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FROM THE DESK OF COMMANDER DAVID FARRELL

Dear Comrades,

Well the year sure has gone by fast. It is hard to believe it is almost over. I just finished up the northern swing of our visit to the VA Facilities. It comes as no surprise that they are taking real good care of our comrades. Then I was able to attend Chapter 11 meeting Friday night and swear in their new officers. Thank you again Chapter 11 for such a nice time and the honor of swearing you into office. It has been an Extreme Honor and pleasure to represent you this year. We got a lot accomplished this year. I hope I was able to bridge the gap that everyone felt. I tried to get to as many of your functions as I could, for the ones I missed I am sincerely sorry.

We have made some huge strides in our legislative issues. We need to continue to communicate our concerns through our computers or hand written letters to our legislators. We have to make sure they understand we are true to our convictions. We need to make our Congressman and Senators remain working hard for us and our legislation.

For those of you who were unable to attend DAVA State Commander Jeanette Scott’s testimonial dinner, it was a fun filled evening, excellent food and great conversation. I would personally like to thank Jeanette for a wonderful year. It was such a delight touring the different facilities with her this year. What a great person with a big heart who is extremely devoted and passionate about her veterans. Thanks Jeanette.

Our Spring Department Convention is just around the corner. I hope you are planning to attend. It will be held June 24 - 27, 2010. Once again we have a pretty good convention planned for everyone so you should really plan to be there.

Thank you again for the hospitality you showed me this year while visiting. It has been a wonderful time. I hope it was as good a year for you as it was for me.

May, God Bless you always. God Bless Our Troops, serving in the World’s Greatest Military. God Bless the DAV. Most of all may God Bless the United States of America.

David K Farrell

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,

Charles Russell (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

Henry Snodgrass

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 12, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Bedford SE Harley Davidson, Bedford at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 14, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Ashtabula Chapter #39, 2718 N. Ridge East, Ashtabula, Ohio at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 15, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Alliance Chapter #50, 2540 McCallum Ave., Alliance, Ohio 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 16, 2010 Lorain CBOC, Lorain, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 16, 2010 Akron CBOC, Akron, Ohio, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 18, 2010 Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, 6617 Ridge Rd., Parma, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 21, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Jackson County Chapter #45, 170 Pearl St., Jackson, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 22, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Peerless Chapter #10, 502 Court St., Portsmouth, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 23, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Adams County Chapter #71, American Legion Post 594, 122 N. Main St., Peebles, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 24, 2010 Mobile Service Office, Ross County Chapter #18, Amvets Post 4, 317 E. Main St., Chillicothe, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

June 24-27, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 25-26, 2010 Mobile Service Van,

Dept of Ohio, DAV Convention, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 1-4, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Northern Hills Chapter #115, Sam’s Club, 5375 North Bend Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.

July 9-10-11, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Wal-Mart, Bucyrus, Ohio.

July 17, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Downtown, Bucyrus, Ohio.

August 7, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Galion, Ohio.

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

August 6-7-8, 2010 Forget-Me-Not Drive, Salem Chapter #122, Salem, Ohio.

August 14, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Thorold Heinlen Chapter #100, Crestline, Ohio.

July 18, 2010 Cleveland Indians DAV Day at the Ballpark, Cleveland, Ohio.

August 28, 2010 Forget-Me-Not Drive, Auglaize County Chapter #73, Wal-Mart Parking Lot, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

October 2, 2010 Forget-Me-Not Drive, John W. Covert Chapter #47, East Liverpool, Ohio.

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

October 30, 2010 Forget-Me-Not Drive, Lloyd C. Ludwick Chapter #123, Various locations, Hillsboro, Ohio.

October 30-31, 2010 Forget-Me-Not, Putnam County Chapter #77, Ottawa, Ohio.

Feb. 28-March 3, 2011 C&A Midwinter Conference, Washington, DC

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

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

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

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

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

June 2010 Department Convention

SR. Vice Commander DAVID MAY for Department State Commander

I, David May, a DAV Alliance Chapter 50 Life Member since 1983, and currently serving as Sr. Vice Commander f9r Department will submit my application for the office of State Commander for Department of Ohio. I would like your consideration and support knowing I will accept the privilege to serve as your Commander. My promise to you, I will continue serving as a strong advocate for our disabled veterans and their families.

I am a Vietnam-era Army veteran serving in 1972-74 who has a VA service-connected disability.

I have held a wide variety of Chapter positions. As an active member of Alliance Chapter 50, I am presently serving as Chapter Treasurer, Service Officer and Bingo Chairman. Also, for the past 17 years, I have been a VA Volunteer at the Canton VA CBOC with 9,500 +/- accredited hours helping veterans.

My participation and positions held on the Local, State and National levels in DAV and other veterans-service organizations are:

On the Chapter level, Alliance Chapter 50

I am presently serving as Treasurer, Service Officer, Bingo Chairman and Past Commander, two years, 2002-04. Awarded Chapter Distinguished Service Award in 2004 and 2007*. Since 2003, I have been representing DAV on the Stark County Veterans Service Commission.

DAV Department of Ohio

Sr. Vice Commander 2009-10, 2^nd Jr. Vice Commander 2008-09, served 2 years as Executive Committeeman 2006-08, and 2 years as 7^th District Commander in 2003-05.

DAV National

In 2008-09 I served on the Interim Membership Committee. I served several times for Department on the National Convention Nominating Committee. I am a Past Commander, 1997-99, of the Blind Veterans National Chapter. Since 1999, I have been a Commanders and Adjutants Association member.

Department of Veterans Affairs

A DAV and BVA volunteer at the Canton VA CBOC. For many, many years I have been a member of the Akron and Canton Blind Veterans Support Group. I currently serve on the Cleveland VAMC=s VIST Committee and the VA VISN 10 Blind Rehab Committee.

Other

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Ohio Regional Group President in 1996-98 and currently serving as Secretary/Treasurer. I served three years on the BVA National Board of Directors. And, I have been a long-time participant at the DAV/VA National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and the VA National Veterans TEE Tournament for blind veteran golfers.

In closing, I am asking for your support to be your State Commander for 2010-11. I have been endorsed by Alliance Chapter 50, and Department’s District 6 and District 7. I am retired and free to travel. Thanking you in advance for your support.

S/David May

FROM THE CLEVELAND NSO OFFICE

Chapters were notified last March about both the Chapter Service Officer (CSO) and Hospital Service Coordinator (HSC) annual training classes. Each Chapter can send a maximum of two CSO; one primary and one alternate, for a total of two per Chapter. Requests were to be mailed to the Cleveland DAV NSO office no later than May 21, 2010. Both the training materials and seats are limited and only those Chapters responding will be seated. The deadline has been extended to Friday, June 7, 2010, as that is the last day for the Cleveland office to order the training materials. There is no excuse in not taking advantage of this worthwhile training. HSC participation is coordinated through Adjutant Frank Williams.

FROM THE DESK OF STATE ADJUTANT FRANK WILLIAMS

Thought for June:

When you break your word, you break the one thing that can’t be fixed.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES (ODVS): The ODVS has been canvassing the State searching for Ohio Veterans who may not be aware of the benefits they have earned because of their service to our country. These benefits may enable a Veteran to pay for education, obtain a home loan or get medical assistance. “The Department’s number one priority is to identify our Veterans so they can get their earned benefits”, said Bill Hartnett, ODVS Director. “We don’t know where they are, but we know where they’ve been.”

If you are one of the more than 900,000 Ohioans who wears or has worn a US Military uniform, your service may be worth more than you think. Call this toll free # 1-877-OHIO-VET to get connected to your benefits.

HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UPDATE: A trio of bills ranging from therapeutic companion dogs to chiropractors for injured or troubled veterans was approved May 12 by the House VA Committee. This does not mean these bills have been passed! They now go to the “Calendar” to be scheduled for presentation and vote by the full House. To review a full numerical list of all bills go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html

And, if you want your representative to support a specific bill, get the bill number (such as HR32) and contact your legislator.

I am looking forward to seeing a large turnout for our Convention June 24, 25 and 26^th. Come join us and learn what DAV is doing here in Ohio as well as observe as we elect new officers for 2010-2011. Your participation is always welcome. This will be the first Convention to host a Mobile Service Van, which will have National Service Officers onboard with their computers to enable Veterans to file claims and/or check the status of existing claims.

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

ANOTHER MAJOR VICTORY

Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant

Disabled veterans, their families and care providers should rejoice to hear that Congress has unanimously passed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. The bill creates a comprehensive new program to support family caregivers of severely disabled veterans and strengthens VA health care programs for women veterans and supports a number of other initiatives that are vital to our community.

This legislation, which by the time you read this is hopefully signed into law, will finally recognize the family members who share the burden of sacrifice and give their beloved, severely disabled veteran a life worth living. It takes the DAV’s recommendations to heart and addresses many of the key issues we’ve pushed for years.

It provides a much-needed step toward achieving equality for women veterans who have long been underserved in our community. It will give the VA key resources to provide more gender-appropriate health care services for women who’ve served. It expands outreach to homeless veterans and provides for expanded mental health services for active duty, National Guard and Reserve military members.

This is the latest accomplishment in a series of victories that have provided a new hope for the future. We have found, in our time of need, that our elected officials are willing to hear our concerns and work with us to meet our needs.

While we have established a solid foundation for tomorrow, we know that the tides of public sentiment can change quickly. We know there is more to do to prepare for our new century of service and advocacy. The evolution we must make means urging more of our members to become actively involved in our case.

We need to capitalize on the momentum we’ve generated through our legislative victories by enhancing our outreach initiatives at the local and regional level. We are seeing more veterans in our communities of all ages, In addition to Memorial Day, we know that the Fourth of July and numerous other events will offer us the opportunity this summer to remind our fellow veterans about our victories and bring them into the fold.

The most wasteful thing we can do in the face of earned victories is forget the reasons that led us to fight in the first place. We need to remain united and use our achievements to better our organization from the chapter level up. It’s the responsible thing to do for our community and for the next generations who are counting on our support well into the future.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS