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Deployment, Kickstarter, Kinskii, Military families, military kids, Tap Influence

Kinskii – Bringing Military Families Closer Together

February 9, 2015 No Comments

This is a sponsored post, in partnership with TapInfluence. I was compensated for my time. However, I only participate in sponsored posts that I believe are valuable to my audience, and to the Military community.

I am so excited to tell you about an exciting Kickstarter campaign that could potentially be so amazing for Military families. Today is the launch day and I thought it would be the perfect time to tell you a little bit about Kinskii and let you check it out for yourself. It definitely intrigued me as a military spouse, and a mom to Military Brats. Its more than communication, its an interactive way to have some “hanging out” time when your loved one is gone, military or not.

While this video doesn’t show a military family, I was totally picturing it! Tugs at the heart strings!

Teaser Video!

What is Kinskii? : Kinskii is a way to have family playtime with your little one from any distance. Kinskii will be available in the app store or on your PC/Mac. We are creating every single game with education, safety and engagement in mind.

How does it work?

I’m really excited to demo the program myself and give my readers some more feedback about it, so please keep an eye out for that. But on first glace this program seems like a fun and unique way to incorporate what we already do with technology in, perhaps, a more meaningful way. Now your kids are simply playing a game to waste time, but they are engaged with their parent that is gone. Typically I’m all about less technology, but if they are going to do it, this would be how I would want them to. Check out the videos, read about Kinskii on their kickstarter page and see what you think.

what unique things do you do to keep engaged with your loved ones while they are traveling?

what do you think of this idea?

If you watched the videos, what did you think?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kinskii. The opinions and text are all mine.

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advocacy, military, Military families, military monday, Military Support Series, ScoutComms, Veterans

Military Support Series – ScoutComms

February 10, 2014 No Comments

One of the things I love about blogging is getting to meet really awesome people, and then talk about them. I met Fred right after I had moved into town. It was my very first blogging conference, and whether he knows it or not he sort of came to my “virtual” rescue and offered some moral support. Then I stumbled upon him again at a military related seminar…..and once more at an Operation Homefront event. Yeah, he’s everywhere. One of these days I’m going to let him hire me. Anyway, Fred is the CEO and founder of ScoutComms.

ScoutComms provides strategic and unique assistance in the world of aerospace, defense and veterans sectors. The list is incredibly long of the really cool things that they offer to their clients. Services provided include media relations specifically targeted to increase outreach to exactly those that need it, Thought Leadership Support, consulting and guidance on veteran focused corporate giving programs and so much more. ScoutComms specializes in something called ‘Precision Public Relations’, spending the time to find the right journalist, media outlet or partner for their client. Who better to provide this large list of services then veterans and those that have spent years working closely with, and supporting, them.

Recently ScoutComms underwent a change. It was a slight change that largely went under the radar, which is indicative of what I appreciate about how this organization runs themselves. ScoutComms is now a registered B-corporation, or Benefit Corporation. They are the first in the Nation to focus specifically on veterans and military family issues. They’ve taken on the mantle of not only providing services in a unique way, but blending it with advocacy and support.

We’re one of the first social enterprises focused on veterans’ issues, but as the movement grows, we certainly hope to not be the last. As a social enterprise, we’re approaching our mission in much the same way we always have: through creating and implementing communications and philanthropic strategies for our clients and the veterans’ organizations we support. For our current clients, nothing will change in the way we provide a personal, precision consulting experience, and we hope this evolution opens the doors to future clients who share our vision that doing business and doing good are not mutually exclusive.

ScoutComms also has a blog, and something they call The Scout Report, a newsletter of sorts. If you are a veteran, a milspouse, military-connected person or just concerned about veteran/military issues you should subscribe to this. You can catch up on all the past issues of The Scout Report here. It is very exciting to see this happen from the beginning, and I have absolutely no doubt that ScoutComms will accomplish great things moving forward.

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EFMP, Family Readiness, Family Readiness Council, military, Military families

DoD Family Readiness Council Meeting – #MilitaryMonday

August 5, 2013 No Comments

On Monday the DoD Family Readiness Council will have another meeting. I was able to attend the last one, and since I’m traveling I will miss this one. The council is interesting set-up, the process is as well. Today I thought I would share my thoughts with you on the last meeting. I hoping to be able to watch or listen to the next one to keep you updated on what is happening with the process.

I wasn’t actually sure what to expect as I made my way through the maze that is the Pentagon, on my way to the Family Readiness Council meeting. What I do know is that for this average MilSpouse, it wasn’t anything I could have possibly expected it to be. A brief run down of what the Council is, actually makes me want to laugh because that ended up being a topic of discussion as the Council was coming to a close; and considering the fact that the Council until recently recently hadn’t made a great showing of themselves, I’m not alltogether sure that they are completely clear on what they are, or what people view them to be (or should be). The goals seemed simple, standardize programs across the branches and make sure those programs are doing what they say they are going to do. With the growing number of Joint Service Bases, especially here in the DC area, this is important. An Air Force spouse, shows up at an Army Base she should know what’s going to be there to help her and not have to worry about what programs there will be and how to get them.

me and fellow advocate Jeremy Hilton

That’s about the time they lost me. Maybe I just don’t think in scientific terms, I didn’t do well in my research methods class in college. I’m too busy thinking about what I need right now to get the job done. All I kept hearing was “reseaching the research methods” and “evaluating the evaluation process.” Really? Evaluating the evaluation process? At one point the sounds of dirision from military spouses around me could be heard, and our counterparts on the council weren’t so silent about what they thought. Clearly there is a disconnect somewhere….maybe many somewheres. It is unclear what the duties of the council is, it is unclear to your “average MilSpouse”, which is what I consider myself to be, what they are doing to help me. I’m not sure that everyone on the council has a clear understanding of what is being done either. The light at the end of the tunnel for me was the representative from the Exceptional Military Family Members group. While Dr. Tyner probably had the least ammount of time to talk, that probably worked in his favor. He was able to quickly and effectively share the goals of revamping the EFMP and what has been done, and is still being done to make it better. Maybe this is where my issue really was. When so many military families are in a constant state of movement, change and adapting, and all you see is long, drawn out conversations evaluating the evaluation process it isn’t any wonder you start to tune things out, and perhaps lose hope. I know that’s what I was feeling.

