RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas —
The 12th Mission Support Group Services Division garnered six awards in the 2006 Air Education and Training Command Program and Flight Awards contest.
The Randolph Officers' and Enlisted Clubs, Youth program, Child Development Center, Outdoor Recreation and 12th Services Division marketing program will represent AETC in the Air Force Services Program and Flight Awards in their respective categories.
The Randolph Officer's Club was recognized for several new programs, such as Kids Night once a month in which the club hosts a free dinner with prizes for dependents and their Thanksgiving Meals-To-Go program in which the club cooked meals for pick up.
The officers' club's creative menu planning and world class service contributed to a $100,000 increase in catering sales for fiscal year 2006, according to the award package. The catering service was cited as hosting more than 2,000 events.
The Randolph Enlisted Club was also recognized for a great year having served more than 2,500 members generating $2.5 million in total income. The club hosted more than 1,000 catered events and garnered 212 new members.
A $30,000 renovation to the previously unused patio area into an evening venue was the catalyst to a 287 percent increase in sales, said club officials.
The enlisted club's bingo program is the most successful in the states, returning more than $1 million to players.
The Services Division's marketing program, was also recognized with an award.
"We focused on increasing overall participation at Service's events," said Shelta Reese, 12th Services Division marketing.
As part of the focus on the customer, the team used survey machines, focus groups and clipboard surveys to conduct 32 surveys on various areas of concern. Data collected from the surveys was used to develop an extensive action plan for future events, said Ms. Reese.
The marketing team also developed and executed the first ever Customer Appreciation Week, where more than 10,000 customers were treated with specials, parties and prizes.
In order to keep the base informed of events and activities, the marketing team updated an e-mail group which kept more than 450 customers in-the-know with weekly notices and the "At Your Service" magazine was linked to the Services Web site to allow customers online access.
"I am really proud of the marketing team," Ms. Reese said. "They are a talented group that works hard to create leading edge designs to better promote activities and events."
The 12th Services Division Youth and Child Development Program were also lauded by the judges.
The youth program offered it's first half-day summer camp for 13 and 14-year-olds with a ten-week curriculum focused on health and wellness, career choices, leadership, fitness, financial management and recreation. The base's FitFactor, a web-based fitness program, hit an all time high with 398 active participants and it's Torch and Keystone Clubs logged more than 2,500 hours of community service. The youth program staff also coordinated a Jr. Volunteer Program in which 20 teens volunteered more than 7,000 hours.
The Child Development Program also helped the community assisting wounded Airmen, returning from deployments, with full-time childcare needs. The Parent Advisory Committee facilitated two book fairs and helped to provide children with identification cards. A parent education component was also added to the monthly PAC meeting fostering education throughout families. Staff and managers of the program worked together to send photos and facilitate phone calls between deployed parents and their children.
Randolph's Outdoor Recreation program was recognized with the Program and Flight Award for it's category. The program is responsible for Eberle Park, Canyon Lake, equipment checkout, the base pools and different programs offered to Team Randolph members.
This year was a first for the Rambler 120 Challenge event which hosted 32 teams in a 22-mile bike ride, six-mile run, two-mile raft and a mystery event at Canyon Lake. The Randolph Skeet Club was also recognized for the third consecutive year as Top Small Gun Club in the nation.
Randolph Outdoor Recreation supported more than 650 "Fit to Fight" fitness and testing runs at Eberle Park fostering mission readiness, according to the write up. The equipment checkout program boasts more than 1,700 items available for rent and $91,000 in sales for fiscal year 2006.
Terrye Heagerty, 12th Services Division chief, said Randolph received the most awards for a single base in AETC.
"Everyone has worked so hard this year to improve service and programs. If you have a doubt that any of these programs are truly deserving, just ask the customers," she said. "If you roll these programs up with all Services' other awesome programs, what do you get? The best Services Division in AETC!"