Thursday, November 12, 2009

Belvoir Briefs for Nov. 12

Claims office closed
The Fort Belvoir Claims Office is closed Friday and reopens Monday. Members are reminded they may submit notice of damage or loss (DD Form 1840/1840R) and file claims on line through PCLAIMS, which is accessible AKO Self Service, Legal, Claims, U.S. Army Claims Service.

Army Officers Wives
The Army Officers Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area hosts a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19 in the Koran Room of Fort Myers Officers Club.
Retired Col. Rob Dalessandro, assistant chief of the U.S. Army Center for Military History, the featured speaker, will discuss the Zooseum: The Story of the Pentagon Army Corridor Project.
The event is an opportunity to learn about the new E-Ring museum, which boasts art and artifacts from around the Army community, in the Pentagon’s Army Wedge.
The event costs $20. Reservations must be mailed by Friday to Ruth Howell; 7700 Little River Turnpike; Suite 100; Annandale, Va., 22003.
Information is available from Wendy Gifford, 703-893-1542; or Howell, 703-941-1300.

Operation Rising Star at Belvoir
Twelve members of the world’s U.S. military family have been selected to compete in the final week of competition in the Operation Rising Star singing contest, scheduled for Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. in Wallace Theater.
The number of semifinalists will halved on Saturday. They will be accompanied by the U.S. Army Band.
The six finalists will be announced during Monday’s live show, and three more competitors will be eliminated Wednesday. The competition’s winner will be revealed live Nov. 20.
All performances will be broadcast the following day on the Pentagon Channel.
The public is invited to join the studio audience for these performances. General-admission seating is free, and reserved VIP seating is available. Audience members and Internet viewers can cast votes online for two hours after each broadcast.
Show times, voting policies, and details about VIP tickets are available from OpRisingStar.com.
Information is available through Shirley Kappa, 703-681-5221, or via e-mail to Shirley.Kappa@ us.army.mil.

Community Center closure
Bozzelli’s Deli in the Fort Belvoir Community Center is closed Nov. 19. Bozzelli’s and ITR are closed Nov. 20. The closures are for a Base Realignment and Closure Rehearsal of Concept Drill. Units and organizations should adjust their plans accordingly.
More information is available by calling 703-805-4002 or 703-805-5207.

Army Warrants
The Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter, US Army Warrant Officer Association has its monthly membership meeting Nov. 19 at the Kingstowne Library, on the corner of Beulah and Telegraph roads. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. and includes an installation of newly elected officers.
All active, reserve, and retired warrant officers are invited and encouraged to attend. Information is available from chapter president, CW3 Patrick Morris, 703-945-3140.

Sugarplum gift cards needed
This year, the post’s annual Sugarplum Holiday Assistance Program accepts only gift cards for donations to families, until Dec. 1.
Soldiers, E-5 and below, or DoD civilians GS-7 and below, assigned to Belvoir are eligible recipients.
Information and nominations are available through Tammye Brady, 703-805-3436.

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).

Limited dental appointments
Logan Dental Clinic has limited appointments available through Nov. 19, due to the implementation and training of the digital dental record system, also known as the Dental ALHTA system.
The clinic resumes normal scheduling Nov. 23. The clinic appreciates patients’ patience.  Information is available by calling 703-806-4393, 4394, 4395 or 0025.

Employment readiness
Army Community Service’s Employment Readiness Program offers the ABCs of Federal Employment and Federal Résumé Preparation Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon.  Information is available by calling 703-805-4590.

Change of Command
The Expeditionary Contracting Command has a change-of-command ceremony Nov. 20 at 10 a.m., in Specker Field House.
Brig. Gen. Camille Nichols will relinquish command to Col. Joseph Bass.

Annual photo contest
The 2009 Army Digital Photography Contest is underway, with the entry deadline Nov. 30. Information is available by calling 703-806-4655.

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 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.

Harlem Globetrotters
Ticket vouchers for military-priced tickets for The Harlem Globetrotters, an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism and comedy, are available at ITR. Tickets for a game Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., at the Patriot Center are $19.50. Tickets for a Dec. 30 game at the Verizon Center are $14.

AFTB Level I
Fort Belvoir Army Family Team Building offers a Level I Navigating The Military Life course, Dec. 3 and 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The free course includes sessions on Military Acronyms and Terms; Basic Problem-Solving; and Military Customs and Courtesies.
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).

AFTB Level II
Fort Belvoir Army Family Team Building offers a Level II Personal and Professional Development course, Dec. 7 to 9 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).

Red Cross classes
The Fort Belvoir office of the American Red Cross offers the following classes: CPR Adult, Child and Infant, Part 1, Wednesday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Part 2, Nov. 19, 6 to 8 p.m.; SFA CPR Child and Infant, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December classes are Babysitter’s class, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; CPR/AED Adult, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and SFA CPR Child and Infant, 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.

Veterans Day observance
The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Day observance is Friday at 7:30 a.m. at the Officers’ Club, followed by breakfast.               
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.

New program, in-home visits
Parents as Teachers Hero’s at Home, in conjunction with Fort Belvoir Child, Youth and School Services has a new program. Two trained and certified parent educators now offer free, in-home visits to enlighten parents on the developmental growth of their child and offer special health screenings.
Registration is available through CYSS Central Registration, 805-9114, 9116 or 9118.

Religion

Messiah
Each year, Fort Belvoir’s choirs combine with community members to make up a Belvoir Community Choir and perform Part One, the Christmas Section, of Handel’s Messiah with a professional orchestra and soloists.
The group rehearses in November and then performs Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Belvoir Chapel. All music is provided. Rehearsals are in the basement of Belvoir Chapel. People who like and can read music are invited to participate.
Rehearsals are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 1 in the chapel’s basement, followed by a mandatory dress rehearsal at 2 p.m. Dec. 5.
Information is available from Mary McAdory, 703-878-0551, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); or Jan McKeever, 703-313-8468, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Jewish movie, book discussion
The Fort Belvoir Jewish congregation has movie afternoon Sunday at 1 p.m., in the Religious Education Center, with “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”
The congregation hosts Alison Buckholtz, to discuss her book, “Standing By: The Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War,” Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m., in the Religious Education Center. 

Protestant
The Protestant Women of the Chapel have “Gather With Thankful Hearts,” at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 19 at Woodlawn Chapel. Group members will reflect on what they are thankful for this past year and learn how to be more thankful in all circumstances. 
Watchcare and home-school rooms are available.
Information is available from Caroline Charron, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Advent workshop
The Religious Education Center hosts an Advent workshop Nov. 29 from noon to 3 p.m.
Wreaths, candles, prayers and pizza are provided. Families can provide greens and decorations.
Interested participants are asked to RSVP by Nov. 25 via e-mail to Sister Michael at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or to Mike Webb,  .(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.