ROSC gives back to KMC through bazaar

by Senior Airman Katherine Holt
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs


For more than 50 years the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club has given back to Ramstein and the KMC.

In the past six years, the ROSC has given back more than $1.75 million in scholarships, welfare grants and charitable donations.

“Our No. 1 goal is to touch and affect, in a positive way, as many people and groups in the KMC area,” said ROSC president Trish Dotson. “The way we do that is with our Ramstein Welfare Bazaar.”

The ROSC donated $269,600 to various organizations in the KMC, along with proceeds from the 2011 Ramstein Welfare Bazaar, including Department of Defense Dependent Schools, community programs, base organizations, youth sports and scouting programs, Air Force Village, Air Force Aid Society, and scholarships for spouses and dependents.

“Last year the bazaar brought in $1.98 million in sales,” said Cheryl Price, Ramstein Welfare Bazaar chair. “After all vendors and expenses were paid, nearly $271,000 was left over for the ROSC which we, in turn, gave out.”

Price said booster clubs and private organizations also benefitted from the bazaar, raising more than $150,000.

“The ROSC does great work for Airmen and their families here,” said ROSC member Jodie Hyde.

With the ROSC hosting one of the largest bazaars in the area, year-long planning and the help of volunteers are essential to making everything run smooth.
“It takes many people to make this week-long event possible,” Price said. “In 2011, 19,723 hours were volunteered from the bazaar committee and other helping organizations. During the bazaar alone, 15,824 hours were volunteered.”

The bazaar already has 140 vendors from various countries and 25 food booths from local booster clubs and service groups scheduled to participate in this year’s bazaar Sept. 13 to 16.

“Our goal this year is to break $2 million,” said Price. “All of the hard work we put in pays off when we get to see the end result.”

Part of seeing that outcome is having the opportunity to give spouses and dependents the opportunity to further their education through scholarships.

“We partnered with the Kaiserslautern Landstuhl Spouses Association and the Ramstein Enlisted Spouses’ Association to present 70 scholarships totaling $102,000,” Dotson said. “We do it for the people. We are a support group, not just for our spouses, but for the entire KMC.”

For more details or to join ROSC, visit http://www.ramsteinosc.org or like them on Facebook.