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Ombudsman Newsletter PACAREA TACLET JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2004 |
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Family and Friends, Happy New Year! As you can see, I am starting 2004 with a new newsletter design, which hopefully will enable more of you to access the many resources available to Coast Guard families here in San Diego. Among the biggest changes is the new Ombudsman Website. The site is absolutely loaded with information that I hope will be useful not only to those new to TACLET, but also to those of you who’ve lived here a while. See the Contact Info box below for the link. The Newsletter will be archived there, and there will be links in this newsletter to longer articles that I will post on the website. Many pages are updated frequently, so be sure to check these often: MCCS – Marine Corps Community Services newsletter. Lots of information about programs and services available to families on board MCRD. TRICARE – What’s new on the TRICARE website, fact sheets, links, and more. Know your healthcare! Newsletter – Archives of the Ombudsman Newsletter. Please take some time to visit the site and take a look at what’s there. I would sincerely appreciate any comments/feedback that you may have regarding the site, and would especially like to hear your suggestions for anything new you’d like to see on the site. Was there a resource that helped YOU when you first came to San Diego? Let me hear about it. Broken link? You can email me directly from the site and let me know. Although I’ve designed the website to provide you with a “hands off” way to access a wide range of resources and information, please don’t hesitate to contact me personally if you have a question, a concern, or even if you just want to say hello. I also realize that many of you aren’t clear on exactly what an Ombudsman does for the Command. That’s normal – I didn’t either until I became an Ombudsman! Make sure you read the page on the website entitled, “What Is An Ombudsman?” and feel free to call or email if you have any additional questions. Also, I’m probably guilty of beating this to death, but I do want to remind everyone that any communication you have with the Ombudsman remains completely confidential. I don’t discuss anything you tell me with anyone unless I have your permission to do so. One last item: Many of our members have filled out a Personal Information Form, which requests some personal information about you and your family that I use, confidentially of course, to identify and disseminate information and resources that are of interest to our families. One of the items that I ask for on this form is a home email address, preferably one that you, the spouse, has access to. I plan to send a weekly update to this email list with time-sensitive or otherwise important information that you might find useful. This is the only thing I will use your email for, and no one but the Ombudsman will have access to it! If you’re not on my Family Email List, please email me right away and I’ll add you. You can remove yourself anytime. Have a great year everyone, Nancy Kramer
pactaclet_ombud@yahoo.com
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Here’s to a healthy 2004! MCRD Semper Fit Health and Wellness Promotion It’s not too late to make healthy changes in your lifestyle! Semper Fit has lots of FREE programs to help you be healthy and fit in 2004, and they’re open to all active duty and dependents. Programs currently being offered at MCRD include the following: Weight Management: Four part class designed to assist individuals make healthy lifestyles choices through eating right and exercise. Class meets the first Wednesday of every month from 1130 – 1300. Tobacco Cessation: Four part class designed to help individuals "kick" the tobacco habit through behavior modification. This class meets on the first Thursday of every month from 1130 -1300. For more information about these programs, or to register, call HM1 Beltz at 524-0388, or 524-1565. MicroFit Assessment: Free Fitness Profile testing includes evaluation of blood pressure and heart rate, weight, body fat, low back strength test, biceps strength test, and bike ergometer VO2 Fitness Test. Takes approx. 30 minutes; appointment required. Call (619) 524-4427.
It’s Tax Time Again! Now’s the time to start checking out the many resources available to Coast Guard families to help you prepare and file your tax returns. www.irs.gov – Click on “Armed Forces Tax Benefits.” This is a HUGE section with very important information about the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003, tax- exempt Combat Zone pay, and more. Also don’t miss the section on Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts. It pays to know the truth! VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is offered FREE of charge at all area military bases, including MCRD. This service is staffed by volunteer tax professionals, and is anticipated to begin on 01/28/04. Bring your receipts, W2, and any other necessary paperwork – and leave with your taxes ready to file! Look for locations and dates to be announced via email, and on the Ombudsman website.
Don't Miss What's Going On at MWR! Sporting events, ski trips, even a Super Bowl Party. Click here to read this week's issue.
Personal Financial Management If your taxes are a little more on the difficult side, like mine, or if you’re looking for some tax-reduction strategies for 2004, I recommend a call to Mike McIsaac, Personal Financial Management Specialist at MCRD. Mike can help you be “fiscally fit” this year with a wide range of services such as financial goal setting and planning, IRAs, budgeting, saving and investing, using credit wisely, and even planning for a major purchase like a home or car. Mike also conducts a free monthly Brown Bag Lunch Seminar. Upcoming topics include: Successful Credit Management (28 Jan), Real Estate Investing for the Long Term (18 Feb), and Buying, Selling, or Refinancing a Home (17 March). Light snacks and beverages are provided free of charge, but you are also welcome to bring your own lunch. These seminars are held in the Community Services Center (Bldg 26) classroom from 1130 – 1300, and are limited to the first 40 people to call and register. A complete schedule of seminars for 2004 is on the Ombudsman Website as well as on the MCRD Website. Give Mike a call if you have any questions about how you can improve your bottom line this year, to register for a seminar, or make a tax appointment: (619) 524-5728.
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Resource Spotlight: Career Advancement Centers
· Miramar – (858) 974-7620 · Navy Region – (619) 424-1112 · Camp Pendleton – (760) 414-3500 A spokesman for the organization, L.C. Wadley, told me that he’s often frustrated when military spouses come to him ten thousand dollars or more in debt from job training programs they pursued prior to connecting with CAC. “We most likely could have paid every cent of that,” he said. “So many spouses don’t realize that they can qualify for thousands of dollars of job training.” CAC offers job fairs, computer and other vocational training, and job search assistance at no cost. For details, please visit the website at www.sandiegoatwork.com, email them at info@workforce.org, or call 619) 238-1445 (Toll Free at 1-888-884-SDWP) Another great employment resource: ADECCO Career Accelerator. Worldwide staffing service caters to military spouses. Jobs from entry level through executive, and you keep your benefits, vacation time, and seniority even when you PCS to another area. Visit: www.usadecco.com/careeraccelerator
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