Laughlin's volunteer of the year displays art of giving back Published May 13, 2010 By Kaley Briesmaster 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Andia Dinesen is Laughlin AFBs 2009 Volunteer of the Year award recipant. Ms. Dinesen, wife of Capt. Ian Dinesen, 47th Security Forces Squadron commander, received the award for her involvement in the organizations and various volunteer efforts at Laughlin, said David Sullins, chief of Laughlin's Airman and Family Readiness Center. Her biggest project over the past year was starting the Ladies of Laughlin, a group that holds monthly meetings that offering socialization and support to all women affiliated with Laughlin. "I decided to start the group because I thought there was a need for something like it here," Ms. Dinesen said. "After discussing it with Mental Health, Airman and Family Readiness and the Military Family Life Consultants, I just ran with it." Ms. Dinesen is also the treasurer for the Friends of Family Support Fund, a fund that helps supplement funding for programs on base. During the holidays, the FOFS funded the postage to send care packages to Laughlin's deployed Airmen. Ms. Dinesen also made sure not to forget the troops here at home. The Cookie Caper delivered more than 6,000 cookies to the single Airman at Laughlin during the holidays. Ms. Dinesen volunteers consistently with Laughlin's Officer's Spouse Club. "Andia's efforts in organizing the Fall Festival last year helped bring families and friends together," Lisa Hansen, LOSC President, said. Ms. Dinesen is the Key Spouse Mentor for her husband's unit, where she helps all the spouses in the unit get critical information, organizes monthly social gatherings and helps build a support system for spouses and families in need. "Our unit is a highly-deployed unit and I think it is important that the spouses left behind are taken care of," Ms. Dinesen said. Ms. Dinesen finds time to volunteer while being a military spouse and a stay-at-home-mom, raising two daughters. "I really try to involve whatever it is I am doing with my family" she said. "They are so supportive and know what it is that I do and why. It helps get them get involved and give back." Even though she may always want to help out, Ms. Dinesen said sometimes you just have to step back and say, "I am too busy with other commitments and for now the right thing for me and my family is to say 'no' to that. It is an art to say 'no' and is sometimes hard to do!" she said. While her own family commitments are her top priority, Ms. Dinesen said her motivation to donate her time stems from a desire to help others. "Whether it is a family festival, bringing cookies to Airmen or a meeting to get some support, I think that bringing people together in any capacity will make for more involvement and a better community," she said Reflecting on her volunteer experiences, Ms. Dinesen recalled a moment at a LOL meeting when someone told her that her presentation was exactly what they needed to hear. "Something so simple just made my day, month and year," she said "Again, it was just knowing that your hard work was making a difference to someone." Ms. Dinesen said she feels honored to be given this award and appreciative that her hard work has been recognized, but knows that there are so many volunteers whose work goes unrecognized. "The thing about volunteering is that it is in your heart," Dinesen said. "We all do amazing things everyday to help others without being thanked, praised or paid for it. I want all of the other volunteers to know that I share this honor with them. I share it with all of those amazing souls here at Laughlin and all over the Air Force community."