Backchannels October 2017

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BACKCHANNELS AOSCGWA

Editor’s Note…

We welcome our new Backchannels Editor, Michelle Funkhouser!

Contact us at backchannels.editor@gmail.com

All submissions are due no later than the third Monday of every month.

In This Issue… Zip Codes 3

AOSCGWA Board 4

Reservation Form 5

Year Ahead 6

President’s Pen 7

Military Organization Info 7

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Fall Kickoff 2017

#THANKS

#USAASpecial Activities Information

Bible Study: Every Monday at 10:30 am at the Main Post Chapel, Fort Myer. Contact Nancy at jacksonjn@verizon.net for more information.

Walking Group: October 10 Georgetown walk, November 9 Burke Lake, December 5 Alexandria. Contact Nina at ninaspangos@gmail.com or Mary at mlspawlow@aol.com for more information.

Trivia Group: Contact Christine Miller at cmiller001@gmail.com for more information.

Flick Chicks: October 23, movie TBD. Contact Shannon Hough at shanhough36@gmail.com with any questions. An Evite was sent to members that requested more information.

Happy Hour Group: Next Happy Hour is October 12 at 4:30 pm at Blackwall Hitch in Old Town RSVP to Shannon Hough at shanhough36@gmail.com or on the Evite. An Evite was sent to members that requested more information.

Beginning “Ball” Dancing: October 14, 1:30-3:00 pm. An Evite was sent to interested members. Contact Kelly Kreis at kreis3@yahoo.com for more information.

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Zip Code Group Leaders Alexandria 22301-22315LaDonna Cavanaugh  678-464-7470  cavanaub@comcast.net Annandale, Fairfax and Fairfax StationMary Pawlow  703-764-9656  mlspawlow@aol.com Arlington 22201-22209Paige Kellogg  703-248-8313  paigekell@aol.com Burke 22015Jeanne Sander  703-426-2880  ebs17@verizon.net McLean, Falls Church and Fort MyerLori Borgna-Strong  706-799-9308  borgnalori@gmail.com Chantilly, Clifton, Centerville and Herndon 20120-22182Pat O'Neill  703-378-3624  pponeill6@aol.com Prince William County and BeyondPaula Ann Mancini  703-346-4468  pa.mancini@comcast.net Springfield 22105-22153Jennifer Stepetic  910-263-2063  stepetic@yahoo.com Maryland, Howard County and BeyondMarie Corbett  410-418-4934  mtcre@aol.com Maryland, Montgomery County and BeyondDeidra Stubbs  803-447-8700  dleestubbs@aol.com Washington D.C.Mary Dulaney  240-644-2467  medulany@msn.com

Zip Code Groups are a benefit of AOSCGWA

membership and the perfect opportunity to meet new friends!

Contact the Zip Code Leader in your area to meet AOSCGWA

friends near you.

There Are No Strangers Here;

Only Friends You Haven’t Met Yet-WilliamButlerYeats

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AOSCGWA 2017-2018

Honorary President Hollyanne Milley

Honorary Vice President

Advisor Connie Semonite conniesemonite@gmail.com

Executive Board

President Kelly Kreis aoscgwapresident1@gmail.com

1st Vice President Paige Kellogg paigekell@aol.com

2nd Vice President CJ Summers cjsummers@gmail.com

Corresponding Secretary Jackie McKenna jackiemckenna2004@gmail.com

Recording Secretary LaDonna Cavanaugh cavanaub@comcast.net

Treasurer Deborah Kalisz Wehr aoscgwatreasurer@gmail.com

Parliamentarian Anita Skelton jim.anita.ger@gmail.com

Standing Committees

Backchannels Editor Michelle Funkhouser backchannels.editor@gmail.com

Charitable Causes Paula Ann Mancini pa.mancini@comcast.net

Fundraising Kerri Eldridge kermurph@yahoo.com

Historian Melissa Werner darmel23@hotmail.com

Hospitality Jill Vaniman jmvaniman@gmail.com

International Liaison Team Lori Borgna Strong/Linda Wildes borgnalori@gmail.com/lbwildes@gmail.com

JAFOWL Representative Dianne Crawford dlr1023@aol.com

Membership & Directory Barb Patterson aoscgwamembership@gmail.com

Military Support Organizations Patty Barron pbarron@ausa.org

Social Media Jane Davis aoscgwassocial@gmail.com

Reservations Shelley Williams aoscgwareservations@gmail.com

Scholarships Christine Miller aoscgwacollege@gmail.com

Special Activities Shannon Hough aoscgwaspecialactivities@gmail.com

Tours Michelle Zuniga aoscgwatours@gmail.com

Vendor Coordinator Kim Raymond aoscgwavendor@gmail.com

Ways & Means aoscgwawaysandmeans@gmail.com

Web Administrator Diane Martinez aoscgwaweb@gmail.com

Zip Code Groups Jennifer Stepetic stepetic@yahoo.com

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AOSCGWA 2017-2018 Luncheon Reservation Form

Name: __________________________________________________________Month of Luncheon: ____________________________________ Contact Number: _______________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________ Menu Choice (November and December only): Traditional: _______ Vegetarian: _______        

If Bringing a Guest

Guest Name: ____________________________________________________Guest’s Menu Choice (November and December only): _______________

Payment

Payment (if mailing, do not send cash): Check #______ Please mail check and reservation form to: AOSCGWA Reservations, c/o Shelley Williams 9004 Home Guard Drive  Burke, VA 22015 Do not mail this form if you’ve already made a reservation online. For Membership Questions, please contact: aoscgwamembership@gmail.com

Backchannels October 2017

Luncheon Schedule and Menu 2017-2018 October 19: Fashion Show with TJ Maxx/Runway Buffet: Mixed Green Salad, Chicken, Fish, Rice Pilaf, Vegetables, Apple Pie, Cheesecake, Rolls/Butter, Coffee, Iced Tea and Water November 16: Military Mom and Second Lady Karen Pence* Mixed Green Salad, Pistachio Crusted Pork Tenderloin, Red Roasted Potatoes and Vegetables, Rolls/Butter, Vanilla Ice Cream, Coffee, Iced Tea and WaterVegetarian Option: Mixed Green Salad, Fettuccine Alfredo, Rolls/Butter, Vanilla Ice Cream December 14: Former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier Pasta Primavera with Chicken and Vegetables, Rolls/Butter, Chocolate Cake, Coffee, Iced Tea and Water Vegetarian Option: Mixed Green Salad, Pasta Primavera with Vegetables, Rolls/Butter, Chocolate Cake January 18: New Year, New YouBuffet

February 15: International Showcase March 15: Irish Dancers Buffet April 19: Polish Pottery Bingo Buffet

May 17: Installation of New BoardBuffet

*Tentative

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All I can say is WOW! What a wonderful turnout at our Fall Kickoff. The feedback was great, and we were happy to see so many familiar AND new faces. The board is excited about all the amazing things we have

planned for the year! They have done a fabulous job, and I’m thrilled to have so many great people on our team.

We have a new Backchannels Editor, Michelle Funkhouser, and a new Treasurer, Deborah Kalisz Wehr. Michelle will start with the November issue; contact her if you have any suggestions for your newsletter.

Come join our team! We are looking for two fun people to run our Ways and Means table. Speaking of Ways and Means, do you need a hostess gift? We’ve got you covered, from custom napkins embroidered with your favorite branch insignia to our one-of-a-kind Cherry Blossom note cards.

Don’t forget to RSVP for our luncheons by the prior Friday. We will close online reservations after this date and start a wait list to fill any last-minute cancellations. We have some very popular programs this year and will enforce deadlines. You can pay online, or mail in your payment. To guarantee your spot, you should register online no matter how you choose to pay. If you need assistance registering, contact our Reservations Chair, Shelley Williams, at aoscgwareservations@gmail.com.

Check out our Special Activity groups! We’ve got a walking group, bible study, Chick Flicks movie group, happy hour group, zip code groups, and a trivia group, just to name a few. Remember, special activities, tours, and zip code groups are all benefits of club membership. You must be a current member to participate.

Visit our website: www.aoscgwa.org to RSVP for the October Luncheon.

Fondly,

Kelly

Save The Date…

AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition October 9-11Military Family Forum IMonday, October 9, 2017 2:00-4:00 Warrior and Family Wellness: It Takes a Team

Military Family Forum IITuesday, October 10, 2017 9:00-12:00 Soldier and Family Readiness: Identifying Needs and Leveling Expectations

Military Family Forum IIITuesday, October 10, 2017 3:00-4:30 A Town Hall Meeting with Senior Army Leaders To register visit: ausameetings.org/2017annualmeeting

NMFA EventsSign up for NMFA’s October lunch & learn professional development series! This is a free event open to all staff, volunteers, and community partners with lunch provided by Buffalo Wild Wings! Speaker Robin Butler will discuss “A Blueprint for Growth.” Participants will walk away with: 

• A deeper understanding of the need for personal and professional growth

• Ways to transition from accidental to intentional growth

• A framework to shift from a self-limiting mindset to an empowered mindset

• Tools to add value to others in their transformation

When: Wednesday, October 4 Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pmWhere: NMFA Headquarters 3601 Eisenhower Ave., Ste. 425 Alexandria, VA 22304

Seats are limited to the first 50 participants - Register Today! http://support.militaryfamily.org/site/PageNavigator/speaker_series.html\

Backchannels October 2017

ARMY WIFE SEAL The Army Wife Seal is a copyrighted property of the ArmyThe Army Wife Seal is a copyrighted property of the Army Officers’ Spouses’ Club of the Greater Washington Area. No one may reproduce it in any manner, or for any reason, without the express permission of AOSCGWA.   Please direct all inquiries to: aoscgwapresident1@gmail.com.

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Hello… Is there someone that needs a little cheer, a get well wish, or a congratulations?

If you know of a member in need of well wishes, sympathy, or congratulations, please let our Corresponding Secretary know.

Email Jackie McKenna with the member’s name, address, and the type of card she should send at jackiemckenna2004@gmail.com.

Interested in becoming a vendor at our luncheons?

Contact our Vendor Chair! Kim Raymond at aoscgwavendor@gmail.com.

There are several events open to vendors this year, including the 1st Annual Holiday Sip and Shop Bazaar on December 1st and 2nd

at the Community Activities Center. Are you a vendor already and want to advertise in Backchannels? Contact the Backchannels Editor at backchannels.editor@gmail.com

for our current rates and members only specials!

THANK YOU!! Thank you to USAA for providing

some of the food at the Army Spouses’ Club Fall Kickoff on

September 21!

Shout out to Sue Bills of TJ Maxx/Runway for agreeing to support our

October Fashion Show Event!

Printed for the Army Officers’ Spouses’ Club of the

Greater Washington Area at no cost to the U.S.

government. Materials contained herein are those of the

Editor/Writers and are not to be considered an expression

of the Department of the Army. Advertisements in this

publication do not constitute an endorsement by the

Department of the Army.

Interested in a special activity? Our Special Activities Coordinator is Shannon Hough. Contact her at aoscgwaspecialactivities@gmail.com.

Our Tours Chair is Michelle Zuniga. Contact her at aoscgwatours@gmail.com.

Backchannels October 2017

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Information

Fort Myer Thrift Shop OpenThe Fort Myer Thrift Shop has reopened after an end-of-summer hiatus. Regular hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Put on your shopping shoes and prepare for a bargain or two. For more information visit www.fortmyerthriftshop.org.

Renew Your Henry Gate AccessReminder! Soldiers, residents, and civilians wanting to enter the installation via the Henry Gate portal must first activate their CAC or Military Dependent Card with the Visitor Control Center at the JBM-HH Police Station. This privilege is currently only available to CAC and Military Dependent Card holders. Please make sure to check that your card itself is current, as expired cards will not be allowed entry at any gate.For more information call the Visitor Control Center at 703.696.0063.

Grant Hall Open House at Fort McNairThe next quarterly Public Open House of Grant Hall’s historic third-floor courtroom is from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 4, 2017. The courtroom is the site of the military tribunal, held from May through June 1865, of those thought responsible for the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.

Retiree Appreciation DayJoint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is honored to present the 59th Annual Retiree Appreciation Day on October 6, 2017 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. The event will take place at the Community Activities Center, Building 405 on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base-Myer Henderson Hall.For more information contact JBM-HH Public Affairs at usarmy.jbmhh.asa.list.pao-all@mail.mil.

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AOSCGWACharitable Cause

.

Please help us support this wonderful program!

Members will receive one free opportunity ticket for every gift card donated at the AOSCGWA

Luncheon on October 19th.

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Fall Kickoff

Septemper 21, 2017

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AOSCGWA BACKCHANNELS

Post Office Box 1124

Fort Myer, VA 22211

backchannels.editor@gmail.com

PLEASE

PLACE

STAMP

HERE

The Army Officers' Spouses' Club of the Greater Washington Area (AOSCGWA) is a non-profit organization seeking to enrich the

quality of life of Soldiers, Family Members, and DA Civilians in the Military District of Washington community. 

We offer friendship, special activities and volunteer

opportunities. There are Zip Code Groups to make it easier to connect to the military spouses who live near you. Our volunteers organize monthly luncheons, fun activities, and share information about unique opportunities available in the Washington D.C. area. 

Funds are raised through our Ways and Means and other activities in order to provide scholarships, community grants and support our military community. If you love being with people, come join

us. We can't wait to meet you!