Thursday, December 03, 2009

Belvoir Briefs for Dec. 3

New teen book club
Van Noy Library’s new Teen Book Club is open to anyone ages 13 to 18. The group meets once a month on a Saturday to discuss books that have been made into movies.  The first meeting is Saturday from 4:45 to 6 p.m. at the library.
December’s selection is Neil Gaiman’s ‘“Stardust.”
RSVP at 703-806-3323.

Phone home for the Holidays
Fort Belvoir FMWR and the USO host a free event Dec. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Community Center. People who attend can walk through a gingerbread house, visit Santa Claus, get their face painted and enjoy crafts, games, door prizes, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn.
A spaghetti dinner will be served and a holiday movie begins at 7 p.m.
8More information is available by calling 703-805-2464 or 703-805-3714.

Lunch buffet change
Beginning Monday, the Officers’ Club Potomac Room is open for its lunch buffet on Mondays. Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The buffet is all-you-can-eat for $7.95. Information is available by calling 780-0930.

Holly, jolly holiday at Van Noy
Van Noy Library has a holiday event Dec. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m., for holiday craft-making, activities, story time cookies and more.
More information is available by calling 703-806-3323.

Holiday Sunday Brunch
Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club hosts its Holiday Brunch Dec. 13. Reservations are required and can be made at 703-780-0930, ext. 600. Santa will be available for photos from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Workshops, seminars
Fort Belvoir’s Army Career and Alumni Program offers the following seminars and workshops:
Transition Assistance Program Employment, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Barden Room 160.
The workshop is divided into sections on financial planning, job strategies, networking, résumé building, image consulting and interviewing development.
The workshop also includes an employer panel presentation that gives participants insights on the job market and what hiring managers are looking for.
VA Briefing, Dec. 10, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Barden Room 160. Veterans Administration counselors explain the range of VA benefits and people’s eligibility for compensation and pension, health care, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education and training, home loan guarantee, life insurance, survivor and burial and how to apply for benefits. Financial Planning & Investment Management Skills, Dec. 17, 9 to 11 a.m., Barden Education Center Room 105.
Attendance is encouraged for any transitioning servicemember or family member with questions about financial management and planning. The workshop is taught by a certified financial planner from the Military Officers Association of America. People who attend can learn about investment strategies, retirement sources of income, evaluating a financial situation, building portfolios, and managing investments. 
The ACAP office is in Room 158 of Barden and can be reached by calling 703-805-9247.

BOWC
The Belvoir Officers’ Wives’ Club’s next luncheon is at Mount Vernon Inn, Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Army Wives
The Army Officers Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area hosts a luncheon Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m. in the Koran Room at Fort Myers Officers Club. A holiday performance from the U.S. Army Band’s Broadway Trio is the featured program and the event also hosts Christmas vendors to help people with last-minute Christmas shopping.
The event costs $20. Reservations must be mailed by Dec. 11, to Ruth Howell, 7709 Little River Turnpike, Suite 100, Annandale, Va., 20003.
Information is available from Wendy Gifford, 703-903-1542; or Ruth Howell, 703-941-1300.

Red Cross classes
The Fort Belvoir office of the American Red Cross offers the following classes in December:
• Babysitter’s class, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• CPR/AED Adult, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
• SFA CPR Child and Infant, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Belvoir’s Red Cross office is at 9716 Middleton Road. Class registration and payment can be made online at redcrossnca.org or by calling 703-805-2057. Group or organization training is available through Ashley Cleveland, 703-584-8716.

NARFE meeting
The National Association of Retired Federal Employees Association Springfield Chapter 893 meets Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
The meeting location is The American Legion Post 176, 5620 Amherst Ave, Springfield, adjacent to Kay Jenning’s Springfield Toyota.
Member Bob Drake, a guitarist, will lead holiday tunes. People who attend should bring a pen and a friend to participate in the annual holiday Sing Along, with a Name that Song game. Donations for homeless veterans will be requested.
Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Information about the meeting and the organization is available from Dick Gallagher, chapter president, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 703-455-4373. 

Hip hop lessons
Spaces are available for teen and school-age hip hop lessons, with beginning and intermediate instruction Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Youth Center for people ages 13 to 18; and from 6 to 7 p.m. for children 5 to 12 years old, at Markham SAS.  Lessons cost $45 per month. More information is available by calling 805-9146.

