Mrs. Hawaii 2012 will be guest speaker at Joint Spouses Conference Hawaii

Navy spouse Stacy Snee is Mrs. Hawaii 2012. Photo courtesy of Stacy Snee

Karen S. Spangler, Managing Editor

Stacey Bass Snee, who was crowned as Mrs. Hawaii 2012 at the local pageant held April 15, will be the guest speaker for the Joint Spouses’ Conference (JSC) Hawaii 2012.

The conference, themed “Anchors Away in Paradise,” will be held Oct. 20 at the Ford Island Conference Center. The on-line registration for this year’s Joint Spouses Conference Hawaii will be launched Sept. 7.

Snee, who is a Navy spouse, mother of two children, former naval officer and veteran, and registered dietician, will offer her insight on the role of military spouses in their communities.

“I have learned from these past few months of competing for and winning the title of Mrs. Hawaii that everyone has something to offer to their neighborhood, city or the broader community, and it may just take stepping a bit out of one’s comfort zone to ultimately be in a position to put your talents to work,” Snee said.

Snee, whose first-time pageant experience came with her win in this year’s Mrs. Hawaii pageant, said, “It was definitely a step out of my comfort zone to compete as the oldest contestant this year. But with challenge comes growth.”

She had some additional advice to offer other military spouses, encouraging them to share their talents and time with others.

“It also takes being present in the communities in which we live versus preoccupation with the last duty station or the next duty station or the place we will retire. As a transient group, it’s important for us to be in this moment and this place in order to really contribute to our spouses, one another and our community,” she said.

A registered dietician, Snee focuses much of her time and efforts on childhood obesity prevention. This is her platform as Mrs. Hawaii.

“I have worked with several organizations focused on child nutrition. Most recently, I worked with multi-ethnic families with children who are overweight or obese, and that experience opened my eyes to the need for more familycentered approaches in the fight against childhood obesity,” Snee explained.

At this year’s Joint Spouses Conference, spouses will be able to choose from more than 25 workshops, held at such venues as Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum, control tower and hangar 79, Navy Lodge, Rainbow Bay Marina and Pearl Harbor barges.

“We’re very excited about the workshops at the upcoming conference. Our talented and enthusiastic presenters will appeal to your mind, body and soul, so we hope spouses from all over the islands will join us for a memorable day on beautiful and historic Ford Island,” said Joanne Neyland, an Army spouse and co-chair for the JSC workshops committee.

Military spouses will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in interactive workshops, such as photography, interior decorating and art.

Attendees will be able to choose four workshops from the selection of more than 25 which are being offered. Some of the workshops will include Asian cooking as spouses learn the secrets behind preparing the perfect pad Thai, Korean barbecue beef and more.

Spouses will find out how to get the most bang for their military buck while exploring Hawaii’s diverse islands at an island-hopping workshop.

A workshop featuring a remembrance tour of Dec. 7, 1941 will provide an opportunity for conference attendees to board a VIP Navy barge and enjoy a special narrated tour of Pearl Harbor.

“There’s great satisfaction in watching nine plus months of teamwork and planning come together. With two plus months to go, the level of creativity and commitment from our team of 50 joint service spouse volunteers continues to amaze and inspire me daily.

“The hard work and attention to detail is often complex and time consuming, but we keep a sense of humor and are motivated to deliver,” said Kim Becker, a Navy spouse and JSC director. The annual Joint Spouses Conference provides a forum for spouses of active duty, reserve and retired military members of all services and ranks to learn, network and help each other in their challenging roles as spouses, parents, professionals and community leaders through workshops and special guest speakers.

“As an Army wife, I’m thankful to have the fantastic opportunity to share time with spouses in the sister services, with the vast majority being especially in the Navy. I’ve been particularly impressed with the collaboration among this joint service team, and I am confident that the results of our collective efforts will positively reflect on Oct. 20,” said Gretchen Escribano, an Army spouse and the deputy director for JSC.

Whether spouses have been on the island for awhile or are new to Hawaii, the conference offers a unique opportunity to meet and network with more than 350 spouses.

“I think the JSC is a great opportunity for military spouses from each of the branches of service to come together to network and learn from each other while also having some fun. It’s a day to recognize what we have in common and draw strength from our shared experiences,” Snee said.

Register for the conference via the JSC website at http://jschawaii.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JointSpousesConference2012.

Military spouses who are interested in attending can also obtain more information through military spouse groups island-wide and by visiting the JSC website or Facebook page.

“The generous support and contributions of many individuals and local businesses are enabling us to present one of the best conferences ever, and we welcome those still interested in contributing to this year’s JSC to contact us at jscdonations@gmail.com,” said Melissa Coudeyras, a Navy spouse and donations chair for JSC.

(Editor’s note: Check future issues of Ho`okele for more details about the 2012 Joint Spouses’ Conference Hawaii.)