OURKYSOLDIERS.NET
At no time in recent history have more citizen soldiers been called from their civilian lives to serve the United States.
Across Kentucky, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers have been called to duty for service in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
OURKYSOLDIERS.NET is a project initiated by the Kentucky Society of Association Executives to attack two problem areas for our troops.
First: Soldiers are serving extended tours of duty in combat zones. OURKYSOLDIERS.NET is working to identify soldiers with little or no family support at home and match them with Kentuckians willing to keep mail and encouragement flowing to the front lines. OURKYSOLDIERS.NET will work through unit commanders to identify soldiers that are receiving little or no mail. The goal is to match each soldier with three to five individuals or organizations that will 'adopt' them as family and see that they receive encouragement and mail in recognition of their ongoing service.
Second: When National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers are called to duty, they must leave their civilian jobs and families far behind. Those families left behind often find themselves stretched financially when emergencies arrive. OURKYSOLDIERS.NET proposes to create a Kentucky Troop Family Emergency Fund to provide grants in support of existing family assistance programs. An example of a family emergency is when there is a death in family. The military will grant emergency leave, but provides no transportation for the soldier. Checks should be made to 'USA Cares' with the notation 'KY Guard Families' in the memo line. Mail checks to: OurKYSoldiers.Net, P.O. Box 4001, Frankfort, KY 40604. Contributions are tax deductible. The project goal is to raise $10,000 for the first year of the project. In-kind contributions are also needed and welcomed.
How can associations help?
The most important way you can help is through your publications. OURKYSOLDIERS.NET will provide camera-ready copy in a variety of sizes for insertion in your publications to make your members aware of the project. Full Page ads can be found in the KSAE Downloads Section of the websire. Associations willing to commit space in their publications are asked to contact info@ksae.com
We all know how a "crisis" at home (like a broken water heater or furnace) can affect our concentration when a frantic spouse calls while we are on the road. KSAE is working with the Kentucky National Guard to create a Family Emergency Fund so that soldiers deployed to combat areas do not have to worry about those "crises" at home. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to fund this program through 2007. 1,500 additional Kentucky Guardsmen will ship to Iraq before Christmas. The following Associations and individuals have made a contribution toward the emergency fund for KY National Guard families:
Association Honor Roll
Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky - Gold Star Contributors
Coal Operators & Associates- Gold Star Contributors
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Doherty (personal contribution)
Mrs. Sherry Fox (personal contribution)
Alfaro Enterprise & Associates
Mr. Bill Caylor (personal contribution)
KY Broadcasters Association
KY Crushed Stone Association
KY Building Materials Association - Gold Star Contributors
KY Rural Water Association
Home Builders Association of Kentucky - Gold Star Contributors
Barry & Catherin Back (personal contribution)
Mark & Janet Cole (personal contribution)
Sales Management & Marketing Association
Pamela & Billy Byrd (personal contribution)
David & Bobbie Shanahan (personal contribution)
Gary & Rita Larimore (personal contribution)
Andrew & Janice Lange (personal contribution)
Keeneland Race Course
A Taste of Kentucky
Mr. Mark Levine, CAE, CSP
C & H Audio Visual Services, Inc.
Funds Raised to Date: $10,100.00
Goal: $10,000 (Exceeded!!!)
Thank You!
