By Samantha L. Quigley
Dec. 11, 2006 – Thanks to a partnership with Hollywood Video and Game Craze rental stores in five states, "Tunes 4 the Troops" anticipates sending troops 5,000 DVDs this holiday season. For $1, customers at 26 Hollywood Video stores and 18 Game Craze stores in Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas can write a note to the troops. Customers can also donate their spare change for the troops.
The money raised in each store will go to buy DVDs to benefit the troops through Tunes 4 the Troops, Kaylee Radzyminski, 15, founder of the Cleveland, Tenn., organization, said.
The venture started because Jonathan Powell, a Hollywood Video district manager for the five states involved, learned of Tunes 4 the Troops' efforts and wanted to help. The stores' goal is to raise $30,000 through the end of the holiday season, which Kaylee said would buy about 5,000 DVDs, CDs and audio for the troops. The current total is about $3,000.
What she sends this holiday season will be in addition to the 10,000 such items she's sent out since starting Tunes 4 the Troops in fall of 2005. She's working toward a goal of 500,000 entertainment items shipped to the troops by the 2008 holiday season, she said.
Her efforts are rewarded with gratitude from the troops that receive her videos, CDs and audio books. "All military personnel around the world are truly grateful for all the support you have given," Army Maj. Johnny Borden e-mailed Kaylee from Kuwait. "In my eyes you have reached (your goal), seeing someone smile with their headphones on at the desk, dancing in their chair.
"Know this, you made an impact and I get to laugh just a little," he added.
Kaylee also helped Tina Rice, founder of the Tennessee-based "Operation Christmas Presence.". She provided Rice a list of armed services chaplains who will distribute Operation Christmas Presence's packages.
Kaylee also seized the opportunity to keep some more troops entertained by including a CD and DVD in each of the boxes Rice sent out. That effort produced more than 1,400 boxes of goodies and entertainment items for the troops.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, military and police personnel who have become writers.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Schedule Announced for Release of Tax Statements
Dec. 11, 2006 – Servicemembers, military retirees and annuitants, and federal civilian employees paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can expect to receive their 2006 tax statements beginning this month, DFAS officials announced today.
DFAS customers with access to the secure, Web-based "myPay" system will be able to retrieve their tax statements electronically up to two weeks sooner than those relying on regular mail delivery, officials said.
The myPay system includes layers of defense against identity theft, officials noted, adding that its technology meets or exceeds security requirements in private industry worldwide.
"Tax statements are available online, allowing customers to view and print W2s and 1099Rs. Whether anyone needs the statements to complete taxes or just want an extra copy for their records, the tax statements can be accessed and printed at any time," Patrick Shine, DFAS operations director, said. "The printable statements are approved by the Internal Revenue Service."
Here are projected distribution dates for DFAS customers' tax statements:
-- Retiree Annual Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 9, mailed via U.S. Postal Service Dec. 16-31;
-- Retiree 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 15, mailed Dec. 16-31;
-- Annuitant Account Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- Annuitant 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- VSI/SSB W-2: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 4-5;
-- Active Duty Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 22, mailed Jan. 23-29;
-- Reserve Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 2, mailed Jan. 5-8;
-- Marine Corps active and reserve W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 5, mailed Jan. 9-10;
-- Civilian employee W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 9, mailed Jan. 11-18;
-- Savings Deposit Program 1099INT: Available on myPay Jan. 19, mailed Jan. 19-20; and
-- Vendor Pay 1099: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 27-31.
Shine added that current myPay account holders can eliminate the costs associated with generating and distributing the tax statements immediately by signing up and using myPay. A personal identification number, or PIN, is required to use the system, and eligible users can apply for one at the myPay Web site, www.mypay.dfas.mil.
Users with military e-mail addresses -addresses in the .mil domain -- or a pre-registered personal e-mail address can receive their new PIN via e-mail. All others will receive their new PIN via mail in about 10 working days from the date of request, officials said.
Customers who already had obtained a PIN but have forgotten it can apply for a new one at the myPay site.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, military and police personnel who have become writers.
DFAS customers with access to the secure, Web-based "myPay" system will be able to retrieve their tax statements electronically up to two weeks sooner than those relying on regular mail delivery, officials said.
The myPay system includes layers of defense against identity theft, officials noted, adding that its technology meets or exceeds security requirements in private industry worldwide.
"Tax statements are available online, allowing customers to view and print W2s and 1099Rs. Whether anyone needs the statements to complete taxes or just want an extra copy for their records, the tax statements can be accessed and printed at any time," Patrick Shine, DFAS operations director, said. "The printable statements are approved by the Internal Revenue Service."
Here are projected distribution dates for DFAS customers' tax statements:
-- Retiree Annual Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 9, mailed via U.S. Postal Service Dec. 16-31;
-- Retiree 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 15, mailed Dec. 16-31;
-- Annuitant Account Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- Annuitant 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- VSI/SSB W-2: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 4-5;
-- Active Duty Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 22, mailed Jan. 23-29;
-- Reserve Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 2, mailed Jan. 5-8;
-- Marine Corps active and reserve W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 5, mailed Jan. 9-10;
-- Civilian employee W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 9, mailed Jan. 11-18;
-- Savings Deposit Program 1099INT: Available on myPay Jan. 19, mailed Jan. 19-20; and
-- Vendor Pay 1099: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 27-31.
Shine added that current myPay account holders can eliminate the costs associated with generating and distributing the tax statements immediately by signing up and using myPay. A personal identification number, or PIN, is required to use the system, and eligible users can apply for one at the myPay Web site, www.mypay.dfas.mil.
Users with military e-mail addresses -addresses in the .mil domain -- or a pre-registered personal e-mail address can receive their new PIN via e-mail. All others will receive their new PIN via mail in about 10 working days from the date of request, officials said.
Customers who already had obtained a PIN but have forgotten it can apply for a new one at the myPay site.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, military and police personnel who have become writers.
America Swaps Cookies, Supports Troops
By Samantha L. Quigley
Dec. 11, 2006 – More than 17,000 cookie-swap parties took place Dec. 9 during the "Great American Cookie Swap" to benefit "Treat the Troops," but only one was "Road Tasted." Both DuPont Teflon, which sponsored the event, and Treat the Troops are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program showcasing Americans' support for the nation's servicemembers.
Jamie and Bobby Deen, hosts of the Food Network program "Road Tasted," made an appearance at the cookie swap Melissa Lewis held at her home here. The brothers are Great American Cookie Swap ambassadors and were on hand to sign autographs and lend their advice and support.
"It's a tough fight for our men and women on the ground over there, and ... you know that families here are missing them; they're missing their families," Jamie Deen said. "To receive something like a great fresh-baked cookie just gives them a little taste of home."
More than just sending a little piece of home to troops overseas, the Great American Cookie swap had a broader effect.
"This is a multifaceted (event)," Deen said. "It helps kids learn to appreciate and recognize the sacrifice that (servicemembers) make.
"Every way you look at it, this is just a super positive project," he added.
For every party registered with DuPont, the corporation is making a donation to Jeanette Cram's "Treat the Troops" organization. Treat the Troops is a troop-support organization that sends homemade cookies and other comfort items to servicemembers overseas. Just in November, Treat the Troops sent more than 11,000 cookies to the troops, and postage to ship that many cookies doesn't come cheap.
"Locally, we spend at least $1,000 a month," Cram said. That doesn't take into account what her nearly 50 "crumbs," as her volunteers are known, around the country spend.
DuPont's donations will help Cram prepare and send cookies to those serving overseas for an entire year.
"With the generous contribution from DuPont, our member organization, Treat the Troops overcomes its greatest program challenge -- postage," Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, said. "DuPont's commitment makes it possible for Treat the Troops to focus exclusively on what it does best to boost the morale of our soldiers bake, package and ship great-tasting cookies to our men and women in uniform serving overseas."
Cram said the donation will be a tremendous help in getting cookies to as many servicemembers as possible. "It means I don't have to go out and beg for money," Cram said, praising America Supports You for bringing "a little small group and a huge corporation" together. "That's what America is about. It's about corporate and government and people ... coming together for one goal -- the never-complaining soldiers."
While Treat the Troops takes care of those serving overseas, Melissa Lewis' party took care of Marines living in barracks on Quantico. She noted that many troops are away from loved ones this holiday season even if they're not in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"Believe it or not, we have a lot of guys here. We actually even have international soldiers here," she said, referring to foreign soldiers who attend training here. "It kind of shows them (that) local, U.S., foreign (military), it doesn't matter. We're all family. We're all missing somebody."
As a Marine wife, Lewis knows first-hand what small thoughtful acts, like sending some homemade cookies, can mean to those overseas.
"There's times when these guys, they're out there and when they're in certain areas they may not get mail for weeks at a time," Lewis said. "So for them to open up a package and see fresh homemade cookies, ... it's that connection to home and they don't feel so alone out there."
