Disabled American
Veterans, Department of Ohio
35 E. Chestnut St., PO Box 15099, Columbus, OH 43215-0099 Phone (614) 221-3582 FAX (614) 221-4822 E-mail:
ohiodavadjutant@ameritech.net
Website: www.ohiodav.org
May, 2011
FROM THE DESK OF
COMMANDER DAVID MAY
90
years ago, Disabled American Veterans has been dedicated to one single purpose:
Building Better
Lives for America's Disabled Veterans and Their Families.
Disabled
American Veterans have been committed to our MISSION “TO SERVE”! DAV’s largest
endeavor in fulfilling that Mission is our National Service Program. In 88
offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, the DAV employs a
corps of approximately 260 National Service Officers (NSOs) who represent
veterans and their families with claims for benefits from the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA). DAV membership is not a requirement for DAV NSOs to assist
and represent you. All DAV service provided by our NSOs is free of charge. NSOs work as attorneys-in-fact, to assist veterans
in obtaining their benefits earned.
The MSO
Program
Also, MSO
enhances
public awareness of the DAV’s Mission: Building better lives for, all of our, Nation’s disabled
veterans and their families.
The DAV MSO vans look great going
down the road and are well equipped eliminating long trips for our veterans to
visit our National Service Offices.
The
DAV’s Mobile Service Office (MSO) Program was revitalized in March 2001 and is
the most extensive outreach effort in the history of our organization. Thanks
to the generosity of a $2 million pledge from the Harley-Davidson Foundation
since 2007, the DAV expanded the sites visited by the MSO to include
Harley-Davidson dealerships, where benefits assistance is offered to veterans
of all generations in communities where they live.
The
MSO Program enhances DAV’s outreach service. NSOs’ outreach activities are
designed to educate, development of evidence, completion of required
applications and prosecution of claims for veterans’ benefits administered
under federal, state, and local laws.
FYI: Our Ohio NSOs have been
available at our Department Fall Conferences and our Annual Department
Conventions. Take the opportunity and talk with a DAV NSO if you live in or
near Worthington.
If your chapter is planning to do a
Forget-Me-Not Drive this year please encourage your members to attend the next chapter
meeting. Ask for their phone numbers so you can remind them to come to the
meeting to see old friends.
DAV Chapter
Service Officer Training will be on June 16, 2011, day before our Annual
Convention, in Worthington. Plan to attend this special training.
Dates to
Share:
5/3
National Teachers Day 5/7
Join Hands Day
5/8 Mothers Day 5/12 Nurses Day
Q.
May Birthstone? A.(DLAREME) 5/15 Please submit Officers’ Reports
5/21 Armed
Forces Day 5/30
Memorial Day
Memorial Day
is a U.S. Holiday commemorating the U.S. men and women who have died in
military service to their country. May They Rest In Peace.
In closing, I would like to
thank everyone, in advance, who is planning to attend our DAV-DAVA Commanders’
Testimonial Dinner at the Holiday Inn in Canton on April 30, 2011.
David May, State Commander
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
May 1, 2011 4th
District Meeting, 2 p.m., Montfaucon Chapter #27,Toledo, Ohio.
May 5, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Alliance Chapter #50, 8 am to 6 p.m., Thorne Foods, 653 S. Union Ave.,
Alliance, Ohio.
May 6-7, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Northern Hills Chaper #115, various locations, Cincinnati, Ohio.
May 6-7, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Hamilton-Fairfield Chapter #15, Outdoor World, 300 Cincinnati Mills Dr.,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
May 7, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Ross County Chapter #18, Wal-Mart, Corner Market, Community Market, Sav-A-Lot,
Chillicothe, Ohio.
May 14, 2011 2nd
District Meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Dayton VAMC, Building, 305, Media
All Purpose Room, Dayton, Ohio.
May 13-14, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Willie Marcum Chapter #72, Buehler’s Grocery Store, Medina, Ohio.
