JOSEPH JOHNSTON

Department Commander

This week your department officers will be attending the Mid-Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. I will be attempting to gain support of our legislators for many DAV legislative initiatives. Foremost among those issues will be our argument for the VA to receive sufficient, timely and predictable funding. At the present time this initiative has been targeted via an advanced funding mechanism to avoid the pitfalls of concurrent resolutions or non-budget finalization problems. We will be also suggesting that the Independent Budget will be recommending a $4.5 Billion increase over last year.

Additionally, all of the recent commissions studying reimbursement of the Nation’s disabled veterans have recommended that a “quality of life” increase be given in addition to the current levels of compensation for service-connected disabilities. The DAV also vigorously supports this enhancement. Recommendations are in a range of 16-25% increases in current compensation to meet these standard of living changes to veterans.

The DAV also continues to support the “Stand Up for Veterans” program. The returning heroes of OIF/OEF have added approximately 347,000 being seen for active physical and mental wounds suffered in those wars to the already overloaded VA system. Our nation must keep faith with these men and women by taking action now to ensure that they have access to high quality, timely health care services. Our veterans kept their promises. We must keep ours!

Finally, we must eliminate the offsets. A disabled veteran should not suffer a financial penalty for choosing a military career rather than a civilian profession. If a veteran must give up a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation otherwise payable, our government is, in effect, compensating the veteran NOTHING for the service-connected disability they suffered. Likewise, the Survivor Benefit Plan annuities are offset by the amount of any survivor benefits payable under the DIC program and this is just wrong!

Believe me, I will be carrying these messages to our Ohio legislators in a clear and compelling manner for their support and ultimately their votes for these legislative initiatives. Benefits due our veterans are “blood benefits” earned on the battlefields and must be paid regardless of costs—they are debts of honor owed by a grateful nation to its warriors.

On another note, I want us to remember our State Chaplain, Jim Keller in our prayers, as he recuperates from his surgeries and health issues. I also want to remember Larry Long, our Assistant Officer of the Day, who has likewise suffered from severe health issues this past year. I know that all of you join me in wishing both of these “brothers” a quick healing and rapid return fully to our ranks. God Bless and keep you all!

Joseph Johnston, 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,

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

February 22-25, 2009 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

March 22, 2009 Fourth District Meeting, Montfaucon Chapter #27, 2802 Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio at 2 p.m.

March 22, 2009 Third District Meeting, Allen County Chapter #19, American Legion Hall, 711 S. Shore Drive, Lima, Ohio at 2 p.m.

March 28, 2009 Auxiliary Commander Kathie Johnson’s Testimonial Dinner, Eagles, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

March 28, 2009 Second District Meeting, Dayton VA, Building 305, Multi-purpose room, Dayton, Lunch at 12 noon with meeting to follow.

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

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, Waterloo Road, Akron, Ohio.

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

June 25-28, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

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.

TESTIMONIAL DINNER FOR AUXILIARY COMMANDER KATIE JOHNSON

You’re invited to

Commander Kathie Johnson’s Testimonial

Eagle’s Club

(Parking on street or in back of building—directions on back of form)

25 E. Auglaize Street

Wapakoneta, OH 45895

$30.00 per person

March 28, 2009

Cocktails at 5:00 PM

Dinner served at 6:00 PM

Reservations due by February 28, 2009

A block of hotel rooms have been reserved at the

Holiday Inn Express, 1008 Lunar Drive, Wapakoneta, OH

For group rate of $70.00, please mention DAV and

make your reservations (419-738-2050) by March 9, 2009

Name: ___________________________

# of reservations ________

Dinner Selection:

Chicken #_____ Swiss Steak #_____

Please make checks payable to DAVA Unit 73

& return to Judy Lenhart, 14982 Cemetery Rd., Wapakoneta, OH 45895

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Thought for February: Being young is beautiful……but, being old is….well…..comfortable!

