ACS News and Information
10 APRIL 2014
Bldg 203 DSN 4403777; CIV 08821750-3777 Hours: M-F 0800-1700 Closed on American Holidays
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ACS NEWS AND INFORMATION
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ACS Recognizes our Community Volunteers! The Annual Community Volunteer Recognition Ceremony was held last Wednesday, 2 April, in the Edelweiss Lodge & Resort ballroom from 1130-1330. Almost 100 volunteers, volunteer supervisors, and VIP’s attended this event! Highlights of the event included, a volunteer slide show, live acoustic music provided by local entertainers, a buffet lunch, and presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Awards. Volunteer of the Year awards were disseminated to Mrs. Amy Mikits as the Family Member Volunteer of the Year. Nominated by numerous agencies, Mrs. Mikits is one of those rare individuals who seem to be everywhere all the time. Whether it’s Boy Scouts, the Chapel, ACS, GEMS, Youth Sports, the Garmisch Community Club, or the PTA, Amy’s constant motion has had a huge impact on all of these programs! Mrs. Karin Schmeiden was recognized as the Host Nation Volunteer of the Year. Mrs. Schmeiden has been teaching a weekly German class through ACS for over six years. On top of this commitment, she also gives monthly tours of Garmisch-Partenkirchen to incoming families and teaches a German Customs and Culture class. SGT Mireille Ngominlend was recognized as the Active Duty Volunteer of the Year. SGT Ngominlend has been changing lives since she arrived in our community three years ago. In addition to volunteering with ACS and the Post Office, her commitment to the GEMS hot lunch program continues to improve the lives of our children and youth each and every week. The Civilian/Retiree Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Ms. Clarissa Daser. Ms. Daser has spent over 20 years as a civilian employee. A longtime resident of Garmisch, she has become an integral part of each community member who has ever borrowed items from ACS as part of the Loan Closet program. She has volunteered with ACS for over 7 years! An entire family was recognized for the difference they have made in our community. The Cedeno Family was recognized as the Volunteer Family of the Year. An essential part of this community, each of the four members of the Cedeno family, SFC Jose Cedeno, Karen, Jose Jr and Bryanna are active in several programs to include the NATO School and Garmisch community events, ACS, GEMS, CYS Services, and the Garmisch Chapel. Community youth volunteers were recognized the previous Friday, 28 March at the Youth Center from 18001900. All youth volunteers were treated to nachos, ice cream sundaes, and a sneak peak of the VolShow Presentation. Ms. Kaethe Rose was surprised by Ms. Riggs, Deputy unteer Slide Garrison Manager, with a certificate of recognition and a very heavy award for her nomination as Youth Volunteer of the Year! A thank you to all volunteer supervisors for submitting volunteer names, hours and pictures for this year's Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. It was a huge success and could not be achieved without the assistance from each and every one of you! Volunteer recognition doesn’t just happen once a year. Every quarter, ACS recognizes a community adult and youth volunteer who have gone above and beyond the call of volunteerism. Thank you to ALL of our community volunteers who work tirelessly to help improve our programs and our Garmisch quality of life! Contact Community Volunteer Coordinator, Meghan McAndrew, for more information on the volunteer program or how you can recognize a special volunteer, DSN 440-3777 or CIV 08821-750-3777.
