OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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The Quantico Quest
2015-2016
Board Members
President – Holly Vega
Vice President – Ashley Beeson
Secretary – Jen Denevan
Treasurer – Carla Foulkes
Parliamentarian –
Rebecca Pastore
Chaplain – Julie McWilliams
Child Care Coordinator Candice Curry
Fundraising - Lindsie Brewer
Fundraising (Operations) –
Nicole Anderson
Grants - Kristie Doran
Historian – Isis Arenas
Thank you to all our members for making our first event of the year a success! QOSO
members and guests enjoyed food, wine, shopping, and great company at our Spouses’
Night Out event on September 15th at Simply Beautiful Spaces. And to all our new
members who joined at the event - welcome! We look forward to seeing you all again
soon at one of our fabulous upcoming events!
Hospitality – Susan Cooley
Marketing - Caitlin Lewis
Membership – Karen Lewis
Newsletter – Hailey Evans
Property - Laura Unger
Reservations – Beth Sullivan
Scholarship – Alia Rose
Social Media - Jen Shull
Webmaster – Stefany Grieco
Honorary Advisors–
Carrie Murray
Terri Walsh
THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS. Quantico Officer's Spouses'
Organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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QOSO MISSION STATEMENT
Quantico Officers’ Spouses’ Organization is a non-profit, social and charitable organization that
emphasizes friendship, professionalism, networking opportunities, and establishing a community
for its members. QOSO is an organization that is organized exclusively for charitable, educational,
religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I would like to introduce myself to all of our new members. My name is
Holly Vega; I am the President of the Quantico Officers’ Spouses’ Organization. I have been with my Marine for 17 years, but married to him for 15.
We have three children and two fur babies. This is the third time our family
has been stationed at Quantico. At times, I feel as if Quantico is truly home
for us.
QOSO SUB-CLUBS
Book Club: Adventures, new cultures, and
stirring tales - if you are interested in becoming a QOSO Book Club member, please
email Jessica at [email protected].
Bunco Club: Join us each month as we roll
the dice!!! New to Bunco, no problem, we
will teach you how to play, it’s super easy.
For more information contact Joyce at
[email protected].
Coffee Club: Join us for some coffee, or your
beverage of choice, monthly and enjoy a little down time with other members. For
more information contact Lauren at
[email protected].
Craft Club: Get in touch with your creative side and create fun projects and crafts
with friends. Contact Leigh at
[email protected] for more information.
Fitness Club: Get moving and enjoy working out with friends! Contact Nikki at
[email protected] for more information.
Gourmet Club: Enjoy good food with good
company! For more information, contact
Natalie at [email protected].
Playgroup: Friends and fun for parents and
kiddos. No kids, no problem, come on out
and just enjoy the time with other spouses.
For more information, contact Ashley at
[email protected].
Wine Club: Come join us for an evening of
fun! We meet once a month and rotate the
hosts for this fun event. Taste wines while
getting a chance to socialize and try something new! If you have any questions or suggestions, e-mail [email protected] .
I hope that all of you enjoyed our Spouses’ Night Out event at Simply Beautiful Spaces in Stafford. A HUGE Thank You goes out to Kate for inviting
QOSO into her beautiful store, giving a donation, and for offering 25% off
to all of our attendees! Thank you to all my board members and sub club
chairs for volunteering their time, donating food and wine, and working with
Ashley Beeson, QOSO Vice President, to ensure that this event was fun for
all of our guests. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our contributors that donated door prizes and swag bag items for us to hand out at our
Spouses’ Night Out.
All of the décor at Simply Beautiful Spaces reminded me of the change in
seasons. GOOD BYE SUMMER AND HELLO FALL! Are you all enjoying
the fall weather? I am personally looking forward to attending fall activities
like pumpkin picking and holiday festivals with my family. QOSO is also
looking forward to our Fall Scholarship Fundraiser, Make It-Bake It-Fake It,
that is scheduled for October 2, 2015 at 7pm at The Clubs At Quantico. I
hope to see many of you at this wonderful event that raises money for scholarships and grants that will be given back to our military community. We do
have some other wonderful tours planned for November, so please keep
checking our website and your email for those details that are coming soon!
Mark your date books and make plans to attend the Toys For Tots Joint
Luncheon and Toy Collection on December 1st. You will soon see details
regarding this special event! I look forward to a very fun year getting to
know each of you and making our community a better place for everyone.
After all, “We’re In This Together!”
Holly Vega
QOSO President
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experiences to the utmost, to reach
out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.
Eleanor Roosevelt
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
We’re In This Together!
We’re In This Together! is QOSO’s theme this year and it is so true! The theme had me thinking a few random thoughts…
The experiences of being a part of the Military world surrounds us with people that:
1. Are like us a little
2. Are like us a lot
3. Are not like us at all
4. Who seem like an alien from another planet to us!
We are asked to:
1. Work together at times
2. Spend Holiday together at times
3. Care for each other’s dogs & children at times
4. Not kill each other at times!
We are rewarded or I like Blessed by:
1. Growing together
2. Shopping, eating and laughing together
3. Surviving life together
4. Making life lasting and life changing bonds!
We also need to be reminded or have the mind set:
1. That even though our mates aren’t deployed some are.
2. That even though our children do not have special needs, some do.
3. That even though we have not lost someone in the battle, some have.
4. That although we do not put on a uniform, we serve our country by supporting our mates, our sons & our daughters.
At this point of my random thoughts…some of you are thinking, “So, I have to work with Aliens over Holidays and share my secrets with
and Take care of their dogs when I am a cat person?” I am not asking you to do that, I am reminding you that “We’re In This Together!” I
do believe you are currently being nudged to reach out to someone who you do not know very well and is right in front of you…and you
will be rewarded or blessed by that. There is also someone out there ready to be THAT person to YOU!
I want you to remember that…YOU may be one step ahead of someone else who has gone through the same circumstance as you. A circumstance where you once thought you would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is ALWAYS an opportunity to show
someone compassion, to use kind words and to serve.
My Prayer for you:
1. Say “Hi” to an Alien at the bus stop or at the commissary!
2. Choose to work together and not kill each other with our words!
3. Share a meal with a family and laugh!
4. Remember the sacrifices our families make for the country and remember the responsibility that comes with
that.
If you are in need of prayer, please reach out me! I like aliens, dogs, shopping and laughing!
Blessing ~ Julie
Julie McWilliams ~ [email protected] ~ 530-570-3120
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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Introducing Carrie Murray
Hello Ladies,
Thank you for warmly welcoming me aboard Quantico and into QOSO. I am very happy that “We’re In This Together”
and look forward to a great year! My name is Carrie Murray and I am serving as one of QOSO’s Honorary Advisers. I’ve been on
this Marine Corps adventure with my husband Joe for 24 years. We have four daughters: Madeline is a junior at Virginia Tech,
Emily is a freshman at William and Mary, Molly is a junior and Rebecca is a sophomore, both at North Stafford High School. We
also have a dog- crazy Bella who loves all the trails on base. In addition to being a mom I am a personal trainer working part time
teaching group exercise. I lead a Girl Scout troop, sit on the NSHS Athletic Booster Club board, and attend Women of the Chapel
where I occasionally facilitate a class.
I’d like to thank the Executive Board for all of their hard work over the summer preparing for this year. They have put
their hearts and souls, not to mention countless hours, into this organization to ensure it runs successfully. Additionally, I’d like
to thank the entire board and sub club chairs for stepping up to volunteer. You have a great mission ahead of you as you reach
out to the community you serve. I love being surrounded by women who are working to make other people’s lives better! I am
here to assist and support you primarily with QOSO, but also as a fellow Marine Spouse and friend.
We had a terrific start to the year with a wine night for the executive board members and unit representatives. My hope
is to spread the word across all units aboard Quantico regarding our organization’s goals in fellowship, charity, community participation, mentorship, resource referral, and scholarships/grants. Thank you to all of you who attended the Welcome Aboard at
Simply Beautiful Spaces. What a fun night and what a beautiful shop! I’m hoping to get to know more of you at the Make It
Bake It Fake It event Friday, October 2nd. I’m certain all of your creative talent will be impressive!
I’m looking forward to serving with you,
Carrie
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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MEET YOUR COMMAND REP - SECURITY BATTALION
Sherry Cato
It is such a pleasure to be your Security Battalion Rep for QOSO. Our family recently joined Security Battalion when my husband
assumed command. We are coming from Camp Lejeune. I have a two children Rowan age 11 and Peter age 5. It was sad to say
goodbye to Camp Lejeune, but we are thrilled to be back at the Crossroads of the Marine Corps. A little about the Battalion, they
are here to provide law enforcement and emergency services for the base. They are your first responders which includes PMO
and the Fire departments. We have a great Facebook page which showcases all the hard work of our Marines and Civilians. Be
sure to “like” and follow if you are on Facebook.
We have some exciting upcoming events planned for all our families. The Security Battalion Fall Festival has been planned and
invitations sent out via email so be sure to RSVP. It will be held Saturday Oct 17th at Braehead Farms in Fredericksburg. Admission
is free for all our SecBn Families and a small fee for all our civilian attendees.
I look forward to meeting all our Security Battalion families and want you to know I am always available if you ever have any questions or just need a listening ear. I look so forward to meeting all our QOSO members and I am excited about all the great events
in our future.
--Sherry Cato
OCTOBER 2015
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
BOOK CLUB
CRAFT CLUB
Book club will meet Oct 15 at 7:00 p.m.
We are reading Me Before You by JoJo
Moyes. Please bring a side to share or a
bottle of wine! Also, please bring some
suggestions for next month’s book. The
address can be found on the group’s
Facebook page or contact Jessica at
[email protected].
QOSO’s Socially Crafty Club will be
making burlap wreaths on Monday,
October 5, at 10 a.m. The address can
be found on the group’s Facebook
page, or contact Leigh at
[email protected].
COFFEE with QOSO
GOURMET CLUB
Details will be coming soon on Coffee
Club’s October event; please contact Lauren at [email protected] for more information.
We would like to invite you to join our
first Gourmet Club Dinner: Favorite
Things! Please bring a dish that is your
favorite to either cook, eat, serve or all
of the above! We will be meeting Oct
7th from 6-8 PM. Please email
[email protected] or find us on
Facebook.
PLAYGROUP
Come join us with your littles for story
time with the author of "My Daddy is a
Marine" and "My Mommy is a Marine,"
Alia Reese! The event will be held October 14 at 10:30 a.m. and will include
storytime, a craft, and more! Email
Ashley at [email protected] for
more information.
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