NEWS BRIEFS >>Issue Jan.5

MLK luncheon Thursday

The MLK Day luncheon will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Consolidated Club. Tickets are $8.25 for club members are $9.25 for non-members. See unit First Sergeants for tickets or call Capt. Sharonda Graham at 987-8478 or 2nd Lt. Alexis Johnson at 987-8383.


Retirement set

A retirement ceremony for Master Sgt. James Sloan Jr., 314th Maintenance Squadron, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 in Bldg. 362. For details please call 987-6707.


Open house Jan. 18

The Little Rock Spouses’ Club hosts an Open House for all Little Rock spouses, Jan. 18 at the Consolidated Club. The Little Rock Officer’s Spouses Club is now the Little Rock Spouses Club. All base spouses — active duty officer and enlisted, civilian and retired are welcome. Social begins at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7 p.m. There will be a dessert buffet, coffee and hot chocolate. There is no cost for this event. Reservations are encouraged: Persons whose last name starts with A-L can call Suzie at 425-4591 or jpdford@cebridge.net.Persons whose last name starts with M-Z can call Gayle at 605-0801 or gallred802@aol.com. For more information, please see visit the Web site: www.littlerockosc.com.


New features in MyPay

Several improvements have been made to myPay providing customers continued ease for on-line transactions. A new feature has been added for military service members on the Savings Deposit Program that allows service members serving in designated combat zones an opportunity to deposit a specific amount of money in a high interest rate account. Service members can now request withdrawls from the account through myPay and there is a link to the withdrawl form from the SDP statement. Another improvement provides military service members access to a printer-friendly option. The printer-friendly option allows for higher quality print copies of all documents such as LES’ and W2s. MyPay wants to keep customers up-to-date on new information and notifications related to their pay, so a new myPay feature asks customers to enter their current email address. All new features can be viewed at the myPay website at https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx.


Thrift Savings Plan contribution limits set

The limit for TSP deferred contributions is now $15,500. The limit for all contributions including exempt* and deferred contributions will be $45,000. To view, adjust and learn more about you your TSP contributions go to www.tsp.gov.
TSP Contributions made while deployed to an area designated for the combat zone tax exclusion are considered exempt as opposed to being simply deferred.


Toastmasters offer Speechcraft

Toastmasters is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to providing tools and opportunities for people to learn to communicate more effectively. Speechcraft is one of those tools. The sessions begin with public speaking basics and help participants develop, practice, and deliver up to three speeches.

Other communication skills offered in a “learning by doing” approach include impromptu speaking, education sessions, and proper meeting protocol.

Speechcraft sessions start Tuesday and run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and continue for each of the following three Tuesdays. Each session will be held in the Conference Center. Cost to cover materials is $20. Registration must be done in advance. For information or registration, call Nichole Reynolds at (501) 454-1959 reynolds_nichole@yahoo.com or Leasa Featherston at (501) 987-7411.