Super Sign-up, a Patriot Spouses Club event to help spouses get connected to the local community, is Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Fort Sill Conference Center, 6045 Sheridan Road.
Rhonda Young, club president, said the information extravaganza intends to show spouses Southwest Oklahoma really does have a lot of interesting things to do, many of which are free.
More than 30 volunteer or entertainment groups and organizations, from the 580 Roller Girls and Impact Zone Brew Club to the American Red Cross, the Fort Sill Thrift Shop and home businesses of Fort Sill Spouses will hand out information and answer questions throughout the day.
Visitors to the event will have opportunities to win prizes. The spouses club will also accept membership dues from spouses who want to join. Dues are: $20 for E-7 above; $10 for E-6 and below; and $5 for Basic Officer Leadership Course or Captains Career Course spouses.
This year's location for the sign-up event is different than previous years which often met at Sherman House, now the residence of Connie and Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general. Young said the club hopes the change in venue will attract more younger enlisted or officer spouses.
One member, Leah Lauterberg, meets that demographic -- she is the wife of Spc. Ryan Lauterberg, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery. She first met Young in the summer of 2010 and mentioned she was new to the Army and this was her husband's first assignment. Young told her about the spouses club and offered Leah a welfare chair position on the club's governing board.
"I had no clue what I was getting into, but on the welfare committee I got to help organize the holiday wrapping at the Main Exchange. It brought me in touch with so many people, and I made a lot of new friends," said Leah.
She said she went to the sign-up a couple years ago and met "an amazing group of women," who showed her age or rank doesn't matter in this diverse group.
"I have learned so much from their wisdom, knowledge and openness," said the native of Michigan, who added, should the Army call her husband away to some remote part of the world, she will be fine at Fort Sill. "They helped me feel at home here; even if my husband were to deploy, I couldn't imagine leaving. There's such great support here and so many wonderful people I can call if needed."
The Patriot Spouses Club is a nonprofit service organization that supports a variety of activities and fundraisers to benefit its members and area communities. Although some members are spouses of high ranking Army personnel, Young emphasized the club and its leadership positions are made up of spouses of all ranks. She said the club is a great place to start not only to find something to do but to learn about volunteering, getting involved in the local community and making new friends.
"The biggest thing for me is the connections or making those friendships so that when we have to go to different social or formal events, I know people I can talk to and who can relate to the things I go through as an Army spouse," said Young. "I also appreciate being in an organization that gives back to the community last year we gave $28,000 in educational scholarships and support to military affiliated organizations in surrounding communities."
She added the club recently started many different special interest groups, each led by a PSC member. The groups include crafting, jewelry making, bunco, Pinterest, cooking, Southwest Oklahoma day trips, a golf group, book club and a fitness group that meets to try different exercise classes on post.
The club's next luncheon is in September, and other notable events are the Christmas tree auction in December and Monte Carlo Night in March. Young said the club has one evening event planned in October so members can bring their spouses.
Although primarily volunteer focused, she said employers do contact the PSC, such as a recent company looking for people with human resources experience. Young said this information is passed on to club members. Also, all volunteer work can be entered into the Volunteer Management Information System that can be carried over into a resume and provide spouses a lot of marketable experience.
Leah said she sometimes brings friends her age to PSC luncheons to acquaint them with the group. She recommended the club to other spouses looking to get plugged in at Fort Sill.
"I definitely encourage spouses to come out and checkout what we have to offer. There's a lot of new ideas and new interest groups that can bring spouses together during the week and also at times when we don't have luncheons. It really is a great group to join," she said.
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