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.

Starting a New FRG

Last Sunday, my wife and I went to a meeting in Kalamazoo, Michigan to assist with the process of splitting a Family Readiness Group in to two functional FRGs. Prior to last Sunday, February 3, 2008, there was 1 FRG for 2 companies affiliated with the Kalamazoo National Guard Installation. Our involvement is being keyed by our daughter-in-law who will take on the responsibility of leadership for the new FRG.

FAFSOM wants to help where ever it can. We do not want to take over the roll of an FRG but we do want to help every FRG that exists and those that are just coming into existence. Our hope is that we will be able to make sure that every family of a deployed Soldier, Airman, Marine, Sailor, or Coast Guardsman (Active, Reserve, or National Guard) will have all the support they need to have the most positive experience possible. We know that is a tall order but we have enough people who have been touched by deployments that I am confident that we can find a "Deployment Buddy" for every deployed family.

To help these folks we are preparing deployment survival kits. Our goal is to make sure that every deployed family will have a visit from a "Deployment Buddy" (DB) who will bring the Deployment Survival Kit (DSK) to that family's door. Our expectation is that the DB will make contact with the family on a regualr basis and that the family will be able to call the DB whenever there is a need.

Our DBs will not be couselors but they will know where to direct families in need. This is a tall order but we are confident that there are enough potential DBs out there that we can meet the needs of our region. If you would like to be a DB, let me know. We'll get you set up for training.

Looking for People Interested in Supporting Our Military Men and Women!

It doesn't matter whether you support the War in Iraq or not. It doesn't matter whether you have served in the Armed Forces or not. It only matters that you have a place in your heart for the men and women who have chosen to sacrifice a piece of their life to serve our Nation. We are interested in you and we know that you are interested in us. We support the men and women who serve but more importantly, we support the families of those who serve.

As a parent of two young men who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I know how fear can creep into your daily brain. We were afraid every day and there was no where to turn. That is why my wife and I started FAFSOM; Family and Friends Supporting Our Military. This group allowed us to share our fears with other family and freinds who were experiencing the same concerns. It has become an extraordinary support group that has begun to expand its mission and vision for the future.

Here is our mission: The Mission of FAFSOM is to MENTOR families and friends of Military Personnel by SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES and CONNECTING those families and friends to available RESOURCES. To assist us in this mission we will create greater COMMUNITY AWARENESS. The Keys to this mission are: MENTOR, SHARE, CONNECT, and PUBLICIZE!

If you or someone you know would benefit from our organization, we want to be there for you. Just go to our website or send us an email: www.fafsom.org or jay@fafsom.org. We are ready, willing, and able to support you and your loved ones.