Healthy Habits can Make All the Difference. Healthy habits for all children are especially important for those with special needs! Your child’s eating, sleep, and exercise habits may be even more important than you think. If your child has special learning, physical, or emotional needs, emphasizing healthy habits is especially important. Exercise – Exercise isn’t just good for the body, it’s good for the mind. Regular physical activity makes a huge difference in mood, energy, and mental clarity. Encourage your child to get outside, move, and play. Rather than tiring out your child and taking away from schoolwork, regular exercise will actually help him or her stay alert and attentive throughout the day. Exercise is also a great antidote to stress and frustration. Diet – A healthy, nutrient rich diet will aid your child’s growth and development. A diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein will help boost mental focus. Be sure your child starts the day with a good breakfast and doesn’t go more than 4 hours between meals or snacks. This will help keep his or her energy levels stable. Sleep – Special Need or not, your child is going to have trouble learning if he or she is not well rested. Kids need more sleep than adults do. On average, preschoolers need from 11-13 hours per night, middle school children need about 10-11 hours, and teens and preteens need from 8½-10 hours. You can help make sure your child is getting the sleep he or she needs by enforcing a set bedtime. The type of light emitted by electronic screens (computers, televisions, iPods and iPads, portable video players, etc.) is activating to the brain. So you can also help by powering off all electronics at least an hour or two before lights out. For more in-depth information about this topic, see Helpguide.org, or contact the Exceptional Family Member Program Manager at DSN 440-3777 or CIV 08821-7503777.
Check out these community volunteer opportunities. Girls Scouts needs volunteers! Whether it’s assisting with bweekly meeting, helping out with special events, or lending a hand selling cookies- there’s a place for you! Please contact Nicole Hall, 0151-56227180. Army Community Service is looking for Army Family Team Building Instructors, childcare will be provided for training and teaching purposes. Please contact Meghan McAndrew, DSN: 4403376/3777 or CIV: 08821-750-3376/3777. Army Community Service is looking for Emergency Placement families. Please contact Aimee Edwards-Hunter for more information and qualifications, DSN: 440-3483/3777 or CIV: 08821750-3483/3777. The Chapel is looking for watch care volunteers during the week and on weekends. Please contact Chaplain Tripp for more information, DSN: 440-2540 or CIV: 08821-750-2540. As a spouse, have you ever helped to sponsor an incoming spouse or new family? Did you know that you can now apply as an official volunteer under the Spouse Sponsor volunteer job description in VMIS and earn community volunteer hours for your efforts? Contact Patty Pearce at DSN 440-3526/3777 or CIV 08821-7503526/3777. The Relocation Program is also looking for a volunteer to assist with updating and refreshing the Merchants Guide. This will require some knowledge of the area, a bit of the German language, and basic computer skills. Please contact Patty Pearce at DSN 440-3526/3777 or CIV 08821-750-3526/3777. Check out more volunteer opportunities by registering with www.myarmyonesource.com.
For local information, contact the AER office in ACS, bldg. 203 on Artillery Kaserne, DSN 440-3526/CIV 08821750-3526 or email: patricia.c.pearce2.civ@mail.mil or any of the Key Unit Personnel: SSG Berry, George C. Marshall Center, DSN 440-2241 SSG Sabinash, USAG Bavaria Garmisch, DSN 440-3801 SGT Jackson, NATO School, CIV 08822-9481-1107
Are you interested in a monthly dinner out? Join ACS for GAP Dining Out! A program to help you get acquainted or keep you acquainted with your community and fellow community members. Regardless of where you work or if you work or how long you have been here, join us for a monthly dinner outing. We will explore and dine in different restaurants in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Grainau area. This will be a pay as you go event; nothing official, just fun and getting to know your neighbors, colleagues, and the local community. The dining out will be the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1830. Our April outing will be on the 17th at Kirchmayer, Hauptstr. 14 in Farchant. To ensure reservations it is necessary to RSVP by the 18th. For more information and to RSVP, please call Patty Pearce at DSN 440-3526/3777 or email to: patricia.c.pearce2.civ@mail.mil.
Please, join us for weekly Brown Bag lunch educational series:
Infant & Child Brain Development Sexual Behavior and Development in Children - What is normal? Parent Button Pushers – Handling your toddler or preschooler Love & Logic Sampler - Parenting pre-teens & teens Internet Safety for Teens & Preventing Teen Dating Violence
Wednesdays in April April 2 – 30, 2014 12:00pm-1:15 pm ACS, room 6
For more information, please contact ACS Family Advocacy/ New Parent Support Program at 08821.750.3777