Belvoir Briefs

Found items
Over the past several months, the Directorate of Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Lost and Found Property Custodian have collected several unclaimed bicycles and other items. Items are held for 90 days before they are turned over to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office.
People who have lost any items and want to find out if they have been recovered by DES Police may contact Tim Brown, lost and found property custodian, 703-806-0146. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and voice mail is available after normal duty hours. Some reasonable proof of ownership is required to claim any found property.

Native American commemoration
The Fort Belvoir Equal Opportunity Office invites everyone to celebrate National Native American Indian Heritage Month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Community Club.
Presentations include dances that are performed as part of "Pow-Wows." Special events include hoop-dancing, big drums and flute-playing. The event includes authentic Native American Indian ethnic food sampling after the presentation.
More information is available from Master Sgt. Ernest Murray Jr., 805-2288.

Army warrant meeting
The Lord Fairfax Silver Chapter, US Army Warrant Officer Association, has its monthly Nov. 20 at 5 p.m., at the Kingstowne Library, on the corner of Beulah and Telegraph roads.
All active, reserve, and retired warrant officers are invited and encouraged to attend.
More information is available from CW3 Patrick Morris, chapter president, 703-945-3140.

Flu shots
Flu shots are available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Specker Field House on the following days: Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 24 and 25; and Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11.
Flu shots at Barden Education Center, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., are Nov. 25 and Dec. 11.
Beneficiaries can get the FluMist or injectable vaccines. FluMist is for ages 2 to 49 with no chronic health problems.
Injectables are for people who are high risk, for example, older than 49 with diabetes, asthma, heart disease, cancer, etc., and are not eligible for the FluMist.

USO photo contest
USO-Metro conducts an annual photography contest to determine the photo that will be on the front cover of its Guide to Metropolitan Washington. The 11th annual contest's deadline is Dec. 1. The winning photographer receives $300, and the winning photo will be featured on the upcoming guide's cover.
Photos must have a military theme. The contest is open to all military ID card holders. Submissions can be mailed to Photography Contest, Attn: Leslie Smith, P.O. Box 1710, Fort Myer, Va., 22211-1101; or e-mailed to Smith at leslie@usometro.org.

Genealogical Society meeting
The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Room 112 of Hollin Hall Senior Center, Alexandria. The meeting, free and open to the public, features a presentation, "CyberLibraries," presented by Sandy Clunies.
The program describes the ever-expanding sources of millions of pages
and images of original documents and books now available, how to find, download and save them.
Clunies specializes in colonial American research and is active as the registrar in many lineage societies.
The senior center is four miles south of Alexandria, just off Fort Hunt Road, at 1500 Shenandoah Road.
Additional information about the meeting and MVGS is available from
http://www.MVGenealogy.org/. Questions about the program can be
directed to Harold McClendon, 703-360-0920, haroldm@erols.com.

School trip
Fort Belvoir Elementary School has a family enrichment field trip to the Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., Dec. 6.
Information is available by calling 703-781-2767.

CYS in the villages
Staff from Child and Youth Services bring arts and crafts activities to the housing community centers. The events are free and open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Events are from 10 a.m. to noon. Dates are:
Dec. 3, Lewis Village Community Center
Dec. 9, Vernondale Community Center
Dec. 17, George Washington Community Center
For more information please call 805-9117 or 9114 or 9116.

Scouts at Mount Vernon
Historic Mount Vernon welcomes all Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Club members (in uniform or wearing an official pin) to free admission during its Scouting Days program through Feb. 15.
More information is available from MountVernon.org.

AFTB Instructor Training
Instructor training for Army Family Team Building is Tuesday to Nov. to 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sosa, Bldg. 200.
Topics include planning, speaking on your feet, platform skills and more.
People who want to attend the training must have certificates for two of the three level courses.
Registration, more information and unit training requests are available through Colandra Sealey, 703 805-5556 or via e-mail to Fb-mwr-aftb@conus.army.mil.

