MEDIA CONTACT: Deonna McGary
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-021                          RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2011

Army & Air Force Exchange Service Corporate Communications

NEWS RELEASE: 11-021                                                  April 15, 2011

EXCHANGE MEDIA CONTACT: DEONNA MCGARY – [email protected]

Latest Exchange catalog takes care of the kids from playtime to bedtime

DALLAS – Military shoppers can check kid’s needs off their to-do list because the Exchange has it covered. The Kids Exchange Spring/Summer 2011 catalog is crawling with a giant selection of the hottest kids’ brand. Each item has been carefully selected to ensure the finest quality and best shopping experience for growing military families.

The catalog features 52 pages of the most fashionable children’s products focused on safety, practicality and lots of fun for kids both big and small. The Kids Exchange catalog offers budget-friendly ideas and proven solutions to childhood challenges.  

The 2011 Kids Exchange Spring/Summer Catalog is available at all main stores and online at shopmyexchange.com, usmc-mccs.org, navy-nex.com or cg-exchange.com.

Prices in this all-services catalog are valid May 4, 2011 – September 28, 2011, for any authorized exchange customer. Active duty military members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, as well as military retirees, reservists, National Guardsmen, Department of Defense civilians stationed overseas, exchange employees and their Family members are all authorized exchange privileges.

Orders can be placed by mail, fax or phone. Toll-free orders can be placed from the United States, Puerto Rico or Guam at 800-527-2345. The Exchange Catalog center is open around the clock, seven days a week. Complimentary international access calling is also available from several countries. Those numbers are:

     Germany                 0800-82-16500

    Japan/Okinawa        00531-11-4132

    Korea                      00308-13-0664

    Italy                         8008-71227

    Belgium                   0800-7-2432

    The Netherlands      0800-022-1889

    United Kingdom     0800-96-8101

    Spain                       900-971-391

Turkey*                   00800-18-488-6312

* Calls cannot be placed from phones on base. Use off-base commercial lines.

Authorized customers can also shop the 2011 Kids Exchange Spring/Summer Catalog online at shopmyexchange.com, usmc-mccs.org, navy-nex.com or cg-exchange.com.

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Military exchanges have the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and of generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about the military exchanges’ history and missions or to view recent press releases please visit shopmyexchange.com, usmc-mccs.org, navy-nex.com or cg-exchange.com.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Deonna McGary, 214-312-2132 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Deonna McGary
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-020
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2011

Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs

NEWS RELEASE: 11-019                                                  April 12, 2010

EXCHANGE MEDIA CONTACT: DEONNA MCGARY –[email protected]

 Turn Spring into the Season of Appreciation through Petals and Blooms

DALLAS – Simply waking up to a bouquet of blooms can provide a daily dose of inspiration to chase away the blues.  With various holidays steadily approaching such as Administrative Professional’s Day’s, Mother’s Day and Easter, sending flowers can help any emotional connection blossom.

Petals and Blooms is an in-house florist located at Exchanges worldwide, providing military patrons and families with the opportunity to customize floral arrangements in order to brighten someone’s day. There are 145 full-service Petals and Blooms locations worldwide to choose from.

Military shoppers can also stop and smell the savings at shopmyexchange.com and visit Teleflora flower club, a floral site providing artistically designed arrangements at 20% off.

“Petals and Blooms and the Exchange online mall are making it easier to call in or order online,” said the Exchange’s Vice President of Services Terri Toppin. “Sending flowers is a simple and thoughtful way of saying thank you.”

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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 Media Notes:

 For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Deonna McGary, 214-312-2132 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: LTC Thomas Shrader
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-019
RELEASE DATE: April 7, 2011

Exchange to Continue Operations Despite Potential Government Shutdown

 DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is planning to continue operations even if the U.S. Government shuts down.

 On April 9, the current budget authorization will expire. At that point, the federal government will potentially institute a mandatory shutdown for “non-essential” personnel. 

 While this action impacts the government, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is largely unaffected.  The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund instrumentality. This means the majority of its budget does not rely on tax dollars.

 “While the federal government shuts down, business at the Exchange remains largely unchanged.  However, some transactions may be delayed, such as the purchase of firearms which require background checks or other federal government actions,” said Col. Virgil Williams, Chief of Staff for the Exchange.

 As a matter of course, the Department of Defense plans for contingencies. In fact, since 1980, all agencies have had to have a plan in case of a government shutdown, and these plans are updated routinely. 

 “The Exchange will do everything we have to do to continue to support the deployed troops,” Williams said.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Neidinger
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-018
RELEASE DATE: April 4, 2011

Join the Celebration at Exchange Mobile Center Kiosks

DALLAS – Sixty-six is the magic number to celebrate as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service opened the 66^th Exchange Mobile Center Kiosk in April. These kiosks feature the hottest phones from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, a variety of service plans and great accessories, all at competitive prices.

The Grand Opening Celebration includes special promotional pricing on some of the newest 4G phones as well as on tablets like the Dell Streak 7 and Motorola Zoom. The pricing will be effective from April 15 through the 28. Shoppers can also enter to win a 55” Samsung Flat-screen HDTV, $1,000 Exchange gift card, Kinect unit for Xbox 360 or one of dozens of other prizes to be given away at each location. No purchase is necessary to win, but shoppers must enter in person to be eligible.

In addition, on Saturday April 16, each store with a kiosk offers in-store 66-cent specials on items such as burgers and soft serve from Burger King, ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins, king-sized Hershey bars, Frito packs, Keebler cookies and more. Representatives from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon will be available to demonstrate phones and answer questions, and other fun in-store activities are planned.

“There’s no better time to shop and save for that new smart phone or tablet you’ve been wanting,” said Exchange Chief of Staff Col. Virgil Williams. “Think of Exchange Mobile Center as the place to go to find the latest handset, coolest accessory or just to ask that wireless question no one else can answer.”

The Exchange’s kiosks showcase a selection of phones from three major cellular service providers:  AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Shoppers can see and compare a variety of each brand’s most popular cell phones, tablets and service plans, with knowledgeable associates to provide expert assistance.

Shoppers who want a cellular phone without a contract have Exchange options as well. Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T offer special prepaid phones with no commitment or credit check.

The 66^th Celebration pricing is valid from April 15^th through the 28^th; sweepstakes drawings are from noon until 3 on Saturday, April 16^th. Shoppers must physically visit any of the 66 participating Exchanges to shop, enter and win.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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Media Notes:  For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Lisa Neidinger, 214-312-4168 or [email protected].