FAFSOM
NOTES
MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2008

One of the most important roles FAFSOM will play is to assist the families of deployed Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard Personnel. One of the ways we will do this is by providing each family in our area with a Deployment Survival Kit.

1. Items and costs for our Deployment Survival Kits
a. 2 clocks and batteries…………………......………………..$12.00
b. Disposable Camera…………………………………….............$5.00
c. Scrapbook materials/photo album……………………....$15.00
d. Maps……………………………………………………...................$16.00
e. Post Net Gift Certificate………………………………......$20.00
f. Stamps…………………………………………………...................$9.00
g. Greeting Cards………………………………………….............$10.00
h. Yellow Ribbon for Tree………………………………..........$4.00
i. Picture Frame…………………………………………...............$3.00
j. Message T-Shirt………………………………………..............$5.00
k. Coloring Book…………………………………………...............$3.00
l. 60 minute Phone Card for family………………………....$3.30
m. Deployment Candle…………………………………….............$5.00
n. Laminating Sheets…………………………………….............$1.50
o. Military Rank Chart……………………………………............$.50
p. Acronyms list…………………………………………...............$1.50
q. Blue Star Banner + explanation sheet………………….$6.00
r. Total…………………………………………………..................$119.80
s. Support Donation Request amount per kit…..$125.00

2. Groups to make presentation to:
a. Kiwanis in Sturgis, Three Rivers, Colon, Mendon, etc
b. County Commission
c. Rotary Clubs
d. Lions Clubs
e. Other service clubs
f. VFWs and American Legions
g. City Commissions/Village Boards/Township Boards
h. Churches
i. Banks
j. Chambers of Commerce
k. Exchange Club

3. Service/Support Ideas
a. Auto Repair
b. Appliance repair
c. Heat/Air Condition Repair
d. Plumbers
e. Electricians
f. Roofers
g. Beauty Shops
h. Local Newspaper online subscription
i. Financial Literacy Assistance/Financial Planning/Bill Payment Procedures

4. Emergency Relief fund to be created to assist families until Military Money clears official channels. Funds would basically be a no interest loan for 30 to 90 days to cover family related emergencies. Once relief from Official sources is delivered, money would be repaid to FAFSOM.

Next Meeting is Monday March 3, 2008—Final assembly of our prototype Deployment Survival Kits will completed and a first run through the concept presentation will be made.

Ideas emailed in after notes sent out:

3: We should provide a list of sources, and information how to use them, that can assist if there are problems, (ie. nearest FAC contact, Military One Source, My Army Too, Red Cross, FAFSOM, Rear-D Command and Chaplain, Tricare, VA, etc...) Perhaps on a magnet. This is probably the most important!!!

5: There are new red white and blue boxes that can be purchased at a cheaper flat rate to be sent to APO AE addresses. There is a place to call that will provide free boxes if you tell them you are shipping to deployed military.

6: Instructions on how to access Tricare Services.

7: A list of what the Soldier and Family should complete prior to deploying (usualy provided by unit S-1, but won't hurt to double tap this). These are items such as Ensuring Tricare is up to date, Last Will and Testament, General Power of Attorney that lasts at least 2 years, DEERS (ID Cards), SGLI (Soldier Group Life Insurance), Set up on AKO, and contact information on where to go for these (perhaps the VA as a general Point of Contact for these). This should be second on the priority list.

8: Customs forms, with a completed sample of how it should be filled out, and a list of what can't be shipped.