The Vicenza Military Community will soon hold an annual conference to fix issues within the community. Delegates from numerous organizations are invited to share their voice.
"Right now we are less than 20 percent with receiving the necessary delegates tasked to more than 21 units and organizations to achieve our goal," said Cara Panzarella-Tarr, Exceptional Family Member Program manager and Army Family Action Plan conference coordinator.
The previous week-long AFAP conference is now condensed to two days due to budget cuts. Input is taken within the community and the delegates made up of Soldiers, civilians, retirees, teens and Family members come up with solutions to the problems within the community. Issues that cannot be solved locally are sent up to higher Army to fix. According to www.armyonesource.com, the AFAP conference started in 1983 and since then has dealt with nearly 700 issues presented. Some of the bigger issues include spouses being able to use the GI Bill and TBI rehab. Locally issues from the past include obtaining the right to ship wine in household goods.
"It takes nearly 100 volunteers and staff to complete the conference every year and we couldn't do it without support of the community," Panzarella-Tarr said. "This conference is for you; let your voice be heard."
Issues presented this year so far include COLA, preschool and soggiornos. If you have an issue, local or bigger, you can send it up to the conference by Nov. 8. They can be submitted at vicenza.armymwr.com or drop off the issue form at ACS.
Focus groups are being held to submit issues at ACS building 108. Family Readiness Groups are invited to join the discussion Nov. 5 from 9-11 a.m. Another session for civilians and retirees will be held Nov. 6 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The AFAP conference will be at the Golden Lion Nov. 17-18. Hourly child care is paid for participants as well as lunch and snacks.
To check and see if your unit or organization is being represented at the conference you can call 634-8582/7500 or 0444-71-8582/7500.
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