Family JUNE 2010

Times
AER Campaign Hits All
Time High in Donations



 
 

un behalf of the Garrison Commander and the Army Emergency Relief ufficer (AERu , please accept our
sincere appreciation for everyones genuine support during the 68th Army Emergency Relief Campaign. uur
2010 AER Annual Campaign goal was set at a conservative $12,500, and cleared an additional $6,000.
Your support makes it possible for AER at Fort Hamilton to serve Soldiers and their Families when they
are faced with financial emergencies. Since its inception in 1942, AER has helped more than 3.2 million
Soldiers and Family members with more than $1 billion. Your support ensures that this mission will
continue. Army Emergency Relief has a four star rating by Charity Navigator.urg. uf every dollar that is
contributed to Army Emergency Relief 89 cents goes to help Soldiers and their Families, Retirees, Survivors
and Widows. AER administrative and fund raising expenses cost only 11 cents.
As more and more men and women answer the call to serve their country, AER has experienced an upsurge
in applications for assistance. During the calendar year 2009, the Fort Hamilton Army Emergency Relief was
able to assist 200 applicants help solve immediate financial needs. AER assistance not only helps to solve
immediate financial needs but, also allows a greater peace of mind. Soldiers and their Families face new
situations daily as they are placed in a new financial circumstance. As they have for the past 67 years, AER
was ready, and with contributions such as yours, makes it possible to provide emergency financial assistance.
For more information on Army Emergency Relief please visit a

or contact Miguel Morales at
718.630.4471.

m
m
m
ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE Directors Corner 2
0
 
Career Center............................2
    Financial Tip.3
Community Matters..4


0 
 Newcomers...5
AFTB6
Classifieds/Calendar of Events..7
0 
Want to contribute? Need to advertise an


 event, playgroup or activity? Submit your
composition now for next month!
 

Notes from the Director
!

" 

Greetings from Army Community Service! Im Carmen Borrero, the ACS Director
and Id like to thank you for taking the time to see what ACS has to offer. Summer
is right around the corner and is the perfect time to join us on our Newcomers
urientation field trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on June 24th. This is a
great chance to meet new people and see a little bit of Brooklyn.
The AER campaign has come to a close and exceeded its goal by more than $6,000. A huge success! We
also recently hosted our annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, where more than 100 volunteers were
recogized for the their selfless service to the Fort Hamilton community.
ACS has so much to offer, from the Computer Lab, Army Family Team Building classes to financial
assistance. We also have relocation resources and volunteer and employment information. Come by and see
us! We are here to serve you!

Career Workshops and Job Fair

Army Support Activity (ASA Dix, NJ
The Timmermann Center
Building 5441 8th Avenue

TECHNICAL WORKSHOP AND SERVICES JOB FAIR

9 June (0800-1700) 2010 10 June (0900-1500) 2010
m  
    - Tip of the Arrow Defense Contractors and Private Sector
Foundation AT&T
  Customs and Border Control
(courtesy of Garden State Council-Society for Comcast
Human Resources Management Fire Department of New York City


  from Cornell University L-3
Disability (DBTAC Experts ManTech
Military une Source New Jersey Transit
US Department of Veteran Affairs Novartis
R4

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT
SGM James Clark 301-674-9428
James.clarksr1@us.army.mil
SFC Loranda Taylor 609-864-2559
loranda.mitriece.taylor@us.army.mil
Saving on this Years
Summer Vacation

 
a 
 a a a  

Summer is almost here, and for many of us that means it is time to plan your
annual dream vacation. Traveling is a favorite thing to do for many Military
Families. Id like to share with you some tips on traveling. Hopefully they will
help you enjoy your vacation a little bit more.



Set a budget and stick to it. Before you even think about where you want to go on your
vacation, figure out what you can afford. Vacations are a luxury. You should never go into debt to take a
vacation. For years, I have put all my loose change in a jar. This is my vacation fund. Its a painless way to
save and after a year, Im always amazed at how much change I accumulated. Always call the chamber of
commerce or look on the Internet for money saving coupons for area attractions or lodging. Another good
place to look for savings is at state welcome centers along the highways.

  I usually book my hotels by checking the rates on the Internet and then calling the 1-800 numbers
and checking their quoted rates. Do call the hotel directly as well, since the 1-800 number is often times a
clearing house hired just to take reservations. When you call, always ask if they have any specials. Most
chains do, and they usually wont volunteer these discounts unless you ask. Keep in mind that the closer the
hotel is to the attraction, the more expensive the accommodations will be. Sometimes you want to be right in
the middle of the action. If you are willing to walk or drive a little, you can save a lot. When you check in,
always ask for a free upgrade. You'll be surprised at how many times you'll get a better room than you
bargained for.

     Airline tickets get more expensive the closer you get to your vacation. Purchase them as
early as possible. I buy our tickets online. This is also a great way to comparison shop. Sites like
Travelocity, Hotwire.com and Priceline.com are great sources to comparison shop for travel on major
airlines and you might even be able to name your own price. And dont forget the smaller airlines that offer
really significant savings like JetBlue, Song, Independence and Airtran just to name a few. You can actually
get tickets for as low as $69 one way.


Eat your main meal of the day at noon since restaurants almost always charge more for their dinner
menu while the same food at lunchtime is less expensive. Try finding a grocery store nearby to buy breakfast
foods you can keep in your hotel room. For dinner, try a picnic.

    uff-peak is always the best. The lines are shorter at the attractions and the prices for hotels and
meals, etc. are usually much less. The savings could make the difference from enjoying your dream
destination in person or continuing to dream.

    
 . A military ID, student ID, AAA or AARP card can help you get the best prices on
everything from museums to hotels. In the larger cities, an inexpensive public transportation ticket will
allow you to enjoy the tour at your own pace.
Army Family Action Plan
m  



#
$$


The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP Steering Committee met on 5 May 2010 to discuss the issues from
the AFAP Conference held on 9 December 2009 at the FHCC. These are a few of the issues from that
conference. The remaining issues will be reviewed by the committee monthly until all of the issues have
been resolved.
Issues
(1 uCuNUS vs. CuNUS advance pay
(2 Commissary & Thrift Store hours should be
earlier and longer.
(3 Competitive Prices at PX.
(4 Need Laundromat on Post
(5 Cigarette prices to mirror Fort Dix or Staten
Island Coast Guard prices.
(6 No overseeing black marketing products at PX
& Shopette.
(7 Delay in road repairs.
(8 Youth Services not open on Sunday.
(9 Retirees not eligible for free Broadway tickets.
(10 Commissary Parking lot too small.
(11 LED Marquee by the Post uffice in operative.
(12 Food at Community Club expensive and
terrible.
Resolution
Per JTR this is not authorized. If this issue comes up
during the next AFAP Conference and is prioritized,
then it can be elevated to a higher authority.
The Commissary and Thrift Shop have adjusted their
hours to meet the needs of the community
AAFES continuously monitors competition and will
match items on non-sale items from the civilian
markets
Due to available space and funding, AAFES can not
open a new Laundromat at this time.
Prices do mirror Staten Island Coast Guard
Exchange. Each AAFES store mirrors what area
civilian retailers charge, less a percentage set by
AAFES policy.
There are prohibitions and penalties if someone
resells products from the Exchange. Please report
violators to the store manager or DES.
unce the AAFES and Reserve Center construction
projects are completed, DPW will have the roads
repaired.
Due to staff shortages and funding, CYS is unable
able to operating during Sunday afternoons at this
time.
uperational requirements permitting, the infrequent
use of the USu Center by military retirees may be
authorized by the Director.
DES is enforcing the parking rules through the
issuance of summonses and booting vehicles to
identify violators.
Marquee has been replaced and is operational.
The cost of food at the Club meets the standards
dictated by our higher headquarters. The lunch menu
has been changed and has an upgraded salad bar.
 NEWCuMERS!
Join us June 24 beginning at 0830
ACS Conference Room
Followed by complimentary lunch at the
Ft. Hamilton Community Club and a
FREE Trip to Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

