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FROM THE DESK OF

COMMANDER WILL DAVIS

As the New Year started, I found myself on the road again to say farewell to one of our DAV members. We lost Charles “Chuck” Lambert on January 9, 2012. Our deepest and heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family. Chuck was the National Service Officer in the Cincinnati area. Chuck was truly a great representative for the veterans and will be dearly missed.

Not only in February an important month for the National and State Department of Oho, but it has been an important month in the history of the United States. In 1789 – George Washington was unanimously elected the first President of the United States: 1854 – Republican Party was organized; 1945 – American Flag was raised on Iwo Jima during World War II; 1962 – John Glenn circled the globe 3 times in Friendship 7; 1991 – Persian Gulf War officially ended; and in 1971 – Alan Shepard became the first person to hit a golf ball on the moon. Let us, in the DAV, keep the month of February important. National Commander, Donald Samuels, will address a special joint session of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee during the week of February 26-29. His message will be clear – “The United States must keep its promises to veterans and their families and survivors”. To the members that are attending and will be on the Hill, please remember to contact your elected personnel soon to make an appointment for a one-on-one session. I am looking forward to seeing you at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Congratulations to our National 2^nd Jr. Vice Commander Joe Johnston on the honor he shared with his family. He was given the privilege of promoting Heather Stewart-Johnston, daughter-in-law, to lieutenant colonel.

In closing, a quote by Solomon Ortiz, former U.S. Representative for Texas, “As a former veteran, I understand the needs of veterans, and have been clear-we will work together, stand together with the Administration, but we will also questions their policies when they shortchange veterans and military retirees”. Staying abreast of the issues at hand and letting your voice be heard, we will be able to achieve our goals for the DAV.

God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops!

“One Team One Goal”

Will Davis, State 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, Eric Hughes (513) 475-6443

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Kevin M. Reilly 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

Henry Snodgrass

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Don Branford Ext. 4157

DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb. 26-29, 2012 C&A Midwinter Conference, Washington, DC

March 18, 2012 3^rd District Meeting, Auglaize County Chapter #73, 2 p.m., VFW Post 8445, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

April 8, 2012 8^th District Meeting, Bellaire Chapter #117, Lunch at noon, Meeting at 1 p.m., Bellaire, Ohio.

April 14, 2012 DAV Commander Will Davis and DAVA Commander Denise Proffitt Testimonial Dinner, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

April 21, 2012 5^th District Meeting, Norwalk Chapter #62, at 1 p.m., Norwalk, Ohio.

April 22, 2012 4^th District Meeting, Ottawa Chapter #76, 2 p.m., Ottawa, Ohio.

April 22, 2012 7^th District Meeting, 2 p.m., Alliance Chapter #50, Alliance, Ohio.

April 28, 2012 1^st District Meeting, Lunch at 12 noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m., St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.

June 21-24, 2012 91^st Department Convention, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson, Worthington, Ohio.

Aug. 4-7, 2012 National Convention, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Oct. 12-14, 2012 Fall Conference, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

Feb. 24-27, 2013 C&A Midwinter Conference, Washington, DC

June 20-23, 2013 92^nd Department Convention, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

Aug. 10-13, 2013 National Convention, Hilton Orlando, Orlando, FL

Oct. 4-6, 2013 Fall Conference, Double Tree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

TAPS

The Department of Ohio lost one of its most dedicated NSO’s with the death of Charles Lambert assigned to the Cincinnati NSO on January 9, 2012. His death was sudden and he is survived by his wife, Mary and children and his best buddy, grandson, Jonathan (Boo). In addition to running the Cincinnati NSO office Chuck was a fixture in Dayton owing to a TSO vacancy and traveling the byways of Southern Ohio in the Mobile Service Office each summer.

Department Officers, PDC’s and Chapters conducted a DAV ceremony in Hamilton, as did Department Officers in Ashtabula. DAV National Leadership and Department Officers conducted in Ashtabula. DAV National Leadership and Department Officers conducted his final memorial at the Western Reserve National Ceremony in Rittman, Ohio. A full military funeral was held there with a final salute by the firing unit with active duty soldiers presenting the Flag of our Country to his family. Chuck will be missed by all who knew him and came to learn that just below his gruff exterior was a very caring professional who always fought for each and every veteran who came to the DAV for assistance. He will be much missed in our ranks and at conventions and gathering.

MOBILE SERVICE OFFICE DATES

The Mobile Service Office (MSO) schedule is now available for both Spring and Fall. The MSO will be available this spring, for Chapters in Columbus and north from June 16 to June 22 and for the Chapters south of Columbus from June 23 to July 1. Again, in the Fall, will be October 13-21. I would encourage all Chapters interested in hosting the MSO to contact the National Service Office to make the appropriate arrangements. Our schedules need to be finalized as soon as possible.

Hosting the MSO is a great way for your Chapter to gain local publicity, to enhance membership recruitment and to assist the veterans in your community. The Chapter’s expense is minimal in cost and labor, but can be very rewarding. I look forward to hearing from your Chapter. I also want to thank those Chapters that hosted the MSO last year. Help us to help our veterans and their families by supporting the MSO.

