Colleen, I got Jim to take a few moments to talk about the committment his company is making to support the growth of alternative fuel technology. Jim also looks ahead a little and describes what he sees for the company and this industry. You can listen to my interview with Jim here: Listen To MP3 Jim Snider Interview (3 min MP3)

I’ll have lots more interviews and audio over the next several days. The Clean Cities Congress & Expo officially gets started later today.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Welcome Coordinators

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim SniderThere was a reason why some of us were at the Diamondbacks game last night.

It was the location of the annual Clean Cities Coordinators Dinner. Once again the dinner was sponsored by DaimlerChrysler, represented by Jim Snider.

At the start of the game Jim welcomed us all there. You can listen to his comments here: Listen To MP3 Jim Snider Welcome (1 min MP3)

Thanks very much to Jim and DaimlerChrysler for bringing us together and allowing the coordinators the opportunity to get to know each other better.

I’ll have a personal interview with Jim in the next post.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Good Night For Local Sports

Chuck Zimmerman

Chase FieldThe biggest game in Phoenix last night was the Suns/Lakers playoff game (way to go Suns) but there was another game in town too.

The local boys won this one too.

In case you wonder what it was like you can watch a very short video clip here: Watch wmv file Diamondback Game (wmv file)

It was a beautiful night for baseball.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Southern California Gas Company

Clean Cities Congress, Video