FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- One month into the 12-week fundraiser, the Army Emergency Relief Campaign is on time and on target to reach the goal of $140,000 set by Fort Rucker officials.
But it's going to take a continued commitment and a team effort to ensure the campaign that helps the Army Family help its own keeps rolling along, said local AER officials.
"It's an ambitious goal. We're doing pretty well and we're on the glide path to attaining that goal," said Capt. Rod Duplin, AER Campaign coordinator. "We've had great support from the retirees, especially-they're really the reason that we're on track right now.
"At the same time, we're looking for the unit representatives to go back to their formations and make sure they are giving everyone the chance to donate to AER to help make the campaign a success," he added.
Duplin said the unit reps are the key to the success of the campaign that runs until May 15 because they have the ability to reach the most people in a personal way.
"That's how it works best-if they go face-to-face with the people in their units," he said. "Most people are goodhearted, and they recognize what AER does and they will give if approached."
Other positive news on the campaign front is that the events that put the "fun" in fundraiser haven't even started yet. That changes April 29 when the Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union hosts its 21st annual golf tournament to benefit AER, and then again May 5 when the 6th Military Police Detachment hosts the annual Jail-a-Thon.
See below for information about both events.
The AER Campaign will end May 20 with a closing ceremony at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum where people and organizations who hosted fundraisers will be recognized and the campaign will be wrapped up, said Mimi Brooks, Fort Rucker's AER office.
Brooks added that while the campaign is primarily a fundraising event for AER, it is also designed to raise awareness about what the emergency relief fund can do for Soldiers, Family members, retirees and survivors.
"AER helps Soldiers worldwide," she said. "Its primary mission is to provide help during emergency situations, but it also has a secondary mission of educational scholarships. The deadline this year is Friday, and we hope to see a lot of Fort Rucker children and spouses getting scholarships.
Every unit and organization on Fort Rucker has an AER representative, and all of these people received training in February both on how to carry out the campaign and also on how people can get help when emergency strikes.
Brooks said the Web sites http://ftruckermwr.com/ACS/AER/aer.html and http://www.aerhq.org/ can go a long way in educating people on AER, what it can and can't help with and how to get help.
People can also find all the forms they need to request assistance, but she added that the first step people should take after educating themselves on what AER can do is getting with their unit or organization AER rep, who can help ensure they follow the process and get the help they need as quickly as possible.
While asking for help might rub some people the wrong way, looking at it that way can cause people more trouble than they probably want, Brooks said.
"Some Soldiers are apprehensive when I tell them they need to go through their unit, commander or first sergeant," she said. "They might not even use AER because of that. In reality, it isn't going to hurt their careers to seek AER assistance."
In fact, the opposite is likely true, Duplin said.
"It's not going to hurt anyone's career to seek AER assistance," the captain said. "In fact, it might even help it in terms of making the right choices and handling your matters in the right way. Some folks may have some reservations about asking for help, but you've got to be realistic about it.
"I've been in the Army for 22 years. I enlisted, I was a private and I've been a commander," he said. "If someone comes to me for help, I'm not going to think anything less about them for asking for help--I've worn their shoes. If you're in there serving your country, just enlisted in the Army, you're doing the best you can and doing great things for the Army and for your country, remember that AER is there to help every Soldier that finds themselves in some unforeseeable dilemma or who needs assistance."
To donate to AER, contact your unit AER representative.
Golf tourney
The Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union hosts its 21st annual golf tournament to benefit Army Emergency Relief April 29 at Silver Wings Golf Course on Fort Rucker.
Entry fee is $50 for SWGC members and $60 for non-members. The fee includes a box lunch, cart and green fees and registration gift. Prizes are awarded for the first through fifth place scores for net and gross.
Registration is April 29 at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. A Hole-in-One competition, sponsored by New Ground Resources, Inc., offers up a choice of a new 2011 Nissan Altima or 2011 Jeep Wrangler.
All proceeds will benefit AER. For more information or to register a team early, call 1-800-448-4096 or 598-4411, Ext. 1306, 1302 or 1702.
Jail-a-Thon
The 6th MP Detachment hosts the 2011 AER Jail-a-Thon May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the post exchange parking lot in an effort to raise funds for the Army Emergency Relief Fundraising Campaign.
The MPs have the goal of raising $6,000 for the cause and people can help out by "busting their boss."
The MPs will carry out an arrest warrant for a donation for anyone on post. Price list is below:
Warrant of Arrest Prices (per half hour):
E1-E4 / GS1-GS4 - $10
E5-E6 / GS5-GS6 - $15
E7-E9 / GS7-GS9 - $20
Post CSM - $30
GS10-GS15 - $25
WO1-CW2 / O1-O2 - $15
CW3-CW5 / O3-O4 - $20
O5-O7 - $30
DCG and CG - $50
Warrants for spouses are equal to service member's pay grade.
Warrant collection begins April 21 - call 255-2120 to take one out or get more information.
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