International Spouse Group
Army Community Service's International Spouses Group meets Monday at 6 p.m. in Lewis Village Community Center, 8735 Abert Drive.
More information is available from Christine Robinson, Christine.Robinson5@us.army.mil, 703-805-3436.

Wounded Warrior director to speak
The Army Officers' Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area hosts its November luncheon, featuring guest speaker Col. James S. Rice, director of the Army Wounded Warrior Program.
The luncheon is Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m., in the Koran Ballroom at Fort Myer Officers' Club.
Rice will discuss the program and share the issues affecting severely wounded Soldiers and their families and the work the AW2 program is doing to improve the care, treatment and services provided to Wounded Warriors and their families.
The luncheon costs $20. Reservations must be made or canceled and received by noon Friday. Checks can be made out to AOWCGWA and sent to Jill Hoffman, 2609 Military Road, Arlington, Va., 22207.
Reservation information is available from Hoffman, 703-243-4592, larsjill@earthlink.net.
Club membership information is available from Marsha Frey, 502-291-0135 or by e-mail to donnmar25@hotmail.com.

AFTB I
Army Family Team Building Level I, Navigating the Military Life, is Dec. 19 to 11 from 9:30 to 3 p.m. The class gives new spouses and employees new to the military an understanding of military life.
Classes are at 9800 Belvoir Road, Building 200, the Sosa building.
Child care will be provided. All children must be registered with Child and Youth Services before the class, with a child-care registration deadline of Dec. 1.
Registration and more information, including AFTB unit training requests, are available from Colandra Sealey, 703-805-5556, or via e-mail to
Fb-mwr-aftb@conus.army.mil.

Grapefruit recipe contest
Everyone is invited to compete for cash in the first Rio Star Grapefruit Recipe
Challenge.
The contest has three categories: salad, main course and dessert - and two divisions - home cooks and professionals. Cash prizes of $500 each will be awarded for the best recipe in each category and division. A grand-prize winner from each division will be win an $1,000.
The contest ends Feb. 15 and winners will be notified by April 1.
Entry forms, rules and frequently asked questions are available at www.riostarchallenge.com.

Job fair
A free RecruitMilitary Career Fair is Nov. 20 for veterans, personnel who are transitioning from active duty, Reserves, Guard and military spouses.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
More information and job-seeker registration is available from www.recruitmilitary.com.

Religion

Events

Islamic
There is an Islamic information meeting, to see if there's interest in prayer services, Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Belvoir Chapel Fellowship Hall.
Information is available from Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James P. King, 703-806-3006.

Islamic services
The following are Islamic services in the area.
Salat Al Zuhr, afternoon prayer, 1:30 p.m. daily, Washington Navy Yard Chapel, Washington, D.C. Point of contact: Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Saifulislam, 202-433-2611
Jumah, Friday prayer, 1:15 p.m., Quantico Prayer Center, Quantico Marine Corps Base POC: Mohammad Mukhtar, 703-670-0894
Jumah, 2 to 2:45 p.m. Fridays, Pentagon Room 1E438, Zadil Ansari, 703-602-7462
Salat Al Zuhr, daily from 2 to 2:45 p.m., Pentagon Room 1E474, POC: Zadil Ansari, 703-602-7462
Jumah, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Dar Ul Huda, 6666 Commerce St., Springfield POC: 703-922-0111.

Advent Wreath Workshop
The chapel has an advent wreath workshop Nov. 30 at 12:30 p.m. in the Religious Education Center. Families can come and make an advent wreath for their homes. More information is available from Mike Webb, 703-806-4179, or Sister Michael, 703-806-3418.

Protestant Confirmation Classes
A Protestant confirmation class will be conducted from January to March, for Protestant children, 7th grade or older, who were baptized as children or want to be baptized. Parent approval is required to attend.
Chaplain Major Saul Cardona, Director of the Family Life Center, will lead the class. More information will follow. More information is available from Mike Webb, 703-806-4179.

Handel's Messiah
Each year, Fort Belvoir's choirs combine with community members to form a Belvoir Community Choir. The group rehearses throughout November and then performs, with a professional orchestra and soloists, Part One, the Christmas Section, of Handel's Messiah.
This year's performance is Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Belvoir Chapel. Music is provided. Rehearsals, in the chapel's basement, are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 2. A mandatory dress rehearsal is at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at the chapel.
More information is available from Mary McAdory, 703-878-0551, mzzmac@aol.com; or Jan McKeever, 703-313-8468, JaniceMMcK@aol.com.

Children's Christmas Play
The Children's Christmas Play is Dec. 14. Practices are from 9 to 9:20 a.m. Sundays. All children are invited to participate. More information is available from Mike Webb, 703-806-4179.

Jewish
Fort Belvoir Jewish Congregation has weekly Friday night services at 8 p.m. at Belvoir Chapel.
Information on anything about the congregation is available from Sara Astrow, 806-4196.

Protestant
Winter Sunday School
The winter quarter of Sunday School starts Dec. 7, with two adult classes scheduled: "Human Commitment," character studies in the books of Luke, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, 2 Kings, 2 Samuel, Esther and Isaiah; and Walk As Jesus Walked.
There are also classes for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary, junior and senior high students.
More information is available from Mike Webb, 703-806-4179.

Operation Christmas Child
The Protestant Women of the Chapel's outreach is Operation Christmas Child, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Nov. 20. Group members will share fun as they stuffing shoe boxes full of Christmas goodies to send to children all over the world.
Watchcare will be provided. Parents are asked to bring a lunch for their child.
More information is available from Nilda Navarro, 703-868-6452, president@pwocfortbelvoir.org or http://home.pwocfortbelvoir.org.

Catholic
Children's choir
The Catholic Children's Choir begins Monday at 5 p.m. in the Religious Education Center. All children are encouraged to come and be a part of the chorus. The children sing on the first Sunday of the month and for the Christmas Children's Mass.

Anointing of the Sick
A Mass of Anointing will be celebrated Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Woodlawn Chapel. People whose health is seriously impaired are urged to come and celebrate together in this Eucharistic liturgy.

MWR
Be Appreciated!
November is Military Family Appreciation Month. The Officers' Club offers military families $1 off of its all-you-can-eat lunch buffet from Nov. 18 to 21. The buffet is Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and costs $6.95 per person. Diners must show military ID to get the special price.
More information is available by calling 703-780-0939.
Move completed
Army Community Service and the Soldier Family Assistance Center have moved to Sosa, Bldg. 200. The building has more customer parking, and a one-stop area for all ACS services, including Army Family Team Building and Mobilization and Deployment Readiness Program; and room for growth.
ACS information is available by calling 703-805-4590.
Box Tops for Education
Fort Belvoir's BOSS program, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, is collecting Box Tops for Education through Nov. 21 for Woodlawn Elementary School.
The program donates 10 cents for every top collected from certain grocery products.
More information, including a product list, is available from www.boxtops4education.com or from Sgt. Angela Garcia, 703-805-0097.
Box tops can be dropped off at the commissary, BOSS building or through unit BOSS representatives.

All-Army photography contest
Army MWR has a photography contest through Dec. 7. The contest is an annual, juried competition of digital image photographs, with separate divisions for active-duty and eligible civilian patrons. Each division has two classes: monochrome digital and color digital, with six categories each.
This year's theme is "Animal Friends." The contest is web-based and entries can only be submitted online at the contest site, https://artscrafts.fmwrc.army.mil.

Healing yoga class
Hour-long healing yoga classes are Tuesdays at 6 p.m., at the Fort Belvoir Community Center. The class is $7, pay as you go. People should bring a yoga mat, comfortable clothing and the need to relax and not eat two to three hours before class.
More information is available by calling 703-805-3714.

