Page 6 - mch0217_BuyersGuide

TOP PRIORITY

Air Force Club Members Win Trip to Super Bowl

Stephanie Crites and Marsha Nelson are ready for some U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Crites, 52nd Maintenance Squadron
football. senior munitions inspector (center), with his family are presented
The Air Force Club members recently won the Air Force with the grand prize from the Football Frenzy contest by 52nd
Services Activity’s (AFSVA) “Football Frenzy” grand prize: Fighter Wing leadership and 52nd Force Support Squadron at Club
two tickets with airfare and accommodations to attend Super Eifel on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 10, 2017. (U.S. Air
Bowl LI on Feb. 5 in Houston, Texas. The game, which had
not occurred by press time, pitted the New England Patriots Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
against the Atlanta Falcons.

During the NFL season, Air Force Clubs hosted viewing
parties for airmen and their families once a week on Sunday,
Monday or Thursday. Club members had opportunities to par-
ticipate in game-day events and obtained a weekly password
to gain access to the online entry form. Members entered to
win prizes, such as NFL regular-season tickets, $100 e-gift
cards toward NFL gear and a chance to go to Super Bowl LI.
The winners were drawn randomly.

Marsha Nelson (center-left), a budget and accounting technician though Washington missed the NFL playoffs this season, they
with the 20th Comptroller Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., are excited to see any other team win, with one exception:
Washington’s archrival, the Dallas Cowboys.
won tickets to Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 in Houston, Texas.
Nelson, a budget and accounting technician with the 20th
Crites entered the contest every week during the NFL Comptroller Squadron at Shaw AFB, S.C., said she and her
season. Her husband is Staff Sgt. Richard Crites, a senior husband Roger, a resource advisor with the 20th Civil Engineer
munitions inspector with the 52nd Maintenance Squadron at Squadron at Shaw, will be going to the Super Bowl.
Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
Nelson said she was praying the Patriots would make it
“I have to give credit to my wife for Football Frenzy,” said to Super Bowl LI. Her prayers were answered as the Patriots
Crites, who has been an Air Force Club member for most of beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to clinch the Super Bowl berth.
his career. “Stephanie and I have been best friends since first
grade, and she promised to get me to a Super Bowl someday. Now, she’s praying for a Patriots win.
We just never imagined it would be like this!” “It would cap off an awesome once-in-a-lifetime dream
come true,” said Nelson, who along with her husband has been
The Crites are die-hard Washington Redskins fans. Al- an Air Force Club member since 1994. “We never thought we’d
win, and going on our own was out of the question because
it’s so expensive.”
USAA paid for the tickets, accommodations and domestic
airfare, while AFSVA paid for the international airfare.
“Our biggest challenge was making sure our three kids are
taken care of, but we have some super awesome friends who
are going to take care of them while we’re away,” Crites said.
“Now we just have to worry about jet lag,” he joked.

Navy Lodge Bethesda Showcases Local dancers dance during the Navy Lodge Bethesda Diversity
Event Oct. 14. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Matthew Hobson)
Employee Diversity

The Navy Lodge Bethesda lobby was full of smells, sights
and sounds of various cultures on Oct. 14, as it celebrated
its 5th Annual Hospitality and Diversity event at NSA Bethesda
in Maryland.

“It’s important that our staff be diverse because your cus-
tomers are diverse,” said Naval Support Activity Bethesda
Commanding Officer Capt. Marvin L. Jones. “Diversity is
our strength. It allows us to be able to do more. I’m not just
talking about cultural diversity; I’m talking about diversity
of thought, diversity of ideas — all these different things we
bring together to better serve our people.”

The 30 Navy Lodge employees from 13 different countries
showcased their heritage by wearing traditional dress, sharing

6 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017