CHAPTER SERVICE OFFICER RECERTIFICATION

Chapters should submit one primary and one secondary name for the June Convention’s Chapter Service Officer certification. Each Chapter Commander or Adjutant should submit a letter with the nominees or a negative response to David Bilinovich, NSO Supervisor, Cleveland VA Regional Office, 1240 E. Ninth St., Rm. 1015, Cleveland, Ohio 44199-2002.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Frank Williams

Thought for February: To most men, experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illuminates only the track it has passed.

Scam Alert: The Cleveland VA Medical Center was notified by the Canton CBOC Staff that three veterans reported being called by an individual, who claimed to be an employee from the Canton VA Clinic, asking for personal financial documents supposedly to perform an audit. The VA has stated they never make phone calls asking for personal information. This should serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal data.

VA erroneously releases personal data on the web: In a January 20^th news release VA said it provided names, SS#, dates of birth, military assignments and entry to release dates to Ancestry.com in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The VA was only suppose to provide data on deceased veterans, however, after learning of the problem, VA confirmed as many as 4,485 living veterans were on the list. VA said it plans to send letters to those for whom it has addresses, notifying them of the data compromise and offering credit monitoring services.

Annual Midwinter Conference in DC: Department of Ohio will be sending a delegation to DC to attend various seminars at the Annual Conference. We will also be meeting with State Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, as well as supporting our National Commander Don Samuels as he makes his presentation to the Joint Senate/
House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

There are several veteran issues that we will be communicating to our Legislators in Washington, including the impact of deep cuts to military and retirees. DoD’s proposed changes to retiree health care benefits take a significant hit with new enrollment fees and additional fee increases as well as a proposed $200 enrollment fee for TRICARE for Life and increases in co-pay for prescriptions.

If anyone has a concern that you feel should be relayed to our Senators please provide details to Department promptly, as we leave February 25^th.

Chapter Service Officer Training & Recertification: Although this is a bit early, we need to play ahead. Each DAV Chapter must provide the names of their Chapter Service Officers to DAV National Service Office in Cleveland as soon as possible, in order for required training/recertification to succeed. Any questions, call Department Headquarters.

How many DAV members have you signed up this month? How about last month? Remember: after you have recruited a new DAV member, sign up all eligible members in their family also. Our Auxiliary needs new members too. The more members we have in the DAV, the more clout we have when talking to our Legislators, both here in Ohio and in DC, about rights and benefits we have earned as veterans.

As always, keep our troops in Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers, as they fight, like we have fought, to keep America free. Never forget that Freedom Is Not Free! May God Bless all of you. God Bless our troops, God Bless the DAV, and May God Bless America, home of the free, because of the brave!

NEW HSC IN THE CINCINNATI VAMC

The Department of Ohio, DAV has recently hired Mr. Eric Hughes of Burger/Kirch Chapter #103 as the new Hospital Service Coordinator in the Cincinnati VAMC as of January 30, 2012. Veterans can reach Eric at the Cincinnati VAMC HSC Office (513) 475-6443. Welcome aboard Eric!

FUNDING SECURED FOR GULF WAR ILLNESS RESEARCH

Congress approved the dedication of $10 million to research Gulf War illness. President Obama signed the spending bill, which commits funding to research on those illness and ailments specifically suffered by veterans of the Gulf War. They include chronic headaches and pain, memory and concentration problems, as well as fatigue and gastrointestinal maladies that plague many veterans of the conflict. The research will not be carried out by the Departments of Defense of Veterans Affairs.

NEW COUNSELING PROGRAM UNVEILED

A new counseling service between veterans and National Guard and Reserve members was unveiled in December in the nation’s capital. It is aimed at easing the reintegration process. The National Guard’s Vets4Warriors program allows for toll-free, peer-to-peer counseling for Guardsmen and Reservists with veterans serving as the counselors to help link callers with the right tools and resources. The completely anonymous hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is accessible through the Internet. The learn more about Vets4Warrios, or to speak with a counselor, service and family members can call the Vets4Warriors toll-free hotline at 1-855-VET-TALK (838-8255) or go to the www.Vets4Warriors.com

REPORT SHOWS DECLINE IN VETERANS HOMELESSNESS

A new national report shows veteran homelessness had decreased by nearly 12 percent between January 2010 and January 2011. The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development announced the declining figure keeps the Obama Administration on track to meet the goal of ending homelessness among veterans by 2015. According to the 2011 supplement to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report, 67,495 veterans were homeless on a single night in January, 2011, down from the previous year’s count of 76,329. VA and HUD have successfully placed 33,597 veterans in permanent housing since 2009. VA has also announced it will make available $100 million in grants to help community agencies prevent roughly 42,000 veterans and their families from becoming homeless or to return them to stable housing.

NEW TOOL ANNOUNCED FOR VETERAN JOB SEEKERS

The VA launched a new online tool through the My HealtheVet portal to download data about military training and experience to assist in the search for employment. That information can then be linked to job search and networking sites to better identify compatible employment opportunities. The site, found through www.myhealth.va.gov , includes information specific to Military Occupational Specialties and in-uniform job experience, as well as other skills learned and developed during their time in service.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS