- Household items such as pots and pans, plates, glasses, utensils, etc
- Microwave, radio, etc
- School supplies - crayons, pens, pencils, backpacks, etc
- Toys for the kids
- Clothing, especially winter items - for men, women, children of different ages
- Others - umbrellas, blankets, sheets, pillows, etc
Questions regarding the Refugee Community Service Project can be directed to LCDR BK Kapella and LCDR Gary Brunette. A list of officers accepting donations follows:
| Clifton Road | |||
| CDR Inzune Hwang | gox5@cdc.gov | Building 1, B62 | |
| LCDR Carol Rao | cnr3@cdc.gov | Building 16, 3319 | |
| CDR Ross Spears | ava3@cdc.gov | Building 21, 4029 | |
| Koger Center | |||
| LCDR Lauren Zapata | dvq8@cdc.gov | Columbia, 2107 | |
| LCDR Maleeka Glover | mhg6@cdc.gov | Columbia, 3001 | |
| LCDR Djenaba Joseph | Davidson, 3067 | ||
| CDR Heidi M. Blanck | hcb3@cdc.gov | Rhodes, 5024 | |
| LCDR Andrea J. Sharma | aec4@cdc.gov | Rhodes, 5098 | |
| CDR Tina J. Lankford | tfl4@cdc.gov | Rhodes, 5172 | |
| CAPT Janet Saul | jsh3@cdc.gov | Vanderbilt, 2087 | |
| CAPT Ruth Shults | ras1@cdc.gov | Yale, 1039 | |
| Corporate Square | |||
| LCDR Robin MacGowan | rjm3@cdc.gov | Building 8, 5129 | |
| LCDR Andrew Margolis | avm9@cdc.gov | Building 8, 5120 | |
| CDR Cynthia Prather | cwc4@cdc.gov | Building 8, 5114 | |
| LCDR Pilgrim Spikes | dhp8@cdc.gov | Building 8, 5132 | |
| LCDR Eric Pevzner | ecp9@cdc.gov | Building 11, 1420.03 | |
| LCDR Mariam Sabin | bwg0@cdc.gov | Building 12, 3212 | |
| Executive Park | |||
| CDR Rachel Avchen | rja5@cdc.gov | Building 12, 4030 | |
| Century Center | |||
| CDR Maria Teran-Maciver | mnt0@cdc.gov | Building 1825, 3073 | |
| LCDR Lisa Delaney | lkd2@cdc.gov | Building 2400, 4403 | |
| Chamblee | |||
| CAPT Stephanie Ostrowski | sro1@cdc.gov | Building 101, 3419 | |
| LCDR Aimee Treffiletti | alt5@cdc.gov | Building 102, 2211 | |
| Sam Nunn Federal Building | |||
| CDR Edecia Richards | edecia.richards@hhs.gov | ||
Schedule for Upcoming Crunch and Runs
ACOA administers a monthly Commissioned Corps Annual
Physical Fitness Test (APFT). As always, you can use the test as a training
to challenge yourself, to check where you are against the standards, or to
get a good workout. Officers are welcome to use this event either as a
practice or a recorded APFT. We anticipate it will take less than an hour
for an officer to complete the three components of the APFT, which includes:
1.5 mile run/walk, push-ups, and sit-ups or the side-bridge exercise. All
three components must be completed at this time to pass the APFT.
Each officer is responsible for submitting their completed Physical
Readiness Standards Report (PHS Form 7044) to Medical Affairs Branch and
entering their data on the OFRD
website.
Qualifying Standards: See the information about APFT qualifying
standards on the OFRD
website.
Remaining Date for 2007: Saturday, December 15
Location: St. Pius X High
School Track, Atlanta, GA
Time: 0800 (please be on time!)
What to Bring: Water bottle and towel or mat.
Please RSVP by COB of the preceding Thursday to
LCDR Ed Dieser. Your scores will go home
with you, so feel free to use this as a practice or the actual fit test.
PHS Flag Sales
In an effort to support esprit de corps, as well as raise funds to
support organization activities, ACOA developed and sells full-size USPHS flags
and US/USPHS miniature flag desk sets. These flags are available for purchase by
USPHS officers and civilians nationwide. In 2006, ACOA sold 86 USPHS flags and
61 flag desk sets. These flags were purchased for use by the Military Officers
Association of America (MOAA), as retirement, birthday and holiday gifts, and
much more. The full size PHS flag design is not readily available from any other
source and makes a great addition to your home or office. It can also serve as a
great gift for fellow officers on any special occasion.
The USPHS flag sells for $55 and the US/USPHS flag desk set sells for $18. ACOA
members receive a discount and can purchase the USPHS flag for $50 and the
US/USPHS flag desk set for $16. For more information, please contact
LT Carlos Bell at 404.498.0393.
|
|
|
| USPHS full-size flag | US/USPHS miniature flag desk set |
Please note: These items are for personal use. The USPHS flag is not intended
to replace official USPHS flags, as noted in Subchapter CC29.9 of the
Commissioned Corps Personnel Manual.
Back to top
Don’t forget that ACOA has a uniform sale and swap! This is an
important part of our fundraising efforts, so your contributions can make a
difference.
Promotions in
the Corps…Key Info and a Timely Presentation
Commissioned Corps Leadership
Speak at CDC/ATSDR
ACOA Fall Social Was A Success!
ACOA Volunteers with Habitat for
Humanity
Atlanta-area Stuffed Animal Drive A Success
Happy (Healthy) Holidays:
Healthy Holiday Survival Guide
Contact us if you have uniforms and/or uniform components (rank insignias, etc.)
that you wish to donate, or if you would like to purchase these items at very
reduced rates. We also swap gently-used shoulder boards. A full listing of the
current uniform shop inventory is available at
ACOA's website.
Officers at CDC can donate uniforms and components by sending them via
interoffice mail to the mailstops listed below. Atlanta-based officers outside
of CDC may contact the representatives below for donation instructions.
Male Uniform Contact: LT Jasen Kunz
at 404.639.3419, MS F-05
Female Uniform Contact: LT Jamie
Mutter at 404.639.0769, MS F-05
Submitted by CDR Ali B. Danner
Promotions and “promotion eligibility” within the USPHS Commissioned Corps
(CC) can be both exciting and stressful occasions! What can an officer do to
maximize their potential for promotion, while keeping stress at a manageable
level? In collaboration with CDC’s Commissioned Corps Personnel Team (CCPT), the
ACOA addressed these and other promotion-related questions by sponsoring a
“Promotions Lunch and Learn” on 18 October, 2007.
CDR Kim Walker, the current and long-time CCPT Promotions Coordinator,
emphasized the following points:
CAPT Austin Hayes, with nearly 30 years of CC service and many years of managing
CC personnel issues at CDC/ATSDR and Corps headquarters, advised:
CAPT Dan Cline, the new CCPT Team Lead and CDC CC liaison, encouraged:
CDR Ali Danner, the CCPT Assimilation Coordinator and ACOA 2007 Executive
Committee member, overviewed the relationship between assimilation status and
“permanent” grade (or P-Grade) promotions. Many officers who are assimilated
into the Regular Corps misunderstand the critical importance of being
assimilated when they face the possible removal of a P-Grade promotion
post-assimilation. Officers are notified by a memo or e-mail that “statute
requires that your appointment to the Regular Corps be at the permanent grade at
which you were confirmed by the Senate.” He re-emphasized that the potential
promotion advantage and relative reduction in force protection afforded
assimilated officers far exceeds the risk of losing a P-Grade promotion which
was received during the extended assimilation application-to-orders process.
CDR Danner also shared with attendees a resource recently developed by ACOA’s
Professional Development Committee, a
Promotions Tips
Sheet [PDF], which is now available on the ACOA website. The tip sheet can
serve as a helpful checklist for promotion-eligible officers and as a reference
for officers anticipating promotion consideration in the future. In addition,
the tip sheet contains upcoming ACOA events and dates, key websites and 2007
COER resources.
LT Steve Miller, the CCPT Readiness Coordinator, emphasized the importance of
remaining
Basic Ready [PDF]. He warned that this is a major area that disqualifies
officers from being considered by the OCCO Promotion Board or being removed from
a promotion list in the post-board period.
Following the primary presentations and a few phoned in comments by the OCCO
Promotions Coordinator, LCDR Jill Eich, attendees were afforded the opportunity
to ask questions. Several officers remained after the conclusion of the ACOA
Promotions Lunch & Learn, snacked on food provided by the ACOA EC, and continued
to get personal promotion questions answered by the speakers.
You can be a strong candidate for a CC promotion! For additional assistance,
review a copy of the “Promotions Tips Sheet” and consult your mentor or your PAC
Chair or designee. Please feel free to contact the CDC/ATSDR Promotions
Coordinator, CDR Kim Walker, at 770.488.1093 for a great promotions
consultation, or your
Staff Specialist
in our office. I wish continued success to all ACOA members and Signal
newsletter readers in a very gratifying and challenging USPHS career. See you at
future ACOA Lunch & Learns.
CAPT Hayes and CAPT Cline enjoy
lunch prior to offering their expertise on ways to maximize one's
potential for promotion.
Many officers attended the
informative Lunch and Learn sponsored by ACOA on 18 October, 2007.
Submitted by LCDR Amanda Dunnick
CDC and ATSDR hosted a “full” Commissioned Corps day on November 9, 2007. The
day started with an All Hands Meeting where we had the pleasure of hearing from
the new leadership about plans for the Corp’s future. RADM Steven Galson, Acting
Surgeon General, RADM Robert C. Williams, Acting Deputy Surgeon, RADM David
Rutstein, Director of OFRD, and RADM Sam Shekar, Transformation Czar, were all
in attendance. RADM Galson spoke briefly about his background and vision for the
Corps and then opened up the session for questions.
Immediately following the All Hands Meeting, ACOA sponsored a Readiness and
Deployment Lunch and Learn. RADM Rutstein led the discussion on issues related
to readiness and deployment. He was also able to give some highlights on the
USNS Comfort and
USS Peleliu missions. Over 50 officers were in attendance.
RADM Galson engages the audience of over 50 officers in his presentation on his
vision for the corps and the PHS.
CDR Daphne Moffett, CAPT Austin Hayes and CAPT Dan Cline enjoy friendly
conversation following the All Hands Meeting.
RADM Rutstein gave a dynamic presentation on the USNS Comfort and USS Peleliu
missions during the ACOA-sponsored "Readiness and Deployment" Lunch and Learn.
LCDR Amanda Dunnick and LT Carlos Bell enjoy lunch, provided by ACOA, during
RADM Rutstein's presentation on readiness and deployment.
The Annual ACOA Fall Social was held on Saturday, November 10 at the Five
Seasons Brewery in Sandy Springs. Over 60 officers and their guests enjoyed an
evening of socializing, good food, and excellent presentations. Our officers
showed their ability to persevere despite the rather chilly conditions in the
room – a shining example of the adaptability of Commissioned Corps Officers!
An excellent program was provided on the topic of PHS participation in the
recent USS Peleliu and
USNS Comfort Humanitarian Missions. RADM Rutstein,
Director of OFRD, kicked things off with opening remarks and an overview of the
missions. CAPT Bailey then described the advance teams’ work for USNS Comfort.
The audience was then regaled by LCDR Aimee Treffiletti and LCDR Ed Dieser with
a recount of their experiences on the
USS Peleliu and by CAPT William Bailey,
CAPT Louisa Chapman, LCDR Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, and LCDR Gregg Langham with
a recount of their experiences on the
USNS Comfort.
COA extends a special thank you to CAPT Ulana Bodnar, CDR Kimberly Walker, LCDR
Aimee Treffiletti, and LCDR Michael Schmoyer for their assistance in planning
this event, as well as to all of the fabulous speakers. Your contributions made
this a night to remember!
If you were not able to join us for this event, do not miss the next
opportunity! In celebration of the Commissioned Corps Birthday, ACOA will be
hosting the First Annual Atlanta Anchor and Caduceus Formal Dinner on Saturday,
January 26. Tickets are now available! See the announcement in this newsletter
for more details.
The program began with opening remarks from RADM Rutstein.
Atlanta area officers, including CAPT Susanne Pickering and CAPT Marc Safran,
listen attentively during CAPT Bailey’s description of the USNS Comfort mission.
LCDR Aimee Treffiletti, with LCDR Ed Dieser looking on, recounts her experiences
on the USS Peleliu.
An exhibit table with collectibles attained by officers who served on the
missions was displayed for others to peruse and admire.
Submitted by LCDR Edward Weiss
On October 13, 2007, 13 Atlanta-based PHS officers volunteered to provide
assistance in building a home with Habitat for Humanity for the third straight
year. Each house is built over seven consecutive Saturdays with as many as 35
volunteers per Saturday. ACOA was involved with Day 3 of the build. Tasks for
Day 3 included putting shingles on the roof, insulating the walls and ceiling,
installing siding and caulking, installing underlayment in the kitchen, dining
room, and bathroom, and building a side porch and ramp. Our volunteers made
great progress, particularly in building a ramp to the side porch and installing
the siding, sometimes at great heights. One volunteer even installed a side
door! Volunteers arrived at 0750 and worked until approximately 1530 under the
supervision of a Habitat for Humanity house leader. Lunch was provided by the
house sponsor. After a hard day of work, several volunteers expressed their
sense of personal reward from participating, and their desire to continue to
volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and other Atlanta area community service
organizations in the future.
The home under construction at the generous hands of Atlanta Habitat for
Humanity volunteers.
ACOA volunteers that contributed to the October 13 Habitat for Humanity build.
CDR Valarie Wilson and LT Anna Satcher diligently paint the home's exterior.