May 14, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Office, Buckminn’s Harley Davidson, 1213 Cincinnati Ave., Xenia,
Ohio 9-5 p.m.
May 20-21, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Youngstown Chapter #2, Walmart, Austintown, Ohio.
May 21, 2011 9th
District Meeting, Jackson County Chapter #45, Dinner at noon, meeting to begin
at 1 p.m., Jackson, Ohio.
May 21, 2011 Forget-Me-Not
Drive, Mansfield Chapter #21, Wal-Mart, 2485 County Highway 320, Mansfield,
Ohio.
May 27, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Office, Signature Harley Davidson, 1176 Professional Drive,
Perrysburg, Ohio, 9-6 pm.
May 28, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Signature Harley Davidson, 1176 Professional Drive,
Perrysburg, Ohio, 9-5 pm
May 29, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Toledo Harley Davidson, 7960 West Central Ave., Toledo,
Ohio 10-4pm.
May 30, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Toledo Harley Davidson, 7960 West Central Ave., Toledo,
Ohio 10-4pm.
May 31, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, DAV Chapter #33, VFW Hall 204, Birchard Ave., Fremont,
Ohio, 10-6pm
June 2, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, DAV Chapter #9, Ashtabula, County Veterans Service
Commission, 1212 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, Ohio, 10-4 pm
June 3, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Office, DAV Chapter #50, 9540 McCallum Ave., Alliance, Ohio,
10-4pm
June 4, 2011 Century
Harley Davidson, 3053 Eastpointe Dr., Medina, Ohio, 10-3pm
June 6, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, VFW Post 2792, 129 S. Chestnut St., Barnesville, 10 a.m. to
6 p.m.
June 7, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Pioneer City Chapter #52, 835 DAV Rd., Marietta, Ohio, 10
a.m. to 6 p.m.
June 8, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Jackson County Chapter #45, 170 Pearl St., Jackson, Ohio,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
June 9, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Conrath-Bean Chapter #37, 355 E. State St., Athens, Ohio,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
June 10, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, Hamilton VA Healthcare Associates, 1750 S. Erie Highway,
Hamilton, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 11, 2011 DAV
Mobile Service Van, East-East Harley Davidson, 23105 Aurora Rd., Bedford
Heights, Ohio, 10-3pm
June 16-19, 2011 90th
Annual Convention, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave.,
Worthington, Ohio
June 24-25-26, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Clermont County Chapter #63, Sam’s Store, Eastgate area.
July 24, 2011 DAV
at the Ballpark, Lake County Captains, Eastlake, Ohio.
Aug. 6, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
E. Liverpool Chapter #47, E. Liverpool, Ohio.
Aug. 6-9, 2011 National
Convention, Hilton New Orleans Riverfront, New Orleans, LA
August 14, 2011 DAV
Day at the Indians Game, 1 p.m., Cleveland, Ohio.
August 26, 2011 DAV
Day at the Cincinnati Reds Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.
September 9-10, 2011 Forget-Me-Not,
Willie Marcum Chapter #72, Buehler’s Grocery Store, Medina, 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 91st
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 92nd
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 May: The man who views the world at 50 the same
way he did when he was 20, has wasted thirty years of his life.
VA expands Outreach to Veterans through www.vetsuccess.gov. The VA is expanding
the “VetSuccess on Campus” program to
student veterans at 8 sites to make them aware VA counselors are available to
help ease the transition from active duty military to college life. A full time Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor and a part time Vet Center Outreach Coordinator are assigned to each
campus to provide VA benefits outreach, support and assistance to ensure their
health, educational and benefit needs are met.
VA Extends Post-Incarceration Health Care: VA will extend health care to eligible
veterans in halfway houses and other temporary post-incarceration housing under
a new program aimed at cutting back on repeat offenders. A long-standing rule barred VA from providing
health care to veterans for whom another federal, state or local government had
an obligation to provide health care.