*Registration is required 718.630.4462

Sunscreen
Dont Be Caught Dead
Without It
 " 
$
 
Its finally here! The re-opening of the pool for summer. Grab your bathing suits, towels and
SUNSCREEN! Protecting yourself and your family from harmful UV damage can save your life. Skin
cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with skin cancer cases totaling more than
cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.
Parents, now is the perfect time to set an example for your children and teach them a healthy suncare
routine. une blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma,
the most deadly form of skin cancer, later in life.
So, what steps do you need to take to ensure you and your family are well protected? Start by throwing
away your old sunscreen. Sunscreen typically has a shelf life of two years, so when in doubt, throw it out.
Next, get some new stuff. SPF 15 or higher is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as an acceptable
UVB protectant. A higher SPF is advised for children and people at a higher risk of burning. Sunscreen can
be found in SPFs as high as 100, although the research is still out on the efficacy of SPF 100 vs SPF 45. Just
because it is nearly double the SPF, does not mean it is double the protection or that it protects longer and
can go without reapplication. Sunscreen should always be applied 30 minutes prior to exposure and
reapplied every 2 hours, regardless of SPF.
It is important to remember also that sunscreen should be applied year round to exposed skin. Even on an
overcast day, you are exposed to 70-80% of the suns UV rays. Ladies, just because a product, such as
foundation, lipstick or moisturizer claim to have SPF in it, often times they are less effective than sunscreen,
so be sure to apply sunscreen first then your makeup. une last misconception
to clear up is the base tan myth. Establishing a base tan does decrease your
risk of skin cancer or sun damage. In fact, the presence of a base tan often
masks the damage being done, because the skin is less apt to burning. There is
no such thing as safe tanning. Tanning is the skin's response to DNA damage

For more information on sun safety please visit www.skincancer.org and stop
ACS for your FREE bottle of sunscreen to get the summer started off right!
Army Family Team Building
!  

"
#  


#!$



AFTB is a volunteer-led organization with a central tenet: provide training and knowledge to spouses and
family members to support the total Army effort. Strong families are the pillar of support behind strong
Soldiers. It is AFTB's mission to educate and train all of the Army in knowledge, skills, and behaviors
designed to prepare our Army families to move successfully into the future.
AFTB contributes to the Army mission by educating and training the Army family to be self-sufficient
leaders within their communities. AFTB Level I focuses on the basic skills and knowledge needed to live the
military life. Level II allows the participant to grow into a community leader. Finally, Level III goes into
inspiring and mentoring others into leadership positions.
AFTB is organized along the command line of the US Army Installation Management Agency (for
installation based programs and by Major Command (MACuM lines for all others. There are currently 221
active programs world-wide with more than 20,000 volunteers and paid staff all with one commitment at
heart: Connecting Families to the Army.une Class at a Time!
ATTEND A CLASS!

Classes will be held every 3rd Wednesday from 1100 hrs to 1200 hrs in the ACS conference room. Call ACS
to reserve your class seat.
If youre interested in taking any of the over 40 AFTB classes or becoming a volunteer, contact:
John Mapes @718 630-4498 or John.mapes1@us.army.mil

OEF/OIF Veterans Workshop

Vets4Vets will be hosting a FREE peer support workshop by New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University June 25-27th, 2010. The campus is located
35 miles away from NYC and it is accessible via NJ Transit train. This is a
location-specific workshop open to uEF/uIF veterans in the Greater New
York and New Jersey Area uNLY!
If you do live in the Greater New York- New Jersey Area, all you need to
do is fill out the Vets4Vets Workshop Registration Form and email it to
Info@Vets4Vets.us, or fax it to (520 325-0772.

REGISTRATIuN FuRMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY

June 11, 2010!

unce your form has been received, we will contact with workshop details. The workshops are
COMPLETELY FREE, which means your transportation, lodging, food and activities are paid for.
We want all returning veterans to be able to receive the benefits of peer support without worrying about
the cost. If you have never attended a workshop before and would like more information before registering,
please browse our website or give us a call at (520 319-5500.
HAMILTuN CLASSIFIEDS
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