For a few years, I’ve been “volunteering” with the National Military Family Association (NFMA). I say that in quotes and loosely because I feel like I don’t do a lot. I read the e-mails and Facebook posts, I have shared events in military spouse groups I am part of, and I help moderate the Milspouse Network for Teaching Professionals on Facebook. And I’ll be honest, I never even record my hours because it’s just a few minutes here and a few minutes there; it’s so hard to document!
Since I completed my volunteer training years ago, I’ve had many e-mails from Joyce Wessel Raezer and others at NMFA. Often, the requests for volunteers or the events that they need a military spouse to attend happen during the school day, so I can rarely participate, or they came during the deployment, and I could barely keep my head above water. Volunteering in person was just not something I could do.
This past month, a request finally came, and it was for a photographer for Joyce’s Retirement Ceremony at the Hart Senate Office Building. I double checked with my husband to make sure the kids would be taken care of, and I finally volunteered at an in-person event! (I totally forgot my nametag…I actually had a time to use it!) It was great to finally meet people, since my work is independent and virtual usually!
Everyone was so nice, and Joyce’s closing words to everyone were inspiring! (I even photographed Elizabeth Dole! That was pretty amazing since I remember covering her husband’s election as a student journalist at the University New more than twenty years ago!)
Thank you to Melissa from National Military Family Association for putting out the request and allowing me to document this special event! Congrats to Joyce! It was an honor meeting you!
While documenting events like this is not my norm, I do love the variety! If you are interested in booking a session, message me through my contact page or e-mail me at teresa@tcjdesign.com. Just know outdoor, lifestyle family stuff is usually my fave! 🙂 And I do have mini sessions coming up… fall in St. Louis, Missouri and Christmas tree farm sessions in Southern Maryland. I’d love to see some new faces!
