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 | MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
Newsletter
November 2010
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Letter from the Editor
Veterans Day 2010
A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
November is a busy month as we celebrate Veterans Day, the birth of the Marine Corps, the military family and Thanksgiving!
As Marine's around the world will celebrate the 235th birthday of the Marine Corps on November 10, we want to say "thank you" for the enormous sacrifices that all military members and their families make each day to continue to ensure our freedom!
The upcoming months is when we see a drastic shift in our paradigm. As our pace picks up around the holiday season, the real estate market slows down. And in a market that has already been slow, this can be discouraging for those who are still trying to rent or sell their homes.
A slow moving period paired with a saturated market may make it harder to move your home quickly. But with aggressive marketing and diligent research, you can have success with renting or selling your home!
Our focus in this issue is to share with you the many ways in which Veterans are being honored and celebrated this year, so be sure to check out our Veterans Day Special Event segment as well as a list of discounts available to members of our Armed Services in our Military Life II segment. We also have some great information from USAA on how to budget for the upcoming holidays and the critical shipping dates for those packages we send to our loved one overseas.
We continue to offer our customers great ways to advertise their businesses, and our newsletter is another area in which you can highlight your business to our over 47,000 subscribers on a monthly basis.
For samples of the advertisements, take a look at those in the right column of this issue. For pricing or questions, please contact me.
If there is anything that you would like to see us include in a future edition of our newsletter, I would love to hear from you!
We value our customers for their support of our site, their insight and suggestions on ways to improve and for continuing to spread the word about our site. It is clear that within the military network, it is important to provide service that is worth passing on, so please do not hesitate to contact us if there is ever anything we can do to make your advertising experience better.
And remember, we are available Monday - Friday, 9am - 9pm EST to assist you via our live chat.
Monica Schaefer
Editor
MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
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MilitaryByOwner News 
We are always happy to be a part of the Army Wife Network. In October, MilitaryByOwner was a part of their team in Ft. Campbell, KY. Now in November, we are heading up to Ft. Drum, NY. Click here for more information about the Army Wife Network field exercises! Army Wife Network features a luncheon/dinner for spouses who receive a wealth of ideas to make deployment easier.
MilitaryByOwner's New Look!
Remember our chat lines are open M-F, 9am-9pm EST with any questions.
Just a reminder, if you have sold or rented your home advertised on the website, please update your status. This provides home buyers/renters the most accurate home search results.
Have a suggestion? Email us!
Sharon
www.militarybyowner.com
Office: 866 604 9126, M-F, 9am-5pm EST Live Chat, M-F, 9am-9pm EST
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Veterans Day Special Event
By Molly Blake
Blue Star Families and ServiceNation: Mission Serve are hosting a civilian-military service project on Veteran's Day at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Join Senator Mark Warner, military family members from the Hampton Roads area, local officials, and ODU students to create care packages and write letters of support for military service men and women, and their families. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 11. Visit www.bluestarfam.org for more information on this event. Blue Star Families was formed in December of 2008 by a group of military spouses to raise the awareness of the challenges of military family life with our civilian communities and leaders. Mission Serve connects the civilian and military communities through a broad array of service and volunteer partnerships designed to address the challenges of our nation and our military communities.
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Featured Article
Spirit of Yuma Military Festival:
January 21-23, 2011 By Molly Blake
Yuma, Ariz. is celebrating its rich military tradition with an inaugural weekend fête. "The Spirit of Yuma Military Festival," scheduled for January 21-23, 2011, will honor Yuma's active-duty soldiers and Marines, retired veterans from all services, and their families. The three-day festival will include interactive educational sessions, static artillery displays from Yuma Proving Ground, and a concert featuring Stephen Cochran, a chart-topping country music singer and former Marine.  YPG is bringing in an impressive collection of military weaponry including an M114A1 155mm howitzer, M101A1 105mm howitzer, an 81 and 120mm mortar and a Humvee. Festival goers can also hop aboard a YPG Heritage Center Bus Tour for even more military history and a deeper understanding of YPG's significance.
At 1,300 square miles, YPG is one of the world's largest military installations, hosting up to 100 tests simultaneously. Every year, tens of thousands of artillery, mortar and missile rounds are fired, 36,000 parachute drops take place, over 130,000 test miles are driven, and nearly 4000 air sorties are flown. The festival, held at the history QuartermasterDepotStateHistoricPark, will also include vendors, talks by local military service members, a Navajo code talker, and more! For more information: www.visityuma.com
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USAA Corner 
Budget Better
Cash may be king, but plastic is queen this holiday shopping season.
Four reasons why using plastic can be a good money move.
In the aftermath of the Great Recession, one good money habit seems to be sticking around: swiping plastic less. In fact, a recent survey by USAA found more than half of shoppers don't plan to use a credit card at all this holiday shopping season. However, the same survey found that two in five consumers still plan to use their credit card this year. "While it's good to see people are relying less on credit for holiday shopping, using a credit card is not always a financial faux pas," says Joseph Montanaro, financial planner for USAA. "But you have to use them wisely, rather than as a crutch to spend more than you can afford." Here are four excuses to pull out your plastic this holiday season and tips for doing so responsibly. Reap rewards. It's likely that you chose a particular credit card, in part, for its rewards program, and the holiday shopping season can be an ideal time to maximize that benefit. In fact, 26 percent who plan to use a credit card this holiday season say they will do so because they want to gain reward points. Montanaro notes that taking advantage of credit card rewards programs is one way to make your credit card work for you. "The trick, then, is to immediately pay off the balance to avoid accruing interest," he says According to the National Retail Federation, consumers spent on average approximately $680 on holiday purchases in 2009. If charged to a credit card, it would take an average of four and a half years to pay off the balance by making the minimum monthly payment. Plus, you would pay more than 40 percent of the original purchase total - or nearly $280 - just in finance charges.
The good news - the majority of those surveyed who plan to use a credit card for holiday purchases this year say they will pay off their balance immediately or within a few months, and 85 percent of those who used credit to purchase holiday items in 2009 say they have already paid off their balance. 2. Boost your credit score. Using a credit card at least a few times per year can help keep your credit score in good standing. Even if you've already saved money to pay for holiday purchases, the holidays can provide an opportunity to use a dormant credit card. "Half of the people we surveyed indicated they saved diligently or a little here and there throughout the year," says Montanaro. "This means you can make your purchases using your credit card and then immediately pay off the balance - and hopefully get some reward points too." 3. Get protected. Only 6 percent of consumers indicated they will use a credit card this year because of purchase protection or extended warranty. But not taking advantage of these programs could be a mistake, especially when buying big ticket items like jewelry or electronics. If that game console you just bought for several hundred dollars on your credit card is stolen or turns out to be a lemon, this benefit could help to replace or repair your purchase and provide peace of mind," says Montanaro. 4. Don't forget the debit. Don't forget about that other form of plastic: your debit card. It can provide the best of both worlds, with some offering credit card-style rewards programs and the built-in spending limits of cash. According to the USAA survey, a majority of consumers is planning to use some form of cash this year - like debit cards, checks, dollar bills or layaway programs - but less than half plan to use a debit card for their purchases. Another reason to consider using debit: safety. With 45 percent of those who plan to use some form of cash indicating they are most likely to use good old-fashioned dollar bills this holiday season, using a debit card can provide a safer alternative to carrying around $300 of cash in your wallet. While using plastic can provide opportunities to make your money work harder for you, Montanaro recommends one golden rule to keep in mind. "Using a credit card does not provide an excuse to spend beyond your means," he says. This serves as an important reminder, given that nearly one in five of those planning to use a credit card will do so because they don't have enough cash to cover their purchases right now. "This is a classic example of how not to use a credit card," says Montanaro. "Good intentions can go astray quickly, so avoid overspending by having a budget, making a shopping list and sticking to it." Survey methodology USAA holiday budgeting surveys of 1,005 adults in 2009 and 1,014 adults in 2010. Margin of error +/- 3.1 percentage points.
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Military Life
President Proclaims November as Military Family Month
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2010 - President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation designating this month as Military Family Month.
Here is the text of the president's proclamation:
We owe each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our Armed Forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are family members and loved ones who share in their sacrifice and provide unending support.
During Military Family Month, we celebrate the exceptional contributions of our military families, and we reaffirm our commitments to these selfless individuals who exemplify the highest principles of our Nation.
Across America, military families inspire us all with their courage, strength, and deep devotion to our country. They endure the challenges of multiple deployments and moves; spend holidays and life milestones apart; juggle everyday tasks while a spouse, parent, son, or daughter is in harm's way; and honor the service of their loved ones and the memory of those lost.
Just as we hold a sacred trust to the extraordinary Americans willing to lay down their lives to protect us all, we also have a national commitment to support and engage our military families. They are proud to serve our country; yet, they face unique challenges because of that service.
My Administration has taken important steps to help them shoulder their sacrifice, and we are working to ensure they have the resources to care for themselves and the tools to reach their dreams. We are working to improve family resilience, enhance the educational experience of military children, and ensure military spouses have employment and advancement opportunities, despite the relocations and deployment cycles of military life. Our historic investment to build a 21st-century Department of Veterans Affairs is helping to provide our veterans with the benefits and care they have earned.
We are also standing with our service members and their families as they transition back into civilian life, providing counseling as well as job training and placement. And, through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, our veterans and their families can pursue the dream of higher education.
However, Government can only do so much. While only a fraction of Americans are in military families, all of us share in the responsibility of caring for our military families and veterans, and all sectors of our society are better off when we reach out and work together to support these patriots.
By offering job opportunities and workplace flexibility, businesses and companies can benefit from the unparalleled dedication and skills of a service member or military spouse.
Through coordination with local community groups, individuals and organizations can ensure our military families have the help they need and deserve when a loved one is deployed. Even the smallest actions by neighbors and friends send a large message of profound gratitude to the families who risk everything to see us safe and free.
As America asks ever more of military families, they have a right to expect more of us -- it is our national challenge and moral obligation to uphold that promise. If we hold ourselves to the same high standard of excellence our military families live by every day, we will realize the vision of an America that supports and engages these heroes now and for decades to come.
Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in support of our service members and our Nation.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
Barack Obama
Related Articles:
Proclamation
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Military Life II
Veterans Day Deals & Discounts*
Applebee's Restaurant - Free dinners to veterans throughout Veterans Day November 11th; selections will be from a new Veterans Day menu. Outback Steakhouse - Free Blooming Onion and beverage. Golden Corral- Free buffet dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 15 to anyone who hasever served in the U.S. military. Subway - In celebration of Veterans Day 11 Nov 2010, is showing its thanks withfree six inch subs to all Veterans or Active Duty members. McCormick & Schmick's restaurants, on Nov 7, will offer free entree to militaryveterans for its 12th annual Veteran's Appreciation Event. Menu picks include such seafood items as parmesan crusted tilapia, roasted cedar plank salmon and almond crusted rainbow trout. "Our Veterans Appreciation Event has become a tradition that our restaurants look forward to each year," said Bill Freeman, CEO of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, in a statement. For more information: http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com
Krispy Kreme - One free doughnut of any variety.
UNO Chicago Grill- Free entree or individual pizza with an entree or pizza purchase of equal or greater value.
Coushatta Casino Resort - The Louisiana casino and resort is offering a free seven-clams lunch or dinner buffet to veterans or active military.
Market Place Grill & Express - Veterans and active-duty military receive free entrees.
Masala Wok - The Northern Virginian restaurant is offering a free entree to veterans.
Hy-Vee supermarkets - The mid-western supermarket chain is offering a free breakfast to veterans.
Abuelo's Mexican Food Restaurants - All veterans and active-duty military receive a free entree.
Carolina Burgers & BBQ - In Matthews, NC is offering a free meal to all service members and veterans.
Brides Across America - Provides free wedding gowns to qualified military brides.
Lowe's & Home Depot - Extra 10% off to active-duty military members, National Guard and reserve members, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and immediate family members. Sam's Club - Over 25,000 Hugo canes will be given away to U.S. veterans in need of mobility assistance. Membership is not required, but supplies are limited, so check with your local store.
Amazon.com - Free "Veterans Day Honor" MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Cabela's Outdoor Store - Offers their employee discount to all veterans, active-duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire and EMSpersonnel Nov. 11-12. Discounts vary from 5% to 50%, depending on the item.
Build-a-Bear Workshop - Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps, will receive a 20% discount Nov. 11-15 on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Dollar General - 10% discount for all veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and reserve and their immediate families.
Fashion Bug - 20% off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse's military ID. Entertainment Freebies
National parks, forests and monuments - Admission is free to everyone on Veterans Day.
Knott's Berry Farm - Free park admission to U.S. armed forces personnel and a guest during Veteran's Month, November 1-26.
Colonial Williamsburg - Free admission Nov. 6-11 for active-duty military, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents.
San Jacinto Museum of History - Free visits to the Observation Deck, theatre, and special exhibit for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.
Historic Jamestown - Free admission to veterans, current Armed Forces members and their family members.
Battleship Cove - Free admission and a special ceremony for veterans, active, duty and reservists.
Vicksburg National Military Park - Free admission for all.
Birmingham Museum of Art - Free admission to the ticketed event "Life and Liberty" on Nov. 10-11 for veterans and active military.
Vulcan Park and Museum- In Birmingham, Alabama is offering discounted admission through November to the park and museum.
Greenbay (WI) New Zoo - Free admission to veterans and their families.
Central Florida Zoo - Free admission to the Sanford, Florida zoo with proper ID.
Strategic Air & Space Museum - Free admission for veterans Nov. 11-14 to the Ashland, Neb. museum.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - in Oklahoma City offers free admission to veterans and five guests from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Veterans Day.
