Become involved with private orgs

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarvie Z. Wallace
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Communicating and interacting with others outside one's workplace or even their home can have positive effects on one's well being.

Private organizations are options available to Airmen at Incirlik that can help them get involved in base activities, interact with others and attain personal growth. Organizations span from cultural observance committees to groups that ride motorcycles together on the weekends.

"They're basically special interest groups that provide opportunities on base for individuals to become active in the community," said Jeanna Deswert, 39th Force Support Squadron private organization monitor.

There are 33 private organizations at Incirlik open to Airmen, civilians and family members.

One organization geared toward the junior enlisted tier here is Airmen Committed to Excellence, which exists to represent the interests of Airmen E-1 - E-4 to wing leadership and also promote professional development, community involvement and networking.

"Private organizations put that element of humanity back into our job on a daily basis," said Senior Airman Michael Buchanan, Incirlik's ACE president. "It is important for us to reach out to the community to get people involved."

ACE members hold monthly meetings to plan events and discuss concerns Airmen have about issues in the dorms or in their work places. Buchanan routes these concerns to wing leadership through the command chief.

The meetings not only serve as an open forum for Airmen, they also decide what activities ACE will participate in. ACE members volunteer quarterly reading and playing games with children at a school for blind children in Adana. These activities give Airmen a chance to interact with the local community and learn a few things about themselves along the way.

"The experience working with these kids shattered my pre-conceived notions because they were very talented despite their disabilities," said Buchanan.

ACE members are also in the process of gaining approval for an area to give Airmen in the dorms an alternative to the dorm patios and dayrooms to enjoy recreational activities in an effort to avoid disturbances in the dorms.

Private organizations not only can improve the quality of life for Airmen, they also thrive to build life-long skills.

Another organization that seeks to develop Airmen is the Toastmaster Club which is open to Airmen, civilian employees, family members and Turkish nationals.
Developed in 1924, Toastmasters International is an organization of more than 270,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs worldwide designed to assist individuals gain confidence in public speaking while improving their professional leadership and communication skills.

"Toastmasters is a very interactive environment where people come to work on their public speaking skills," said Tech. Sgt. Kitsana Dounglomchan, Incirlik's Toastmasters Club president. "The thing about public speaking that I've seen is that you are really trying to build confidence, because if you don't have confidence you can't be a good public speaker."

Aslihan Dogu, installations dangerous goods advisor and the first Turkish member of Incirlik's Toastmasters Club, credited the organization for her aspirations of becoming a better public speaker.

"I was looking to improve my speaking skills because my job requires me to brief wing leadership." said Dogu.

Toastmasters is open to anyone with access to the base. At each meeting, members give impromptu and rehearsed speeches on various topics. They also provide helpful tips to speakers and discuss techniques to improve their public speaking.

ACE and Toastmasters are just two private organizations on base; there are several more open to Airmen, family members and civilians. All are encouraged to join an organization that meets their interest.

ACE meetings are held at 3 p.m. on the third Friday of each month at The Connection in Bldg 884. For more information on upcoming meetings, or to join, contact Senior Airman Michael Buchanan at DSN 676-6452. Toastmasters Club meetings are held at noon twice a month at the Community center. For meeting times, contact Tech. Sgt. Kitsana Dounglomchan at DSN 676-3326.

For the contact information or a full listing of private organizations, contact Jeanna Deswert at DSN 676-8488.