Target Zone

The Target Zone gaming area is located within the Community Center. The Target Zone has available FREE for use:
(6) computer systems (Windows)
(6) 24" Flat screen TVs
(3) PlayStation 2 consoles
(3) XBox consoles
(3) XBox 360 consoles
(4) Connectivity drops for personal laptops
All PCs and drops have high speed internet access
Note: Must have military identification to use our facility, equipment and to sign out any media.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Tuesday thru Friday 4 - 10 p.m.
Saturday 4 - 8 p.m.
CLOSED on Sunday, Monday & Holidays

Current Game Listing:
* - Mature Games
@ - XBOX 360 Compatible
(X) - number of multiples

In the Park

There are two annual events that the Community Center holds for Team Dyess that we commonly call, our "In the Park" events.  They are the "Rockin' in the Park" and "Blazin' in the Park" base get-togethers.  Open to all base personnel, these events offer a chance to relax, have fun and be entertained away from the daily high tempo operational duties we perform and support.

ROCKIN' IN THE PARK:  This event is usually held the night before the Dyess Air Show (May - Aug).  In coordination with the base leadership, this event is dedicated to all the hard work that the base populous has performed throughout the year.  Food and drink is provided free of charge (Tickets are given out to squadron 1st Sgts for distribution and to establish needed supply headcount) as well as other beverages on sale.  Entertainment is free too, be it a DJ, some locally procured band or even a higher level performer / group that can be scheduled.

BLAZIN IN THE PARK: Similar to the Rockin in the Park but this time, the event is open to the general public and gives the private organizations a last big fund- making opportunity before the end of the year.  Private organizations sell food, drinks and trinkets from their booths that surround a huge bonfire. A "Kiddies Area" is set up near the playground for the children to enjoy an assortment of games, air castles, face painting and other.  Entertainment is set up for the duration of the event too, with the highlight of the evening being the lighting of the great bonfire (under the watchful eyes of the Dyess Fire Department).

Colossal Cookie Challenge

Family Members Programs sponsors a Colossal Cookie Challenge event, hosted by the Community Center.  This initiative is to host a fun, innovative contest highlighting the baking / cooking skills of the entire community.
ELIGIBILITY: 
All persons eligible to use the Community Center and Youth Programs may participate in the Colossal Cookie Challenge.
RULES:  
Each recipe may only be submitted in one category although participants can submit multiple recipes for different categories.
  A. Entries MUST be submitted for judging in these categories:
        1. Holiday or Special occasions (decorated cookies)
        2. No Bake (no oven needed)
        3. Healthy (must contain fruit, nuts or cereal)
        4. Cookie Maker's Special (everything else!)
   B. Entries will be judged on taste, appearance and creativity.
   C. Cookies can be made at home and brought to the competition
        for display and tasting by the judging panel.
Each contestant must provide a complete recipe with all ingredients; specific measurements and utensils necessary to prepare their entry. Each recipe must produce enough samples for at least one dozen Colossal Cookies.
Winners of the 4 category competition will have their recipes sent to the Air Combat Command (ACC) to compete at the command level.  Of these submissions from across the entire command, 4 winners will be selected to represent ACC at the HQ USAF competition.
Download the Entry Form HERE
Deadline is TBA in November
Colossal Cookie Challenge Entry Forms are also available at the Community Center and Youth Programs.

Tops In Blue

The United States Air Force (USAF) Tops In Blue (TIB) is a musical showcase in tribute to Air Force history and is a tour de force mix of sound remembered and cherished by many throughout America.

FACTS ABOUT TIB:

Tops In Blue is one of the oldest and most widely traveled entertainment groups of its kind.  Composed of 40 talented vocalists, musicians & dancers; their main purpose is to perform for military personnel, their families and their guests around the globe.

Tops In Blue has a distinctive 50 year history.  Since its first tour in 1953, the group has performed on film, produced albums and appeared on national television with such legends as Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope, Alabama, Barbara Mandrel and many others.  They also performed the entire half time shows for the 1981 Garden State Bowl & Super Bowl XIX.

