Straight Talk: Learn about Hanscom happenings

  • Published
  • By Col. Stacy L. Yike
  • 66th Air Base Group commander
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Happy New Year and welcome to 2012! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and were able to spend some quality time with family and friends.

New Year's resolutions are always a popular topic, but my focus hasn't changed much from last year: make sure everyone at Hanscom is "in the know" about Hanscom happenings. For example, did you know the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. at the chapel? How about the Heroes Homecoming celebration on Jan. 12 at noon in the Aero Club Hangar?

My column is just not long enough to tell you all the great things happening around base, but you have so many more resources available to you.

If you are reading this, then we are off to a good start. The Hansconian provides outstanding information on upcoming events, as well as excellent coverage to fill you in on past events.

The paper is delivered to all housing residents and the majority of buildings on base, so you can even keep a copy at your desk. If you have a question, shoot an email to hanscom.straighttalk@hanscom.af.mil and I will do my best to get you a timely answer.

Another useful tool is the Hanscom website at www.hanscom.af.mil. Like the Hansconian, the website provides information on past and upcoming events, but it also provides links to valuable information on base services. For example, do you want to know if the base is open for normal operations? The website has your answer right on the front page.

You can also find more calendar information through the new CenterNet page at https://centernet.hanscom.af.mil.

For our Facebook afficiandos, Hanscom is diving into the world of social media. You will find pages for the base, 66th Air Base Group commander, Hanscom Family Housing, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, chapel, Minuteman Commons, Youth Programs, the library and the list goes on. If there's an organization on base, it most likely has a Facebook page for you. You can jump from one facility page to another, as most of the sites "like" each other and are linked. We love getting your comments and questions right there on the Facebook site. Check out the social media page at www.hanscom.af.mil/socialmedia/index.asp to find a comprehensive listing.

Email is the toughest medium of all. We all know that hundreds of emails go unread every day, and yet people always ask for more information to come through email. To avoid spamming, we use a system of subscription email services so you get only what you want, but it seems no one ever knows how to sign up.

I will send one email that gives all the links to information on base events and lists all the various distribution emails and how to subscribe. This is important when Tickets and Tours sends out an email that they have championship game tickets for sale. I don't want you to miss that!

We will continue to refine our processes to improve communications and reach more people. In the meantime skim the Hansconian, check out the base website, "like" your favorite Facebook pages and check your email for updates. This is going to be a great year!