Army Community Service and Military Spouse Appreciation

Fort Drum Welcome Tour Whether you’ve been here one week or one year, we wel-come and encourage you to join us for our narrated tour of Fort Drum and Watertown to gain valuable informa-tion that will help you feel more at home in the North Country. Our tour is held each Tuesday of every month except for weeks with a federal holiday. We leave from ACS at 9:30am and return by 2:00 pm with a lunch break at the mall food court (you are responsible for purchas-ing your own lunch or you can bring a brown bag lunch). We give you the tips and tricks on finding the best local restaurants and enjoying your time stationed at Fort Drum. Bring all the questions you have but are afraid to ask so we can get them answered for you and give you a big Fort Drum welcome!

Army Community Service (ACS) Fort Drum, NY May 2011

ACS Friends and neighbors– Xochitl Boutte

2

New Volunteers for Relocation Readiness

2

Relocation Readiness : Hearts Apart

3

May Preview 4,5

ACS Contacts 6

Inside this issue:

~A tree free newsletter

The month of May is known for

the celebration of Mothers Day,

Memorial Day, and Military

Appreciation Month but

Former President Ronald

Reagan deemed the Friday

before Mothers Day to be a day

set aside to honor military

Spouses. Since then, all

branches of service plan events

to honor the Spouses who stand

behind the men and women

that fight for our nation and the

freedoms we hold dear.

Here on Fort Drum, our

Military Spouses endure

frequent and long deployments

with dignity and grace. It is

their effort, commitment and

sacrifice that allows Soldiers to

carry out the mission with peace

of mind knowing their Spouse

is maintaining the Family they

left behind.

Army Community Service

(ACS) recognizes the key role a

Spouse plays in the morale of a

Soldier. It is the positive

thoughts, encouragement,

prayer and belief in the value of

one’s Soldier as a partner, father

and Soldier in the United States

Army that empowers him or her

with a sense of purpose.

This year Army Community

Service has planned “FAB-

YOU-LICIOUS” a day of

indulgence to honor the

Spouses of Fort Drum. This

event will take place at the

Commons on May 10 from

10:00am-3:00pm. FAB-YOU-

LICIOUS is meant to be fun,

entertaining and rewarding.

There will be a fashion show,

chocolate and wine tasting, and

fabulous giveaways! To register

for the event, contact Outreach

Services at 772-5374. Come out

and let ACS say thank you for

all you do!

Direct questions or feedback

to Sarah Lynch : 772-5374

sarah.l.lynch@us.army.mil

-Xochitl Boutte

I was born in Nicaragua but

raised between there and

Bourg, Louisiana. For the last

15 years, I have been an

Educator and Advocate for

Children. I worked as a

Spanish Interpreter in the

school system and juvenile

courts. I taught English as a

second language to parents and

adults.

In 2008, I earned

an undergraduate degree in

Criminal Justice from Kaplan

University. Then in 2010

I earned my Masters degree in

Legal Studies form the same

University. I recently

married my best friend and

soul mate, SFC Keith Boutte,

3rd Brigade 71st

Squadron (HHT 3-71CAV).

Last May, I had to make the

most difficult decision ever. I

had to decide whether to stay

where I was comfortable or

move. I chose to move with

my husband which brought

me to Fort Drum. Although I

had no knowledge of military

life, as a child my parents

taught me to make something

out of nothing so I integrated

quickly to the military life.

Because my husband made the

military his career, I enrolled

in various programs that

Army Community Service

offers. I utilized Fort Drum’s

Employment Readiness

Program (ERP) to look for a

job. Through my networking

and job fair participation, I

learned about other classes such

as ERP Job Club workshop on

Electronic Portfolios.

I became familiar with

Watertown by attending the

Relocation Readiness Program’s

Drum Family Welcome Tour. I

enrolled in and attended Army

Family Team Building (AFTB)

Summer Marathon, which was

one of my favorite classes, I

learned about Military Acronyms

and Terms, The Army Chain of

Command, Benefits and

Entitlements, and Financial

Readiness. After taking many of

the classes offered by ACS, I felt

more connected to my husband

and I had a better understanding

of his job.

I am currently attending SUNY

Potsdam, at Jefferson

Community College Extension

ACS Friends and Neighbors-Promoting Community

Page 2 Volume 1, I ssue 3

Join ACS Relocation Readiness and get all your questions about the

North Country and Fort Drum answered!

Newcomers Orientation at ACS 9:30am-Noon

The first Monday of each month

Dates in 2011: April 4, May 2 , June 6 , August 1, September 12 ,

October 3, November 7, December 7

FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST!

Guest Speakers from Community and Fort Drum agencies and

Learning Center in

Watertown. I am working on

my second Master's in Early

Childhood Education, with a

certification in English as a

Second Language (ESOL) At

the same time, I am doing my

Graduate Assistance at

Jefferson-Lewis Teacher

Center in Watertown.

As a military wife, I learned

the best way to keep positive

while my husband is deployed

is to find meaningful work and

or activity. I have a passion to

learn and share my knowledge

with my community. My goal

is to open a charter school for

ESOL students and students

with special needs.

May’s Spouse in the Spotlight-Xochitl Boutte

Relocation Readiness Welcomes Fred and Annette Ghiz!

Volunteers are a special breed of

people. They make time in their

own busy lives to provide some

sort of service to someone else

without regard to payment or

compensation. The selfless

contributions made by various

volunteers range from

something as easy as raking a

lawn, or buying groceries for a

shut in, to teaching someone to

read or in the unique case of the

Ghiz family, relocating to live in

a military community for the

next 18 months in order to do

whatever they can to help

Soldiers and their Families.

Annette and Fred Ghiz left their

home in Utah to volunteer their

time and talents to the Fort

Drum Community. Lets extend

a warm welcome to the Ghiz

Family. If you see them make

sure to say welcome and let

them know we appreciate their

efforts and patriotism! You

rarely meet someone willing to

relocate cross county to

volunteer their time.

Thank you Ghiz Family!

I am of the opinion that my

life belongs to the whole

community and as long as I

live, it is my privilege to do

for it whatever I can. I want

to be thoroughly used up

when I die, for the harder I

work the more I live.

~George Bernard Shaw

Fred and Annette Ghiz

Relocation Readiness Program: More than just Moving!

Hearts Apart Support Group Separation is a common occurrence with

Fort Drum Families. Whether it’s due to

deployment, temporary duty (TDY), or an

unaccompanied tour, separation is difficult.

Regardless if it’s the first or the third

deployment, separation from a loved one can

be very challenging and lonely, especially

during the winter months.

Fort Drum’s Army Community Service

Hearts Apart program can help ease those

feelings of loneliness and isolation by

hosting events and activities that provide

Families with support, fellowship, recreation,

and friendship

The Hearts Apart program is a proactive

program designed to assist and link Families

who are geographically separated from their

Soldier. The focus of this group is to build

friendships and ease the stress and demands

on the Family during these times of

separation. ACS Hearts Apart provides a

supportive group setting for activities, an

opportunity to learn about available

resources, and a chance to network with

other spouses.

Hearts Apart gatherings are not formally

structured. Meeting and events are both fun

filled, relaxing and informative; often they

focus on offering not only a pleasant activity,

but a practical one. Past events have

included strawberry picking, learning to

make jam, apple picking, safe methods of

canning, winter safety driver training,

bowling, memory boxes, origami, beading,

crocheting, and scrapbooking. This is not a

definitive list and the program is always

interested in learning new and different

things.

Being around spouses in similar situations is

a great way to help ease the stress of separa-

tion. By participation in Hearts Apart,

Spouses find more than support; they gain

friendship and a sense of belonging.

Through Hearts Apart, The Relocation

Program team has had the opportunity to

know and admire many Ft. Drum spouses.

Our lives are enriched by the unique and

creative individuals who share their diverse

experiences, customs, and wisdom and who

share the common thread of separation.

Hearts Apart is a free program and children

are welcome. For more information and a

calendar of events, contact the Relocation

Readiness Program at 772-6566/5475 or

drum.mwracsrelo@conus.army.mil.

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.” ~Author unknown

Page 3 Volume 1, I ssue 3

Your Fort Drum Relocation Staff

Scarlett Sharkey-Program Manager

(315)772-6566; scarlett.sharkey@us.army.mil

Amy Kilionski-Program Educator

(315)772-6553; amy.kilionski@us.army.mil

Diane Peebles-Program Educator

(315)772-6902; drum.mwracsrelo@conus.army.mil

Krista Auger-Mitchell-Program Educator The Relocation Readiness Team:

(Left to Right) Diane, Krista, Scarlett and Amy

Army Community Service Relocation Readiness

Program is known as the welcome wagon for

newcomers to Fort Drum. Our first goal is to make

you feel welcome and part of the Fort Drum

Community. Not only do we offer a base tour to

help you find your way around, but also a tour of the

local area to highlight some of the wonders the north

country has to offer. The goal of the Fort Drum

Relocation Program is to make your relocation

process as smooth as possible. To do that, our

program offers you a variety of services ranging from

in-processing, lending closet, and newcomer

orientation, to out-processing, overseas briefings, and

getting ready for your next duty assignment. The

Relocation Program offers comprehensive support

services to aide you, not only before and after a

move but all the time in-between. Our support

services includes our Hearts Apart Program,

International Spouses Group, English as a Second

Language, Inn Visits, Tourism, information, Fort

Drum Community Garden, Immigration and

Citizenship assistance, as well as general support.

ARMY FAMILY TEAM BUILDING: Call 772-6710 For information or to register.

May 5 AFTB Level 1 Spanish 0900-1600 ACS

May 9-10 AFTB Level 2 Training 0900-1400 ACS

EMPLOYMENT READINESS: Call 772-9611/2737 For details or to register.

May 5 Employment 101 0930-1130 ACS

May 10 Build Your Own Business 0930-1130 ACS

May 11 Job Club 1200-1400 ACS

FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM: Call 772-4244 For details or to register.

May 3, 10 Terrific Toddler 0900-1100 ACS

May 3 Stress Management 1130-1530 ACS

FINANCIAL READINESS PROGRAM: Call 772-0500 for details or to register.

May 3 Buying Your Teens First Car 1400-1500 ACS

May 5, 12 Budget Management 1800-2000 ACS

MOBILIZATION AND DEPLOYMENT: Call 772-2848 for details or to register.

May 3 FRG Leader Training 0930-1330 ACS

May 3 Informal Funds Training 1400-1500 & 1700-1800 ACS

May 12 Key Caller Training 1400-1530 & 1700-1830 ACS

NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: Call 772-0748 for details.

May 3, 10 Connect The Tots Play Group 1000-1130 Post Chapel

RELOCATION READINESS: Call 772-6566 for details or to register for classes.

May 3, 5, 10, 12 Stateside PCS Brief 1500-1600 Clark Hall A2

May 3, 5, 10, 12 ESOL Class 1000-1200 ACS

May 3, 10 Drum Welcome Tour 0930-1430 ACS

May 6 Hearts Apart Group 1000-1200 ACS

SURVIVOR OUTREACH PROGRAM: Call 772-6357 for details or class registration.

May 2 SOS monthly Meeting 1800-2000 ACS

May 4 Cope With Hope 1000-1200 ACS

ACS Classes and Events for May 1-16 Moving Tips

1. Come and see your Relocation

Readiness Program!

2. Visit Military Home front at

militaryinstallations.dod.mil

3. Call your new duty station’s

ACS Relocation and ask for a

Welcome Packet.

4. Contact your gaining duty sta-

tion and get a sponsor.

5. Make your lodging reser-

vation at your gaining installa-

tion EARLY.

6. Attend an ACS pre-departure

brief.

7. Talk to your family, especially

your children about the

upcoming move.

8. Contact Personal Property

Shipping to arrange for your

household goods to be picked

up.

9. If you live on post, attend the

Mountain Community Home

Move Out Information Session.

Moving With Your Pet

1. Sedatives are discouraged.

2. Do not feed 4 to 6 hours prior

(reduces car/flight sickness)

3. Morning or late flights are best

to avoid the heat.

4. Exercise prior to kenneling.

5. Put something with your scent

in the kennel.

6. Line bottom of kennel with an

absorbent material

7. Avoid leaving toys in the kennel

to prevent ingestion or choking.

