JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- To submit a news brief, send an e-mail to patriot@charleston.af.mil. Make the subject line "NEWS BRIEFS." Submissions must be received no later than close of business the Friday prior to publication.

All classes and workshops will be held at the Fleet and Family Support Center, Bldg 755, at Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station unless otherwise specified. For more information, call 764-7480.

July 9
A Thrift Savings Plan class for military and civilians will be held July 9 from 9 to 10 a.m.

A Transition Assistance Program workshop for members separating from the military will be held July 9 - 12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

July 10
A Budgeting and Goal Setting class will be held July 10 from 10 to 11 a.m.

July 13
An Interviewing for Success class will be held July 13 from 9 to 11 a.m.

July 16
A Car Buying class to help you learn techniques and information on getting a good deal on a vehicle will be held July 16 from 9 to 10 p.m.

July 17
A Security Clearance Workshop will be at July 17 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. to help you learn about how finances can affect your security clearance and your career.

July 18
Learn how to deal with stress at the navigating Operational Stress seminar July 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

July 20
A Renting 101 workshop will help provide complete and unbiased information so that you can make an informed decision about the pitfalls you may encounter when renting.

Special Announcements:

Coupon Exchange: The FFSC has a coupon exchange station in Bldg. 755 and is open to all military and family members. Bring in unused coupons between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and help yourself to coupons for your family. Call the FFSC at 764-7480 for more information.

Stepping Stones Pre-school Story Time: Parents and pre-school children learn together through stories, songs, arts & crafts and play time with the
"Stepping Stones" Pre-school Story Time program at the Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station Branch Library. Children must be pre-school age and accompanied by a parent or guardian. This free program is every Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. To register call 764-7900.

Birthday bowling parties: Looking for something different to do for your next birthday party? Marrington Bowling Center has birthday bowling parties that are great for kids of any age. Call the bowling center for party options and availability.

Stroller Rollers offers "Fitness for Mom, fun for baby!" Attention new mothers, now there is a way to get fit while spending quality time with your baby. With the Stroller Rollers program, you'll shape up with a power walk and body sculpting while strolling with your baby. It's a great chance to interact with other new moms. Classes meet at the Naval Support Activity gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Classes are free. Materials are provided. For more information, call MWR Fitness Director Nancy Haynsworth at 764-4067.

Free on-line tutoring service: Tutor.com for Military Families is the Defense Department's official, online, on-demand tutoring and homework help service for military members and their families. The site, http://www.tutor.com/military offers round-the-clock professional tutors who can assist with homework, studying, test preparation, proof-reading and more. Active-duty military members and National Guard, Reserve personnel and Defense Department civilians on active duty in a deployed status and their family members are eligible to participate. Tutor.com's network includes more than 2,500 professional tutors who have delivered more than six million, one-on-one tutoring sessions since 2001. Each tutor is certified through the site, and all sessions are recorded for quality control. The program can also be accessed through a free app for the iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.

Make your next party a movie party at Cinema One: Looking for a unique idea for your next group party? Why not make it a movie party? Cinema One offers private showings of your favorite feature films. Cinema One movie parties are perfect for birthday celebrations, command socials, class trips, youth groups and lots more. Movie parties are free to groups of 40 or more (with concessions purchase) and are $40 to groups of less than 40 people. Call theater manager, Teresa Stuckey, at 764-4107 for reservation information.

Budget for Baby: The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society offers a basic budgeting class for expecting mothers. Class is held every second Thursday of the month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. After completing the class, each mom receives a Layette filled with free baby items such as crib sheets, onesies and a homemade blanket. Call 764-7662 or come by 1004 Jefferson Ave., Bldg. 717 to sign up for the class.

Work & Family Life Specialists: Work & Family Life specialists are available by appointment. Get help with job referrals, resume and interview assistance, first move and information about educational opportunities for active duty, retirees, family members and Department of Defense civilians. Call the FFSC at 764-7480 for an appointment.

Personal Financial Management: Let an FFSC certified financial specialists assist you in accessing and explaining your credit report. They can provide the tools and information to improve your score and make the right decisions about collections and debt. Call FFSC at 764-7480 for more information.

Wise credit Choices: Did you know that your credit score is a huge deciding factor for interest rates, mortgages, insurance costs, employability, loans, deposits, etc.? Call a personal financial manager at the FFSC for an appointment at 764-7480.

Developing your spending plan: Let a financial education specialist at the FFSC on Joint Base Charleston-Weapons Station provide you the tools and resources needed to develop a financial plan of your dreams. The purpose of a financial plan is for you to determine where you are now, where you want to go and how you plan to get there by starting today. Contact the FFSC 764-7480 for more information.

Stepping Stones Pre-School storytime: Parents and pre-school children learn together through stories, songs, arts & crafts and play time with the Stepping Stones Pre-school Story Time program at the JB CHS - Weapons Station Branch Library. Children must be pre-school age and accompanied by a parent or guardian. This free program is Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m. To register, call 764-7900.

MWR's Recycling Department calling for all metal: Containers for empty aluminum cans are located throughout the Naval Support Activity. Aluminum cans are the mainstay of the recycling program; however, all types of metal are accepted. If you have heavy metal products that need to be picked up, call the Recycling Department at 743-0510. All recycling proceeds go towards enhancing your Morale, Welfare, Recreation facilities and programs.

Become a Family Child Care Provider: Do you like children? Need extra cash? The Family Child Care program offers you a chance to provide childcare in your home. The options available to Family Child Care providers are numerous and include:
· Before/after school care
· Part-time/drop-in care
· Full-time care for infants, toddlers or pre-school ages
· Evening and weekend care

As an FCC provider, you determine your fees and hours. Although the Navy determines the maximum childcare ratios, you can choose and interview families that have children fitting the hours and ages you are looking for. If interested or for more information, please call 764-7347.

