ARLINGTON, Va. - To ensure National Guard family program volunteers don't miss out on this year's workshop, social media tools will bring the four-day event to those unable to attend, Guard officials announced today.
"One of our primary target audiences is the large number of family program volunteers, who are unable to attend the workshop," said Jack Harrison, the director of public affairs for the Guard. "These volunteers provide financial, household and emotional support services to an estimated two million National Guard family members."
More than 1,300 volunteers from all 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia plan to attend the National Guard Volunteer Workshop in New Orleans Aug. 1-4.
"The workshop has been an annual event since about the mid '80s and it's a chance for volunteers to be recognized for their service to the Guard," said Alex Baird, chief of family programs for the Guard.
"Just this last year alone, the value of the hours that our volunteers turned in and recorded was about $22 million," said Baird. "Those were only the hours of our statutory volunteers, and we know that they don't record all of their hours."
Along with recognition, Baird said training will be provided to the volunteers, who attend the workshop.
"This year, one of the courses that they can take is personal finance," he said. "If a Soldier or Airmen has some trouble with finances, they can talk to the volunteer and be shown that there are resources out there to help."
The 41 different courses also include how to work well with other volunteers and fundraising, he said.
Aug. 2 is the workshop's keynote day. "There will be several senior defense leaders on hand to talk about the importance of supporting our military family members," Harrison said.
The presentations by Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, are scheduled to be broadcast live via the Pentagon Channel at http://www.pentagonchannel.mil and the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) at http://www.dvidshub.net. Simply click on the box located on the right side of the page that reads: "View live webcast."
Information from the workshop will be available through the following social media sites:
Guard officials said the purpose of the workshop is to promote self-reliance and increase self confidence, family preparedness and overall well-being among military families.