Military wives and children take advantage of the amenities at the Camp Hansen Wives Center Jan. 31. The center offers such amenities as a full kitchen, laundry room and Internet service. Any female military spouse on Okinawa may join the center.

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CAMP HANSEN (Feb 10, 2006) -- It's called "the best kept secret" by its members and is considered to be their home away from home.

The Camp Hansen Wives Center is available to all female military spouses on Okinawa and offers all the amenities that a wife and mother could want, according to Madelyn I. Santiago, the president of the center.

The center was established in 1987 to provide a suitable location where wives could hold social functions and meetings, Santiago explained. Intended to ease the burden of overseas life, the facility offers many services that are not available or affordable off base.

"The center is especially beneficial to families living off base," said Rose Rowcliffe. "(Off base) we mainly have Japanese-style utilities. Here I have access to a full kitchen and laundry room. I can get my laundry done in less than one and a half hours."

Membership provides a multitude of other conveniences as well.

Some members get together on a regular basis and homeschool their children at the center, Santiago explained. Plus, the outdoor playground and indoor facilities are a perfect environment for young children, she added.

"Some wives also use the center as a meeting place to have lunch with their spouses when they have duty," Santiago said.

Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, members can also take advantage of the center's Internet service and cable television.

Becoming a member is easy, Santiago added. All that the interested applicant has to do is stop by the center and fill out forms agreeing to abide by the center's rules. The only responsibilities the members have are to participate in the center's monthly fundraisers and help keep the center clean.

The center usually has a fundraiser near the 15th of each month to cover the expenses of upkeeping the facility and the needs of its members.

The center also tries to accommodate the needs and wants of the individual members, Santiago explained. They are currently looking into expanding their range of services with options like a book club and hosting birthday parties.

"We get together once a month to review things we can do to help the community," Santiago said. "We also do community events like hosting Single Marine Program luncheons and assisting wives who are on their way to Okinawa."

"It is nice to be surrounded by other ladies in the same situation," Rowcliffe said.

For more information on the center, call 622-6571 or email maddiesantiago@yahoo.com.