Nominations for the prestigious Air Cadet Organisation Media and Communications Awards (The MACAs) are now being taken.

I have just been informed that it's time for Wings to submit their nominations to Region who will then submit their choice in each category to HQAC.

Over the last two years Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing have had some significant success winning a total of three MACAs

This year I would invite all SMCO's, CO's & WSO's to help out with the selection process at wing level by giving you the opportunity to nominate a single contender from our Squadrons for the following categories:

1) Best News Article - Nominations should include air cadet related articles from the last year. Consider nominating news articles published in newspapers and magazines and on websites and in other specialist publications.

2) Best News Feature - Nominate your favourite feature on the Air Cadets from the last 12 months. Consideration should be given to features published in national and provincial newspapers and magazines or in Air Cadet Magazine, on websites and in specialist publications.

3) Best News Broadcast - Following a year of top Cadet150, Royal and other cadet related broadcasts; this category is expected to be well contested.

4) Best ACO website - Nominees for the best air cadet website should consider sites from Region down to Squadron level. Try to consider those that are regularly updated and feature a wide breadth of articles.

5) Best Engagement Project - Nominees for this category should include projects, which have allowed the ACO to engage with a wider audience. Past nominations have included Air shows, social networking and youth-based projects.

6) Best Recruitment Campaign - Nominate the campaign which you feel has excelled in the field of recruitment over the last 12 months.

7) The Hope Trophy - Nominations for handling public relations and engagement in the face of adversity.

8) Best Squadron Media & Comms Officer - Select the squadron MCO who you feel deserves to be recognised this year.

Nominations must include:

• Nomination Category.
• Title.
• Squadron.
• Originator.
• A Copy of the press release or an outline explanation of the project/broadcast/nominated person etc.
• A list of the media in which the item was published if applicable.
• Most importantly - Why you think your submission deserves to be nominated.

Please note that you do not need to nominate an item for every category, just those for which you think you have something that has a real chance of getting somewhere. Remember the standard of final nominees at HQAC level is very high so I would ask you to consider only the very best

Please send your nominations for the categories above to Flt Lt Paul Hincks via e-mail. paul@hincks11.freeserve.co.uk Closing date is 18th October 2010 .

Sorry for the very tight deadline but we need to have nominations in as soon as possible to enable selection at Wing and Regional level in time to meet the HQAC deadline of 30 th October

Note, Do not send nominations directly to HQAC as suggested on the HQAC website.