Natural Elements Spa & Salon - In Chesapeake, Virginia, will provide free services from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to both active duty and retired military
Anytime Offers:
MILITARY DISCOUNTS: All these businesses offer military discounts; all you have to do is ask:
Restaurants
Arby's
Back Yard Burgers
Burger King
Captain D's
Chick-Fil-A
Cotton Patch
Denny's
Dunkin' Donuts
Farmers Boy
IHOP (20 percent discount with military ID)
Java Cafe
KFC
Long John Silver
Pancho's Mexican Buffet
Pizza Hut
Quizno's
Sizzler
Sonic
Taco Bell
Whataburger
Services
AT&T
California Cryobank
Geico
Jiffy Lube
Meineke
Sears Portrait Studio
Travel and Leisure
Blockbuster
Ripley's attractions and museums
Professional Sports teams
Products
Apple Computers
AutoZone Barnhill's Bass Pro Shop Bath and Body Works
Big 10 Tires The Buckle Champs Sports Copeland's Sports Dell
The Discovery Channel Store Dress Barn The Finish Line Foot Action Footlocker
Gadzooks GNC Goody's Great Party Happy Harry's Home Depot Hot Topic
Jockey Lerner Lowes Michael's NAPA Auto Parts New York Company Pac Sun Payless Shoes Play It Again Sports Pure Beauty Sally Beauty Supply Spencer's Gifts
Suncoast Timberland Outlets Wilson's Leather
Cell Phone Service Discount
All Federal employees are able to get a 15% discount on their personal cell phones by calling their carrier and mentioning the "Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 - Discount to Federal Employees Past and Present." You will need to know the military member's supervisor's name, phone number, and full address, so that his/her military status can be verified. Use the following contact numbers:
Cingular - 800-319-6393
Sprint - 877-812-1223
T-Mobile - 866-646-4688
Nextel - 800-639-6111
Verizon - 800-865-1825
* This list was provided to us by independent parties via email. Discounts and promotions have not been confirmed by MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.
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Miilitary Life III
Postal Service Sets Holiday Mail Deadline
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2010 - The recommended mailing deadline for sending economy-priced holiday packages to servicemembers in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world is Nov. 12, officials at the U.S. Postal Service say.
"Shipping holiday packages early helps ensure that they arrive in time for the holidays," Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director of global business at the Postal Service, said in a press release this week. "They are a great morale boost for those men and women serving their country in places far from home."
Other deadlines for arrival by Dec. 25 are Nov. 26 for space-available mail; Dec. 3 for parcel airlift mail; Dec. 10 for priority mail and first-class mail, letters and cards; and Dec. 18 for express mail military service.
Holiday packages and mail headed for Iraq and Afghanistan must be sent a week earlier than the deadlines above, Postal officials say. Express mail military service is not available to those destinations.
The Postal Service offers a discount on its largest priority-mail flat-rate box -- a 12-inch by 12-inch by 5.5-inch carton that can accommodate laptop computers, small conventional ovens, and military care packages.
Mail sent to overseas military addresses costs the same as domestic mail and the usual price for the large flat-rate box is $14.50. But for packages heading to APO/FPO addresses, the Postal Service charges $12.50 or $11.95 for those who print the priority-mail postage label online.
Priority-mail flat-rate boxes are free at any Post Office and can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online at the Postal Service website.
APO/FPO addresses usually require customs forms, Postal officials say, and each country has customs regulations that apply to all mail, including U.S. military mail, coming into the country.
Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to restrictions in content, preparation and handling.
Each five-digit military and post office ZIP code [APO/FPO] has specific restrictions but the following are prohibited in the regions of Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan:
-- Horror comics and obscene articles like prints, paintings, cards, films and videotapes;
-- Anything depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or unauthorized political materials;
-- Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith, though items for personal use are permitted, and,
-- Pork or pork by-products.
For specific restrictions and mailing prices to an APO/FPO address, visit the Postal Service's online price calculator or a local post office or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
Related Sites:
Military packaging tips
U.S. Postal Service Military Mail
Military Postal Service Agency
Related Articles:
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Featured Site
Any military spouse will tell you that sometimes being married to an active duty service member requires some comic relief! That is where the comic strip "Jenny The Military Spouse" comes in.
Jenny has a wonderful way of taking many of the unique situations we find ourselves in and making us see them in a new and even humorous way!
Be sure to also check out her store for some fantastic and inspiring gifts for all of your friends that share in the adventure of being a military spouse.
It is true what they say, "laughter is the best medicine".
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Featured Home
For Rent by Owner
Price: $3,800.00/month
Arlington, VA - Military Road
5 Bed, 3 Bath (Single Family)
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Testimonial
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There is no question about it, we will use this site again in the future!
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