Wine trip
Outdoor Recreation has a wine-tasting trip, the Jingle Bell Wine Trail, Dec. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost of $20 per person includes transportation and fees to Cooper, Grayhaven, James River and Lake Anna wineries.
People who go get a souvenir wine glass and a coupon. The trip includes some appetizers, craft vendors and special promotions.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling 703-805-3081.

Scholarships
The Army Engineer Officers’ Wives’ Club has Army Engineer Memorial Awards available to qualifying high school seniors. AEMA awards are open to students in all fields of study. The Geraldine K. Morris Award is available to high school seniors who intend to enroll in a program leading to a nursing degree or certification.
Qualification information and applications are available at aeowc.com. More information is available from the AEMA chairman at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

SJA location
The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate has moved to Bldg. 702, at the corner of 16th Street and Lowen Road.  It is housed in a white warehouse close to the intersection of 16th and Gunston Road. SJA’s street address is 9910 Lowen Road, Bldg. 702, Fort Belvoir, Va., 22060-5593.
The office’s phone number is 805-2856.

Day care openings
FMWR has immediate openings for child care in the following areas: Child Development Centers pre-kindergarten and Family Child Care homes, pre-school and toddler.
Enrollment appointments are available through Child, Youth and School Services Central Registration, 805-9114, 9116 or 9118.
The pre-K program, ‘“Strong Beginnings - Building Foundations for Learning,” focuses on language and reading, mathematics, science, computers, social studies and the arts and helps prepare children for kindergarten.
North and South Post CDCs have earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Free band tickets
Fort Belvoir Community Center has free tickets for the U.S. Army Band, ‘“Pershing’s Own,” in its celebration of the holiday season with its ‘“A Holiday Festival” concert.
Tickets are available to anyone on a first-come, first served basis.  The concerts are open to the public.
The events, in DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., features The U.S. Army Orchestra, The U.S. Army Chorus, and vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange.

Concert dates and times are:
• Dec. 11, 8 p.m.
• Dec. 12, 3 and 8 p.m.
• Dec. 13, 3 p.m. 
Doors open for patrons an hour before show times. No general admission tickets are reserved or assigned. Tickets will be honored until 15 minutes before the concerts’ scheduled start time, while seats are available.
Walk-up patrons without tickets are welcome at 10 minutes before the scheduled start times, if seats are available.
More information is available from usarmy band.com/events/holiday_festival.

AFTB Level II
Fort Belvoir Army Family Team Building offers a Level II Personal and Professional Development course, Monday to Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The free course includes sessions on Personal Time Management and Stress Management. The class is at 9800 Belvoir Road, Bldg. 200, Fort Belvoir, and is open to all military spouses and family members; DoD civilians and Soldiers.
Information and registration is available from AFTB Program Manager Colandra Sealey, 703-805-5556, or via e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Plantation Christmas, CEFC
The Civilian Employee Fund Council provides trips for civilian DoD employees and their guests.
An old-fashioned Plantation Christmas, Gunston Hall, is Dec. 12, 6 p.m., with dinner and an estate tour. Tickets are $30 per person, not including transportation.
Holiday nut sales are expected in November, with pecans, English walnuts, peanuts, chocolate-covered and cinnamon pecans.
Registration is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays in the CEF’s basement office of Bldg. 210. Information is available from Charlene Anderson, 703-805-4126.

Religion

Jewish movie, Hanukkah
The Fort Belvoir Jewish congregation hosts Alison Buckholtz, to discuss her book, ‘“Standing By: The Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War,” Sunday at 1:30 p.m., in the Religious Education Center. 
The congregation’s Hanukkah program is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 on the steps of Belvoir Chapel, followed by an 8 p.m. service. Dec. 18 is the group’s annual Hanukkah dinner, with brisket, latkes and more.
RSVP to Sara Astrow, 703-806-4196, or via e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

PraiseMoves
Everyone is invited to participate in PraiseMoves, a Christian stretching and exercise program, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. in the Religious Education Center. Watchcare is provided.
Information is available from the instructor, Cynthia Thomas, 703-499-3380.

Pianist wanted
The Fort Belvoir’s Garrison Chaplain Office is looking for a pianist for the 8 a.m. Protestant worship service.
More information about the paid, contract position is available from the office, 806-4317 or 4316.