Retired General Shinseki, the new VA Secretary, said he is trying to reduce the 6 month delay in paying veterans’ disability claims and, he wants to move quickly to an all-electronic claims system that would speed up the process. He said the VA is looking at a major switch that would phase out paper processing, possibly by 2012. He added that a technological format is needed to ensure timely, accurate and consistent decision making on behalf of our veterans.

Secretary Shinseki did a recent tour of the “paperwork battlefield” on which VA Claim Adjudicators serve everyday. He said “You walk into one of our rooms where.decisions are being made about disabilities for veterans and see individuals sitting at their desks with stacks of paper that go up halfway to the ceiling. And, as they finish one pile, another pile comes in. There are 11,100 people doing this…good people hired to do a challenging job in which they are trying to apply judgment to situations that occurred years ago. This army of Claims Adjudicators is equal in size to the 82^ndAirborne Division. It grew by 4,000 in the last two years and, another 1100 will be hired this year to address the claims backlog. If we do not create a paperless process, I’ll be reporting a year from now that we had to hire even more people to do this.”

Representative Vic Snyder (D-Arkansas) said Shineski should make another visit to one of the VA’s file rooms. “It’s almost dangerous”, said Snyder. The rooms are overwhelmed with claims. Some individual claims have swelled to 3, 4 and 5 volumes.” Ironically, Snyder said, technology might be aggravating the problem because veterans who look continuously to strengthen their claims are doing internet searches and printing out all aspects of their conditions or diseases and sending them to the VA to be added to case files. “The files will just keep growing. We’ve got to get a handle on this whole thing.” This “paperwork problem” appears to have been exacerbated by VA allowing individual veterans to file their own claims online! Stay tuned!!!!! (My emphasis)

There are still a few Chapter Officers who have questions about the new E-Card Form 990-N required by IRS. All pertinent information on this Electronic Notice Is available at: www.irs.gov/eo

REMINDER: The annual election of Chapter Officers commences with your first

nomination of officers at your March Meeting. The second nomination and the

actual election 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.

Commander Johnston to Run

for National Office this Summer

Department Commander Joe Johnston has announced he will run for office in the DAV’s National Organization when it meets for its National Convention in Denver this summer.

Commander Johnston said his goals as a national DAV leader will remain the same as they have always have been in his Chapter and in the Department.

“If elected I’ll seek to motivate, communicate and inspire – to give the best of myself, draw out the best in others, make the best of every opportunity the DAV has at hand, and create new opportunities where none existed.”

To his quest, Commander Johnston brings proven talent for leadership and well-honed skills in management.

His ability was tested during a long career as a paratrooper that began in the Army’s enlisted ranks in 1966, and saw him rise as a mustang officer with ever greater responsibilities until medical retirement in 1992.

Joe then took on new challenges over the past 16 years as an executive in the nonprofit field. Today, as chief operating officer of one of the largest, fastest growing, social service agencies in the greater Cincinnati area, Joe is proving his worth yet again.

“The DAV is blessed with a strong, capable management team, as indicated by administrative and fundraising successes that parallel its achievement in assisting veterans and their families,” said Frank Williams, who represents the 11^th District on the DAV’s National Executive Committee.

“As a national officer, Joe Johnston will mirror those traits in a volunteer leadership role, facilitating your organization’s continued success.”

For many long years, DAV Chapter 63 in Ohio has benefited from Joe’s leadership in a variety of elected and appointed offices, including Commander. Moving through the chairs in the Department of Ohio, Joe was elected Department Commander last summer. Among other responsibilities held at the National level, Joe served on the National Interim Legislative Committee.

It should also be mentioned that Joe is very supportive of the DAV Auxiliary. “He’d better be,” said Ray Hutchinson, a long-time friend. “His wife Vicki is quite active and currently serves as Commander of Auxiliary Unit 63.”

But what’s most important to those of us who asked Joe Johnston to run for national office, said Past Department Commander Hutchinson, is his character.

“Joe is a strong man who, years after military service, still embodies the vigor and determination of a paratrooper. He’s moved by vision and faith ... commitment and compassion ... judgment and devotion to his fellow disabled veterans.”

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT