Ideas needed for new community service initiative Published Nov. 16, 2011 By Sarah Olaciregui 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Have you ever driven by an area on base and thought, "Wouldn't some flowers look lovely there?" Or maybe when you were cleaning out the basement you wondered, "I wish I knew someone on base who could use this stuff instead of hauling it off to Goodwill." "I get great ideas from the people of Hanscom every day and offers from people wanting to help," said Col. Stacy L. Yike, 66th Air Base Group commander. "The challenge is finding ways to turn those ideas into a reality, by putting the right people together to make it happen." An effort is now underway to bring those thoughts and ideas to fruition through a program called "Hanscom helping Hanscom," but the first step in the process is to find out what projects should be accomplished and who is willing to volunteer to do them. The 66 ABG is going to begin compiling these ideas into one web page. Team Hanscom members can volunteer time to help with an established project or offer a new idea of their own. When a new idea is submitted, the 66 ABG team will check on the viability of the project and then let the person or group know how or when to get started. This ensures that projects do not conflict with one another or a contract already in place. In addition, the 66 ABG can identify if government supplies are available and help find more volunteers to complete the project. "Just a couple of weeks ago, Senior Airman Adam Smith and Senior Airman Kyle Madden from security forces painted signs at both the Hartwell and Vandenberg gates," said Yike. "The Airmen coordinated to get the paint from CE (civil engineering). Randy Robertson from our Plans and Programs office found out about the idea and decided to help, too. Now, the gates look awesome!" Other projects are ongoing, such as the Patriot Enlisted Association members volunteering to keep the POW/MIA memorial in top shape by pulling weeds, replacing light bulbs and more. "The PEA inspired me to take this idea to the base level," the colonel said. "I am so proud of the work they doing!" There are lots of ways people can help, according to Yike. For example, she is looking for a fish tank cleaning expert. "During tough budget times, we don't have the option of paying for someone else to take care of things for us," she said. "We must each take responsibility to keep our base looking great. It also is a chance for Team Hanscom to be proud and take ownership of the base's appearance." After submissions are compiled and cleared, a descriptive list will be compiled and advertised at www.hanscom.af.mil and on the commander's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/66abgcommander. For ongoing projects, contact names and numbers will be available for anyone who wants to join in. For those projects that have been identified, but have no volunteers, information will be included to inform anyone who wants to volunteer who to contact to do so. Those who have ideas may begin submitting them now through a variety of different ways. Suggestions can be submitted through Straight Talk by emailing hanscom.straighttalk@hanscom.af.mil or calling 781-225-1380. Some people may choose to post ideas on the colonel's Facebook page or pass along the information directly to the commander or one of her staff members. "If you have an idea, let us know," said Yike. "If you want to volunteer for something, let us know."