Lewis had a little help packaging the more than 100 dozen cookies that were dropped off at her home. Her daughter's Daisy Girl Scout Troop 224, from Quantico's Ashurst Elementary School was on hand to offer assistance.
The eight 5-year-olds helped stack tins and plastic containers of cookies. Some of the girls had spent part of their Friday evening helping to bake cookies.
"I decorated them and got all messy," Hailey Rathbun said. "(The Marines) don't have families to make them cookies."
By 4 p.m., all that was left was to load the cars and hand out the tins of holiday cheer, which the Marines in the Quantico barracks were all too happy to receive.
"It's something that's so simple, yet so thoughtful," Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Dowling, who is assigned to Quantico, said. "This is a good thing," Marine Lance. Cpl. Matthew Melvin added.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, military and police personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 11, 2006 – More than 17,000 cookie-swap parties took place Dec. 9 during the "Great American Cookie Swap" to benefit "Treat the Troops," but only one was "Road Tasted." Both DuPont Teflon, which sponsored the event, and Treat the Troops are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program showcasing Americans' support for the nation's servicemembers.
Jamie and Bobby Deen, hosts of the Food Network program "Road Tasted," made an appearance at the cookie swap Melissa Lewis held at her home here. The brothers are Great American Cookie Swap ambassadors and were on hand to sign autographs and lend their advice and support.
"It's a tough fight for our men and women on the ground over there, and ... you know that families here are missing them; they're missing their families," Jamie Deen said. "To receive something like a great fresh-baked cookie just gives them a little taste of home."
More than just sending a little piece of home to troops overseas, the Great American Cookie swap had a broader effect.
"This is a multifaceted (event)," Deen said. "It helps kids learn to appreciate and recognize the sacrifice that (servicemembers) make.
"Every way you look at it, this is just a super positive project," he added.
For every party registered with DuPont, the corporation is making a donation to Jeanette Cram's "Treat the Troops" organization. Treat the Troops is a troop-support organization that sends homemade cookies and other comfort items to servicemembers overseas. Just in November, Treat the Troops sent more than 11,000 cookies to the troops, and postage to ship that many cookies doesn't come cheap.
"Locally, we spend at least $1,000 a month," Cram said. That doesn't take into account what her nearly 50 "crumbs," as her volunteers are known, around the country spend.
DuPont's donations will help Cram prepare and send cookies to those serving overseas for an entire year.
"With the generous contribution from DuPont, our member organization, Treat the Troops overcomes its greatest program challenge -- postage," Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, said. "DuPont's commitment makes it possible for Treat the Troops to focus exclusively on what it does best to boost the morale of our soldiers bake, package and ship great-tasting cookies to our men and women in uniform serving overseas."
Cram said the donation will be a tremendous help in getting cookies to as many servicemembers as possible. "It means I don't have to go out and beg for money," Cram said, praising America Supports You for bringing "a little small group and a huge corporation" together. "That's what America is about. It's about corporate and government and people ... coming together for one goal -- the never-complaining soldiers."
While Treat the Troops takes care of those serving overseas, Melissa Lewis' party took care of Marines living in barracks on Quantico. She noted that many troops are away from loved ones this holiday season even if they're not in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"Believe it or not, we have a lot of guys here. We actually even have international soldiers here," she said, referring to foreign soldiers who attend training here. "It kind of shows them (that) local, U.S., foreign (military), it doesn't matter. We're all family. We're all missing somebody."
As a Marine wife, Lewis knows first-hand what small thoughtful acts, like sending some homemade cookies, can mean to those overseas.
"There's times when these guys, they're out there and when they're in certain areas they may not get mail for weeks at a time," Lewis said. "So for them to open up a package and see fresh homemade cookies, ... it's that connection to home and they don't feel so alone out there."
Lewis had a little help packaging the more than 100 dozen cookies that were dropped off at her home. Her daughter's Daisy Girl Scout Troop 224, from Quantico's Ashurst Elementary School was on hand to offer assistance.
The eight 5-year-olds helped stack tins and plastic containers of cookies. Some of the girls had spent part of their Friday evening helping to bake cookies.
"I decorated them and got all messy," Hailey Rathbun said. "(The Marines) don't have families to make them cookies."
By 4 p.m., all that was left was to load the cars and hand out the tins of holiday cheer, which the Marines in the Quantico barracks were all too happy to receive.
"It's something that's so simple, yet so thoughtful," Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Dowling, who is assigned to Quantico, said. "This is a good thing," Marine Lance. Cpl. Matthew Melvin added.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, military and police personnel who have become writers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
