Friendship meets community Service; part 2

As promised here is the profile on the Officer's Spouses Club here at Fort Polk. I am constantly amazed by the number of people who have turned out to help the vistims of Hurricane Katrina.
Sunday I covered a story about one of the Fort Polk units, 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, bringing food and water to New Orleans for visctims and rescue workers there.
I'll post it with pictures at the end of the week.

-- Published Article (9.2.05 edition) --

Whether you are a new military spouse or are looking for something exciting to cure boredom, the Officers’ Spouses’ Club may be “just what the doctor ordered.”
The Officers’ Spouses’ Club offers spouses the chance to meet people while helping the community and local nonprofit organizations.
“(We) are a group of officers’ spouses, set up to develop and foster a spirit of community responsibility here at Fort Polk, provide welfare opportunities for social, cultural and creative pursuits and worthwhile services and community projects,” said Barb Dietrich, president of OSC.
“We’re not just about luncheons and having fun. (Although) we do that, our main goal is to help the community. We have fund-raisers such as an art auction and an arts and crafts fair. Through them we raise funds to give back to the community.”
Dietrich said the organization receives requests for donations from various nonprofit organizations and schools in the community and fund-raising activities provide a venue for the club to help.
She added that the OSC donated to 26 organizations last year including the Army Community Service food locker and Spring Fest at Alligator Lake.
“Last year OSC contributed (more than) $20,000 to many worthwhile causes, projects, and scholarships that touched the hearts of many on Fort Polk and in the surrounding communities. It is a great feeling to raise the money and then experience the deep heartfelt thanks that we receive from the recipients.
“Most (organizations) in the community know we are here (to help),” Dietrich added, saying that a large portion of their donations go to local schools.
She said when trying to decide what programs to donate to, members try to find where the most people will benefit, such as school libraries.
“We feel like we are a connection between Fort Polk and the (outside) communities,” she added.
Dietrich said another way for the community to get to know Fort Polk families is through the annual art auction.
The Art and Soul Art Auction Sept. 9 at the Warrior Community Center is an operational fund-raiser where the monies raised go to the OSC for functioning throughout the year.
Another large part of the OSC is the scholarship program, designed to help military dependents achieve higher education.
“Because the children move around so much they may not have the opportunities to be on varsity (sports) teams and such where they can receive scholarships for their accomplishments,” said Julie Rounds, board advisor for the OSC.
Dietrich said the OSC encourages members to participate in outside volunteer opportunities as well. “Many of our members are involved in family readiness groups, school (volunteer opportunities) and church activities.”
Aside from providing members with volunteer opportunities and job skills, the club is a place where spouses can go to get support and information.
Rounds said that groups like the OSC are important for spouses because they help build relationships outside of their Soldier’s unit. She added that it also increases the support spouses have when going through events such as deployments.
Cindy Cabanillas, art auction chair, said it is important for senior spouses to help newer spouses, and all agree that mentoring is a important part of the organization.
Cabanillas also said that the club offers people a chance to reconnect with spouses they met at other installations as well as meet new people.
Faith Phillips, publicity chair, is a new member of OSC.
“I joined to gain a sense of community, (because) this is the first time I have been uprooted and been (so far from family),” she said.
Phillips, who was married shortly before arriving to Fort Polk over the Christmas holiday season, said she wanted to get involved to help make the transition easier.
She said she had family members in the military and there were organizations available to families, so she began actively looking when she arrived.
“I saw Barb (Dietrich’s) e-mail address in the Guardian for something (unrelated to the club) and e-mailed to get information,” Phillips said.
Phillips added that spouses who feel that there is nothing to do here, should participate in volunteer opportunities.
“You should go out and find something you enjoy doing because (volunteer work) will not come to you.”
Each year the OSC and Enlisted Spouses’ Club sponsor a Super Sign-up membership drive (this year’s was Aug. 17), but membership is accepted year-round.