JOSEPH JOHNSTON

Department Commander

April will arrive soon and with it the annual election of officers throughout the State. I encourage each of you to get involved in your chapters and make a difference to the DAV in Ohio. Do not forget the appropriate timelines for reporting and for installation of your new officer cadre which Frank pointed out last month. It is also a time for those folks who would like to be considered for an Annual Convention appointment, a State Officer appointment or those who might wish to be considered by the State nominating committee for elected office in the Department to put their names forward. We have many talented, dedicated and hopefully willing members who can fill those positions in the future. Soon, applications will be arriving in your chapters for return of those interested individuals to fill these very important vacancies. I am certain that our next elected commander will appreciate many potential applicants for these important positions serving the DAV in Ohio.

I am also opening this newsletter in May for any candidates for elected office in the State to publish a short memo indicating their desire to be considered for election to higher office. Also, those individuals wishing to be elected to the executive committee to express their willingness and candidacy to serve along with a short biographical sketch. Make certain that any article that you wished to have published is received by Sherry Williamson at Department Headquarters not later than the 20^th of May, 2009.

During my visits to VAMCs across the State I have been impressed with the quality and number of our volunteers who make the DAV a pleasant experience for our veterans. The many long and beneficial hours that you all provide is a necessary and very helpful task and it makes me proud to be a member of the DAV. There was one instance where we can be of additional help and that is in the volunteers who might be willing to drive the golf carts at the Columbus Clinic. At the present time there are not enough drivers to cover all shifts for these vehicles to transport clients from the parking lots to the main entrances of the facilities. If you are willing to help there is a need for this service at the clinic.

I also had the privilege to be able to provide comments at a press conference this month for Congressman Steve Driehaus’ legislation on Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act. This important piece of legislation when approved by Congress would remove the timelines presently in place for identification and treatment of PTSD and other forms of mental illness for all veterans. The legislation recognizes that mental illness may not manifest itself until after decades have passed with the veteran who is affected by it. Accordingly, it was my pleasure to support this important piece of legislation presented by the Congressman. Congressman Driehaus also intends to submit legislation soon which would make it mandatory that all veterans, when released from active duty be automatically enrolled in the VA as authorized recipients of services in the future. This enrollment would take place regardless of whether the military member had served in the Guard, Reserves or the Active components.

I look forward to seeing all of you at our forthcoming Annual Convention this year and hope that God may bless each of you and your families.

Joe Johnston

Commander

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877) 426-2838

NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507

NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676

Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501

Cincinnati HSC,

Sheila Clements (513) 475-6443

Jeffrey Riley (513) 475-6443

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Gene McCorkle Ext. 2962

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Walter Dryja Ext. 3395

Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141

Larry Queen Ext. 7916

Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487

Michael Hackworth

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

Warren Clinic (330) 392-0311

Youngstown Clinic (330) 70-9200

Ext. 105

Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000

DATES TO REMEMBER

April 11, 2009 First District Meeting, Harold J. Hursh Chapter #131, 4620 Trenton-Franklin Rd., Middletown, lunch beginning at 12 noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m.

April 18, 2009 Testimonial Dinner Commander Joseph Johnston, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio

April 25, 2009 9^th District Meeting, Jackson Chapter #45, 170 Pearl Street, Jackson, lunch at noon and meeting to follow.

April 26, 2009 8^th District Meeting, Bellaire Chapter #117, lunch from 1-2 p.m. with the meeting to be held from 2 – 3:30 p.m.

April 26, 2009 6^th District Meeting, Meeting to begin at 2 p.m., Firestone VFW 3383, 690 W. Waterloo Road, Akron, Ohio.

May 2, 2009 Tenth District Meeting, Summerville at Pinnacle, 1305 Lamplighter Drive, Grove City, Ohio, lunch at 11 a.m. and meeting the follow.

May 2, 2009 5^th District Meeting, American Legion, Norwalk, Ohio at 2 p.m.

May 3, 2009 7^th District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50 at 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio.

May 15 & 22, 2009 Forget-Me-Not , Youngstown Chapter #2, Wal-Mart, Austintown, Ohio.

May 29-30, 2009 Forget-Me-Not, Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, Wal-mart Super Center, Parma, Ohio and Giant Eagle, North Royalton, Ohio.

June 13, 2009 Mobile Service Office, Athens Harley Davidson, 165 Columbus Rd., Athens, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 14, 2009 Mobile Service Office, Pickaway Chapter #70, 141 W. Main Street, Circleville, Ohio 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 15, 2009 Mobile Service Office, Clermont County CBOC, 4355 Ferguson Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 16, 2009 Mobile Service Office, Dr. George P. Tyler, Jr. Chapter #90, American Legion Post, 2944 Elk River Road, Ripley, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 17, 2009 Mobile Service Office, Hamilton-Fairfield Chapter #15, Hamilton VA Healthcare Associates, 1755-C South Erie Highway, Hamilton, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 25-28, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

August 1, 2009 Brecksville VA Hospital Annual Summer Picnic, Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, Main Dining Hall between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m., Brecksville

August 1, 2009 Forget-Me-Not, John W. Covert Chapter #47, East Liverpool, Ohio

August 22-25, 2009 DAV National Convention, Sheraton Hotel Denver, Denver, Colorado

Sept. 24 – 26, 2009 DAV Auxiliary Fall Conference, Drawbridge Inn, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

October 9-11, 2009 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

Feb. 28 – Mar. 3, 2010 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

June 24-27, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

July 31 – Aug. 3, 2010 DAV National Convention, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia

October 8-10, 2010 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Thought for April: Guns do not make you a killer! I think killing people makes you a killer! You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from

driving to the ball game!

VA Nursing Home Update: The VA, stung by criticism that its slow action to implement a Bill signed into law by President Bush in 2006 has forced some severely disabled veterans to spend themselves into poverty, has finally moved to abide by the new law requiring the VA to reimburse these veterans for the cost of care at State-run nursing homes. This Bill requires the VA to reimburse the full cost for veterans with a 70% or greater service connected disability who require nursing home care. But, even though Congress specified that the law be implemented by 21 March 2007, the VA has still not begun issuing payments. The VA has not explained reasons for the 2 year delay.

Vet Job Training: Representative John Boozman (R), Arkansas, has introduced five bills to help veterans find a job through training and placement. These bills are likely to be discussed during upcoming hearings on veteran transition issues. The bills are:

HR1168 – Increases job training assistance for veterans unemployed for at least 4 months and provides housing help while taking the training and pays up to $5,000 in moving expenses if veterans must relocate to find a job in which he can use his/her new skills.

HR 1169 – Increases housing and auto grants for disabled veterans.

HR 1170 – Creates a grant program to help modify homes for disabled veterans.

HR 1171 – Extends through 2014 an existing program to provide job training & employment services for homeless veterans.

HR 1172 – A Pat Tillman Veterans’ Scholarship initiative, named for former pro-football player killed in Afghanistan in 2004 while serving as an Army Ranger. This bill requires the VA to maintain a list of scholarships available to veterans and their survivors.

Other Bills discussed at a hearing before the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcomittee on March 4, 2009:

HR 147 – To amend the IRS Code to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax refund to provide assistance to homeless veterans.

HR 228 – To direct the VA to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in areas of Visual Impairment, Orientation and mobility.

HR 466 – Wounded Veteran Job Security Act.

HR 929 – To amend Title 38, US Code, to require the VA to provide training for eligible

veterans with skills relevant to job market.

HR 942 – Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009.

HR 1088 – Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009.

VA Claims: The VA has told us that 40% of Ohio’s Veterans file their own claims!

We need to get the word out to these Veterans to ask the DAV to file claims for them!

Statistics clearly show that Veterans, who use the DAV’s expertise on their claims,

actually receive almost three times more $ in VA compensation than those Veterans

who file their own claims!

REMINDER: The second nomination and the actual election of Chapter Officers must take place at your April Meeting, with the installation of your new Chapter Officers being completed no later than 30 days from the April election.

All Chapters are then required to complete a new Officer Report and send in to both State and National within 10 days of installation of officers.

As always, keep our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers as they fight, like we have fought, to keep America free. Never shall we forget that Freedom is not Free!!

TESTIMONIAL DINNER FOR COMMANDER JOSEPH JOHNSTON

You are cordially invited to attend a Testimonial Dinner for DAV State Commander Joseph Johnston.

The dinner will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Eastgate, 4501 Eastgate Blvd., Cincinnati, Ohio. A cash bar, cocktail hour will be from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. with dinner served at 7:00 p.m. Please return the R.S.V.P. in the enclosed envelope.

Rooms have been blocked for the dinner at the room rate of $89.00 plus tax. If making reservations, please specify that you will be attending the DAV Testimonial Dinner to receive this room rate. You may contact the Holiday Inn Eastgate directly at (513) 752-4400. Cut off date to receive this room rate is April 3, 2009.

The cost of the dinner is $35.00 per person. There will also be available a children’s menu of chicken fingers, French fries and applesauce for $10.95. Please send a check, made payable to DAV State Commander Testimonial Dinner, DAV, with the reservation form to: Raymond Hutchinson, 7134 Highland Trails East, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.

Reservations for dinner must be received by April 3, 2009.

MOBILE SERVICE OFFICE

The annual Mobile Service Office (MSO) is coming to Ohio and will be available for Chapter visits during November 7-22, 2009. Requests should be submitted to Mr. Leslie James, NSO, 1240 E. Ninth St., Rm. 1015, Cleveland, Ohio 44199-2002 as soon as possible. Chapter participation is greatly endorsed and appreciated and continues to make the Mobile Service Office a success.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT