Thursday, September 18, 2008

Belvoir Briefs

Deployed family Fun Day
The USO of Metropolitan Washington and other military support agencies host Deployed Family Fun Day Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is at TISCOM, Coast Guard Headquarters, 7323 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, 22315.
Spouses and children of deployed servicemembers can gather for fun, entertainment and activities, including face-painting, laser tag, a moon bounce, a visit from Operation Military Kids and a picnic buffet.
All service branches will participate and provide resources and information about programs and services available for families of deployed servicemembers. Active-duty servicemembers who expect to deploy soon are also invited to attend and bring family. The event is free.
Commanders, 1st Sgts. Training
The JFHQ-NCR/MDW Commanders and First Sergeants Training Course dates are Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at Fort Myer’s Main Post Chapel, across from the main post exchange.
The course is conducted to acquaint new and prospective company leaders with some of the challenges of command and the avenues and resources available to help them in resolving or addressing Soldier issues and concerns within the National Capital Region. Military District of Washington Regulation requires all company commanders and first sergeants to attend the training.
Interested people should contact their unit S3 or installation DPTMS. A final list of participants is due Sept. 26.

Hispanic heritage dance
The Dewitt Army hospital, Hispanic Heritage Committee sponsors a Hispanic heritage dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Fort Belvoir Community Club. The event features the Panamanian and Paraguay Folkloric Group.
Tickets costs $10 and are available by calling Alonso Grant, 703-805-0094; or Sgt. Garcia, 703-805-0097.
Hispanic American Heritage observance
Fort Belvoir’s Equal Opportunity Office hosts its Hispanic American Heritage Month observance at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 1 in the Belvoir Room of the Officers’ Club. George Autobee, senior advisor/coordinator for the American GI forum, is the speaker. The topic this year is Getting Involved: Our Families, Our Community, Our Nation. Grufolpawa, Inc., will have a dance performance.
The observance is open to all military and civilians.
Information is available by calling 703-805-2288/5383.

Organization Day hours
To participate in the Garrison Organization Day, Sept. 26, the fitness centers will have adjusted hours. Graves Fitness Center will be open from 5:30 to 11 a.m. and from 2 to 8 p.m. Specker Field House is open from 5:30 to 11 a.m.

Girl Scouts event
Fort Belvoir Girl Scouts have their first post-wide event of the Year Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., with the group’s Welcome Back Campfire at the Scout Hut, behind the Thrift Store.
All registered Girl Scouts and families are welcome and are encouraged to bring a non-Girl Scout friend. New scouts can register at the event, too.
The campfire will have hot dogs, s’mores, songs and fun with friends. 
Interested families may buy advance tickets for $3 each through their troop leaders or by contacting Liah Piatt, 703-232-4354 or .
Tickets are available onsite for $5 each.

Ready Army classes set
Belvoir hosts Ready Army classes at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 29. They are open to everyone. Printed information about Fort Belvoir’s participation in the Ready Army campaign is available at Army Community Service, Barden Education Center, the commissary and the post exchange. 
Ready Army activities for children, including a drawing contest, will be conducted throughout September at Fort Belvoir Elementary School, the Youth Center and at the child development centers.
Information is available from James Johnston, 805-2846.

Naval Officers’ Spouses
All Naval officers’ spouses (active, reserve and retired) are invited to a Welcome
Coffee Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington. The event, sponsored by the Naval Officers Spouses Club
of Washington DC, features a guest speaker, information booths of area services and organizations and shopping at the Temptations Boutique Trunk Show. The club’s monthly events include social activities, tours, fundraising and guest speakers. Past guest speakers include the chief of naval operations, President George W. Bush, Lee Woodruff and Ann Hand.
RSVPs for the coffee are available through or by calling 703-538-5874.

Aging Workforce Briefing
Experience Works, a national, nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers, hosts an Aging Workforce Policy Briefing Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Reserve Officers Association, One Constitution Avenue NE, Washington, D.C.
Corporate executives, aging experts and members of Congress will discuss the role of older workers in building the future workforce, and the challenges facing low-income older workers.
The public is welcome to attend for free, but space is limited. To ensure a seat, attendees must register through Susan Rodriguez, , 703-522-7272.
Information about the organization is available from experienceworks.org. 

Haunting volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed for Outdoor Recreation’s upcoming haunted house. Volunteers can be characters or guides or help with construction.
People with any talent in construction, music and sound, costuming, decorating, acting, leading and organizing people or those who are just good screamers and like to creep around corners and scare people are needed.
Interested people are asked to call Karen Bacorn, 703-805-3081 or 703-805-5396.  Volunteers must be 18 or older to participate.
Meetings are Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. starting Tuesday. Construction begins Oct. 5 in the large indoor archery range, in Outdoor Recreation, Bldg. 778, at the corner of Warren and Johnson roads at Tompkins Basin.

Scouting volunteers needed
The Girl Scouts of Fort Belvoir need volunteers, female or male, parent and non-parent alike. Many varying positions are available, including parent volunteers, troop leaders and co-leaders, service unit positions (of varying degree), event coordinators, etc.
Any help anyone can offer is appreciated. The Girl Scouts offers an opportunity to instill confidence, courage and character in the women leaders of the future.
Interested people are asked to contact Terri Andreoni, 419-953-4131, .

AFTB Level II
Army Family Team Building Level II is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 30 thru Oct. 3. Monday is the deadline to request child care. All children must be registered with Child and Youth Services before the class.
Classes are in the AFTB classroom, 9651 Gunston Road, Bldg. 1153, next to Dunkin’ Donuts.
Registration and more information, including unit training requests, are available by calling Colandra Sealey, 805-5556, or via e-mail to . 

