Navy Region Southeast hosts Navy Community Service Program Conference

"Everyone is enjoying it. A lot of them are new to their positions and are bringing a lot of enthusiasm," said CNRSE's Navy Community Service Program Manager Dianne Parker.

"The reason we sponsored the conference is because within the last year the community service program manual and instructions have been updated. CNIC felt that it was important to get out in the field and train the volunteer coordinators on their role."

PC2 Sharee McClain of NAS Pensacola, Fla. packs up story starter booklets for transfer to the Jacksonville Teacher Supply Depot's new location March 12. McClain accompanied a group of Navy Community Service command coordinators and/or volunteers to the depot as part of a field training exercise.

"Risk management has always been an issue," added Parker. "We wanted to make sure the volunteer coordinators and the command understand the program and are sensitive to liability issues. We've had some excellent speakers."

"I've learned some tips and strategies on how to motivate and stimulate my volunteers to be a little more proactive," said PC2 Sharee McClain, community outreach manager for NAS Pensacola.

"We've also been given some creative ways to utilize the benefit of recognition for the volunteers, to let them know how greatly appreciated they are."

Melissa Lyke, project manager of the Teacher Supply Depot, worked with Parker in setting up the community service project for the conference attendees that took place on the second day of the conference.

"I am so thrilled!" said Lyke. "We are getting six months of work done in one day. It is incredible. Most days, it's just John and I. He's 86-years-old and a full-time volunteer."

"Right now the volunteers are boxing up old books - including 1920 grammar books - that the teachers have been through and through and they've just been sitting on the shelves," said Lyke. "The books are going to be recycled and that will help go towards the costs of the upcoming depot move."

Navy Community Service Program coordinators from the Southeast Region pack boxes of books at the Teacher Supply Depot in downtown Jacksonville March 12. The books will be recycled, and the proceeds generated will support the cost of moving the depot to a new building.

Command representatives split into five groups at the depot doing anything from arranging materials to toting unwanted items that have been sitting untouched on shelves to recycling bins.

"We have a move coming up in the future where we are moving from here to another school," said Lyke. "We're going from 100,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. It's going to take a lot of creative maneuvering to get as much of the good stuff that's here into the new place."

"A great part of serving our country is serving our community," said SKC Thomas Smith, community relations coordinator for USS Boone (FFG 28), as he packed books at the depot. "It's so important to show our support for them just as they show their support for us."

Conference attendees also received information on submitting award packages from CNIC's MC1 Dave Hites. "The most important thing for the board to see when looking at award packages is how big a difference that command is making in the community. Yes, volunteering can bolster an evaluation. But is that just an individual's effort or is the command making a real difference in the community? That's our overall goal," said Hites.

Navy Region Southeast's Community Service Program Manager Dianne Parker explains the roles of command volunteer coordinators March 11. The Navy's Community Service Program promotes volunteerism and community service to assist in the education and enrichment of the nation's youth and communities in revitalizing citizenry.

"When you get a group of volunteers together, officers, chiefs, enlisted, it really helps pull the command together as a crew and as a team," added Hites. "It boosts morale for the command and in turn can improve work load efficiency."

MTCS Robert Nicholson of Trident Training Facility, Kings Bay, Ga., has submitted award-winning packages before. "Pictures are worth a thousand words and they show the actual events the Sailors participated in," said Nicholson describing what sets his command packages apart. "If I didn't have pictures of some of the command volunteer activities, I went to the base newspaper archives online and there were some pictures in there."

There are five flagship award categories: personal excellence partnerships; project good neighbor; campaign drug free; health, safety and fitness; and environmental stewardship. The instruction can be located under the name OPNAVINST 5350.6C.

HM1 Ashley Russell of Naval Hospital Jacksonville describes some of the ways he influences Sailors within the medical community to participate in community service programs.

Lykes was excited to hear some of the community service program directors talk about bringing their commands out to help with the depot move.

"Our official move starts May 12 and we'll be working all summer until Aug. 8, which is our back-to-school opening, where we'll also need volunteers," said Lykes.

If any command is interested in helping, call 381-7480 or 881-2012 or email tomlinspetal@yahoo.com.