Parents, need a night out? The Child Development Homes program has certified providers available for Friday night child care. Call the CDH office for a list of available providers at 764-7347.

Resale vehicle lot: Selling a car, truck, camper, boat or motorcycle? MWR's "Hot Deals on Wheels" used vehicle lot offers the only authorized place to display vehicles for sale on Naval Support Activity. The lot is located near Red Bank Road in the New Wave Pool parking lot. The cost is $8 per week for military and immediate family and $10 per week for retirees and DoD civilians. Reservations and payment are accepted at the Information, Tickets and Tours Office. Call 764-2120 for more information.

"Early Bird" drop-off service: The Auto Skills Center, located on Fletcher Street, offers "Early Bird" drop-off service for your convenience. Vehicles in need of service can be dropped off prior to our normal operating hours using the key drop-box, located outside the facility. Patrons can simply fill out the provided envelope with an explanation of the mechanic services needed, place the vehicle keys in the envelope, and drop them in the box. Call the Auto Skills Center during their normal operating hours to receive an estimate or to provide any additional information concerning the work needed.

Meetings and Registrations:

Join the Redbank Plantation Golf Association: The Redbank Plantation Golf Association invites you to become a member at a cost of only $20 per year. Benefits of the Golf Association membership include: USGA Handicap, participation in monthly tournaments, participation in Association Club Championship and participation in the Association Blitz. Membership is open to all military and civilian golf patrons. Membership applications are available in the golf course club house. Applications and payment may be placed in the silver locked box near the Pro Shop. For more information, contact Tournament Chairman Tina Bohannon at tinab@sc.rr.com or call the Pro Shop at 764-7802.

Education and Training:

Judo & Jujitsu classes: Get in shape, build self confidence and learn self defense with Judo and Jujitsu classes. Classes are held in the group exercise room Bldg. 725 and are free to active duty military and $2 per class for all others. Judo classes are offered Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jujitsu classes are offered on the first Friday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Nancy Haynsworth at 764-4067.

Free MWR Fitness Classes: Did you know that MWR offers group exercise classes free of charge to active-duty military and only $2 per class for all other patrons? A variety of classes such as yoga, spinning, step and sculpt and more are available in the Group Exercise Room, located in Bldg. 725 next to the Post Office. Call Sam's Fitness Center at 764-4173 for more information.

Recreation

BINGO: If you like to play BINGO, Marrington Bowling Center has two great ways for you to play! Enjoy Quick-Play (electronic) BINGO in our game room or stop by the front desk to purchase Bonanza Bingo cards where the numbers change daily.

RV/boat storage area: Morale Welfare and Recreation operates the Recreation vehicle and boat storage area located on Fletcher Street, across from the Housing Office. There are currently 54 sites available at a cost of $35 per month (paid quarterly). Reservations are handled at the Auto Skills Center located on Fletcher Street, directly across from the storage site.

Camping is a breeze with help from the Outdoor Adventure Center: Your Outdoor Adventure Center has everything you'll need to enjoy the great outdoors. Tents that will accommodate from one to five people, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, lanterns, two-burner stoves and coolers are all available for rent at a nominal fee. Kayaks, canoes and mountain bikes are also available to make your weekend get-away complete. The Outdoor Adventure Center is located in the Building 1700 on Fletcher Street, across from The Dive. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sundays and holidays. Stop by the OAC for all of your outdoor recreational needs or call 764-2120 for more information.

Disc Golf Course: There's more going on these days at Locklear Park than just baseball and softball. A nine-hole disc golf course runs throughout the park with many varied and challenging holes. Disc golf is played just like traditional golf, with a Frisbee-like disc substituting for the golf ball and club and a basket acts as the golf hole. Access to the course is available any time during daylight hours. The discs are available for check-out at the Outdoor Adventure Center at no charge.

OAC Rock Climbing Wall: Nothing offers stress relief quite like exercise, and one of the most fun and exciting ways to get a total body workout here on the Naval Support Activity, is at the Outdoor Adventure Center's climbing wall. The climbing wall stands 30 feet high and offers many different climbing routes with varying degrees of difficulty. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, the OAC has a climbing program to suit you.
Climbing Rates:
Introductory climb $2
One hour or less: $4
Daily pass: $6
Ten pass punch card: $3
Shoe rental: $1.50
Chalk bags: $1

Armed Forces Vacation Club: The Armed Forces Vacation Club offers weeklong stays for only $329 on "space available" accommodations to Department of Defense-affiliated personnel. With AFVC, you'll save on vacation accommodations in exciting destinations worldwide. There are more than 200,000 accommodations in more than 100 countries. Program registration is free and easy. Just call toll-free at 877-270-4624. Once approved, you can immediately begin planning your next exciting get-away. All active and retired members of the U.S. military are eligible, including spouses and children, as well as civilian employees of the Department of Defense. As an added bonus, the Naval Support Activity Morale Welfare and Recreation department receives a rebate for every confirmed reservation. Simply enter the base code 169 when registering. For more information, check online at afvclub.com, and join the Armed Forces Vacation Club today.

ITT offers lay-away on cruise reservations: The Information, Tickets and Tours Office here on the Naval Support Activity has everything you'll need to plan and reserve your affordable cruise vacation, including a convenient lay-away payment plan. Soon, you will be sailing away to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico or any of a number of exotic ports of call. There are now many cruises departing from right here in Charleston. Call your ITT Office at 764-2120 for more information.