Caring for People forum open to all Published April 26, 2011 By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- For the first time, Laughlin will host the Caring for People forum, May 10 at Club XL and is open to all servicemembers and their families. The forum allows military members and their families the chance to address any ideas or concerns to base leadership. "Caring for People is a way to get military members and their families together to voice their concerns or suggestions on Air Force policies and local support services," said Capt. Lisa Ballas, 47th Operation Support Squadron wing programming office. While the forum is designed to help raise awareness to any problems, it also helps improve the community. "It is a grassroots view of issues impacting quality of life here at Laughlin," Captain Ballas said. "Previous forums have strengthened support services and this forum allows the Air Force to continue identifying issues and upgrading services that our community identifies." Captain Ballas also noted how the Air Force is interested in the complete picture and welfare of the community and is why their recruitment sub-committee is trying to spread the word and invite as many as possible. "Anybody with an opinion, idea or desire to see improvements at the installation, community or Air Force level, this is your chance to share it with leadership," said Machelle Terrell, 47th Flying Training Wing sexual assault response coordinator. At the forum, participants will sit in focus groups with facilitators while brain storming and discussing issues at hand. After compiling a list of issues that cannot be solved at the base level, they will submit their top two choices and present them to base leadership. "Leaders get the opportunity to hear directly from community members instead of a panel of experts," Terrell said. "This is a chance for us to share our views with leadership."