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We are pleased to present the latest issue of From Air to Ground, Issue 13, May 2012. As a publication created by volunteers, for volunteers, the newsletter provides a medium for news and updates, addressing current issues, publicizing programs, and educating National Guard families on available services.
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Regional Volunteer
Representatives
Region 1 – Dee Dee Rice [email protected]
Region 2 – Gordon Lattey [email protected]
Region 3 – Alice Capehart [email protected]
Region 4 – Jenny Testerman [email protected]
Region 5 – Susan Webb [email protected]
Region 6 – Debra Boynton [email protected]
Region 7 – Jeanne Zerbonia [email protected]
Region 8 – Susan Giskaas [email protected]
Region 9 – Valerie Claude-Murray [email protected]
Region 10 – Terrylee Cox [email protected]
Tammy Chase
(Member at Large) [email protected]
Issue Seven July 2011
National Volunteer
Newsletter Team
Coordinator/Team Lead:
Chris Yriarte, Oregon [email protected]
Volunteer Staff:
Susan LaFlame, Massachusetts [email protected]
Becca Heffernan, New
Hampshire [email protected]
Jenny Testerman, Tennessee [email protected]
Judy Cook (Member at Large)
The National Guard Regional Volunteer Team (NGRVT) attended the Professional Development Seminar to develop their skills as volunteers and to network with staff from the National Guard Bureau programs that support service members and their families. The NGRVT sessions focused on social media, services and components of the Joint Services Support website, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Military Families, developing a communications portfolio, compassion fatigue, and NGRVT outreach. During the opening session, the National Guard Bureau emphasized the importance of collaboration and the need to connect with local community resources. Initiatives like Joining Community Forces support the Nation one community at a time through online communications in which communities can share best practices, learn from each other, and leverage state and local resources to build community capacity. The NGRVT presented a team out-brief that highlighted the increased need to utilize volunteers at every level to support staff turnover, strengthen relationships between all levels of leadership, and support State Family Programs Offices and Airmen & Family Readiness Programs. The NGRVT mission is “Purple” and to speak with One Voice on behalf of volunteers who support service members and their families. The NGRVT members welcome you to share your best practices with them as they strive to listen to volunteers and work on solutions to issues that affect the success of National Guard Family programs.
Branch Chief Volunteer and
Child/Youth
Paula Sumrall [email protected]
Volunteer & Youth Policy
Coordinator
Erika Slaton [email protected]
National Volunteer Outreach
and Training Program
Coordinator
Deanna Cole [email protected]
2012 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR: OH THE THINGS WE LEARNED TO SERVE YOU
MORE
Issue Thirteen May 2012
This newsletter contains information of common interest to military families. Contents of From Air to Ground are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the National Guard Bureau.
From Air to Ground ~ Page 2
MMAAYY:: NNAATTIIOONNAALL HHOOLLIIDDAAYYSS HHOONNOORRIINNGG OOUURR MMIILLIITTAARRYY
Armed Forces Day is celebrated the third
Saturday of May, falling on the 19th this year. The
purpose of Armed Forces Day is to honor all those
serving in our U.S. Military – Army, Air Force,
Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, including those
serving in the National Guard and Reserves. It is
important to note that because National Guard
training schedules sometimes fall on the same
weekend as Armed Forces Day, the National Guard
celebrates Armed Forces Day any day in May
deemed appropriate by that State’s National Guard.
Memorial Day, which was May 30th, (in 1971 the
federal observance was changed to the last Monday
in May) is a day of remembrance for those who gave
the greatest sacrifice during their service to our
Nation. Memorial Day was originally termed
“Decoration Day” because it is a day to go to the
graveside of soldiers to place wreaths and flowers in
honor of the fallen soldier. Memorial Day continues
to be a day of remembrance today and should be
observed by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or
flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers, flying the
U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon, or participating in
an organized moment of remembrance for our fallen
heroes.
It is always important to remember the true
meaning of our national holidays of honoring
Military Service members, so that we do not forget
the sacrifices made and those that are still making
sacrifices today.
Our great Nation honors our military service
members and the freedoms afforded by our military
each year with several different holidays. Each holiday
has a unique purpose and it goes beyond receiving a
10% discount at the local furniture store. For those of
us that are military family members, it is important to
understand why we celebrate these days each year.
Loyalty Day is a day set aside for the reaffirmation
of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition
of the heritage of American freedom. It was made an
official holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958.
Following the passage of this law, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1959, the first official
observance of Loyalty Day. In 2007, President George
W. Bush issued an official proclamation of the May 1,
2007, Loyalty Day in accordance with the 1958
Congressional declaration.
Silver Star Banner Day is a day that is set aside
each year to recognize and honor the sacrifices of
wounded servicemembers. The Silver Star Service
Banner is reserved for those who have been wounded,
contracted a serious illness or injury in a war zone. In
April of 2010, Congress passed H.R.855 making Silver
Star Service Banner Day on May 1 an Official Day to
honor wounded, ill, and injured veterans.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a day that is set
aside each year to recognize and honor the
contributions and sacrifices of military spouses. In
1984, then President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the
Friday before Mother’s Day to be designated as
Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Since then, each
President and senior military leaders have echoed the
sentiments expressed by President Reagan. In addition
to the public support and recognition of these leaders,
events are commonly sponsored at installations across
the nation and around the world to recognize the
importance of our unsung heroes.
Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) commemorates May 8, 1945 (in commonwealth
countries; May 7,1945), the date when the World War
II Allies formally accepted the unconditional
surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the
end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender
of the occupying German forces in the Channel
Islands was not until May 9, 1945. On 30 April Hitler
committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so
the surrender of Germany was authorized by his
replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz.
From Air to Ground ~ Page 3
LLEESSTT WWEE FFOORRGGEETT.. .. ..OONNCCEE AA MMOOTTHHEERR,, AALLWWAAYYSS AA MMOOTTHHEERR
As we honor those who are mothers or mother figures in our lives; please don’t
forget a special group of mothers. These women are members of a noble club and
they offer a particular solace to each other that no one else can.
What club is this? The Gold Star club. Gold Star Mothers have paid the ultimate
price for continued freedom. Mother’s Day can be especially difficult for this
special group of women. Their sacrifice should not be forgotten. Often when
news of a casualty reaches a community Gold Star Mothers will be the first to
respond.
If you are unaware of Gold Star Mothers in your community; begin with your unit. There may be a list of members
that were killed in action. Afterward, a simple internet search may supply survivor names. Another option would be
to contact your local chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers (AGSM), www.goldstarmoms.com, through which
cards could be sent to the chapter president for distribution to members.
While the second Sunday in May is traditionally set aside as Mother’s Day; in 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
officially designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mothers Day. AGSM took a position against such a
day being designated, stating that gold star mothers already had Mother's Day and that was sufficient. However,
when the proclamation was signed, AGSM formally thanked the President for his action.
Once a Mother . . . Always a Mother.
HHOOWW WWEELLLL DDOOEESS YYOOUURR FFRRGG FFLLOOAATT??
Keeping your Family Readiness Group afloat during the summer months can be challenging. No matter what stage of
deployment you are in, summer poses special difficulties for FRGs. Hectic schedules, nice weather, and deployments
or Annual Training all contribute to steering your FRG off course. Added to these trials are the everyday challenges
National Guard volunteers face, including geographic disparity. But never fear, here are a couple of life rafts to help
your FRGs stay afloat!
Consider alternate activities for FRG members such as a community service project. Get to know each other by
organizing a day of geocaching or a scavenger hunt. Another option would be for the group to take advantage of any
military discounts offered by local amusement parks for a fun, inexpensive get-away.
If the summer heat is too much for outdoor activities, consider having “family fun nights.” Plan for family-friendly
evenings. This can include activities like a movie night with a DVD projected on a wall, a video game tournament
sure to involve everyone from age 1 to 100, or a variety of board games for all ages to play.
Is your unit currently in a deployment phase? Another option to keep your FRG active is to become involved in
community events. If there is a patriotic event in your area, participate as a group. Be creative and prepare a float for
your local parade. For FRGs facing geographic disparity, consider offering a small door prize to the member who
travels the farthest or using software like Skype® for reaching across the miles to conduct FRG business.
If your unit is between deployments, consider this a wonderful time to get know the other families in your unit better.
Try participating in Operation Homefront’s collections and distribution of school supplies to prepare for the upcoming
school year or volunteer for any community service project. Building connections with others that will assist you with
future deployment cycles will benefit all family members. Your involvement is essential to a successful FRG. Many
hands make light work, and having a strong support system is priceless.
