Dear Family Members,

I would like to thank those who attended the Key Volunteer Kick-Off on Saturday, 18 Sept 2004.  I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it was to see so many motivated women and fresh ideas.  Among other news, chair people have been nominated to over see our budding committees.  We are also in the process of gathering a community resource booklet; whether it be a child care facility, preschool, dance studio, guy, auto mechanic or kids activity, etc...If you are thrilled with the services received, chances are other will too!  I encourage you to contact Jenny, Recording Secretary, with business name, address, telephone number and county.  If you are interested in "girls night out" socials, fundraising, or volunteering in the community please contact your chair women for more information.

I am still desperate for Key Volunteers to assist in the event of a deployment.  This entails making phone calls once a quarter to approximately 10 Marine families whom your Marine works with directly.  It is my hope to assign two or three Key Volunteers to each section making the phone calls light for us all.  Work take place from your own home at no expense to you, all long distance is reimbursed.  An eight hour training in January is mandatory to ear your own personal "Key".  In the event of a deployment, being a Key Volunteer earns you the privilege of knowing first hand knowledge of your Marine.  In 1991 during the Gulf War, the Key Volunteer program began at Cherry Point, NC.  Since then it has grown to be a regulated Marine Corps program funded by Headquarters Marine Corps.  We are truly blessed the Marine Corps has embraced us as families.  There is no obligation to participate in the committees.  Committee work is purely optional experience separate from the Key Volunteer Network.

Volunteers are needed in the following sections: S-1 Administration, S-4 Logistics, Motor Transport and Supply.  If your Marine works in any of these four sections; your services are in high demand to run a successful Key Volunteer program.  We have the bear minimum assigned to S-3 Operations and Training, S-2 Intelligence, Headquarters and Communications.  Any and all help is appreciated, no matter how small.  Being prepared in advance is a minimal effort.  When our Marines deploy and we have to back paddle to put support networks in place--it's a long, emotional up river battle.  Please help us now.

Please contact me if you have any questions or are interested in joining the Key Volunteer Network.  Our KVN training is scheduled for drill weekend in Jan 2005.  For your training and support in the Key Volunteer Network, our command has graciously authorized several Marines to baby sit our children on that Saturday.  Also as an optional perk, Sunday you are invited to take a tour of sites in San Francisco so we may all get to know each other better.  Please contact me to reserve your training materials as well as reservations for family lodging with your Marine no later than Wednesday, 15 Dec 2004.

Sincerely,

Kimberly McGuigan

Key Volunteer Coordinator