Fort Bliss Monitor

Melissa House

Soldiers and families will find more than 110 representatives of local agencies set up from
1 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Centennial Club for the annual relocation fair.

Annual Relocation Fair great
place for new Soldiers, families

Melissa House
Monitor Staff

If you’re one of hundreds, or even thousands of those new to Fort Bliss this year, there’s an event you won’t want to miss – the “Bienvenidos a Bliss” Relocation Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Centennial Club on Biggs Army Airfield.

The event, only in its third year, has continued to grow, and provide a valuable service to new Soldiers and their families, said Cher Poehlein, the Relocation Readiness Manager for Army Community Service.

“[The Relocation Fair] is a forum to welcome those who are new to the community,” Poehlein said. “It’s great for both the El Paso and Fort Bliss communities because it gets family members in touch with the community.” More than 110 agencies in both communities will have informational booths set up at the fair, welcoming students and families from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 58 and the 1st Armored Division, many of whom arrived after last year’s fair.

Poehlein grew up in the military and understands the challenges associated with moving to a new place every few years.

“When I came here in 2002, there was nothing here like this,” Poehlein said. “I had to be resourceful and go out and find the information for myself.” And El Paso itself can be a bit of a “culture shock” especially for families coming from overseas.

“I think people are sometimes apprehensive about this community because of a perceived language barrier, among other things,” she said. “Hopefully, we can break that barrier by using the Relocation Fair as a forum to welcome people and bring the local network in.”

In addition to booths from all the Fort Bliss agencies, the El Paso community is well-represented, she said, by the Greater El Paso and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, off-post military associations, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the El Paso Police Department, among others.

Outside of the club, the Army Substance Abuse Program will have an intoxicated driving simulator, military policemen will perform a K-9 demonstration and the EPPD will have a crash simulator and check car seats.

“We have a lot going on,” Poehlein said. A local car dealership will offer test drives and a jumping balloon for children, Fort Bliss youths will showcase Tae Kwon Do and cheerleading skills and VIVA! El Paso will perform at 1 and 5 p.m.

Poehlein said their past method for gauging attendance by the number of grand prize drawing entries was “not very accurate,” but believes anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 will attend. More than 1,000 USASMA students and families have already indicated they will attend the official USASMA welcome at 1:30 p.m.

“Every year, it gets bigger,” Poehlein said. “The first year, it was at ACS and we knew it would never fit back in there. It’s a great event.”

For more information, call ACS at 568-1132.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Aug. 2, 2007

	Melissa House Soldiers and families will find more than 110 representatives of local agencies set up from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Centennial Club for the annual relocation fair. Annual Relocation Fair great place for new Soldiers, families Melissa House Monitor Staff If you’re one of hundreds, or even thousands of those new to Fort Bliss this year, there’s an event you won’t want to miss – the “Bienvenidos a Bliss” Relocation Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Centennial Club on Biggs Army Airfield. The event, only in its third year, has continued to grow, and provide a valuable service to new Soldiers and their families, said Cher Poehlein, the Relocation Readiness Manager for Army Community Service. “[The Relocation Fair] is a forum to welcome those who are new to the community,” Poehlein said. “It’s great for both the El Paso and Fort Bliss communities because it gets family members in touch with the community.” More than 110 agencies in both communities will have informational booths set up at the fair, welcoming students and families from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 58 and the 1st Armored Division, many of whom arrived after last year’s fair. Poehlein grew up in the military and understands the challenges associated with moving to a new place every few years. “When I came here in 2002, there was nothing here like this,” Poehlein said. “I had to be resourceful and go out and find the information for myself.” And El Paso itself can be a bit of a “culture shock” especially for families coming from overseas. “I think people are sometimes apprehensive about this community because of a perceived language barrier, among other things,” she said. “Hopefully, we can break that barrier by using the Relocation Fair as a forum to welcome people and bring the local network in.” In addition to booths from all the Fort Bliss agencies, the El Paso community is well-represented, she said, by the Greater El Paso and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, off-post military associations, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the El Paso Police Department, among others. Outside of the club, the Army Substance Abuse Program will have an intoxicated driving simulator, military policemen will perform a K-9 demonstration and the EPPD will have a crash simulator and check car seats. “We have a lot going on,” Poehlein said. A local car dealership will offer test drives and a jumping balloon for children, Fort Bliss youths will showcase Tae Kwon Do and cheerleading skills and VIVA! El Paso will perform at 1 and 5 p.m. Poehlein said their past method for gauging attendance by the number of grand prize drawing entries was “not very accurate,” but believes anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 will attend. More than 1,000 USASMA students and families have already indicated they will attend the official USASMA welcome at 1:30 p.m. “Every year, it gets bigger,” Poehlein said. “The first year, it was at ACS and we knew it would never fit back in there. It’s a great event.” For more information, call ACS at 568-1132.