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With school just around the corner, many states are beginning to promote their “Back to School Sales Tax Holidays,” which feature tax-free shopping for specified items.

Fortunately, for students in military families, the same items found at local Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores are free of sales tax every day. So how do local exchanges maintain this benefit during “tax holidays?” With an additional automatic reduction of up to eight percent on all specified back to school items, of course.

“AAFES already has the no tax policy, so to give military shoppers added value we take an additional percentage off back to school items,” said AAFES Acting Chief of Staff Col. Ada Conlan. “This time of year provides an excellent opportunity to emphasize that every day is a ‘sales tax holiday’ at the exchange.”

While select states participate in “Back to School Sales Tax Holidays” from July through November, a total of 15 exchanges will offer 4.25 to 8 percent off all qualifying products.

As a value-added service, all retail facilities in participating states will match the percentage discount for those specified categories up to 8 percent throughout the duration of the “sales tax holiday.” A list of ‘sales tax holiday’ states, along with effective dates, is located at http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html.

eKnowledge Corporation, the leading supplier of interactive learning software for college test preparation, is donating $200 test prep programs to military families worldwide.  Note: There is a materials, shipping, and customer support fee that the service or family member is responsible for.

The SAT and ACT PowerPrep^tm DVDs include more than 11 hours of video instruction and 3,000 files of supplemental test prep material, thousands of interactive diagnostic tools, sample questions, practice tests and graphic teaching illustrations are indexed for easy use.

eKnowledge Corporation has extended the FREE SAT/ACT donation program through 2010. Eligible recipients include servicemembers from all branches of the military who are active duty, retired, veterans, Guard, Reserve, DoD employees, and civilians performing military support. Also eligible are relatives and dependants of anyone who otherwise qualifies from the prior list.

To place an order: www.eKnowledge.com/USA
Enter Sponsorship Code: 2AD9C5CCFD

For further information, please contact Lori Caputo, Director, Military Donation Programs, 951-256-4076
LoriCaputo@eKnowledge.com

File this pic in the “It’s funny because it’s true” category. Oh, and they’re putting out a call for photo submissions to MilSpouse magazine!

Have a photo that makes you LOL?

Share it with us so that we can share it with milspouses everywhere!

Submit your photo

If we use your photo in a May newsletter, we’ll send you a Valentine’s Day DVD!

The Department of Defense Education Activity’s (DoDEA’s) Educational Partnership has launched an educational resource for military families, military leaders and school leaders. The resource, “Students at the Center,” provides information on important policies, procedures, and best practices that are critical to supporting the needs of military families’ education.

Available online now at http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/studentsAtTheCenter/,
the guide offers information focused on the specific needs of the different stakeholders.

For educators serving children from military families in a public school system, the guide offers information on the different military service branches, ranks, and protocols. It also outlines current DOD Initiatives to support schools and the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid program. It also offers insights regarding the issues military families face including frequent transitions and parents deploying.

For families, the guide offers information on navigating the U.S. Education System, choosing a school and being an effective advocate for a child.

For military leaders, “Students at the Center” provides suggestions on supporting military families, forming and strengthening Installation-School Partnerships and ways to enhance communication between Local Education Activities, the military service and families.

The guide will be available May and can be ordered in print format and on CD in through DoD’s Military One Source website.

Beginning with the 2010-11 award year, a student who is not eligible for a Pell Grant but whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and died as a result of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.

Check back on the Student Federal Aid website after July 1, 2010 for more info!

By Rick Brink, DeCA East Public Affairs Officer

FORT LEE, Va. – The Defense Commissary Agency opened its newest commissary April 6 with a grand opening ceremony for a new shopping center that includes an exchange and pharmacy at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

A crowd of approximately 1,000 patrons welcomed the new store, built with Hurricane Katrina relief funds. The hurricane, which struck in August 2005, wiped out the commissary and Army and Air Force Exchange Service store. Both have since been operating out of temporary facilities.

Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director and CEO, joined AAFES Commander, Army Maj. Gen. Keith Thurgood; Rep. Gene Taylor, 4th Congressional District, Miss.; Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, Headquarters, Air Force; and Air Force Brig. Gen. Ian Dickinson, commander, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, to give remarks for the occasion.

“Today is about thanks,” Sakowitz told the crowd. “Thanks to everyone who worked to make this wonderful facility possible. Wait till you get inside. It will warm your heart. Now you get to enjoy shopping in the Defense Commissary Agency’s newest store with the convenience of having the exchange and pharmacy under the same roof.”

The new commissary, with 24 checkouts, eight of which are self-checkouts, has more than 50,000 square feet of sales area – triple the sales area of the temporary commissary. It is also slightly larger than the one destroyed by the hurricane flood waters. The entire shopping mall is sited well above the Katrina flood level.

Built with energy-saving and environmentally friendly features, the new store is an expansive, well-lit facility, which will add to shopping enjoyment. It features a deli, bakery, sushi to go and rotisserie chicken, fresh produce, fresh meats, chill, frozen and grocery sections that include an assortment of more than 24,000 items.

“This is a great day for all of us at Keesler,” said Gordy Harris, store director of the commissary. “Our customers have been very appreciative of what we’ve been able to offer over the past years, and now they get to enjoy their shopping more because of what we can offer in this great facility.”

Photo caption: Three-year-old Carlos Hurtado Jr. looks up after spinning the wheel for a health and fitness prize in the Keesler Air Force Base Commissary produce department as Ed Klein looks on. Prizes ranged from coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables to hula hoops, flying disks and jump ropes. (DeCA photo by Rick Brink)

I know it’s short notice, but if you’re in the D.C. area and interested in military family issues, this looks like a great line up of panelists at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This will be a full day of panels and discussion on April 30 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Panels include:

• Provisions for the welfare of soldiers and their families, past and present.
• Treatment of physical wounds, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
• Family impact.

Keynote will be given by Brig. General Loree Sutton, M.D.

Get more info on the event at the Woodrow Wilson Center website!

The Organization for Autism Research officially launched Operation Autism at www.operationautismonline.org, a website specifically designed for military families that have children with autism. The site offers information on autism, autism treatments, the military healthcare system, and raising a child with autism in the military community.

More than 20 military children were on hand for the USO’s premiere of “With You All the Way! Dealing With Deployment,” an animated movie that helps military children and their families prepare for deployment, stay connected during the separation, and plan for reintegration, created by the Trevor Romain Foundation. The DVD also helps civilian children understand what their friends from the military community go through when a loved one is deployed. Child attendees also received special deployment kits that included items that support military families during deployments.

Check out the USO’s blog for pics from the event!

To this, I say “Aloha!” Anyone want to go to Hawaii with me?

The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome. During the month of April we are honoring all our little heroes with great specials and promotions all month long. From special gifts to free meals (Download Keiki Koupon) and other special surprises to show them how important they are. Join us as we celebrate our future.

Month of the Military Keiki Magic Show
Featuring Mark Mauricio & Introducing Keiki Magician Landon
Winner of “Brown Bags to Stardom” Elementary Division

• Family Friendly Buffet
• Goodie Bags (Keiki 10 years and under)
• Special Pricing for Everyone
• Keiki 10 years and under $4.95 plus Service Charge

Download our calendar of events and promotions during the Month of the Military Child or call the Activities Desk at (808) 955-0555 ext. 546 for more information.

Time is running out for Active Duty Personnel to save up to 20% off your room rate reservation in April & May 2010!

Availability is limited and we expect rooms to sell out quickly. Book today by calling 800-367-6027 (CONUS) or 808-955-0555 (Hawaii) Monday – Saturday from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M. HST

Please mention code: HOT SPRING SPECIAL

Disclaimer: This offer is limited to Active Duty Personnel in leave status. Cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Offer is limited to availability and can be discontinued at anytime without advance notice.