New to MCAS Yuma or just need a refresher on available resources?
Attend the Spouse Welcome Aboard on Wednesday September 23 at 0900 @ the Club.
Call MCFTB to register! Know someone who might benefit? Forward Bloom to a friend and get them involved! |
Lifelong Learning College Fair is being held on Tuesday, September 15 in the Sonoran Pueblo from
1600-2000. Speak to representatives from over 26 colleges and hear a variety of guest speakers address topics including spouse scholarship programs. Call 269-3248 for more information.
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Questions?
Interested in a Class?
Call MCFTB @ 269-6550
Hours & Location
8am to 4pm
Monday-Friday
Community Center,
Bldg. 1093
WE ARE MOVING! MCFTB will be located in 598, next to the commisary mid-September |
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Thank you for making Backpack Brigade a SUCCESS! Over 200 kids received new backpacks and school supplies!! | |
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Dear Families,
The kids are back to school and the lazy days of summer are just a memory. Don't despair! Marine Corps Family Team Building has many exciting events and enriching classes to keep you energized this fall.
How about signing up for L.I.N.K.S. this month? Participants are enthusiastic about L.I.N.K.S., the "Marine Corps 101" class", which provides important insights about adapting to the Marine Corps way of life. Do you know the ins and outs of PCSing? How about LES statements? Deployments? Come to L.I.N.K.S. to learn valuable information about our lifestyle that will improve your experience here in Yuma and beyond.
"Beyond the Brief", a 5-part series that goes into depth on topics relevant to military families, is now offered the 3rd Wednesday of each month. The topic for September is "Understanding the Money" which discusses how to take control of your finances. The class will be held on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:00-8:00pm. Call to register!
MCFTB has two exciting upcoming events. This month Jacey Eckhart, a nationally renown author and military spouse, is coming to MCAS Yuma on September 17th. Participants in the past have RAVED about her! Jacey is funny, inspiring, and REAL! Also, don't forget about Operation: Ball Gown coming soon on October 7th. Keep reading for more details including free childcare for those that register by September 28th.
Remember, classes at MCFTB are always free. With timely registration, childcare is also available at no charge. Registration for classes is required, but has never been easier. Simply click on the "Register for Classes Here" link or call us at 269-6550.
In the midst of the unique challenges life in the Marine Corps brings, from hectic deployment schedules to PCSing, MCFTB is here to help you BLOOM!
Kate, Bekah, Lori, & Brooke
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September Calendar
September 1st & 2nd: Family Readiness Assistant/
Advisor Training, 1730-2030
September 8th & 9th: L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses, 1630-2130
September 16th: Beyond the Brief, Understanding the
Money, 1800-2000
September 17th: Spouses Leadership Series Motivational
Speaker, Jacey Eckhart, 0900-1000 for Marines,
1030-1330 for Spouses @ the Club
September 23rd: Spouse Welcome Aboard, 0900-1130
@ the Club
September 25th: L.I.N.K.S. for Teens, 1900-2100
September 28th: L.I.N.K.S. for Marines, 0900-1600
October Calendar
October 7th: OPERATION: BALL GOWN, Doors
open @ 5:30 event starts at 6:30pm @ the Club.
October 14th: L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses, 0900-1700
October 21st: L.I.N.K.S. for Kids, 1400-1700 October 21st: Beyond the Brief: Casualty Assistance Calls
Officer, 1800-2000
October 24th: Family Readiness Assistant/Advisor
Training, 0900-1400
October 28th: L.I.N.K.S. for Marines, 0900-1600
*All classes take place at the Community Center, Building 1093, unless otherwise noted. |
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 Annual Motivational Workshop |
 On the morning of Thursday, September 17, 2009, Jacey Eckhart, author of The Homefront Club, will kick off another fun and interactive motivational workshop.