From Air to Ground ~ Page 4
http://www.facebook.com/BlueStarFamilies Online handbook detailing everything from privacy settings to groups to Operational Security and more provided by Facebook. http://www.afvclub.com/ Armed Forces Vacation Club is a great resource to check out before you book your summer travel. http://www.militaryfamily.org/publication/kids-toolkit/ This toolkit is free. You can share this with people in your children’s lives to help them understand your military child’s unique life. http://www.military.com/Travel/Home/ Planning that perfect summer family vacation with a Military Discount! http://www.military.com/military-fitness/weight-loss/military-spouse-weight-loss-plan For fitting into that Summer Swimsuit http://www.operationscreamfree.org Helpling U.S. military families around the world grow calmer and closer, increasing their ability to survive the traumas of service, deployment and war. http://www.ourmilitarykids.org Grants for children of deployed National Guard or Military Reserve personnel. http://www.militarydisneytips.com Tips and advice for military members and their families on how to take advantage of all
the great military discounts available on Walt Disney World vacations that are exclusively available to the military and DoD community. http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces Presidential initiative highlighting opportunities across the public and private
sectors, and lay the foundation for a coordinated approach to supporting and engaging military families for years to come.
Resource Corner:
Applications may be submitted begining May 15, 2012. VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to
99,000 unemployed Veterans who are at least 35 years old but no older than 60. Eligible participants will
receive up to 12 months of training assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–
Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). The Department of Labor (DOL) will offer employment
assistance to every Veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP program. Learn more about VRAP at
http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm.
Interested applicants can sign up to receive personalized information about VRAP by signing up at
http://gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/vrap_email_signup.html. They will be prompted to provide
their first name, last name, and email address. Once submitted, an applicant can expect to receive six to
seven emails about VRAP, including notification on when applications open.
AATTTTEENNTTIIOONN JJOOBB SSEEEEKKEERRSS:: HHAAVVEE YYOOUU HHEEAARRDD AABBOOUUTT TTHHEE VVOOWW??
In an effort to reduce Veteran unemployment, the Veterans
Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was passed
and signed into law last November. Included in this new law is
the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for
unemployed 35 to 60 year old Veterans, which will begin on
July 1, 2012
From Air to Ground ~ Page 5
JUNE 2012 TOPIC: Everyone Ready! (ER) Generations: Adapting to
Volunteers of Different Ages
Trainer: Peter C. Brinckerhoff
Everyone is dealing with generational differences, on the job
and in private life, so all paid staff and volunteers can benefit
from the insights in this seminar. Of special interest to: Those who recruit volunteers of all ages Those who supervise volunteers of all ages Human resources staff who face the same issues with
employees
Session 1
June 5th
10:00 AM -11:00 AM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/484188282 June 7th
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/360586834
Session 2
June 12th
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/192567866
June 14th
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/318056114
Session 3
June 19th
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/484903610
June 21st
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/359384770
The National Guard Volunteer Training Team (VTT)
is looking for some new volunteers. All applicants should
have good communication skills, know computer
programs such as Excel, Word and Powerpoint and how to
navigate the internet. All VTT volunteers should expect
to volunteer 10-15 hours per week.
The VTT encourages volunteerism by providing
education, promoting communication, and building
leadership skills for volunteers so they can better serve
Military Members and their Families. This is
accomplished by offering monthly webinars, training and
information to help create a standardized and professional
volunteer corps, and a way for volunteers, paid staff and
Military Members to network with each other at a national
level.
The VTT is a team of volunteers from all over the
country, from all walks of life, who have come together to
help other volunteers. If you are interested in joining this
remarkable group of people, please contact the VTT
Coordinator, Tammy Chase, at
[email protected] for an application today!
VVOOLLUUNNTTEEEERR WWEEBBIINNAARRSS:: OONN LLIINNEE VVOOLLUUNNTTEEEERR TTRRAAIINNIINNGG
VTT webinars are online/web-based seminars (visual online and audio with a toll free telephone number) and discussions offering resources
and tools for volunteers. Each month is a different TOPIC that consists of 1 to 3 sessions.
For more information on future VTT trainings please go to www.jointservicessupport.org and click on Events and then Calendar, or e-mail
Deanna Cole at [email protected] or Tammy Chase at [email protected].
COORDINATOR/TEAM LEAD: Tammy Chase ~ [email protected]
Volunteer Training Team Leads Nicole Campbell ~ [email protected]
Glory Rossbacher ~ [email protected]
Lori Vaughan ~ [email protected]
Volunteer Training Team Donna Antal Kenna Pemberton
Aquanette Clarke Karen Tryon
Judy Cook Gerda Weekley
Elizabeth Flagg Cara Wheeler
April McLean
