JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The Joint Base Langley-Eustis Community Events Council is the primary means of increasing awareness regarding community initiatives, programs, activates and facilities, which occurs on both installations during the fourth Tuesday every other month.
Leadership, military and civilian, on both installations attend their respective CEC meetings, which have a town hall-like feel to it.
“Approximately 18 briefers from the military and local community, provide education to installation leaders, spouses and community partners on current and upcoming events within their organization,” said Shirley Coleman, CEC logistical support. “The CEC improves the lives of the community by providing information and marketing opportunities for widest dissemination for upcoming community events.”
The continued support from featured briefers with community partners is a large part of what makes the CEC work. Briefers have included Boy Scouts of America, America Red Cross, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Newport News Parks and Recreation Programs, VA Benefits and Services and several others.
“This highlights our effort to work with community partners, share information, and cultivate collaborative initiatives and activities” said Nina Simone Lee, Army Community Services community readiness specialist. “It is a one-hour briefing and, with the…support from leaders, the CEC will always remain accessible and continue to pivot to meet the needs of leaders, representatives and members of the JBLE community at large.”
According to Lee, the CEC has also become a marketing tool for the JBLE community.
“The CEC post briefing slide deck includes community-wide upcoming event flyers, charts, and infographics,” Lee said. “All of this information is sent via a vast organization email distribution contact list and is also uploaded to the MWR website.”
As technology has become moved forward, the CEC followed suit by adding other means of conducting its bi-monthly forum.
“During the pandemic this vital process continued with support from all agencies,” said Coleman. “ACS proved the importance of collaboration of information and the impact that the CEC has on the community. The CEC was conducted via a teleconference call, which was an efficient process supported by the community organizations and leadership.”
The CEC on both JBLE installations did not meet in-person for more than a year. The Eustis CEC held its first in-person on May 25, while the Langley CEC has their first in-person scheduled for July 29.
Calandra Tucker, Airman & Family Readiness Center lead work/life consultant, indicated the virtual aspect of the CEC introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue, even as the pandemic seems to have become less prevalent in the day-to-day.
“I believe [the CEC] will grow as we bring the forum live via social media to those who are unable to attend in person reaching more of our community,” said Tucker. “There is no other forum that compares where the community can gain information and have their questions answered in one setting from the lowest to most high ranking.”
For information about the Fort Eustis CEC, please contact Nina Simone Lee at (757) 878-3638.
For information about the Langley CEC, please contact Calandra Tucker at (757) 754-3990.