An interactive demonstration of the Foundation’s gift
to the troops
SemperComm Lounge to make Capitol Hill debut
SPRINGFIELD, VA – January 23, 2007 – “When thinking about what our
uniformed men and women do for us, we believe it’s important to give
something back,” says Lara Coffee, the SemperComm Foundation’s
executive director. “Giving back is the major motivator behind
everything our organization does, and we do it to boost the morale
of military personnel while they serve America. No matter the
location, all of them deserve to be connected to who and what
they’re out there fighting to protect.”
The Foundation plugs service members into life at home by sending a
package of goods and services – known as the SemperComm Suite – to
small, remotely located overseas U.S. military installations. Each
Suite typically contains a satellite dish, computers, TVs, DVD
players, movies, telephone service, e-mail and internet access,
video games and access to a secured communications Web site that
allows users to interface privately. SemperComm-adopted bases are
stationed all over the globe, and there is generally no convenient
way for the service members stationed in these locations to connect
with anyone at home.
“The ability to keep in touch with your own reality and your own
family helps motivate those who serve our country to stay focused
and to come home safely,” Coffee says.
To educate the public and increase awareness of SemperComm’s
mission, the Foundation will conduct a live, interactive
demonstration of key elements of the SemperComm Suite on Tuesday,
Jan. 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Rayburn
House Office Building in Washington, DC. Members of Congress, their
staff, military liaisons and committee staff are all invited to stop
by and learn about the organization in a relaxed setting.
Called the SemperComm Lounge, the demonstration will operate much
like an internet café, which is how most of the SemperComm packages
are set up. “The Lounge will offer a variety of interesting things
to help break up the day for anyone who wants to stop by and meet
us,” notes Coffee.
“While most of our facilities are a lot more rustic, the Lounge
gives us the opportunity to really show what we do and hopefully
leave a lasting impression on our visitors. Congress is a great
place to seed and spread our message, mission and motivation,”
Coffee explains. “We hope Senators and Representatives, after
seeing what we do, will join us to help increase our ability to
reach more bases. There are nearly 700 duty stations out there that
meet our criteria, and we can expand only as fast as we convince
others of how important this effort really is.”
To find out more about SemperComm, the Lounge or other SemperComm
activities, please contact Steve Rosa at 703-923-7612 or by e-mail
at rosa@sempercomm.org. The SemperComm Lounge can also be found on
the Web at www.sempercommlounge.org.
About The SemperComm Foundation
The SemperComm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to
supplying morale-boosting communications and entertainment
equipment, software and services to small, overseas remote U.S.
military bases. SemperComm receives major support from Computer
Systems Center Incorporated, a unique defense-oriented software
development company; Stars For Stripes, a nonprofit that brings
celebrity entertainment to U.S. military personnel; and PC Recycler,
an electronics recycling and services company. For information
about SemperComm, visit www.sempercomm.org.
—SemperComm—
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