V-Day activitiesThe Youth Center

Valentine’s Day dance isFeb. 10 from 7-10 p.m. Costis $5. Visitors are welcomewith a registered member.Call 442-6745 for moredetails.

The Geronimo RoadElementary Parent-TeacherAssociation is sponsoring aFamily Valentine’s HeartyParty on Feb. 10 from 6-8p.m. in the school gym.Admission is free for PTA

members’ children and alladults. Admission is $1 forall other students. For moreinformation call 248-7004

The School Age CenterValentine’s Day dance isFeb. 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.Members pay $6, nonmem-bers $8. The center is alsohaving a Valentine’s Dayparent-child breakfast isFeb. 14 from 7-8 a.m. This isfor children who are regis-tered in a before- or after-school program and theirparents.

Photo contestSubmit photos for the

RecPlex sweetheart babyphoto contest until Feb. 13.Thewinner will be announced onFeb. 14. The picture size mustnot exceed 4-by-6 inches. Thefirst place winner will receivea gift certificate. Photographysubjects must be be newbornto age 6.For more information,call 442-4824.

Marriage renewaldinner

A marriage renewal din-ner will be held Feb. 19, 6:30

p.m. at Las MargaritasRestaurant, 3134 NW CacheRoad. Cost is $10 per COU-PLE. Bring a framed wed-ding photo. For reservationsemail Cindy Cline atcindy.cline1@gmail.com.Sponsored by Fort SillCatholic community.

Family trainingThe family member

resiliency training seriesmeets through Februarywith all classes at theGraham Resiliency TrainingCampus. Classes are Feb. 14,21 and 28, each from 9 a.m. -

3 p.m. For more informationor to register for any class,call 442-2039 or e-mailgerda.weekley@us.army.mil.Session 2 modules coveredare avoiding thinking traps,detect icebergs and energymanagement. Session 3modules covered are prob-lem solving, put it in per-spective and real-timeresilience. Session 4 mod-ules are identify strengths inself and others, and usestrengths in challenges.Session 5 modules areassertive communicationand active constructiveresponding and praise.

Story, photoby James Brabenec

Cards will turn, dice roll andbid cards rise March 3 whenthe Patriot Spouses’Club holdsits annual “Denim toDiamonds”Monte Carlo casinostyle night at the Patriot Club.

The casino-themed nightis the club’s primary moneymaker for its benevolencegiving to individuals andorganizations in the Lawton- Fort Sill area.This giving isimparted in the form ofscholarships and grants.

“Patriot Spouses Club

members really enjoy puttingon Monte Carlo night andgiving the community a fes-tive night of entertainment,”said Kate Davis, club publi-cist.“Even more so, we enjoyreturning that moneythrough scholarships andgrants to college students andcommunity organizationsthat benefit Fort Sill families.”

Scholarships are awardedto high school seniors, col-lege students and spouses.Each recipient is limited totwo scholarships during hisor her lifetime. Eligible appli-cants are the children or

spouses of U.S. Army orother U.S. military personnelwho are assigned, attachedor affiliated with Fort Sill atthe time of application.Applicants must be enrolledin an accredited post-second-ary program during the 2012-2013 academic year. Thesponsor may be active dutyor retired, officer or enlisted.Children or spouses ofdeceased Soldiers who cur-rently reside in the Lawton-Fort Sill area may also apply.

Though the current eco-nomic climate is challengingfor many, Elizabeth Ivanoff,

a communications major, seta goal to graduate collegedebt free. Her mom, Tamra,said in addition to what sheand her husband have savedfor their daughter’s educa-tion, Elizabeth works reallyhard researching variousscholarship opportunities,filling out applications andwriting essays.

“The Patriot Spouses Clubhas been very generous inwhat they gave her, and thatis a tremendous help andblessing to receive,”she said.

Organizations that intendto apply for a grant mustprovide a direct and tangibleaid to military members andfamilies at Fort Sill. As theclub cannot contribute toevery organization thatapplies, this support to mili-tary members and their fam-ilies is a prime determiningfactor with club members’decisions.

