‘Together, we’re better’: Spouses’ Club opens door to new members Published Sept. 25, 2007 By Meredith March 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- Familiar faces will be seen in a new context Tuesday evening in the Minuteman Club Ballroom for the Hanscom Spouses' Club's kick-off event. The theme for the event is, "Common Ground: Together We're Better," and the spouses' club is eager to prove that statement is true. Members of the Hanscom Spouses' Club, formerly known as the Hanscom Officers' Spouses' Club, voted in May to include more Hanscom spouses in their membership. As a result, the Hanscom Spouses' Club is now open to spouses of all military members, including those of the Guard and Reserves, regardless of service or rank. The club is also open to spouses of Defense Department civilian employees. The change in policy came about because many spouses on base, feel that, "the shared life experiences of military spouses are the same, regardless of rank," said Beth Gonsalves, 66th Services Squadron. "The separations, moves and unique parenting concerns are difficult for spouses of both officers and enlisted servicemembers, and having a social outlet and support system where people understand is very important." Judi Parker, Hanscom Spouses' Club president, said, "While we recognize and honor the importance of a rank-based structure within the military, we don't feel that outweighs the need for support and solidarity that we spouses provide for each other." The decision has proved a popular one. "There has been a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from the people I've talked to, and worked with, regarding our new direction," Mrs. Parker said. "Our hope and expectation is that we will be a much more inclusive, cohesive group. We would like to offer more to our membership and to the community by way of service, functions, activities and philanthropic works in support of the Hanscom community." The Hanscom Spouses' Club is definitely not your grandmother's Bridge club. Monthly gatherings, which alternate between daytime and evening events, include socials and activity groups, as well as service opportunities and fundraisers. The Officers' Spouses' Club's fundraising efforts have been so successful in the past that in 2006, the club was able to raise and distribute more than $40,000 in scholarships and charitable contributions in support of individuals and families within the Hanscom community. "I hope to increase [our contributions] significantly with the help of our new membership," Mrs. Parker said. To that end, Mrs. Parker said the club's primary goal, "To promote a sense of community among military spouses and families" will remain paramount. "These clubs are a great way for spouses to form social networks and get involved in the base community," Mrs. Gonsalves said. In addition, with added membership, the club's objectives and capacity for good works at Hanscom will further extend their reach. "We have so many families here experiencing such an array of issues related to deployments, financial concerns, transitional difficulties and so forth, that anything we can do to address these concerns and improve the lifestyle of our military families falls within the goals we want to reach," Mrs. Parker said. All Hanscom spouses who are interested in contributing to the Hanscom community and in becoming acquainted with other Hanscom spouses are encouraged to attend Tuesday's kick-off event, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Minuteman Club Ballroom. There will be door prizes, a cash bar and light refreshments. For more information, call Tara Harbour, first vice president, at (781) 538-5514, or go to the Spouses' Clubs Web site at www.hanscomsc.org.