The tour, which ends in April of each year, takes the TIB team coast to coast within the United States and to more than 25 countries.  The tour will cover 125 performances over a 10 month period.

The team is an all-active duty US Air Force special unit made up of talented performers selected for their entertainment abilities. They begin the tour with an intense 60-day training period at the "Home of the Tops In Blue" at Lackland AFB, TX. Each member of the team not only entertains but is responsible for setting up and tearing down over 50,000 pounds of staging, lighting, audio and special effects equipment at each location.

Each year, TIB is welcomed by the Dyess and Abilene community.  The 1 1/2 hour event is held at the Abilene Civic Center on a first come first serve basis of 2150 seats. There is no cost to attend the show.

If interested in becoming a part of the Tops In Blue Spectacular and for any additional information,  the Tops In Blue website is www.topsinblue.com

Family & Teen Talent Contest

This event provides the opportunity for families and youth to participate jointly in a recreational / educational activity; contribute to developing creative expression and instill an appreciation of the arts.  Besides these, it leads to situations that help cement meaningful relationships with peers and recognizes our most talented Air Force-wide.  It is held each year at base-level first in a variety style format.  The winner of each category will be videotaped and submitted to the Air Force level.  The deadline date of submission for consideration is usually Dec 31st of that year.
CATEGORIES: 
15 categories are as follows:
PARENT AND YOUTH TEAM - Must consist of one parent and one youth
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM - Must consist of one eligible member and one spouse  Note: Both
members of a husband and wife team may be active duty.
*CHILDREN 
- Solo or group act (Ages 3 to 5 inclusive)
- Solo or group act (Ages 6 to 8 inclusive)
*PRETEEN (Ages 9-12)
- Solo act
- Group act
*TEEN (Ages 13-15)
- Solo act (vocal)
- Solo act (instrumental)
- Solo act (performance specialty)
- Group act
*TEEN (Ages 16-18)
- Solo act (vocal)
- Solo act (instrumental)
- Solo act (performance specialty)
- Group act
FAMILY
- The minimum number in the group authorized for this category is three; the maximum is unlimited. This group must consist of either: A husband and wife, with a minimum of one child OR one parent with a minimum of two children AND members of the same immediate family.

*NOTE: Any size group is authorized in the CHILDREN, PRETEEN and TEEN categories; however, the age of the oldest child in the group dictates the category.
MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT / BACKGROUND MUSIC:
Musical accompaniment or background music may be live or prerecorded.  Professional quality tapes and CDs without vocals are available from numerous sources.  Only legally obtained material is allowed.
GENERAL RULES: 
- All types of music and acts are authorized.  Multiple types of entertainment may be included in the same act.
- "Parent and Youth Team" and "Family" group act must consist of members of the same immediate family.
- For the purpose of this competition, "youth" refers to ages 3 through 18 inclusive; "children" refers to ages 3 - 8; "preteen" to ages 9 - 12 and "teens" to ages 13 - 18 or if still in High School or graduated during that calendar year.
- Group acts may be all male, all female or mixed.
- Although a time limit is not set, we recommend your performance time to be 4 minutes or less.  More than 4 minutes, the act begins to look repetitious and will result in a lower score from the judges.
JUDGING: 
Acts competing at base-level Family & Teen Talent Contest will be judged by a panel of three judges evaluating on technical excellence, showmanship and costuming.
Technical Excellence - The degree of mastery over the particular performing medium.
Showmanship - The combination of factors such as physical presence, appearance, poise, personality, creativity, sincerity, enthusiasm and polish that the contestant possesses and communicates.  Audience reaction as an entertaining experience result should be considered in this scoring area.
- Musical entries will be based on such factors as intonation, tonal quality, harmonic blend (group acts), phrasing, diction, articulation, accents and dynamics.
- Nonmusical / visual entries will be based on projection, body control, precision and enunciation.
Interpretation of Material and Costuming - The uniqueness of the act's wardrobe to the materials presented is considered in scoring.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER?: 
Production Assistants - Individuals interested in assisting with this event should contact the Community Center.  Areas to consider are: lighting, stage production / management, audio, operating video cameras, stage construction / design and / or stage painting / decorating / prop control.

USAF "Build the Boat" Swim Party

This FREE annual event pits contestant teams against each other to build the best boat with limited materials and time.  The boats are then test for their seaworthiness with a crew of 2 trying to  complete a lap (shallow to deep) in the fastest time while staying afloat.  Other fun contests are included to make this a fun activity for all!
WHEN & WHERE: 
The USAF Build the Boat and Swim Party will be held in August (specific date & time TBD) at the Base Pool.
TEAM MAKEUP: 
The contest will consist of no more than twenty (20) 5-person teams. There are two categories:
Category I - Adults; 5 military or civilian members 18+ years old (2 adults must ride in the boat)
Category II - Mixed Age; Minimum of 2 military or civilian members 18+ ages and 2 youth in ages 9 - 17.  The fifth member can be from either age group. (one per age group must ride in the boat)
MATERIALS & TIME: 
Each team will receive 3 sheets of corrugated cardboard, 2 rolls of duct tape, one box cutter and 2 markers.  Teams will have only one hour prior to the first run to finish their crafts.

 

Air Force Chess Program

This program is to provide an additional opportunity for military, their families and other community members to participate in the recreation / educational game of chess. Advancement tournament competition for a position on the 6-member AF team is open to active duty members.
ELIGIBILITY:
 Anyone that is authorized to use the Community Center and Youth Programs may participate.  Active duty personnel may advance to the Air Force Chess Tournament, Inter-Service Chess Tournament and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chess tournaments.
SCHEDULE:  
Base tournaments are held with three categories of participants; active duty Air Force members, youth (6-8), (9-12) and (13-18) and others (DoD civilians, contractors, spouses, other eligible family members and retirees). Overall base-level winner is determined by competition between the 1st & 2nd placed individuals in each category.
Each major command can select 2 active duty participants who have competed at base-level or headquarter-level to go on to the Air Force level chess tournament.  Winning there, individuals (6 in all) will represent the Air Force at the Inter-Service Chess Tournament.  Top finishers will be representing the US at the NATO tournament.  Active duty personnel must have a signed release from their commander authorizing them to participate and stating they will be available for the Inter-Service and NATO tournaments.
RULES:
All rated tournaments must be conducted in accordance with the rules of the United States Chess Federation (USCF). 
Complete rules, membership information and guidelines on running a chess tournament are available at the USCF website: www.uschess.org  Click on About the USCF and then Brochures & Forms.
Competition is in the Swiss style; rounds are determined by the number of entries.
Tournament director must be certified in that position by the USCF.
Adjudication made by the tournament director is final.
Membership in the USCF (Fee is the responsibility of the individual) is required for those active duty members wanting to advance to the Inter-Service and NATO tournament levels.

"Group" Day or Night Out

This program is to provide an venue for squadrons or any group for that matter, a place to have an open entertaining function in a relaxing, fun atmosphere. Scheduling  is tailored to the unit's desires and availability of the Hangar Center but usually is between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Groups may have access to the Target Zone (game room), ballroom, gazebo / patio and the sand volleyball court.

The only proviso is the times for the Target Zone is 4 - 10 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 2 - 8 p.m. on Saturdays.  If wanting the Target Zone available for use during some other regular Community Center hour of operation, please schedule with us in advance so that we may have staff available.
AVAILABLE FOR USE:
     (4) pool tables
     (1) foosball table
     (1) ping pong table
     (1) 65" Big Screen TV
     (2) Dart boards
     Several recliners
     Tables & chairs
     Gazebo (contains tables & chairs in a comfortable screened enclosure)

There is no cost to use the facility for a squadron (group) function. But if your function desires a beverage bar, arrangements can be made to accommodate your request with the Dyess Club Management.  Under no circumstances will alcohol be brought into the facility unless provided by the Dyess Club.