The Great Plains Areachapter of Special Olympicsis one organization that hasreceived a grant before.Karen Granger, competitionand training director, saidthe process is as easy as fill-ing out an application andstating what their needs are.The grant ends up being abig contribution toward herathletes attending the three-day state summer games atStillwater

“This costs about $75-$100per athlete, and these gamesare very important to them,”she said.

Like many families, theDooleys not only enjoyMonte Carlo night but volun-teer their time too. MikeDooley holds court as theauctioneer at many PSCevents where he keeps thepace fast and the bid cardsflying. He and his wife,Robin, also donate items thatbuild profits for the club.

However, their story does-n’t end with what they give,for the Dooleys’ son, Kevin,applied for and receivedscholarships in two succes-sive years. Kevin is a studentat Cameron University wherehe is majoring in history andinternational languages.

“This scholarship helpedwith fees and books, expens-es not covered by the schol-arship Kevin received fromCameron,” said Robin. “ThePatriot Spouses Club is won-derful in terms of what theygive back to the community.”

Another organization thatapplies for PSC grants is theArmed Services YMCA,which has served theLawton, Fort Sill communitysince World War II. BillVaughan, executive director,said the ASYMCA originallyserved a lot of singleSoldiers, but as servicemember demographicschanged it has also changedto focus more on family-ori-ented programs.

Each week, Vaughan said,about eight to 12 Soldiersstop by seeking assistancefrom their food closet, some-

thing he called “too muchmonth for their money.”

“The Patriot Spouses Clubgrant helps the ASYMCAbuy inexpensive food fromthe regional food bank tomake sure the food basketswe give to families are nutri-tionally balanced,”he said.

Operating facilities on andoff post, Kate Swanson,ASYMCA developmentdirector, said the grant moneyhelps her organization teamup with the spouses club tobenefit those they serve.

“This is an opportunity forus to work with the PatriotSpouses Club, because theyare the spouses of ourSoldiers who are out thererisking life and limb for thefreedom of our country.Thisis a great way for us to part-ner together to help thoseother families when theyhave needs,”she said.

For more information onthe club, how to donate orto apply for a scholarshipor grant, logon towww.fortsillpsc.org.

Monte Carlo night benefits Lawton-Fort Sill3Bthe Cannoneer, February 9, 2012

WINTER SPECIAL

5x10 . . . . $30.00 per month 10x10 . . $40.00 per month 10x20 . . $50.00 per month

for new rentals

Bowman Mini Storage 7009 NW Cache Rd. Phone 580-536-6531

Price guaranteed for one year

SPORTS GRILLE

517 E. Gore 357-3080

Next to Cracker Barrel

Lawton’s Original

with the “CHEERS” Atmosphere

� Friendly Waitresses & Bartenders � 20 years Family Owned and Operated

FULL-SERVICE BAR – WE SEAT 450

www.mikessportsgrille.com

Valentine’s Day Immediate seating We’re going all out for Valentine’s Day

SPECIAL DRINKS SPECIAL DESSERTS

Follow us on the web at and TWITTER

FAMILY DINING

HOUSE MADE FRESH FOOD

Remote Start Keyless Entry

$ 69 95 Plus install some cars require bypass modular

Come see ReRe, Mitch, Clay, Barbi, Keith, Roscoe, Phil, Nico & Corbett

1314 W. Gore Mon.-Sat.9-6

580-353-2453

Window Tint

The Cats at The HiFi Shop are Now Offering ... Military Financing E2 &

above - 90 days same as cash

$ 99 CD Player with USB and Auxiliary

Interstate & Optima Car Batteries

thehifishop.net

starting at

We take trade-ins!

“Only minutes away in Chickasha”

Morris Motorsports 4400 S. 4th Street • Chickasha, OK 866-224-6113 • 405-224-6113

1-44 take Exit 80, then South 1.5 miles • www.morrismotorsportsok.com

Family Briefs

Katie Parrish, an Armed Services YMCA employee, holds Jade Shepherd during afternoonnap time at the facility in Lawton. ASYMCA uses grant money it receives from the PatriotSpouses Club to augment its food basket program.