Airmen work to open own club Published June 22, 2004 By Airman Michael Hess 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFPN) -- A dozen Airmen here sacrificed a couple rare sunny days off to help renovate a facility geared toward young enlisted Airmen.The volunteers are working on a self-help project at the old community center, which will be the home of the new airmen’s club. The Airmen spent several hours June 19 and 20 stripping wallpaper. A renovation committee organized the project as the first in a series of self-help projects designed to save money and offer Airmen a chance to help in the overhaul, said Senior Airman Oniusuru Awobo, an airmen’s club committee member.In the past months, much work was done by the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron people, contractors and through self-help projects. Several walls were torn down, and the courtyard was prepared for a brick patio. During the next few months, the facility will continue to undergo further renovations through self-help projects including bricklaying, installing sound and video equipment, and arranging new furniture.Lakenheath’s club was allocated $475,000 to purchase equipment and supplies to transform an existing building into the club. When Airmen volunteer to work on the facility, it allows more money to go back into the club instead of to contractors for labor, Airman Awobo said. The reason people are helping is because they want to give back to the organization, said Senior Airman Kevin Soucy, another committee member. “It helps them to say ‘Thanks,’ because this club is for them,” he said.All aspects of the club were chosen by Airmen here through committee meetings and from surveys, Airman Soucy said. “Everything from the location of the club to color of the walls came from Airmen’s input,” he said.When completed later this year, the club will take on the combined roles of a community center and nightclub. There will be big-screen televisions, lounge chairs, video games, advanced sound and lighting equipment, wireless Internet access and an enclosed brick patio. “The Airmen needed something a little more on base than the (enlisted club). ... They needed a place to call their own,” Airman Soucy said.“It (will be) nice to have our own little hangout,” Airman Awobo said. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)