Submitted by LT Jamie Mutter
LCDR Trent LeCoultre, LCDR Aimee Treffiletti, and LT Jamie Mutter organized an
Atlanta-area stuffed animal drive during June and July to collect toys for the
USS Peleliu
and
USNS Comfort humanitarian missions. After hearing a presentation
by some fellow EHOs about their experience aboard the USNS Mercy in Indonesia
following the Tsunami, these Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) realized that
there is quite a need for such things. New or gently used stuffed animals can be
distributed to children brought on board for various dental and medical
procedures, and simple gestures like this go a long way for the children and are
a great way to gain trust during a mission. Stuffed animal drives were also
conducted by EHOs in Shiprock, NM, Washington DC, and Nashville, TN.
Commissioned Corps officers from all over Atlanta rose to the challenge and
filled the collection boxes to the top: approximately 1750 stuffed animals were
collected in Atlanta! LCDR Rachel Avchen, LCDR Jenny Williams, and Ms. Patricia
Mersereau from CDC asked their Center, the National Center on Birth Defects and
Developmental Disabilities, to contribute to this effort and were able to
collect almost 900 stuffed animals. LT Jamie Mutter was also able to involve her
neighborhood, the Chattahoochee River Club; they donated 325 stuffed animals for
the humanitarian mission.
In addition to the stuffed animals, financial donations were needed to cover the
cost of shipping the 30+ boxes to the USNS Comfort and USS Peleliu. ACOA
collected $400 from local officers and ACOA donated an additional $150. ACOA
officers also “sponsored” boxes, resulting in another $200 in donations. All in
all, Atlanta-area officers contributed $750 to support shipping costs. A special
thank you to ACOA for supporting this very special project; the stuffed animals
would not have made it to their destinations without ACOA’s support!
Thank you to everyone who was involved in this project. As you can see from the
bright smiles on the faces of the children holding the stuffed animals, all of
the work was well worth it!
LCDR Aimee Treffiletti and LCDR Trent LeCoultre outside the Post Office with
boxes of stuffed animals.
LCDR John Hariadi aboard the USNS Comfort.
CAPT Craig Shepherd (USPHS Officer in Charge) giving a stuffed animal to a young
Peruvian boy.
LCDR Doug Hanley handing out stuffed animals at the Modilon Hospital in Madang,
Papua New Guinea.
Submitted by Marisa Moore, RD, LD
There is a rumor going around that people gain five to ten pounds during the
holidays. The truth is that Americans typically gain only one or two pounds
during the six weeks between the Thanksgiving and New Years holidays. While this
may sound like good news, the problem is that you never lose it, and ten years
of holidays later, you are 10-20 pounds heavier. But this is not a hopeless
situation. You can make changes today to make sure that you don’t end up with
all of those extra pounds.
The holidays are a time to relax and enjoy family, friends and great food! All
of that socializing can lead to overeating, and to top it off, you may not be as
physically active this time of year. Keep reading for essential tips on how to
healthfully survive the season!
Is it your turn to host the holiday dinner this year? Or are you participating
in an office potluck? Here are some easy, calorie trimming tricks to use in the
kitchen both during the holidays and everyday.
In some cases, you don’t have any control over what’s being served for dinner;
however, you always have control over how much you eat. So even if you indulge
in the seasonal treats that come your way, help manage the outcome with these
tips:
Over the next few weeks, your co-workers will bring in all kinds of treats in an
effort to spread holiday cheer. Just don’t let their attempts to spread cheer
spread a little more of you… It’s okay to indulge but try not to over do it.
No matter what changes over the next few weeks…always keep moving!
Use this guide as a starting point to getting you to a Healthier, Happier 2008!
From holiday shopping to taking a walk after the big meal, little things can add
up to big successes!
Recipes
Pumpkin Pudding -- from Office of Food and Health Communications
1 can pumpkin
1 can evaporated skim milk
¾ cup Splenda
½ cup nonfat egg substitute
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
Mix all ingredients and pour into glass baking pan and bake at 350 for 20
minutes or until firm in the center. Chill and scoop into cups. Top with a
little fat-free whipped cream.
Light Pumpkin Pie --from Office of Food and Health Communications
1 cup ginger snaps (about 16 cookies)
16 oz can pumpkin
½ cup egg whites (about 4)
½ cup sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (1.25 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp cloves)
12 oz can evaporated skim milk
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grind the cookies in a food processor. Lightly spray a
9" glass pie pan with vegetable cooking spray. Pat the cookie crumbs into the
bottom of the pan evenly. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a medium-sized
mixing bowl. Pour into the crust and bake until knife inserted in center comes
out clean, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool and slice in 8 wedges. Store in the
refrigerator. Optional: serve each wedge with fat free whipped cream.