"It's About Time" Contest

[*Henderson]

Don't know if you caught all the wonderful prizes that our 2010 HH6 was awarded last night (Nov 9) on Army Wife Talk Radio. What a boon-doggle! There are so many great military supporters out there. Here's the complete prize package and links, so you can check out all that our special Janet was awarded.

 Family Manager University Scholarship http://www.familymanager.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=31
 Army Wife Network t-shirt & prize package http://thelittlepepper.com/AWN/marketplace.htm
 USAA Diamond Merchandise valued at $500 https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_utils/McStaticPages?key=diamonds_jewelry_main
 AttaGirl Bracelet http://www.attagirlgifts.com/
 thePatrioticWife Household 6 (HH 6) Sparkly Pin http://www.thepatrioticwife.com/
 3A Watch Group http://www.usarmy-watches.com/

The last listed, 3A Watch Group, has invited us to extend their appreciation for military spouses and families even further. Janet and each of our HH6 runners up, Sherri and Kelly, all received watch sets from their new line of U.S. Army Watches.

They've asked us to award some other Army couples from now through the end of 2009!

We are happy to oblige with our next contest, "It's About Time!"

This contest will be much simpler, but no less meaningful. We think "it's about time" some of you are recognized for the ways you give back to the military community everyday. Tell us about your experiences and exchange your ideas in our message boards topic: Volunteering! From FRG to USO - it wouldn't get done without volunteers.

Share tips, advice, & ideas. Each week our team will recognize someone who has shared a great tip, inspired us, or engaged others in a meaningful discussion on Volunteering. Winners will be announced in the message board and on Army Wife Talk Radio.

3A is excited about this new line of watches, which will be available nationwide November 20th. The watches are INSPIRED BY OUR BRAVEST AND GREATEST AT HOME AND ABROAD. We know that includes not just the soldiers, but their spouses as well.

Best of luck; we're looking forward to hearing about your volunteer efforts!

[*Henderson]

[quote="trekswithbaggage"]I did this a lot during our previous stint in (and can't wait to continue it). We were in Germany...with a ton of single soliders in the company. I couldn't stand to see those poor guys in the Commissary trying to figure out what to get for a holiday meal or heading to the DFAC. We had an open invitation for the singles to drop in any time for dinner, holidays especially. It was a bit of volunteering without volunteering.

quote]

Jessica M.

I’m not sure if you were tuned in to Army Wife Talk Radio last night, but we announced you as our “It’s About Time” contest winner for this week.

Here’s why:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=654#p1228
It’s holiday time, and your post was a good reminder for us all to check with single soldiers
and military spouses with a deployed loved one to see if they have plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas festivities.

For your contribution, you have won your choice set of U.S. Army Watches. One for you and one for your husband. Please watch your email for directions on how to claim your prize.

We’re happy to recognize your efforts and wish you all the best, Star

[*Henderson]

Well every post that I have been at my first thing that I do is get to know my neighbors and give them a batch of cookies and a coupon book with gifts like(i.e.1 night for a date night, animal sitting)....This year we are going to go help out at the Ronald McDonald house in Denver and Topeka. We always every year pick a place for the whole family which is my husband and our son who is 4 to volunteer at off post. My mother taught me at a young age that giving back to others can be the best gift you can give a person and that has always stuck with me and I'm telling my son the same thing she told me.

Amanda/aka Infantry wife: You're the winner of our "It's About Time" contest winner for the week of Nov. 23. Don't forget to send your selection of U.S. Army Watches.

Here’s why:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=654#p1240
It’s holiday time, and your post about giving back (to new wives AND teaching your son to give back to the community) was especially heart warming.

For your contribution, you have won your choice set of U.S. Army Watches. One for you and one for your husband. Please remember to check out the watches and send us your selection.

We hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving break, Star

[Kowanda]

I found this website (link below). You put in your city or zip and if you want a keyword or two than, you hit enter and it gives you a list of volunteer opportunities in your area.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/

[mommystrong]

everytime we join a new unit, i make sure that one of my first stops is the frsa's office. besides the usual exchange of 'hellos' and 'this is us,' i get the skinny on what's happening with our unit and what needs there are. after that, i figure out where i can plug myself in. your frsa is a good volunteer coordinator becuause they know what's needed not only at the unit level, but many times also the company levels.

[*Henderson]

I found this website (link below). You put in your city or zip and if you want a keyword or two than, you hit enter and it gives you a list of volunteer opportunities in your area.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Kowanda: You're the winner of our "It's About Time" contest winner for the week of Nov. 23. Don't forget to watch your email for instructions on claiming your prize.

Here’s why:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=651#p1280

A search for volunteer opportunites using the terms Georgia and Military gave some good results:

American Red Cross
Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center
Homes for our Troops
McIntosh Trail Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Youth For Understanding

These are opportunities outside the norm and can really help someone break out of a rut or learn a new skill. It's a great idea.

Thanks, Star

[armywife4ever1996]

Another Army wife and myself started a Deployment Club at the elementary school our kids attended. 95% of our students were military kids who's parents had done at least one deployment (most were on their second or third deployments). We didn't see that their needs were really being met, so we started a club that met twice a month where they could come in and share their thoughts and feelings about what they were going through. We did different projects such as card making, sending video shout outs and participating in military writing contests plus more. It was a chance for the kids to come in and share when they had a good day or a bad day and hear how their peers handled similar situations. Each spring we did a Welcome Home banquet and invited the parents in our school who had just returned from deployment to a spaghetti dinner and night of honoring them. The kids planned the whole event choosing to share poems, plays and songs. We also did videos with pictures of the deployment club kids and their parents who were deployed. We also found out through this club that many kids have misconceptions about what their Soldiers are doing overseas, so we did a Flat Stanley project with them encouraging their deployed Soldiers to participate and show their children where they lived, ate and worked. It helped the kids feel better about the safety of their deployed parent. This is the 3rd year of the club. We started off with 35 kids the first year, it grew to 130 the following year and just gets bigger. It was not only something that helped the kids but those of us who had our own Soldier deployed.

[mommystrong]

army wife, have you considered bringing this program to the army family board and implementing it at least at all your local elementary schools with military students (on or off post)? imagine how many more students y'all could help. it would be great is all schools within a military community offered such a program on all age-levels. i know so many kids could use a safe place to share their stories with others.

[mommystrong]

so everyone gets in the baking spirit this time of year, but soliders overseas love to get baked goods year round. i know many military communities have 'cookie brigades' who bake and mail cookies to our heroes overseas. seek out a local brigade, many can be googled. and if you can't find one, your frc's deployment mobilization unit should be able to put you in contact with a deployed group who would love some cookies.

i love to bake for our soldiers when they're in garrison and deployed. so every few weeks hubby takes a tin of home-made goodies to work, many times sneaking them in the break room. and then we're they're downrange, he gets a monthly box of goodies in the mail to share with his soldiers.

[*Henderson]

Another Army wife and myself started a Deployment Club at the elementary school our kids attended. 95% of our students were military kids who's parents had done at least one deployment (most were on their second or third deployments). We didn't see that their needs were really being met, so we started a club that met twice a month where they could come in and share their thoughts and feelings about what they were going through. We did different projects such as card making, sending video shout outs and participating in military writing contests plus more. It was a chance for the kids to come in and share when they had a good day or a bad day and hear how their peers handled similar situations.

armywife4ever1996: You're the winner of our "It's About Time" contest, the week of December 14.

Here’s why:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=651#p1322

Our children are resilient, but their positive mental health is directly correlated to positive role models. You're serving that role for your Deployment group and your own children.
It is a nobel cause!

Visit this link to select two watches: one for you and one for your soldier: http://www.usarmy-watches.com/. Click Collection, and then there are three watches. If you click through each of them, various models are shown.

I’ll need your home address as well.

Thanks, Star