Miscellaneous
Military Police Anniversary Ball
The U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regiment celebrates its 67th anniversary with a gala formal, Sept. 26, at the Waterford at Springfield in Springfield. 
The event begins at 6 p.m. Brig. Gen. Rodney Johnson, the Provost Marshal General of the Army and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, is host.
Tickets are $65, which includes dinner, wine, dancing and a commemorative memento. All members, family and friends of the regiment are invited to celebrate the regiment’s proud heritage and pay tribute to Soldiers currently serving and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The event is for adults 18 and older.
Ticket information is available from Maj. Brent R. Haas, 703-693-9473, .

Religion
National Conference
Aglow International, a worldwide women’s Christian organization, has its 2008 United States National Conference Sept. 26 to 28 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.  The Aglow Lighthouses of the National Capitol Region offer an open invitation to the event, which includes a Capitol Hill Prayer Gathering Sept. 27 that is open to everyone; guided prayer journeys throughout the NCR and four sessions with guest speakers.
Jane Hansen Hoyt, Aglow International president and CEO is the speaker in the evening of Sept. 27. Sunday Graham Cooke speaks at the morning and afternoon sessions Sept. 28 and Bishop Harry Jackson speaks at the evening session.
Registration and details of the three-day event are available from Aglow.org. 

Fall Festival planning meeting
The Fall Festival, an annual alternative to Halloween, is at the Religious Education Center, Bldg. 1028, Oct. 31. A planning meeting is Monday at 7 p.m. in the center and is open to everyone.
People who want to help but cannot attend the meeting are asked to contact Sister Michael, 703-806-3418 or e-mail .

Free Market
The Protestant Women of the Chapel sponsor a Free Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 7 at Woodlawn Chapel, across from the commissary. People with donations are asked to drop them off Oct. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. All donations should be clean and in working condition.
The event is an ideal way to get rid of unwanted stuff before the holidays and help others out at the same time.

Men’s conference
The Belvoir Men of Faith participate in a conference, a chance to learn, grow and be inspired and encouraged. The Iron Sharpens Iron 2008 Men’s Conference is for men of all ages and is a daylong event Nov. 1 at the Christian Fellowship Church, Ashburn, Va.
Bill Perkins and Rick Rigsby are national keynote speakers. The event includes inspiring praise and worship music, 18 different seminars on a variety of topics relevant to men of all ages and stages; dozens of resources and exhibits to encourage and equip men for life and ministry; a shared experience of camaraderie and networking with men from around the region.
Lunch is included.  All active-duty and men 13 to 22 years old are sponsored by the BMOF and Fort Belvoir Chapel. For others, there’s a $20 donation. 
RSVP and more information is available from Mike Marrone, .

Orthodox
Chaplain (Col.) Alexander F. C. Webster, an archpriest in the Orthodox Church in America, celebrates the second monthly Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. in the Fairfax Chapel. The occasion is the Feast of the Protection of the Virgin Mary, which commemorates her protective intercession with her Son, when Constantinople, the Byzantine imperial capital, was attacked by a large pagan Slavic fleet.
All Eastern Orthodox Christian military and civilian personnel are encouraged to participate and others are welcome to observe.

Catholic
Religious education
Catholic Religious Education begins Sept. 28 for all age groups from 3 years to adult. 
To provide all family members the opportunity for religious education, the following age groups are planned. The education runs from 10:45 a.m. to noon.
* Ages 3 and 4 to grade 1, Child Development Center Bldg. 1028.
* Grades 2, 3 and 4: Barden Education Center Bldg. 1017, with access from Langfitt Loop
* Grades 5, 6 and 7: Markham School Age Service Bldg. 950. From Belvoir Chapel, continue on Belvoir Road, left at Langfitt to the stop sign on Farrell Road, keep right at next stop sign, Hurley Road; and then cross Mount Vernon Road to Markham.
* Grades 8 thru 12, the Confirmation Class, Adult Education and Special Education are in the Religious Education Center, Bldg. 1028.
People new to the Fort Belvoir Community are asked to register with Sister Michael.  “Blue” registration information requests are in the chapels and the REC. Families who were in the program will get registration information in the mail.
Information is available from Sister Michael, , 703-806-3418, 703-799-8081.

Family retreat
Fort Belvoir’s chaplains offer a weekend retreat Oct. 24 to 26 at Capon Springs, W.Va. (Web site: http://www.26823.com). Lodging and meals are included. Oct. 12 is the registration deadline.
For more information, call Larry Bosetti at 703-933-8438 or 703-971-0621 after 6 p.m.
De-clutter with PWOC
The Protestant Women of the Chapel hosts “Clearing Out a Space at Jesus’ Feet, Oct. 23 at Fort Belvoir Chapel and the Religious Education Center.
Sandy Troutman is the speaker. And pizza and salad will be provided.
More information is available via e-mail to .

MWR
OKTOBERFEST!
When autumn approaches, it means Oktoberfest time at Belvoir. The 13th annual event is Oct. 2 to 5 on Parade Field 2, Fremont Field. Attractions include a carnival, Kinder Korner, fest tent with live entertainment, authentic German food and beverages,vendors and more.
Updated information will be on belvoirmwr.com and in future issues of The Belvoir Eagle.

CEFC trip for civilians
The Civilian Employee Fund Committee has an overnight trip to Charles Town Races and Slots, Oct. 12 to 13. The bus leaves from the Sosa Building, 200 Belvoir Road, at 9 a.m. Oct. 12 and returns at 1 p.m. Oct. 13.
The trip costs $65 per person, based on double occupancy, and is open to Fort Belvoir DoD Civilian Employees with one adult guest each.
The trip includes bus transportation and a room at the New Inn at Charles Town.
Registrations are available until they sell out from the CEFC in the basement of Bldg. 210.
Information is available from Charlene Anderson, 703-805-4126, Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.