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Transcript of Family Matters November 2013
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 1
Family Matters NCNG Family Programs, Volume 5, Issue 11
Look Inside:
Dozens of Employment Opportunities this November
Know how the North Carolina National Guard Employment & Education Center Helps You Prepare
Veteran’s Day Discounts, Deals and Freebies
Military Family Appreciation Month Print your very own Custom North Carolina National Guard Military Family Appreciation Bookmark
Teen Scene Teen Council Meetings Open Houses And More...
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 2
NCNG Family Programs FAMILY MATTERS
NOVEMBER 2013
Diane Coffill
State Family Program Director
(919) 664-6324
MSG Ramona Scott
Family Programs Specialist
(919) 664-6000 Ext. 47005
SGT Tammy Fowler
Family Programs Assistant
(919) 664-6000 Ext 46876
Lana Greer
State FAC Coordinator
(800) 621-4136 Ext. 11667
Terry Henderson
Airman & Family Readiness Program Mgr.
(704) 398-4949
Alice Dean
Lead Child & Youth Coordinator
(800)621-4136 Ext 12183
Angelena Dockery
Marketing & Communications Manager
(919) 485-9570
Kathryn Jarvis
Marketing & Communications Manager
(919) 485-9571
Judy Richardson
Senior FRSA
(800) 621-4136 Ext. 11346
About Family Matters
Family Matters was created to provide Servicemembers and Families the most up-to-date infor-mation and services available. If you would like to contribute to future issues, or if you have sugges-tions and comments, please contact the NCNG Family Programs Marketing and Communications
Department personnel, Angelena Dockery or Kathryn Jarvis, at [email protected]. E-Versions of Family Matters can be downloaded at the NCNG Family Programs webpage at
www.nc.ngb.army.mil. References in this newsletter to any specific commercial products, processes, services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name does not constitute endorsement, recom-mendation, or favoring by NCNG Family Programs. Visual images are via bing.com and other free,
online graphics.
Inside this issue:
Thank you to all our Military Families. In honor of our Military Families we share a custom Military Family Bookmark you may print and cutout. We hope that this simple gesture will serve as a reminder as to how much we appreciate you always; for your endurance, strength and unconditional support.
Yes , No Liver!
NCNG Family Programs shares an authentic narrative regarding energy and
nutrition.
4
Military Family Appreciation Month Custom Bookmark
Help adorn a special tree dedicated to Military Families with your handmade
ornament
5
Military Teen Council Meetings and Invitations
Military Teens can be a part of the driving force in our youth programs by sharing unique insight and talents for the betterment of our communities across the state.
6
“Helping a Friend in an Unhealthy Relationship”
Military One Source provides an article specific to teens about how they can
navigate through friendships that need support.
7
The Affordable Healthcare Act and the VA 10
NCNG Education and Employment Center Raleigh, NC
Unemployed and under-employed North Carolina Army and Air Guard Service members and their dependents now have direct support in the employment process.
12
This month, we are showcasing part two of our six-part series of Fundraising.
Part 2: FRGs with a checking account must have a Standard Operating Proce-dure, (SOP) per Army Regulation 608-1 Appendix J, paragraph 7c.
15
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 3
Hello All, As you probably noticed, we had to cancel some of our “usual” events due to the Government Shut-down, but we’re still here and ready to tackle November and the upcoming Holidays. So, it’s November and we have many things to celebrate this month. First, November is Military Family Appreciation Month. If you asked people for the definition of “Family” you would probably hear words like: spouse, mom, dad, children, sister, brother, grandma, grandpa, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc., but you might also hear: friends, neighbors, or even, co-workers (who are like Family), Battle Buddies, etc. Over the years of working in Family Programs, we’ve all learned that “Family” can be defined in many different ways, and this month WE, and YOU, need to say “Thank You” to your “Family” (no mat-ter who or how many) that really is. So, from me and all in Family Programs, I want to THANK ALL of our National Guard Families for supporting, not ONLY your Service Members, children, and other Fami-ly members, but for supporting the Nation. I also want to THANK all of you for allowing us to be part of your lives, whether it’s been through talking with you on the phone, meeting you in person, talking with you at events, supporting your children, etc. ... without YOU, there would be no us. To me, Military Family Appreciation Month is the perfect companion to Thanksgiving, also in November. The typical definition of “Thanksgiving” is “the expression of gratitude”. And, of course we always think of Thanksgiving being the beginning of the Holiday season. While gathering together is wonderful, it can also be stressful, exciting, tiring and joyful. So, as you’re preparing for those great Family dinners, wracking your brain about what to fix, and the stress begins to build, remember that we have resources that can help. Every day we meet more local businesses and organizations who want to make a differ-ence in your lives. So, please remember your regional Family Assistance Center is still there to assist you. For many of you, they are still making monthly calls to see “how things are going.” Take ad-vantage of those calls and let us know how we can assist you. You’ll see in the issue that we’re expanding our search for Teens who want to be involved with making lives better, including their own. By being part of one (1) of our Teens Councils, they not only gain lead-ership skills, make friends, but are provided with the opportunity to help shape the future of how we can assist, and communicate with our youth, in addition to having some fun. Please look for the infor-mation on the Teen Council Open Houses. BTW: it also provides Teens with the opportunity to “give back” and do some valuable community service (which always looks good on College applications)! I want to wish all of you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and I look forward to seeing you in the near future.
Diane Coffill State Family Program Director
Director’s Column
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 4
In recent months, many friends and
some co-workers have often started or
ended a conversation with, I am so
busy and tired, I have no energy or a
statement relative to the two. So, like
any other curious, over-thinker I ven-
tured to find some common factors
among them, which didn’t take long.
The common factor was me. I was
also tired, worn out or “energy defi-
cient”, and this common factor be-
tween us all was easy to talk about
and bound to be brought up.
Yes, No Liver! By Kathryn Jarvis, NCNG Family Programs
So what makes us so tired…so energy deficient? Surely
if researchers have studied the flow of ketchup there has
to be reports on why someone might be tired? And
there was tons of research. But most often appearing
were tests linking energy levels to diet and exercise;
including, what I currently deem, “blasphemous” studies
about my beloved “side-kick,” coffee. Never the less, I
did find many supplements and foods which can to help
turn around that sluggish feeling and have longer lasting
results than a cup-of-Joe.
While not explicitly endangering my kamikaze for ener-
gy deficiency, certain foods like legumes (most often
known as beans, but is also a fruit/seed from a pod like
peas), fish, whole grains, beef and liver can assist in
boosting energy.
The Department of Uniform and Emergency Medicine,
Uniform Services University of Health Sciences report,
“Peak Performance Through Nutrition and Exercise” in-
cludes a comprehensive table outlining what vitamin
helps with what function. In the table, the one most re-
petitive food relative to upping energy is liver. (Note: in
the table Organ Meats is also listed; guess what, Liver is
an organ meat.)
Liver contains more than 10 vitamins and 7 minerals,
providing the most of vitamins A, B-12 and of the miner-
al Iron, which are correlated with supporting energy.
This bit of information further supports the benefits of
liver.
Now for me, I can do many different foods. I even tried
Alligator once, but liver, no-way and I am sure I am not the
only one. For those who are fans, carry-on, go for it; Live-r
on! As for the rest of us non-liver eaters, don’t throw in the
towel just yet. There are alternative foods as well as sup-
plements that can accommodate the needs for vitamins and
minerals. So, there is hope and a bit of ammo to justify the
disenchantment for liver.
All-in-all, liver sounds great, if you can eat it. But there is a
downside to liver. It contains the most of Vitamin A, which
can also be very deadly in high doses. Several articles,
reports and international governments have warned peo-
ple about the effects of having too much of Vitamin A and
caution pregnant women to be aware of vitamin A over-
load and the effects during pregnancy. So all you non-liver
eaters, there is your ammo, as well as the top three things
that liver provides.
So instead of having to take a bite out of organ meat or
some other delectable you don’t like, maybe nutritional
supplements might be the way to get what you need for
that boost of energy and yes, even the freedom to say no
to liver.
Kathryn Jarvis is neither a nutritionist nor a medical
professional. Readers are to consult a medical professional.
Information was compiled from The Department of Uniform and Emer-
gency Medicine, Uniform Services University of Health Sciences and the
US Department of Agriculture are not intended to be used for the medi-
cal care or treatment of any one person or disease.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 5
Military children are invited to make holiday
ornaments to decorate a Military Tree featured at
North Carolina's Executive Mansion this 2013 holiday
season. The theme this year is patriotism. Please
include child's first name, age, city and branch of
service affiliation. If this information can't be written
on the ornament a small gift tag may be attached
to the ornament.
Ornaments are due by Friday, November 25.
Mail to:
North Carolina National Guard,
Attn: Family Programs
1636 Gold Star Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
or drop them off at a
NC National Guard Family Assistance Center
in your area.
For questions, contact:
Alice Dean
NCNG Lead Child & Youth Coordinator
800-621-4136 Ext. 12183
HELP US ADORN THE GOVERNOR’S MILITARY TREE! ALL
SERVICE BRANCES WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE!
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 6
RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU’RE SURE
North Carolina National Guard teens are invited to be apart of our NCNG Teen Council. We have one going strong in the Triangle area and,
we’re looking to expand across the State.
NEW! NCNG Teen Council Open House—Various Areas
Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m.: Calvary West Camp, 155 Commerce Drive, Advance, NC 27006
Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m.: Charlotte NG Armory, 4240 West Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m.: Wilmington Armory, 2412 Infantry Road, Wilmington, NC 28405
Upcoming NCNG Teen Council Dates—Triangle Area
Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m.: Wake County Cooperative Extension Office, 4001 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m.: Wake County Cooperative Extension Office, 4001 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
NEW
LOCATIONS
CHILD & YOUTH
For additional information and to RSVP, please call or email Alice Dean 800-621-4136 ext. 12183/[email protected]
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 7
Teenage dating can be like a roller-coast ride – up one minute and down the next. And,
without a lot of experience, you may not know what’s healthy – and what’s not – in a re-
lationship. If you’re worried about a friend who is in a relationship that doesn’t seem
quite right, it can be hard to sit on the sidelines and watch.
HELPING A FRIEND / CHILD & YOUTH
HELPING A FRIEND IN AN
UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
So how do you know when a friend is in trouble? There are
ways to tell if the relationship is going in the wrong direction.
If the boyfriend or girlfriend is extremely possessive or jeal-
ous, sends frequent texts to check up on your friend, tells your
friend what to do or what to wear, or posts insulting or
threatening things about your friend online, your friend may
need help. You might also have reason to be worried if your
friend has unexplained bruises or marks.
If you think a friend’s relationship might not be healthy, there
may be things you can do to help. It may be that your friend
believes these things are a normal part of the relationship.
Sometimes people believe that the abuse is their fault and
that they somehow deserve it.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend who you think may
be in trouble. First, let your friend know that no one deserves
to be mistreated. Even if they aren’t being physically abused,
insults and threats – emotional abuse – can still leave scars.
And, many times, that emotional abuse can lead to physical
violence and real trouble for your friend.
You can encourage your friend to seek help from a trusted
adult – maybe a parent or a teacher. Your friend can also
call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-
7233. What your friend may need most is for you to be sup-
portive and listen patiently. Trying to pressure your friend to
end the relationship could backfire and you might end up
pushing your friend away. Even though his or her boyfriend
or girlfriend is abusive, your friend may still have strong feel-
ings for that person.
If you are afraid your friend might be in danger, you can
help make a safety plan. That may include finding a way to
make sure your friend is not alone with the abuser and has a
way home from a party or other place where the abuser
might be. You may also want to help your friend come up
with a code word to use to ask friends or family for help
without alerting the abuser.
It probably won’t help to confront the abuser or post nega-
tive things about them online. If anything, it may make the
situation worse for your friend.
If your friend has decided to break up, you can be there for
support. Remember, breaking up can be difficult. Couples
sometimes break up and get back together several times
before calling it quits for good. Let your friend know that it
may be safer to break up by text or by phone. It may seem
harsh, but your friend’s safety should come first. Encourage
your friend to stick with the plan and not be drawn into a
long argument. In the end, your friend will appreciate your
help and support through this difficult time. And that’s what it
is all about…being there for our friends when they need us
most.
For more information, visit Military OneSource at
http://www.militaryonesource.mil,
an official Department of Defense website.
Military OneSource offers a wide
range of articles on a variety of
subjects. Free counseling is also
available to fit your needs,
whether via phone or face-to-
face with a professional in your
local area. Try it out!
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 9
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 1. True or false: Safety caps on drug containers are child-proof. 2. Which of these foods are often responsible for childhood choking? (a) hot dogs, (b) hard candies, (c) grapes, (d) nuts. 3. In recent years, the use of car safety seats for children has (a) dropped slightly, (b) stayed the same, (c) increased slightly, (d) risen dramatically. 4. True or false: An infant car seat should be used in the front seat so you can keep an eye on the child. 5. True or false: If your car does not have shoulder straps in the rear seat, or if the shoul-der strap crosses over the neck or face of your four-year old, it is better to let him ride with no seat belt. 6. What type of home exercise equipment injures the most children? (a) rowing machines, (b) weights, (c) stationary bicy-cles, (d) cross-country ski ma-chines. 7. True or false: Touching a hot stove is the leading cause of childhood burns. 8. Why are five-gallon plastic buckets, which originally con-tained paint, food, or other supplies, a danger to infants? (a) infants can be strangled by the handles, (b) they can eat the toxic materials in them, (c) they can drown in them.
ANSWERS 1. (false) Safety caps are merely child-resistant, not childproof - a toddler can often open a safety cap within 10 minutes - the cap is just a delaying tactic. Tips: It's vital to keep drugs, even those with safety caps, out of the reach of chil-dren. Better yet, keep drugs out of sight and/or locked up. 2. (all - hot dogs, hard candies, grapes, nuts) These four foods cause more than 40% of all childhood choking deaths. Until toddlers have all their teeth and are able to chew their food well, they are inclined to swallow such foods whole. That can block a child's narrow airway and cause choking, a particular problem because of a child's underdeveloped ability to cough up obstructing foods. Tips: Don't give young children small foods like grapes or nuts. Cut up solid foods in small pieces, and serve them in small quantities. Encourage children under five to chew vigorously; monitor their eating sessions. Don't let them eat while talking, run-ning, or lying down. Don't let children toss or pour food into their mouths. 3. (d - risen dramatically) But car crashes remain the leading cause of death for kids under age five. Eighty-four percent of one- to four-year-olds and 83% of infants used safety seats in 1990. Use of child safety seats reduces the likelihood of fatal injury in a crash by 69% for infants and by 47% for children aged one to four, according to federal estimates. All 50 states have enacted child safety seat laws. Tip: Don't think that it's ever safe to hold an infant when riding in a car - in a collision, the child is likely to fly out of your arms or be crushed against the dashboard. 4. (false) It is much safer to buckle an infant car seat into the rear seat. Over all, do not use the infant seat in the front seat of a new car equipped with a passenger-side air bag since the deployed bag can seriously injure the infant by striking the back of the safety seat (which is designed to face the rear), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5. (false) Any belt is better than no belt - for a child as well as an adult. Tip: Use a booster seat for a child age four to eight and weighing 40 to 65 pounds who has outgrown his infant safety seat. If your rear seat has shoulder straps, you can buy the kind of booster seat that raises your child so that the shoulder strap crosses his chest, not neck. If the rear seat has only lap belts, choose a booster seat that has a harness or shield, which will act as a torso restrainer. 6. (c - stationary bicycles) As more and more people buy exercise equipment, doc-tors are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of related injuries to young children. Stationary bikes injure thousands of kids each year, with more than a third of them suffering hand or finger injuries. Tip: Don't let young children use or play with exercise equipment without supervi-sion. 7. (false) Hot liquids are the leading cause of nonfatal burns. Kids have thinner skin and thus are severely scalded at lower temperatures than adults. Water at 140 de-grees F. will cause a serious burn in three seconds; even at 130 degrees F. it can produce a burn in 30 seconds. Tip: Set the thermostat on your water heater at 120-125 degrees F. 8. (c - they can drown in them) Each year about 50 infants drown in American homes after falling head-first into these large buckets (often kept for household use)
while the bucket is filled with water or other liquids and left unattended. Tip: If you have young children, do not leave these buckets around the house - and never leave even a small amount of liquid in them. Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care
- NNCC. (1994). Only you can prevent childhood accidents! In M. Lopes (Ed.) Caregiver News (November, p.4). Amherst, MA: Uni-
versity of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension.
November is Child Safety and Protection Month! Learning to foresee accidents is the best way to
prevent them. Child-proofing your home can reduce the risk of injury to children.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 10
V E T E R A N S A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
Three Things You Should Know: 1. VA wants all Veterans to receive health care that improves their health and well-being.
2 If you are enrolled in VA health care, you don’t need to take additional steps to meet the health care law coverage
standards. The health care law does not change VA health benefits or Veterans’ out-of-pocket costs.
3. If you are not enrolled in VA health care, you can apply at any time.
Veterans Enrolled in VA Health Care The good news is that Veterans enrolled in VA health care programs have health coverage that meets the new health
care law’s standard. You do not have to take any additional steps to have health coverage.
Veterans Not Enrolled in VA Health Care Veterans not currently enrolled in VA health care program can apply for enrollment at any time. Read more about en-
rolling at http://www.va.gov/health/aca/NonEnrolledVeterans.asp
Family Members VA offers health care benefits for certain family members of Veterans through programs such as the Civilian Health
and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) and the Spina Bifida program. Read more
about VA family programs at http://www.va.gov/health/aca/FamilyMembers.asp
Your family members who are not enrolled in a VA health care program should use the Marketplace to get coverage.
Additional Health Care Law Information We understand you may have questions about the health care law and how it might affect you and your family. We
compiled basic information about the health care law to help you make informed decisions about your health care. Let
us know if you have questions regarding the health care law and your VA health care at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Af-
ter all, ensuring you receive quality health care is not just our obligation, it’s also our privilege.
For More Information, visit www.va.gov.
The Affordable Care Act, also known as the health care
law, was created to expand access to coverage, control
health care costs and improve health care quality and care
coordination. The health care law does not change VA
health benefits or Veterans’ out-of-pocket costs.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 11
This November there are more than a dozen employment events happening across the State. For more information, visit
www.nc.ngb.army.mil/Careers/Pages/ER.aspx
EMPLOYMENT EVENTS
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 12
Unemployed and under-employed North Carolina Army and Air Guard Service members and their dependents now have direct support in the employment pro-cess. The Education & Employment Center (EEC) opened its doors in June and is already working with over 300 Service men and women in their job search throughout the state. The EEC not only works with service members, but generates long lasting relationships with employers throughout the State. These contacts provide a two-fold resource: when the EEC finds a candidate that matches an employer’s needs, they work to make sure that candidate gets face-to-face with that employer; also the HR Representatives give the EEC invaluable insight into the civilian employment arena. EEC NCOIC Austin Walther shared some insights, “We have found through talking with HR Representatives that employers are often confused and over-whelmed by military jargon in resumes.” EC helps Soldiers with a variety of employment tasks. Every can-didate registered with the EEC system gets assigned an individu-al Employment Specialist that stays in contact for the duration of the hiring process. “Our Employment Specialists are trained to begin with an initial career assessment which helps generate an employment plan.” remarks Army Captain Sara Day, Deputy Director of the Education & Employment Center. “From that point on the Employment Specialist will coach the candidate through resume preparation for specific employment opportu-nities, military to civilian work translations, mock interviews, use of our nationwide database, hiring events and career fairs, and any other issues they may have.”
The EEC is centered in Raleigh but supports service members throughout the state from satellite locations in Asheville and Gastonia. Every region in NC has its own representatives that generate connections in that area.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM EVENTS
Section 582 of the NDAA established a national combat veteran reintegration program to provide National Guard and Reserve Members and their
Families with sufficient information, services, referral, and
proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment
cycle. This program is called the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
UPCOMING DATES
Location & Dates are subject to change.
8-9 Nov. 2013/30-Day Event: 5-113th FA & 732nd FSC
16-17 Nov. 2013/30-Day Event:
2-130th AOB
6-8 Dec. 2013/PDHRA Event: 5-113th FA & 732nd FSC
11-12 Jan. 2014/PDHRA Event:
2-130th AOB
Questions? Concerns?
Call 919.664.6054
NCNG Education and Employment Center
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 13
Freedom is not free
Military Members and their Families step up to the call of the State, Nation, and
Globe, and their lives change. Military Members and their Families are
resilient. Who knows better that “freedom is not free?” Here’s some “freebies” from
others that know, and applaud your Service. Check out the 2013 Veteran’s Day
Free Meals and Discounts (Restaurant chains advise calling ahead to specific loca-
tions, because they warn that not all franchises honor the specials offered by their
parent organizations.) Also listed on the next page are retail discounts.
Happy Veteran’s Day
NOVEMBER 11, 2013
Applebee’s -- All veterans and active-duty military eat free from a limited menu on Veterans Day. Chili's -- Veterans and service members can dine for free from a special six-item menu on Veterans Day. Golden Corral -- Military Appreciation Monday includes a free dinner, Nov. 11, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for military retir-ees, veterans, and current service members. Famous Dave's -- Offers for free or discounted meals on Veterans Day vary by location. Hooters -- All veterans and service members get 10 free wings with the purchase of a drink. Krispy Kreme -- A free donut is available for all service members, retirees and veterans. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants -- participating McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants are offering a complimentary entree to vets from a special menu on a space-available basis. Online reservations are highly recom-mended. Outback Steakhouse -- Outback will offer veterans and military a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage Subway Restaurants -- Free six-inch sub or flatbread available to military vets on Veterans Day. Texas Roadhouse -- Free meals available to veterans from opening until 4 p.m. on Veterans Day. T.G.I. Friday's -- Veterans and service members can buy one meal and get another free. UNO Chicago Grill -- UNO is offering a 19.43 percent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverage beverages to vets and military. The chain explains that 1943 was the year UNO invented the deep dish pizza. Abuelo's Mexican Food -- Offers vary by region. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants -- Special offers for vets on Veterans Day. (see next page for more)
But, freebies are here for you this month
2013 Free Food!!!
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 14
Amazon.com: A free downloadable MP3 album includes 12 songs performed by Military bands and ensembles from now through Veterans Day. The Dollar General: Veterans, service members and their immediate families can receive a 10-percent discount with a Veterans Day coupon. Home Depot: Offers a 10 percent discount to all veterans on Veterans Day. Home Depot offers a 10 percent discount year-round to active duty military and retirees. Lowe's: All veterans receive the 10 percent discount for purchases of up to $5,000. A 10 percent discount is availa-ble year-round to active-duty military and retirees. Sam's Club: Sam's Club will give away collapsible Hugo Canes on Veterans Day to military veterans who need them. Seven-Eleven: On Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., veter-ans can get a free small Slurpee. Cabela's Outdoor Store: Employee discounts are being offered to all veterans, active-duty military and reserve-component troops, along with law-enforcement, fire and emergency-management personnel. Discounts vary from 5 percent to 50 percent, depending on item. Build-a-Bear Workshop: Members of the armed services, including the Coast Guard and ROTC, receive a 20 percent discount on any one transaction at the workshop. Fashion Bug: Offering 20 percent off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse's military ID. Sports Clips Haircuts: Offering free haircuts to active-military and veterans.
More Appreciation…
VETERANS DAY RETAIL DEALS
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PLACES
THAT OFFER DEALS TO VETERANS...
FREE HAIRCUTS
SPORTS CLIP HAIRCUTS: OFFERING FRE
HAIRCUTS TO ACTIVE-MILITARY
AND VETERANS.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 15
As we adjust in creative ways to support our Military Families, it is good to remember the
framework of the Army's Family Readiness Group.
This month, we are showcasing part two of our six-part series of Fundraising tips and reminders.
Part 2: FRGs with a checking account must have a Standard Operating Procedure, (SOP) per Army
Regulation 608-1 Appendix J, paragraph 7c. (Note: if you need a sample SOP for your FRG/
Unit…contact your BDE FRSA or SFRSA!)
F R G F U N D R A I S I N G PA R T - T W O
Helps understand account’s purpose and it’s in writing.
Also helps the FRG membership to understand what FRG dollars can be used
for
At a minimum, your SOP must include:
1. FRG Name
2. Description of FRG purpose and function of the fund stating that:
expenses will be consistent with its purpose
3. Statement that says account is not a business or for profit.
Following statement, “FRG’s informal fund’s purpose and function are to
provide support, recognition, education and information to help prepare
families for mobilization and their continued participation in the National
Guard.
• The FRG informal fund is for the benefit of its members only. It is not a
business and is not being run to generate profits.
• FRG expenditures will be in accordance with the wishes of the majority of
FRG members and all fundraisers must have Command approval before
proceeding. “The FRG is not an instrumentality of the United States Gov-
ernment.”
• The SOP can be included in the FRG Family Readiness Plan (Sanction) OR
• The SOP may be completed as a separate document
• SOP is signed by treasurer, alternate treasurer, FRG Leader and Com-
mander
• SOP is filed in the Unit’s Family Readiness Binder and a copy forwarded
to the State Family Program’s Office
Use of Funds Expenditures must benefit the entire FRG membership in some
way
FRG informal funds cannot:
• Be used to purchase items or services which may be paid for with appro-
priated (military) funds
• Or for items not related to the FRG such as service member farewell gifts
or the unit military ball
• Funds cannot be given to a military unit to purchase additional supplies,
equipment, or to fund additional training again items which can be pur-
chased with appropriated (military) funds
• Augment the “unit fund”
• Cannot be deposited or mixed with personal funds
FAMILY READINESS SUPPORT ASSISTANTS
(800) 621-4136
Charlotte: Nikkie Newsome
Ext.14548
Clinton: Sarah Strickland
Ext. 14735
Goldsboro: Greg Smith
Ext. 15423
High Point: Gloria Fields
Ext.15620
Jacksonville: Judy Richardson
Ext. 11346
Morrisville: Darlette McComick
Ext. 16313
Oxford: Norman Dean
Ext. 12182
Raleigh: George Lane
Ext. 46714
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 16
FRG informal funds can be used for:
• Special life events to foster service member and family cohesion and morale such as: births, birthdays, welcome new
members
• FRG volunteer training
• Meeting refreshments
• Deployment and reunion activities
• Childcare expenses during FRG events
• Postage, newsletter publication, and operating supplies in support of the FRG
• And any authorized expense approved in advance and in accordance with the FRG spending plan
Maintenance of the Account
• Account balance is limited to $10,000
• The account balance cannot exceed $10,000 at any time
• FRG’s annual income is also capped at $10,000
• Annual or Fiscal Year will be the calendar year from Jan 1 –Dec 31
• If the account balance drops below $10,000 (after already reaching $10,000 income for the year), more funds cannot
be raised for the remainder of that calendar (fiscal) year
• Because once the income exceeds $10,000 for the fiscal year, it can then be considered a Private Organization (like
Red Cross, Boy/Girl Scouts)
• And could then be subject to IRS regulatory requirements & tax liabilities
• Can you carry over income from the previous fiscal year and still raise $10,000 in the new fiscal year?
– For example, the FRG has $4000 at the end of the fiscal year. Can you raise $10,000 in the new fiscal year or only
$6000?
– You can raise $10,000, but the account balance cannot exceed
$10,000 at any time and the annual income cannot exceed
$10,000 in order to avoid tax liabilities
– Good, clear accounting records need to be maintained to reflect
and delineate this
F R G F U N D R A I S I N G PA R T - T W O ( C O N T I N U E D )
Free Stays for Veterans
Select B&B's and Inns are offering Active Duty Servicemembers
and Veterans a FREE room on Wednesday, November 10 .
A West Virginia innkeeper recruited 400 inns and bed-and-
breakfasts across the U.S. and Canada as part of an initiative to
offer free rooms to active-duty Servicemembers and veterans on
November 10, the night before Veterans Day. Reservations need
to be made directly with the participating Inns and B&Bs.
For more information, including a listing of participating inns and
B&Bs, visit the B&Bs for Vets website at
http://www.bnbsforvets.org/.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 18
Military Family Life Counselors ~Provides short-term, situational, problem-
solving counseling services to Servicemem-
bers and their Families
~Provides psycho-education to help military
Servicemembers and their Families under-
stand the impact of stress, deployments,
family reunions following deployments and
the stresses of military life
~MFLC services augment existing military
support services
~Flexible service delivery (Outreach/
Rotational and On-Demand); Services can
be provided on or off military installations
~Services provided to individuals, couples,
families, and groups
~Children’s Support Program addresses mil-
itary impact on children
~MFLCs are mandated reporters of child
abuse, domestic abuse and duty-to-warn
situations; services are otherwise confiden-
tial and private
Counselors
John Alleman, Adult and Family Specialist
(919) 745-9635
Betty Steelman, Youth and Family Specialist
(919) 665-9178
H E L P W H E N Y O U N E E D I T
Our Personal Financial Counselor can
provide FREE
one-on-one financial counseling
services to you and your Family.
Mr. Chip Jurgensen, CFP, NCJFSAP
(919) 334-8313
Stressed out? Try laughing. Laughter triggers the body’s re-
lease of endorphins: chemicals in the brain that cause peo-
ple to feel good. Aside from having positive effects on your
mental state, laughter can actually produce positive physical
changes in the body.
Laughter stimulates circulation and helps to relax muscles,
and both of these things can combat some of the physical
symptoms of stress. Laughter also causes you to take in
more oxygen, which stimulates your heart, lungs, and mus-
cles. Over time, laughter may even help to ward off disease
by strengthening the immune system. Humor can also help
you create a positive perspective. If you can see the humor
in a situation, you’re not only less likely to experience stress,
but you’re more likely to be able to cope with difficult situa-
tions when they do arise.
Sharing laughter is also a great way to connect with other
people. In turn, the more healthy personal connections you
have, the more able you will be to find support in stressful
situations.
From the North Central Missouri
College
MILITARY FAMILY APPRECIATION MONTH
This November we recognize Military Families across
the state and offer you the NCNG Family Programs
bookmark to the right for you to print. Thank you Mili-
tary Families for all your support and strength.. We
invite you to share jokes, stories or ways you navigate
through these stressful times. Email ncngfamiypro-
[email protected] for inclusion in Family Matters or
post on our NCNG Family programs Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/NCNGFP.
We ask that shared content be void of any explicit
content or language.
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 19
Asheville Military Family Resource Center
7 Yorkshire St. Suite 101, 28803/Fax: (828) 274-7209
Rebekah Torres, (828) 274-8571
Charlotte Unit Family Contact Center
4240 West Blvd., 28208/(800) 621-4136
Carry Bandy, FAC Specialist, [email protected], Ext. 14573
Gabrielle H. O'Flanagan, [email protected], Ext. 14547
Greenville State Family Assistance Center
1401 N. Memorial Dr., 27834/(800) 621-4136, Ext. 11150
Dawn White, [email protected]
Lenoir State Family Assistance Center
1535 Beecher Anderson Rd., 28645
(800) 621-4136, Ext. 11242
Frances Johnson, [email protected]
Raleigh Unit Family Contact Center
4105 Reedy Creek Rd., Raleigh, NC, 27607/(800) 621-4136
Lisa Faison, [email protected], Ext. 47100
Mark Woolbright, [email protected], Ext. 47102
Bob Bowman, [email protected], Ext. 46979
Raleigh JFHQ Unit Family Contact Center
636 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607/800-621-4136
Wendi Bell, [email protected], Ext. 46078
Smithfield Unit Family Contact Center
406 Hospital Rd., 27577/(800) 621-4136
Abby Millsap, [email protected], Ext.12784
Southern Pines Unit Family Contact Center
510 W. Morganton Rd., PO Box 1317, 28387
(800) 621-4136, Ext. 12863
Earlene Capps, [email protected]
Wilmington Unit Family Contact Center
2412 Infantry Rd., 28405/(800) 621-4136
Jim Marley, [email protected], Ext. 16918
Winston-Salem Unit Family Contact Center
2000 Silas Creek Pkwy., 27103/(800) 621-4136 Ext. 15651
Sandy Harrison, FAC Specialist, [email protected]
Family Assistance Centers
WE’RE AT
NCNGFAMILY
#NGNGFAMILY
NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY MATTERS 20
Presidential Proclamation -- Military Family Month, 2013
MILITARY FAMILY MONTH, 2013
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Throughout our Nation's history, an unbroken chain of patriots has strengthened us in times of peace and defended us in times of war. Yet the courageous men and women of the United States military do not serve alone. Standing alongside them are husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers. During Military Family Month, we celebrate the families who make daily sacrific-es to keep our Nation whole, and we remember a most sacred obligation -- to serve them as well as they serve us.
Military families exemplify the courage and resolve that define our national character. For their country and their loved ones, they rise to the challenges of multiple deployments and frequent moves -- spouses who care and provide for children in their partners' ab-sence, kids who make new friends and leave known comforts behind. They are the force behind the force, patriots who support their family members in uniform while enriching the communities they call home.
While our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are defending the country they love, their country must provide for the families they love. Through First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative, my Administration has worked tirelessly to engage American citizens and businesses in this cause. Joining Forces encourages the private sector to hire vet-erans and military spouses, helps schools become more responsive to military children's needs, and expands access to wellness and education programs for military families. Since the initiative began in 2011, businesses have hired and trained more than 290,000 veterans and military spouses. My Administration is also taking action to improve mental health care and education for veterans, ser-vice members, and their families. Last year, I signed an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to increase access to these vital services. And this year, as a result of the Supreme Court decision striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Department of Defense moved swiftly to extend benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
Time and again, our service members and their families have sacrificed to protect the promise that defines our Nation -- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As we work to repay this enormous debt of gratitude, I encourage every
American to do their part. Together, let us support our military children as they learn, grow, and live their dreams. And let us keep our military families strong and secure.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2013 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 31, 2013