BSF Weekly Round-up for July 28, 2009

Blue Star Families Weekly News Round-Up

All the Latest in Everything Blue Star Families

Welcome, especially to those who receive our Weekly News Round-Up from a friend or co-worker!  Blue Star Families is an exciting new way for all types of military family members from all ranks and services (and our supporters!) to Connect, Support, and Empower one another.  If you aren’t already a member, please join us TODAY by going to the JOIN US page on our site www.BlueStarFam.org.

We are working hard on the creation of our new Blue Star Families website and online community which is expected to launch in early August.  Check out below how YOU can help make connecting together even easier and more exciting.

Remember, if you want BSF info and links to articles and events more than once a week with our Weekly News & Info Roundup, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our Blue Star Families Blog.

There’s a lot of excitement about Blue Star Families and the best way to make sure you are in the middle of it all is to join your local chapter.  Just shoot Vivian a note at members@bluestarfam.org, and she’ll get you connected.

Enjoy! Heidi & the Blue Star Families Team

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Attention Central Texas Blue Star Families ~ TODAY is House Party Time!

Reminder: The Central Texas chapter of Blue Star Families will be getting together TODAY Tuesday, July 28 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to meet new friends and talk about issues affecting military families and how we can serve as ambassadors within our communities, as well as make plans for some exciting events later this year.

To RSVP and for more info, contact Andrea at texascentral@bluestarfam.org

Show Your BSF Pride!

The new Blue Star Families store is up and running!  Check it out and pick up your very own BSF t-shirt, hoodie, hat, mug, and more!

The Gratitude Campaign

The movie says it all.  Check it out.  Also, you can read more about it on our blog!

That DoD Survey in your Servicemember’s Email In-Box ISN’T SPAM!

DoD officials have been working hard to establish standards for all the services and their morale, welfare, and recreation programs.  Now they want to hear from service members how they are doing.  The office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy is teaming up with CFI Group, an international customer-satisfaction consulting firm to administer the survey.  It will be e-mailed July 27 to about 600,000 randomly selected servicemembers and will appear as being from CFI Group on behald of DoD.

Please make sure your service member knows if they receive the email, it’s NOT SPAM!

Read more about the survey here.

Homecoming Photos Needed

We want to include YOUR homecoming photos in a BSF sideshow.  Send your favorites to stephanie@bluestarfam.org TODAY!

Officials Seek to Raise Awareness of Special Needs Programs

Pentagon officials are working to change the common perception that registering in the Exceptional Family Member program can be a limiting factor in the service person’s assignment possibilities.  Rather, by registering with the EFMP, service members are told  “If we know about you ahead of time, then they’ll take that into consideration and try to find an assignment that has your [specialty], but also where they can meet your needs.’”  Read more about the program and how it can help here.

Nominate Your Favorite Hard Working Blue Star Family Member for a Free Vacation & More

Surprise Vacations with Karen Duffy on the Fine Living Network wants to know about someone you know who is always putting others before him or herself and never asking for anything in return.  Do you know someone who spends much of his or her time active supporting military families and the military community?   Nominate this deserving person (and be sure to mention Blue Star Families) to win the vacation of their dreams, a new vacation wardrobe, or new luggage. Three separate winners will be chosen: a Grand Prize winner, First Prize winner, and Second Prize winner.  Please be sure to let us know if your nominee wins!

Old Navy Offers Military Discount

On the first day of each month, to show their appreciation for military personnel for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country, Old Navy offers a 10% discount to active and veteran military ID card holders.

EXCITING NEWS! New BSF Website and On-Line Community in the Works

We’ve been busy behind the scenes creating a new on-line community for BSF members and we expect to have it up the first part of August.  But to build the best site we can, we need YOUR help!

VIDEOS: We want to hear AND see all our fantastic BSF members and give families with deployed service members a chance to shout out a special greeting to their loved one. Grab your video camera and record a 30 second max video, and get it ready to upload to YouTube.  We really want to hear how BSF connects, supports, and empowers you as a military family.  For more details, email stephanie@bluestarfam.org.

PHOTOS: Send us 3 or 4 photos of you and your family at key military lifestyle points ~ weddings, deployments, homecomings etc…, and you might see them up on the new site.  High resolution is always best and no camera phone photos please (except iPhones).  Send your photos to stephanie@bluestarfam.org today!

BLOGGERS & WRITERS We’re going to be highlighting all the great stuff the BSF family does everyday, both as local chapters and as individuals.  Here’s your chance to jump in and help share these stories, both as a blogger and as an interviewer.  If you would like to be a guest blogger and can write from your own experience about the following lifestyles, please let Stephanie know by emailing her at stephanie@bluestarfam.org.

• National Guard & Reserve
• New to Military Life
• Little Ones In Tow
• In the Work Force
• In For The Long Haul (military spouses of about 10 years or more)
• When HE is the Spouse
• Military Moms, Dads & Family
• Veterans & Mentor Spouses
• Civilians Who Support Us