America's Kids Run/Walk & Adult 5K Run

Held during May, this is a national activity for kids ages 5 - Adult to help promote fitness in the youth of today.
REGISTRATION & LOCATION:
You can register at the event or prior to the race at www.americaskidsrun.org, Community Center, Youth Programs and the Child Development Center.  Usually, the first 100 kids and 100 adults receive a free event T-shirt.
The race is located on 5th Ave (north of the traffic circle).  On the day of the event, race registration begins at 7:30 a.m., warm-up at 7:45 a.m. and the race starts at 8:00 a.m

Missoula Children Theatre

Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) provides a week-long residency "starring" 50-60 of our  local students in a full-scale musical.  MCT has been touring now for more than 30 years, visiting nearly 1100 communities annually in all 50 states, 4 Canadian Provinces and overseas.  Their mission is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.  Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique and educational project.  A team of two professional Tour Actor / Directors arrive here with scenery, costumes, props, make-up and basic lighting... everything it takes to put on a play - except, the cast.  This week-long residency begins with an open group audition and culminates in a public performance.  Fifty to sixty students grades K-12, or a combination of these ages, are cast and well rehearsed throughout the week, learning lines, songs and choreography to perform as an ensemble in producing a full-length musical.  All of the shows are original adaptations of children's stories and fairytales... a twist on the classic stories that you know and love.
AUDITIONS: (Base Theater)
To be considered for a part in the production cast, all must audition.  Auditions are set for two hours and we ask for your patience because everyone needs to stay until completion.  Approx. 50 - 60 students entering 1st grade through 12th grade will be cast for the production
REHEARSALS:  
All rehearsals will be at the Base Theater.  They will consist of  4 1/2 hours each day (Monday - Friday).  On Monday, auditions are held for 2 hours, (10 a.m.- noon) a 30 minute lunch break, followed by 2 hours of rehearsals (12:30 - 2:30 p.m.).  All other days; rehearsals will be in 2 hour blocks (10 a.m. - noon & 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.) with a 30 minute lunch.  Due to the performance time demands, all cast members need to bring a lunch and beverages with them each day.
PERFORMANCE: A single show will be held on that Friday (7 p.m.) at the Dyess Base Theater.  Admission is free to all.

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.

Congressional Award Program

WHAT IT IS:
Known as the Congressional Award Program, this project is aimed toward individuals between the ages of 14 and 23, promoting achievement and excellence by rewarding community involvement.  This non-competitive program was established by Congress to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youth and young adults in the areas of Volunteer Public Service, Personal development, Physical Fitness and Exploration.   The Community and Youth Centers are bringing this chance to the young people at Dyess and the surrounding Abilene community. The award has a lot in common with the Air Force in that both encourage young people to strive for personal growth while taking an active role in their country.
HOW TO EARN IT: 
Regardless of your situation, you can earn the Congressional Award.  The award has no minimum grade point average requirements.  It accommodates young people with special needs and disabilities who are willing to take the challenge.  To earn the award, participants need to complete a registration form.  Registration can be accomplished on-line or by filling out paperwork at the Community or Youth Centers.  There is a one-time fee submission of $10.00 along with the registration form and signed waiver; to the Congressional Award Foundation (CAF).  Participants can then select an Advisor to assist them in setting goals.  Keeping track of hours worked towards the selected goals are maintained in a Congressional Award Record Book provided.  A selected adult Validator signs the book acknowledging that goals have been achieved. After goals and required hours have been met, the Record Book is submitted to the CAF for review.  There is no deadline for achieving the set goals.
WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE:  
Participants can receive gold, silver and bronze medals for their accomplishments.  Silver and bronze are presented locally; however, the Gold medal recipients receive their medal at an annual ceremony in Washington, DC.

All Congressional Award requirements and materials are posted on the Award web site www.congressionalaward.org