This year, there will be two programs:
Building Spartans: Hard-Core Decision Making, 0900-1000 for Marines. Get the gouge on the New Spartan way of life with humor writer Jacey Eckhart. In less than an hour, discover an easier way to get parents, spouses, kids and the hot chick down the street on board with your career.
Why Are We Doing This??! Get a Meaning Shape Up For Your Military Life, 1030-1330 for Family Members.
The first time you get ready for a deployment or a move there is a secret piece of excitement in it. A little drama. A bit of hope. By the third time, the fourth time, the fifth time all that might be left is the question: Why are we doing this? All this in only three hours!
Both workshops will be held at the Sonoran Pueblo and refreshments will be provided. As with all MCFTB workshops, free childcare is available. Please contact Lori at 269-6550 to register for the class or register online.
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LINKS for TEENS is here! |
 LINKS for Teens is coming to MCAS Yuma! This program is designed to give Marine Corps teens (aged 13 and up) resources to handle life in a military family. Monthly sessions will allow participants to learn life skills, make friends, build volunteer hours and college resumes, and have fun. The relevant curriculum is activity based and is designed to keep the group engaged. Sessions will include field trips, games, and creative and technologically savvy projects. Food is always provided!
Teens with great attendance will be eligible for a special field trip and giveaways! If your teen needs a way to make new friends, define their place within the military lifestyle, or enrich their lifeskills, check out LINKS for Teens!
Join us on September 25th from 7-9pm at the Community Center for pizza and a fun introduction to this program. Parents and teens are invited!For more information or to register, please contact Brooke Burgess, the LINKS Trainer at 269-6503 or burgessbm@usmc-mccs.org. |
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Operation: Ball Gown Is Coming Soon!
 LADIES..Let the countdown begin! Just one more month until the Second Annual Operation: Ball Gown event on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. Doors will open at 5:30 and the fashion show begins at 6:30. Grab your girlfriends and head over to the club for a ladies night out!
We will be providing FREE CHILDCARE during the event. Registration for childcare is required by calling MCFTB no later than September 28th.
Operation: Ball Gown has three major activities:
1. The Fashion Show will showcase our beautiful/ handsome MCAS Yuma Spouses in evening wear.
2. The Beauty Expo will display local businesses and on-base resources that can assist you in preparing for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
3. The Ball Gown giveaway will let female spouses walk away with new or gently used ball gowns for FREE! The selection of gowns this year is amazing! You will be issued a lottery ticket upon entering the event which will determine the order in which ladies are admitted to the giveaway room.
If you are interested in childcare, volunteering for the event, or donating a new or gently used gown, please stop by our office or call Lori at 269-6550 for more details. |
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Volunteer Extraordinaire! |
To say that I started volunteering to help my fellow man is noble but entirely untrue.
As a military spouse, I was faced with two undeniable truths: 1) my husband would leave me alone with a baby for long stretches of time 2) I would have to uproot myself (and my career) every three years, just when I started getting comfortable.
I started volunteering for the free childcare and the opportunity to have conversations that involved complete sentences. I also wanted to expand beyond my chosen profession as a teacher, and I figured that the practical experience of being a Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society caseworker would help me transition to office work.
It is at that point that my volunteerism turned into a type of addiction. I volunteered for our KVN, for NMCRS, and then for Red Cross. I discovered that I loved learning more about how military installations operate, how the military works, and how I fit into the entire process. Especially during deployments, I found that volunteering was the bright spot in my day and kept me happily busy.
When we PCSed to Yuma, I discovered that my connections to NMCRS and LINKS helped fit right in immediately. It was great to know that I had a place where I was already trained and ready to volunteer. Even though I was uprooted, I began volunteering and met friends within the first week of being in Yuma.
I also volunteer with the Yuma Community Food Bank. I live on base. My husband and I work on base. My child goes to the CDC. It is nice to have something non-military in my life to provide me with perspective. It also gives me the chance to get to know all about Yuma.
-Stephanie, MAWTS-1
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