STUTTGART, Germany -- The Installation Management Command -Europe Recreation Award winners were announced Sept. 11, and it was more than a win-win situation for U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart.
It was win-win-win-win, as the USAG Stuttgart Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation professionals collected top honors in four areas.
Competing in the large installation category, the garrison won Outstanding Installation Recreation Program and three Outstanding Recreation Program awards for Arts and Crafts, Entertainment and Sports and Fitness. All move on to the Army-level contest.
"The key part in winning the garrison category is not only the teamwork we've established in the recreation division, but throughout the other divisions," said Ron Paoletti, the FMWR Recreation Division chief. Paoletti said the garrison recreation team partners with other FMWR activities and form partnerships outside the FMWR family with organizations such as the Religious Support Office.
He credits the division's success to resourceful employees who work well together. "We have a creative, innovative staff who loves what they do - whether it's putting on a cat show in the community club, a flea market inside the fitness center or a sushi-making class in the library," he said.
But it's not just the paid staffers who have earned these awards.
"We would be nowhere near where we are if it weren't for the volunteers who come forward. They clearly make a critical difference," he said.
No one knows that better than Alan Buxkemper, the director of the Stuttgart Entertainment Branch, which provides musical and theatrical activities. "Without volunteers, we're dead in the water," said Buxkemper of the Stuttgart Theatre Center and its theater productions.
Buxkemper and his staff serve as mentors and coaches to hundreds of volunteer actors, singers, dancers, musicians and stage hands who, in turn, entertain audiences with musicals, comedies and dramas. "What they do on stage is their entertainment. It's what they do for fun," he said.
Other people get their kicks out of creating art, sewing or building furniture. That's where the Arts and Crafts program comes in.
The USAG Stuttgart Arts and Crafts program has won best program at the Europe and Army-wide competition two years in row, and is going for number three this year.
"The staff is full of ideas," said director Kelly Sarles. They're learning new things all the time and sharing them with the community.
Recent innovations, such as the photo and scrapbooking kiosk, pottery bar and coffee bar, keep Patch Multi-Crafts Center on the front-line of the arts industry. However, Sarles says her staff is not stopping there. "There's always room to grow," she said.
The garrison Sports and Fitness program also won for best program at the 2008 Europe and Army-wide competitions.
Passion is what makes this program successful, according to Oliver Stith, the garrison Sports and Fitness director. "When you're doing what you love, it becomes easy," he said.
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