414th Contracting Support Brigade hosts Volunteer Appreciation Reception

By Dennis G. Beeler, 414th CSBApril 13, 2016

Brigade Volunteers from RCO-Africa
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Brigade Volunteers from RCO-Italy
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Thank You Volunteers Cake
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More than 40 volunteers were honored at a ceremony in Vicenza, Italy, for their support to the community.

Col. Christine Beeler, 414th Contracting Support Brigade commander, and the brigade's volunteer coordinators joined to thank the volunteers for their commitment to the Vicenza Military Community during a ceremony April 7.

"It is important to take time to say thank you and acknowledge individual and group contributions of time, energy, talents, and resources to make our community and our Army team stronger, more vibrant, and resilient," said Beeler.

The large group of military, civilian, host nation employee and family member volunteers received certificates of appreciation for their service over the past year. They were then treated to a reception of cake and other refreshments provided by the 414th Family Readiness Group.

The 414th CSB is actively involved with the military and local communities. One of the major volunteer events is the USO "Thank you Thursday" program where volunteers prepare meals and serve them to Soldiers who are single or who are in Italy on unaccompanied tours. The CSB supported two of the program events. The local USO director stated that they normally serve approximately 25 to 30 Soldiers on any given Thank you Thursday event, but the 414th CSB set new attendance records serving 103 Soldiers on the first event and 111 Soldiers in March. The USO sent Beeler a letter to expressing its deep appreciation for the outstanding support provided by the 414th CSB volunteers.

The volunteers may be actors and coaches, chaperones and mentors, scout leaders, or Special Olympics supporters. Others provide assistance and transportation for nuns at a local church to get to the dispensary where food and medicine is distributed to young migrant mothers. Some helped with baby showers, new mother support, newcomer orientation, childcare, transportation and vehicle registration. Other volunteers serve on local school committees and assist kindergarten teachers and children's learning centers, providing a much-needed second set of hands to the teachers.

Teenage family members volunteer to help other teens to become acquainted with the local culture and assist in helping them with the local language. One Soldier's teenage daughter has distinguished herself by serving as the Voice of the European Region, providing help to other teens in homework assignments, socializing teens into the local community and preparing projects for the local school. She also briefed Army staff members on youth life-challenges and benefits of being part of the Army family.

Having this many volunteers in an organization is not uncommon and military communities have a long tradition of supporting each other and those around them. One challenge Army installations have is accounting for the volunteer-years of effort and support provided.

Volunteer coordinators ask the volunteers to register in the Volunteer Management Information System allowing the Army Volunteer Corps manager at Army Community Services to track the efforts. The system allows volunteers to sign up for volunteer opportunities, and track their activities, hours, awards, trainings and certificates. Registration in VMIS is very important and volunteers can input their volunteer hours on the Army One Source Website at https://www.myarmyonesource.com.

Regardless of the community activity, 414th CSB volunteers are always "out front" providing help where it is needed with welcoming smiles on their faces.