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Naval Officers' Spouses' Club of Okinawa is a social and service club for
officer spouses on Okinawa. This fun club offers members the opportunity
to meet other spouses and to serve the community.
We offer a variety of activities at our monthly meetings: bunko parties,
island tours, cultural demonstrations, and auctions, to name just a few.
Since the amount of fun we have cannot be expressed in this web site,
we invite you to join us. Attend any meeting as our guest, and please
consider becoming a member.
Benefits
of NOSCO
Being a member of NOSCO offers several benefits, many real and many intangible.
Ask members how it benefits them, and they'll likely say the club gives
them a sense of community, makes them feel welcome in a world so far away
from "home," helps them make the most of their time on Okinawa,
and simply gives them an opportunity to have fun. Membership in NOSCO
is what you make of it. Participate as much as you want, when you want.
Although it may be true that some of the best things about NOSCO are
intangible, we offer many concrete benefits:
- Buy trips, if you volunteer at the Navy Fleet Gift Shop
- Cultural demonstrations and exposure
- Discounts at the Navy Fleet Gift Shop, if you volunteer
- Early buy nights at the Navy Fleet Gift Shop
- Group tours throughout Asia several times a year
- Local tours throughout the year
- Meals for New Moms program, where NOSCO members volunteer to
make meals for members who have just had babies
- Membership directory with NOSCO member contact information
and other helpful information
- Scholarship opportunities for college, university, or vocational/trade
school
- Special interest group participation
- The Seagull newsletter, an invaluable source of NOSCO and island
information
- Volunteer opportunities through the club and the Gift Shop
There's something for everyone in the Naval Officers' Spouses' Club of
Okinawa. We look forward to getting to know you.
Membership Form
Please click here to download our NOSCO
membership application.
NOSCO Membership
Definitions
Regular Membership is extended to spouses of Commissioned
Naval Officers and Chief Warrant Officers and spouses of Commissioned
Officers and Chief Warrant Officers of other services serving with the
Navy. Regular members may vote and hold elected office.
Associate Membership is extended to:
- Spouses of retired Naval Officers
- Spouses of Commissioned Officers and Chief Warrant Officers of other
services
- Officers
- Civilians of equivalent status (GS7 and above)
- Dependent children (18 and over) of Naval Officers residing with parents
- Surviving spouses of Naval Officers
- Persons holding salaried positions in the Navy Fleet Gift Shop. They
will be extended full membership privileges in NSOCO upon payment of
NOSCO dues.
Associate members may vote but not hold elected office.
Junior Membership is extended to those 12 to 17 years old
whose parent(s) is a member of NOSCO.
NOSCO Membership
Information
Yearly membership dues of $25 are paid annually in September. Dues may
be prorated for members arriving on Okinawa who join after March. The
annual dues may be paid at the September Welcome Coffee, given to a coffee
group representative, mailed to the membership chairperson, or left at
the Navy Fleet Gift Shop.
Members hold the following privileges:
1. May be a Navy Fleet Gift Shop volunteer
2. May attend monthly functions and other sponsored activities
3. May receive the Seagull Newsletter and roster of members
4. May be elected to Office or act as Committee Chairpersons
In order to remain in good standing, a member shall have dues paid up-to-date.
Members delinquent in the payment of dues will not be able to enjoy membership
privileges of NOSCO.
Navy Fleet Gift Shop
NOSCO operates the Navy Fleet Gift Shop to raise funds for NOSCO and to
provide quality of life shopping for military families. Of the profits
given to NOSCO, a portion is given to educational scholarships. The remainder
is submitted to the American Women's Welfare Association (AWWA), which
in turn gives contributions to both American and Japanese charities.
We invite you to become a volunteer at our stores. Not only will your
time benefit charitable organizations, it's a great opportunity to meet
people, make funny money to spend in the stores, have a first look at
new merchandise and participate in early buying when unpacking, quality
for buy trips, and most importantly…have fun! Volunteers will be
reimbursed for child care expenses for hours worked at the NFGS.
Click here for a Navy
Fleet Gift Shop Volunteer Application.
Please contact the Navy Fleet Gift Shop (navynfgs@oasis.mediatti.net
or 646-8132) for more information.
Meetings and Activities
Schedule
NOSCO holds a unique, fun monthly function at various locations throughout
Okinawa. In addition, the board meets on the first Tuesday of the month,
Coffee Groups meet the second Tuesday, and the Navy Fleet Gift Shop board
meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month.
Newsletter (The Seagull)
Members receive a monthly newsletter titled, The Seagull. This
newsletter is a resource for our members and includes useful information
like recipes, restaurant reviews, travel tips, and more.
Previous issues are listed below:
Coffee Groups
A NOSCO coffee group is a subdivision of the general membership, representing
each of the following commands:
Special Interest Groups
NOSCO sponsors special interest groups in several different areas. This
is a great way for members with similar interests to get to know each
other and share their passions. Below is a list
of groups.
Baby Lunch Bunch
Bible Study
Board Gaming
Book Club
Cooking
Dining Divas
Diving
Hiking/Geocaching
Playgroup
Quilting
Scrap Booking
Stamping
Travel
Travel Opportunities
NOSCO organizes group tours throughout Asia several times a year and invites
members to participate. These tours are a fantastic opportunity for NOSCO
members to explore the region and make new friends in the process.
American Women's Welfare Association
For more than 30 years, the American Women's Welfare Association has forged
a vital link between American military families and their Okinawan neighbors.
Founded by U.S. Forces wives' clubs during Okinawa's reversion from a
U.S. Territory to a Japanese prefecture, AWWA has been quietly fostering
a relationship with the Okinawan community through charitable contributions,
friendship, and community involvement.
AWWA offers a way for its member clubs to coordinate and consolidate
their resources, providing the maximum positive impact on our community.
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, representatives of AWWA's clubs
meet to evaluate requests for donations and to pledge funds to both local
Japanese welfare facilities and American organizations.
In the past ten years alone, AWWA has contributed nearly $3,000,000 to
American groups and Japanese organizations. These funds have been used
to purchase many items, including vehicles, an ultrasound machine, and
baby blankets. AWWA helps make a difference in the lives of the elderly,
the physically and mentally challenged, and the children of Okinawa.
This is just a short list of the American and Japanese charities served
by AWWA:
- American schools and youth groups
- Hospitals, orphanages, and facilities that meet the needs of the mentally
and physically handicapped throughout Okinawa, Miyako, Yaeyama, and
Ishigaki Islands
- Special Olympics
- Stork's Nest
AWWA member clubs raise funds by running three gift shops and one thrift
shop and by hosting many other events, including golf tournaments and
art auctions. If you are interested in contributing to AWWA, simply visit
one or more of the shops, purchase an item, and become a patron of worthy
American or Japanese organization in need. Better yet, volunteer at your
favorite shop and help generate the charitable funds that flow to worthy
organizations.
AWWA is comprised of representatives of the following chartered U.S.
Forces Spouses Clubs on Okinawa:
- Army Women's Group (AWG)
- Kadena Enlisted Spouses' Club (KESC)
- Kadena Officers' Spouses' Club (KOSC)
- Marine Officers' Spouses' Club (MOSC)
- Naval Officers' Spouses' Club of Okinawa (NOSCO)
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