News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, 518-786-4581 or Mr. Eric Durr, 518-786-4581

Media Advisory

New York National Guard Family Programs Conduct State Volunteer Workshop

ALBANY, NY (11/01/2007; 1000)(readMedia)-- As the New York Army National Guard prepares to mobilize up to 1,700 Soldiers for a mission in Afghanistan the volunteers who make the Guard’s family support programs work will gather here Nov. 2-4 to learn more about how to help families cope with separations and the general stresses of military life.

WHO: Current or potential volunteers who keep the New York Army and Air National Guard Family Readiness Groups running. Volunteers and Family Program professionals will be available for interviews.

WHAT: Media opportunity to cover New York National Guard Family Programs State Volunteer Workshop.

WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Saturday Nov. 3.

WHERE: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Bldg, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY. (Members of the media will need to call the Public Affairs Office NLT 5 p.m. on Friday Nov. 2 to be able to gain admittance to the secure facility. ) Turf Inn, Wolf Road, Albany, NY.

BACKGROUND: When New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deploy overseas Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) comprised of volunteers assist the service members families in coping with separation. These FRGs also work to keep up the morale of deployed Soldiers and Airmen by mailing care packages and helping families stay in touch with their loved ones.

While the New York National Guard employs a handful of professionals to help keep these family programs running, by-and-large Family Readiness Groups succeed because of the hard work of the families themselves.

From Nov. 2-4 FRG volunteers will gather at the Holiday Inn Turf in Albany, and at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters building in Latham to talk about what works and what doesn’t and get the latest information on dealing with stress, children, and working the military system.

Sessions will include: “A National Guard Parents Guide to Deployment,” “The Tenacity of Stress,” “Team Building” and “What the Vet Centers can do for Military Families.”

On Saturday morning participants, whose transportation and lodging costs have been paid for by the National Guard, will hear opening remarks from Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, who is commander of the New York National Guard, and also get a chance to participate in an information fair.

The weekend conference will give the National Guard’s Family Program professionals a chance to share the latest information with the volunteer’s said Beverly Keating, the state Family Program Director. The National Guard has family resource professionals across the state who also make their services available to the families of Active Duty and Reserve personnel as well as members of the Army and Air National Guard. This conference also features a special program for children aged eight to 18 who are also involved in Family Readiness Group activities. The kids program has been especially designed to address their needs and is being run mainly by Operation Military Kids, a program designed to deal with the needs of children whose parents are deployed.

The New York State Police will also conduct a canine presentation for the children participants.

Developing strong family programs is especially important for the National Guard as almost 1,700 New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to the 27th Brigade Combat Team prepare to deploy to Afghanistan in 2008. Their mission will be to train the Afghan National Army and Police.

Since 2001 more than 5,000 New York Army National Guard soldiers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

(While the best media opportunities will occur on Saturday morning, members of the press can arrange to cover some of the conference symposiums. Contact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Staff at (518) 786-4581 to make additional arrangements.)

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