____

FROM THE DESK OF

COMMANDER WILL DAVIS

It is truly an honor and privilege to have this opportunity to serve as your State Commander. Thank you for your vote of confidence. It was a great honor to have National Sr. Vice Commander Don Samuels serve as the installing officer at the 90^th Annual Convention.

In the upcoming year, I hope to keep our organization strong and dedicated to serving our disabled veterans. With the support of our State Executive Officers, Past Department Commanders, District Commanders, State Adjutant, Chapters and Auxiliary members, I know this goal will be accomplished. Together we are “One Team with One Goal”, serving our veterans.

Welcome, to our new State Executive Committee members, James Bailey and William Caine. I am looking forward to serving with Denise Proffitt, DAV Auxiliary State Commander. Commander Proffitt is with Alliance Unit 50 and is dedicated to serving the disabled veterans and their families.

A special thank you to Chapter #71 and Unit #71 for a job well done with the hospitality room during the Convention. The hospitality room, as always, was greatly appreciated.

I am looking forward to seeing our members at the District 11 meeting in New Orleans, LA. The National Convention is August 6-9, 2011, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverfront. Remember to mark your calendar for the Fall Conference, October 7-9, 2011 to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Worthington, Ohio.

In closing, I would like us to remember Don Scheerer as he recuperates from his recent open heart surgery. Let us wish him a speedy and successful recovery.

Our disabled veterans represent the best of America; let’s show them the respect they so deserve. May God bless them and their families. God bless our troops and the DAV.

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 (513) 475-6443

William Warren

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

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 2, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Post Office, Neff Supermarket, Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

July 15-16-17, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Wal-Mart, Bucyrus, Ohio.

July 23, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Bucyrus, Ohio.

July 24, 2011 DAV at the Ballpark, Lake County Captains, Eastlake, Ohio.

Aug. 4-5-6, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Madison County Chapter #93, Speedway Store, London, Ohio.

Aug. 5-6, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Darke County Chapter #57, Various locations, Greenville, Ohio.

Aug. 6, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, E. Liverpool Chapter #47, E. Liverpool, Ohio.

Aug. 6, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Galion, Ohio.

Aug. 6-9, 2011 National Convention, Hilton New Orleans Riverfront, New Orleans, LA

Aug. 11-12-13, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Madison County Chapter #93, Huntington Bank, Speedway, Walmart, London, Ohio.

Aug. 12-13, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Darke County Chapter #57, Various locations, Greenville, Ohio.

August 13, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Crestline, Ohio.

August 14, 2011 DAV Day at the Indians Game, 1 p.m., Cleveland, Ohio.

Aug. 17-18, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Madison County Chapter #93, Huntington Bank, West Jefferson, Ohio.

Aug. 17-18, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Madison County Chapter #93, Mt. Sterling IGA Store, Ben & Joy’s.

August 26, 2011 DAV Day at the Cincinnati Reds Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.

August 27, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Auglaize County Chapter #73, St. Marys, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Post Office, Community Market, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

September 9-10, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Willie Marcum Chapter #72, Buehler’s Grocery Store, Medina, Ohio.

September 24, 2011 5^th District Meeting, 1 p.m., American Legion Post #41 on State Route 61, Norwalk, Ohio.

Oct. 7-9, 2011 Fall Conference, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

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

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.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Frank Williams

Thought for July: Live your life as if you were going to die tomorrow, but learn as if you were going to live forever.

Out of uniform means out of work for many new vets: Vets returning from war are having a tough time finding jobs. Estimated jobless rate for male vets ages 18-24 was more than 30% in May, compared to 18% for male civilians of the same age group. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) has introduced legislation requiring troops to attend courses in finding work, building careers and improving resume and interviewing techniques. The military also is expanding programs to focus on information technology and help with licensing and certification so skills learned in the military can be put to use in civilian employment.

VA & DOD Release “PTSD Coach” Smartphone Application: The PTSD Coach smartphone application launched in April by the VA and Department of Defense (DoD) helps users connect with important mental health info and resources. The app lets users track their symptoms, links them with public and personalized sources of support, provides accurate info about PTSD and teaches helpful strategies for managing PTSD symptoms on the go. More information is available at: www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp

Sexual Assaults in VA Facilities: The DAV finds a GAO report very disturbing that cites 284 cases of alleged, attempted or confirmed sex assaults on patients and employees at VA Medical Centers between January 2007 and July of 2010. “It is fundamental that our VA Hospitals provide top flight medical care and a safe environment,” said DAV National Commander Wally Tyson. “This is very disturbing news, and we urge the VA to put into place the report’s recommendations at all medical centers, clinics and other facilities.”

The GAO report examined sexual assaults at VA Hospitals and found that in many cases the victim’s complaints are mishandled or inappropriately acted on, based on decisions by local physicians and administrators. The DAV strongly recommends the creation of a task force to ensure the VA adopts a culture of safety and promptly develops a uniform policy for reporting of all sexual assaults, “Mandatory reporting is absolutely necessary. There must be a strict requirement set immediately that all allegations of sexual assault be reported to an independent body of oversight,” Commander Tyson said in a press release. “These reports can no longer be allowed to be dealt with at the local level. This is not a gender-specific issue – this is an issue for every veteran, family member and caregiver. Every person who enters a VA facility must know the government is doing everything possible to keep them safe. VA needs to be a place of care, not of fear.”

Get involved: To help ensure successful enactment of veteran legislation that we support, our DAV and Auxiliary members must become active in DAV’s grassroots – DAV Commander’s Action Network (CAN) – and all of us must do our part to let our elected officials know about our support for legislation that builds better lives for our nation’s service-disabled veterans, their families and their survivors. Please make a pledge to redouble your efforts to communicate our concerns to our elected officials. This is a key to our success.

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.

As always, keep our troops in 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! 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 OFFICERS FOR 2011-2012

Will Davis of Columbus was unanimous elected State Commander of the more than 34-thousand member Ohio Disabled American Veterans at the organization’s 90^th Annual State Convention, June 17-18-19, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio.

Will is a life member of DAV Grove City Chapter #144 and has held numerous offices at the Chapter level as well as the Department level.

Officers elected to serve with Commander Will Davis were Michael Stith of Akron, Sr. Vice Commander; Raymond Kershaw of Wakeman, 1^st Jr. Vice Commander; Michael Moulton of Rockford, 2^nd Jr. Vice Commander; Executive Committee Members, James Bailey of Brilliant, William Caine of Rocky River, Dennis Hanneman of Columbus Grove and Martha Tepker of Hamilton. Joseph Johnston of Williamsburg was elected to the Finance Committee, 5-year term. Frank Williams of S. Vienna was appointed as State Adjutant/Treasurer.

Appointments by Commander Davis approved by the Executive Committee were James Keller of Jackson, Chaplain; Donald Branford of Geneva, Assistant Chaplain; Raymond Hutchinson of Hillsboro, Hospital Chairman; Joseph Lenhart of Wapakoneta, Judge Advocate; Joseph Johnston of Williamsburg, Department Inspector; David Bilinovich of Medina, Director of Service; James Johnston of Loveland, Officer of the Day; Larry Long of London, Assistant Officer of the Day; Kenneth Reed of London, Sergeant-At-Arms; John Cowan of Reynoldsburg, Honorary Sergeant-At-Arms; Henry Snodgrass of Columbus, Chief of Staff; Frank Williams of S. Vienna, Legislative Chairman and Terrance Sayers of Warren, Photographer.

The Department Service Program Committee will consist of Will Davis of Columbus as Chairman with members Michael Stith of Akron, David Bilinovich of Medina, Charles Lambert of Cincinnati, Frank Williams of S. Vienna and Walter Dryja of Cleveland.

District Commanders appointed and approved were James Johnston of Clermont County Chapter #63, District 1; Kenneth Marcum of Fayette County Chapter #89, District 2; Carl Johnson of Auglaize County Chapter #73, District 3; Robert Moeltner of Montfaucon Chapter #27, District 4; Terry Boswell of Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, District 5; John Parker of Summit County #35, District 6; Edward Savel of Youngstown Chapter #2, District 7; Oval McKown of Pioneer City Chapter #52, District 8; Robert Mitchell of Meigs Chapter #53, District 9 and Barry Hopkins of Lancaster Chapter #40, District 10.

HUD, VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING TO HOMELESS VETERANS

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced June 13, 2011 that HUD will provide $5.4 million to public housing authorities in 18 states to supply permanent housing and case management for 676 homeless veterans. This is the fourth and final round of FY 2010 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) funding to support homeless veterans.

HUD-VASH is a coordinated effort by HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and local housing authorities to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless Veterans. The vouchers are part of a set-aside of project-based vouchers HUD announced last September that would be competitively awarded to housing authorities that received HUD-VASH vouchers in 2008, 2009 or 2010. Under HUD’s project-based voucher program, housing authorities can assign voucher assistance to specific housing units. These vouchers will enable homeless veterans to access affordable housing with an array of supportive services.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS