Photo By Sgt. Erica Earl | A representative from Family, Morale, Wellness and Recreation on Joint Base...... read more read more
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Directors and leaders with the Family Readiness Group and other community service organizations on Joint Base Lewis-McChord coached new and returning volunteers at the third annual Family Readiness Group Conference Sept. 26 at JBLM’s American Lake Community Center.
The Family Readiness Group is a command-sponsored organization made up of civilians, volunteers and Soldiers that provides activities and support to increase the resiliency of unit soldiers and their families. Members of the FRG also host social events for service members and their families and charitable events such as food drives.
Conference leaders aimed to help volunteers better understand fundraising and the roles of different on-post resources such as the Armed Forces Community Service and Family and Morale, Wellness and Recreation.
This was the first FRG conference to feature a round robin style of briefings from community service and family advocacy organizations on post. The audience was seated at large round tables where the representatives from the organizations were able to inform people in a more informal setting.
A representative from the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate reviewed the Department of Defense regulations for fundraising with volunteers so they could understand the best practices in raising money and allocating funds.
LeAnn Volesky, an avid volunteer on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the opening speaker for the conference and the spouse of Gen. Gary Volesky, the commanding general of I Corps, said it is important for volunteers with these organizations to know what resources are available and how to use them to provide the best support to their unit organizations.
She said every individual volunteering through the FRG can make a difference.
“Take your superpower, whether that is to organize for thousands or for one person, and make a difference,” Volesky said.
Positions within a unit FRG are filled by volunteers.
Darlene Pacheco, a mobilization and deployment specialist with Armed Forces Community Service, said it is common for spouses or family members of Soldiers to step up to the position of FRG leader.
Pacheco said the conference, along with monthly training, helps volunteers better understand their roles as their units’ FRG leaders.
Kerri Kastanias, the FRG leader for the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, said there is a learning curve in taking on the position of FRG leader.
Kastanias, who has served as an FRG leader for about a year, said she did not know where to turn for funding or resources and was paying for events for the unit with her own money.
Kastanias said she would rather pay for the events than not have them happen at all, but added it’s important for volunteers to stay informed.
Coming to conferences, she said, helped her gain a great deal of information on where and how to get funding and resources.
Pamela Allen, the mobilization and deployment program manager for the Armed Forces Community Service said FRG conferences help volunteers like Kastanias learn how to support their units using available channels without having to reach into their own pockets.
The FRG depends on internal fundraising within Joint Base Lewis-McChord, USO grants and unsolicited donations from the surrounding community.
Allen said the FRG has an important role, but the position can come with high pressure to organize and support activates for their Soldier’s unit.
“We need to remember our roots and why this organization exists,” Allen said. “The focus isn’t about being a unit’s cruise director.”
Allen said that doesn’t mean the social aspects of FRG are not important, and she wants to see volunteers, service members, and family members feel at home and supported.
“Many Soldiers and family members are coming to us from outside of the area,” Allen said. “It’s important they know where to go if they need resources.”
For more information about FRG call 253-967-8430/3397 or visit jblmmwr.com.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2017 19:06 |
| Story ID: | 250171 |
| Location: | JBLM, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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