When it comes to making lives for military families easier, all I want to hear is how quicky we can get it done, and frankly patience isn’t something that I’ve reserved for situations like this. But, like I said, I’m not good at all that science type stuff.

What are your thoughts?

Air Force, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Coast Guard, conference, DC Military, Marines, mil-spouse, military, Military families, Military.com, navy, Spouse Buzz, Spouse Summit, support

MilSpouse Summit 2013: Will You Be There?

March 24, 2013 No Comments

In the world of blogging I still fill like a newbie. It’s only been about two and a half years. It was one of those things where I just jumped in, all in, without really thinking much of it. From there it has just evolved…and kept on evolving. About a year ago I attended my first blogging conference, a military blogging conference. There were several of us “Spouse Bloggers” there and it was one of those celebrity kind of moments for me. So many bloggers that I had been following were now all of the sudden right there in front of me. It’s how I started writing for Homefront United Network, how I met some amazing supporters of the community and how I met one special lady who totally got me, who understood my life and me (secretly snarky and all). The only down side to this thing is that I spent that weekend being spoiled only to watch us be spread back all over the United States. What it made me realize is the importance of being in the same space. Yes, many of us live on base and have that community. I don’t, so to be surrounded by like women, with similar goals and very similar backgrounds was priceless. The people that I met and the experiences that I had were far beyond my wildest expectations.

The Mil-Blogging Gals!

Me and Angela (Founder of The HUN) and Heather (now Associate Editor @ Military.com)

So, of course I was looking forward to this year’s events. However, this is going to be a whole different format, not necessarily a blogger thing, and pretty darn awesome if you ask me. If you are or are going to be in around the DC/VA area April 11-12 then this is the place to be my friends. Its as close to a once in a lifetime experience that I can think of. The friendships you will make, the connections you will experience are 1000% worth it.

Me and Jacey (Director of Spouse and Family Programs at Military.com)

Here’s what you can expect from the Military.com Spouse Summit 2013

No Power Point (although I’m that nerd that wishes she was still in school…but I have a feeling I won’t be disapaointed)

No Panels
Representatives from the Center for Deployment Psychology, The Warrior and Family Support Center, USC’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and some pretty awesome speakers…perhaps one of the coolest is Sal Giunta – Medal of Honor Recipient.

This will be the place for you to network, make friends and discover all the amazing things that will truly help you succeed and go forward in your military life. Whatever is important to you I’m will to be that there will be focus on it, or you will meet someone that is in your position and can help you. I know that is exactly what happened to me last year.

Visit the Spouse Summit website to learn more and register today! Can’t wait to see you there.

caregivers, MCEC, military caregivers, Military Child Education Coaltion, Military families, military life, MOAA, National Military Family Association, NMFA, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, wounded warriors

Military Caregiver’s Week – Elizabeth Dole Foundation

March 9, 2013 No Comments

I’m so late on this, and I hate that. Today was the last day of ‘Military Caregiver’s Week’, bringing special attention to the amazing people that care for our wounded (physical and mental) warriors, that have sacrificed so much for us. These men and women are absolutely amazing and go about their days just doing what they have to do, living life, and they deserve so much praise for that – enter the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Their Mission: To uplift American military caregivers by strengthening the services afforded to them through innovation, evidence-based research, and collaboration.

Their Philosophy:

Conduct evidence-based research on the needs of military caregivers;
Empower caregivers;
Drive innovation;
Promote collaboration; and
Raise Awareness.

One of the really neat things they do is their Innovative Grant Program. They provide grants to non-profit companies that make it easier for those caring for warriors to navigate the available support programs, through technology. I think is absolutely wonderful. Having had to navigate a myriad of these online programs in desperate search for help it can be quite challenging, and frankly absolutely frustrating. Sometimes all your searching gives you is a website list of suggestions. How does that help in the real-world? Technology is fabulous, but not if it simply makes things more frustrating. Having a way to navigate programs and companies through technology, leading to real human help is exactly what we need and is exactly what the 2013 Innovative Grant recipients have done. This year’s recipients are The National Military Family Association (NMFA), MOAA and the Military Child Education Coalition. Having met someone from each of these organizations, and worked with them as well, I can tell you that they are extremely deserving of these grants. They will continue to do all they can do to not only assist Military Caregivers, our Wounded Warriors and all of our Military.

I don’t know any Military Caregivers in my real life, although I follow the blog of a military caregiver. The things that she has had to endure, I know nothing of. I couldn’t possibly imagine what it would be like to be in her shoes.

Do you know a Military Caregiver in your life? Find the Elizabeth Dole Foundation facebook. Tell them about the caregiver you know. Go to the Foundation’s website and see how you can get involved.

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