FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (April 19, 2012) -- Fort Meade's 13 registered private organizations are more than social clubs.
While each of the organizations focus on a specific interest such as gardening, golfing or building bonds between spouses, they all share a common characteristic. They are active members of the Fort Meade community, helping to sustain and improve the quality of life here.
This is the first in a series of articles designed to highlight the organizations and share how they contribute to the community.
Officers' Spouses' Club
The Fort Meade OSC "fosters a feeling of friendship amongst its members and preserves the ideals and traditions of our community through social and charitable activities," said Michelle Hausman, OSC president. "We work to unify the interests and activities of our members for the betterment of Fort Meade and our surrounding community."
Hausman considers the OSC Newcomers' Brunch and Membership Appreciation Luncheon the organization's most important events.
"The luncheon lets us recognize our members for all they have given to the OSC and the community," she said. "We also honor our volunteers. We would be nothing without them."
Other OSC events include its Merry Mart Craft Fair in November, gift wrapping at Arundel Mills Mall, Salute to Military Moms Fashion Show at the mall, day trips to the White House and New York City, and "Old Joe" Golf Tournament.
The seventh annual golf tournament, which is limited to 80 players, will be held Friday at The Courses at Fort Meade.
"It will be one of the last tournaments at the course," Hausman said. "We would like to go out with a bang."
Like other OSC events, proceeds benefit scholarships and welfare programs for the Fort Meade military community.
Formerly called the Officers' Wives' Club, the OSC opened its membership to both men and women "to be more inclusive. We want [men] to know that we want them as part of the team," Hausman said. "Our members represent a wide range of experiences and ages."
The OSC's 118 members include spouses of active-duty, Reserve and retired officers, warrant officers and DoD civilians, GS-9 and above.
The club hosts luncheons on the third Thursday of the month, from September to May.
For more information, visit www.fortmeadeosc.org or email Michelle Hausman at president@fortmeadeosc.org.
Retired Officers' Wives' Club
The ROWC shares some of its history with the Officers' Spouses' Club.
On Dec. 6, 1977, 65 women attended the ROWC's first meeting in the Post Chapel. By 1980, ROWC grew to more than 150 members. One year later, the organization began to operate separately from the OSC.
Today, ROWC's 93 members are "active volunteers within the military and civilian communities" through the Meade Area Garden Club, USO, American Red Cross and the OSC, said Lianne Roberts, ROWC president.
The club also supports other organizations' fundraisers such as the OSC's "Old Joe" Golf Tournament.
Since 2001, ROWC has co-sponsored the Veterans Appreciation Day Luncheon, which Roberts considers the club's most important annual event. It began in 1982 as a day to honor the members' husbands.
Last year, ROWC and the seven other co-sponsors of Veterans Appreciation Day marked 10 years of their combined effort "to celebrate veterans' service to their country" through the post event, Roberts said.
Another ROWC event is an annual spring fashion show. Members modeled clothing from the Post Exchange on April 3 at Club Meade.
"This is such a dynamic group. ... The diversity makes any conversation an adventure," said Roberts, an ROWC member since 2000.
ROWC hosts luncheons on the first Tuesday of each month, from September to May, at Club Meade; there is no luncheon in January.
The ROWC's "Summer Lunch Bunch" group meets on the first Tuesday in June, July and August.
For more information, call Lianne Roberts at 443-306-1469.
Enlisted Spouses Club
Like the OSC and ROWC, the Enlisted Spouses Club offers its members the opportunity to support the Fort Meade community while building bonds between themselves.
"Each and every member brings something different to the group," said Rachel Jamison, ESC president. "It is amazing to come together with several different branches and just be normal, like we have known each other for many years."
The ESC, which has approximately 40 members, builds camaraderie through participation in activities such as the Newcomers Fair, National Night Out, Army Community Service Angel Tree and "Clean-Up Fort Meade," which is held in commemoration of Earth Day.
The fourth annual clean-up will be Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at Meade High School and at the Meuse Forest, Potomac Place, Heritage Park and Midway Commons neighborhood centers.
Pre-registration is available on the club's website at www.ftmeadeesc.org.
Raffle tickets will be awarded for each bag of trash or recyclables collected. The drawing will be held at 10 a.m.
The ESC also promotes education through its annual scholarships and oversees the Post Thrift Shop (see the March 22 article "Thrift Shop features dedicated volunteers" at http://go.usa.gov/mCx).
"Everything the shop makes comes back to the ESC, and then we put it right back into the community. ... We hold the shop dear and near to our hearts," Jamison said.
The ESC is grateful for the community's support, she said.
"Many of the things we do would not be possible without each and every person," Jamison said. "Our dreams are bigger than ourselves."
The ESC's next meeting is May 14 at 7 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center.
For more information about the ESC, visit its website or email membership@ftmeadeesc.org.
Editor's note: For more information on the requirements to become a registered private organization, call Tiffany Abrams, administrative assistant for the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, at 301-677-3772.
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