8. Keep a small serving of your

pet’s food with you in case of

extended delays

9. Plan for adequate bathroom

breaks along route when

driving.

FAB-YOU-LICIOUS

A Day of Indulgence

SPOUSE APPRECIATION EVENT

10 MAY

0900-1500 The COMMONS

Registration required 772-5374

ACS Classes & Events For May 17-31 Citizenship Quiz

To become a United States

citizen, an applicant must pass

a citizenship test answering six

out of ten questions correctly.

The test consists of questions

about American Government,

American History and Civics.

Below are 10 of the 100

questions asked. Could you

pass the test given to

potential citizens?

1. What is the supreme law of

the land?

2. How many amendments

does the constitution have?

3. What are two rights in the

Declaration of Independ-

ence?

4. Who is one of your state’s

U.S. Senators?

5. Who wrote the Declaration

of Independence?

6. When was the Constitution

written?

7. The Federalist Papers

supported the passage of the

U.S. Constitution. Name one

of the writers.

8. What territory did the Unites

States buy from France in

1803?

9. Before he was President,

Eisenhower was a general.

What war was he in?

10. Name one of the two

longest rivers in the U.S.

Answers in next month’s

newsletter.

ARMY VOLUNTEER CORP PROGRAM: Call 772-2899 for details and to register for classes.

May 26 VMIS 101 1000-1100 Education Center

EMPLOYMENT READINESS PROGRAM: Call 772-9611 for details or to register for classes.

May 19 Federal Employment Workshop 0930-1130 ACS

FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM: Call 772-4244 for details or to register for classes.

May 17 Anger Management 1800-2000 ACS

May 17 Terrific Toddler 0900-1100 ACS

FINANCIAL READINESS PROGRAM: Call 772-0050 for details or to register for classes.

May 19, 26 Budget Management 1330-1530 ACS

May 20 Home Buyers Class 0930-1100 ACS

May 24 Investing 201 0930-1130 ACS

NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: Call 772-0748 for details.

May 17, 24, 31 Connect the Tots Play Group 1000-1130 Post Chapel

RELOCATION READINESS PROGRAM: Call 772-6566 for details and to register for classes.

May 17, 24 Drum Welcome Tour 0930-1430 ACS

May 19, 24, 26, 31 Stateside PCS Brief 1530-1600 Clark Hall A2

May 19, 24, 26, 31 ESOL Class 1000-1200 ACS

May 19 Overseas PCS Brief 0930-1100 ACS

SURVIVOR OUTREACH PROGRAM: Call 772-6357 for details and to register for classes.

May 18 Cope with Hope 1030-1200 ACS

Army Emergency Relief 772-6560, 772-8873 or 772-2855

Army Family Team Building http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000122037720

772-6710, 772-9229

Army Volunteer Program Coordinator http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-Army-volunteer-Corps/13651504365912

772-2899

Exceptional Family Member Program http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-FMWR-Exceptional-Family-Member-Program /104951319542718

772-5488

772-0819

Employment Readiness Program http://www.facebook.com/fortdrumemploymet#!/

772-9611, 772-2737

Family Advocacy Program (New Parent Support Program) SAPRP

772-4244, 772-6929, 772-2279

772-0596, 772-4070, 772-0748

772-5605, 772-5914

Financial Readiness Program http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-financial-Readiness-ACS/1956662120473

772-0050, 772-5196, 772-8526

Information and Referral 772-6556, 772-6557

Military & Family Life Consultants 212-6919

Mobilization and Deployment http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-Mobiliztion-and-Deployment/178420512193448?ref=ts&v=wall

772-6556, 772-2848, 772-0470

772-6553

Outreach http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Drum-ACS-Outreach/180373271991692

772-5374

Relocation Readiness http:// www.facebook.com/pages/Fort -Drum -Relocation -Readiness Program/171335822906429

772-5475, 772-6553, 772-6902

772-6566

Soldier Family Assistance Center http://www.facebook.com/Fort.Drum.FMWR/SFAC

772-0805

Survivor Outreach Services http://www.facebook.com/fortdrumsurvivoroutreachservices

772-6357

Army Community Service

P4330 Conway Road

Fort Drum, New York

13602