Arts and crafts center engraves memories

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • 509 Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Serving in the Air Force provides Airmen and their families with a unique opportunity to tour countries and live in states they normally wouldn't get to visit. 

While working and achieving awards at their respective assignments, service members frequently are awarded plaques and mementos to remind them of their accomplishments. 

The Whiteman Arts and Crafts Center offers their services to take care of all awards needs such as engraved plates, plaques and trophies.

The center also enhanced its awards creating capability once it began offering laser engraving services in May. The laser engraver will engrave on a variety of substrates such as metal, wood, plastic, acrylic, leather and glass.

Formerly known as the skills development center, the Whiteman Arts and Crafts Center provides a wide range of products to the base community.

"We offer unique engraved products such as coasters, pen/pencil sets, key rings, mugs, wine glasses, plastic signage, bookmarks, name badges and luggage tags," said Karen Gorden, Arts and Crafts Center director.

"We can personalize articles such as Ipods, cell phones and flashlights," she added. "We can even turn your photographs into puzzles. Additionally, we can use the engraver to cut stencils."

Ms. Gorden, who has worked at the center for more than six years, said the arts and crafts center is committed in supporting the base community and any profits the center makes from the engraving or framing services go back into the base to support other programs that enhance the quality of life of military personnel and their families.

Customers may place orders anytime the center is open. Orders may also be placed via e-mail, however, e-mail orders should include a description of the item to be engraved: size and color, font to be used, include any graphics as an attachment in tiff, bmp or gif format.

"We can also receive line art hard copy that we can scan," Ms. Gorden said. "Since we will create text as it is supplied, spelling and punctuation should be checked. For instance, if text is sent in all capital letters, that's how we will engrave it."

E-mail orders to Karen Gorden, then follow-up with a phone call to let the center verify e-mail order has been received.

The center strives to meet customer satisfaction and asks patrons to help them continue them in their quest.

"We are eager to work with customers to produce the quality products they desire," Ms. Gorden added. "Another thing I'd like to base to know is we need squadron logos so we can get them digitized ahead of time. That way, when the squadrons need items in short order, we will already have their logos prepared."

The Whiteman Arts and Crafts center's hours of operation are: Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, call the center at 687-5691 or 687-4765.