FORT SILL, Okla. (Aug. 22, 2014) -- Patriot Spouses Club (PSC) members will hold their annual Super Sign Up event Aug. 22 from 2-6 p.m. at the Patriot Club.
It doubles as the club's membership drive for the coming year, while also helping spouses plug into the Lawton-Fort Sill community and find their niche.
Anna Dietz, club first vice president, said the after-hours times should make it more attractive to working spouses -- a group the club intends to reach out to more this year.
"We value our stay-at-home spouses and think doing more to include working spouses will help make this a better club for all," she said. "We also hope to increase the number of retired spouses as we realize there are many in the local area who can bring other talents and ideas to the club."
The club unites Fort Sill spouses to encourage friendships and support various social, cultural and educational activities to benefit its members and the community. Through fundraisers, such as its annual Christmas tree auction, club members raise money to give scholarships to military families and grants to organizations on post and in the local community.
Whether seasoned spouse or new arrivals to military life, the club has a place for all.
Kendra Nedd, 22, is one of those fresh faces to Army life, and she admitted she first thought the spouses club was for officers spouses only. That changed when she attended last year's Super Sign Up and found the spouses treated her like everyone else.
"Right away I felt welcomed and a part of the group," she said. "I decided to join and through the sign up became a Girl Scout leader and attended a few PSC social clubs."
Nedd may be an exception to the norm as she seeks ways to get involved in her community, but that involvement has transformed her perception of Fort Sill.
"We just got back from visiting family back home, and it was good to see everyone, but I realized I missed my Girl Scouts and the 'Patriots,'" she said. "I couldn't wait to get back to my home home."
Club members meet monthly, which in past years mostly happened at lunch. Christen Stasevich, PSC president, said the club will hold several evening events to better serve spouses who work during the day.
"The majority of our monthly meetings will continue to be in the afternoon, but there will still be plenty of opportunities for working spouses to get involved and volunteer," she said. "We hope our attempts to accommodate their hours at work will encourage them to come out and join our club."
Naturally, club members' spouses range from the lowest enlisted Soldiers to the highest ranking officers, but Dietz said rank stops there.
"It really doesn't matter in the Patriot Spouses Club," said Dietz, "I like to forget about rank and instead just meet other spouses with similar interests."
Those interests can lead to small groups such as book, bunco or exercise groups that formed in past years. Dietz encouraged spouses who enjoy activities others may appreciate to give the club a try.
Although spouses can learn about PSC activities and meet members, they can also talk with people from other local, nonprofit clubs and organizations who will share information and discuss ways to get involved. Nonprofits that have attended past sign-ups include Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, the La Leche League, the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center and the 580 Roller Girls.
Fort Sill offices that will have information at the sign up include Army Community Services, Army Family Action Plan, the Protestant Women of the Chapel, and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Visitors can enter to win door prizes and opportunity drawings. Last year, eight spouses won at least one item donated by vendors.
Like Nedd, Dietz said her PSC membership has helped give her a sense of home here.
"I enjoy being a part of the club and gain a sense of accomplishment serving on the executive board and planning events or monthly meetings," she said.
Club membership is open to spouses and family members ages 18 and up. In addition to military ID cardholders and retirees, the club is also open to spouses of U.S. sponsored foreign liaison personnel and civilian ID cardholders.
For more information on upcoming PSC activities, visit www.fortsillpsc.org.
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