Fitness Fair
A Great American Smoke-Out Fitness Fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 in Graves Fitness Center and includes fitness assessments, cholesterol and blood pressure checks, nutrition advice, information booths and more.
People who want to try to quit smoking or dipping for 24 hours can pick up a goodie bag to help them through the quitting process.

Free dinner
A military family appreciation free dinner is Nov. 20 at the Community Center from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event includes games, prizes and Scotty Scott, certified laugh leader. A limited number of first-come, first-served tickets are available at Sosa, Bldg. 200.
Tickets will be issued to an adult member of each family.
More information is available by calling 805-4590.

Thanksgiving dinner
A Thanksgiving Family Dinner is at 11 a.m. Nov. 27 in the Community Club. Adults cost $25, children 6 to 12, $12; and children younger than 6, free.
Reservations are available by calling 703-805-8472.

Thanksgiving buffet
Thanksgiving buffets are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Officers' Club. Prices are: $27.95 for adult club members; $29.95, adult non-members; $14, children ages 6 to 12; and free for children younger than 6.
Information is available by calling 703-780-0930, ext. 600.

Barden Education Center

ODU transition program
Old Dominion University's Military Career Transition Program is a Master of Education for initial teaching licensure. The teaching license is good in 44 states and DoD schools around the world. MCTP is a military-friendly program designed for the needs of active/retired veterans, military spouses and qualified civilians.
Licensure is offered in elementary, middle school and high school education in math, English, science and social studies. Courses are offered as live classes at Barden Education Center, weekend teletechnet courses at Marine Corps Base Quantico and online. Students who transfer before program completion can finish degree requirements via online/TTN courses and do student teaching at their new location.
ODU's MCTP program adviser can meet with interested people to discuss education career opportunities, courses needed to teach the various academic subjects and the MCTP program in detail. ODU participates in the Troops to Teachers national program. More information and appointments are available from the Belvoir ODU office, 703-781-8203. Additional information is available from www.odu.edu/mctp.

NOVA
At NOVA Community College, spouses and dependents may also enroll. NOVA offers a variety of degree and certificate programs.
NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40, four-year schools and offers in-class and online classes.
More information is available by stopping by Barden Education Center Room 127, by calling 703-360-8524, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; or from www.nvcc.edu/woodbridge/military.html.

Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University classes are available at six locations in the D.C metro area, including Belvoir.
CMU accepts applications year round. Classes meet on alternating weekends or weekday evenings and new sessions begin every six weeks. Degrees can be completed in 18 months or less.
More information is available from Mary Pat Mabeus, 703-360-5336. CMU is in Room 139 at Barden.

George Mason University
GMU's Department of Public and International Affairs offers five, 15-credit graduate certificates and has courses at Fairfax and Arlington campuses.
George Mason's Nonprofit Management certificate can be earned completely online. The Public Management certificate can be customized to focus on human resources management.
Information is available on the Web: pia.gmu.edu. A Mason representative is at Barden Education Center Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Webster University
Webster University is registering for Spring 1 & 2 2009. Registration ends Dec. 19 and classes begin Jan. 5.
Programs offered at Fort Belvoir include Master of Business Administration, Business & Organizational Security Management and Procurement & Acquisitions Management.
The GRE/GMAT is not required for admissions.
Evening classes are held at Barden Education Center.
Office hours are Mondays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More information is available by calling 703-781-7942; stopping by Room 143 of Barden, via e-mail to Belvoir@webster.edu or from www.webster.edu/dcmetro.

UMUC
University of Maryland University College is registering for spring classes. Face-to-face classes start Jan. 26 and March 23.
UMUC has four spring online sessions with the first one starting Jan. 18.
Some of UMUC's Belvoir evening and weekend spring courses will be offered in a hybrid format. Students meet once a week in Barden Education Center and also in an online environment. Hybrid classes offer a great deal of flexibility for working adults.