Frequently, that means inmates of prisons and jails. Under the changed rule, that prohibition
would be amended and VA will be allowed to provide health care to these
veterans.
About 30,000 veterans
are released annually from state and federal prisons and at least 90,000
veterans are released each year from city and county jails, according to Bureau
of Justice statistics. Another study
finds good health care in the first months of community re-entry plays a key
role in easing readjustment and reducing recidivism.
Social Security Disability Benefits for Wounded
Warriors: Military men and
women can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social
Security. Benefits available through
Social Security are different than those from the VA, and require a separate
application. This expedited process is
used for military members who become disabled while on active duty on or after
October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. In order to receive SSA disability benefits,
a claimant cannot engage in work activity for pay or profit. Active duty status and receipt of military
pay does not necessarily prevent military personnel from applying for
disability benefits from Social Security.
If a service member is receiving treatment at a military medical
facility, and working in a designated therapy program or limited duty, SSA will
evaluate the work activity to determine eligibility for benefits. The actual work activity is the controlling
factor, not the amount of pay received or the person’s military duty status. For additional info see the publication Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors
available at their website: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10030.pdf Other helpful websites are: www.ssa.gov and http://www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors/
DoD Launches Online Career Transition Training: Department of Defense has launched an online
Career Decision Tool Kit that allows members to self-assess transition needs
and explore an array of transition related subjects such as career exploration,
financial planning, job search, effective resumes and cover letters and
interviewing. This online tool kit will
deliver 24 hour global access to career transition training to members who are
not geographically able to attend Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes
traditionally offered at military installations that are currently undergoing a
major redesign. Go to www.turbotap.org and www.dol.gov for more info.
Time to start planning for our June Convention! Recertification & training of our HSCs
and Chapter Service Officers is set for June 16, 2011, and the Convention is
from June 17 through June 19, 2011.
Maximum attendance is welcomed and encouraged for all DAV Chapters and
Auxiliary Units.
How many DAV members have you signed up this month? How about last month?? Remember: you get credit through National’s
recruiting programs for signing up Auxiliary members as well as DAV members.
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!
SR. VICE COMMANDER WILL DAVIS
I
Seek your support for the position of DAV State Commander. I will maintain the high standards set before
me. It would be a honor and privilege to
serve as the DAV Commander in the upcoming year.
The
challenges that are before us, are ongoing.
We need to stay abreast of the legislation that continues to affect our
veterans and their families. Our trips
to Washington DC, when the National Commander addresses the Committee,
demonstrates our support and determination to these issues.
I’m
a part-time employee of the Disabled American Veterans with ten (10) years of
serve to our great organization. I serve
as the Representative to the Columbus Clinic.
In June 2009, I was appointed to the Franklin County Service Commission
to represent the DAV.
The
past several years serving on the Disabled American Veterans Executive
Committee has been a time of both personal and professional growth. The
experience and knowledge that I’ve gained, in attending in the DAV State and
National Conferences, will always be considered the highlights of being
involved in the DAV.
I
would like to thank the Nominating Committee and the membership for giving me
the opportunity to serve the Disabled American Veterans. I am asking, for your support to make me your
next Commander of the Disabled American Veterans.
Respectfully submitted,
Will Davis, Sr. Vice Commander
JUNE 2011 DEPARTMENT CONVENTION
MIKE STITH FOR DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR HIGHER OFFICE
For the last thirty-four years, it has been my honor to serve as a
member and officer of the Disabled American Veterans. I respectfully request your support, to allow
my continued service on the Department of Ohio Executive Committee or in higher
office.
My previous service includes a 2001 appointment as Trustee of Chapter
35, during difficult times. With the
help of PDCs Jim Britton and Ray Hutchison, and Adjutant Doug Lay and NSO
Richard Healy and many others, we restored the Chapter to credible condition
and regained its charter. National
Commander Armando Albarran later commended my service, saying that it kept
Chapter 35 in existence.
My service includes two years as Chapter 35 Commander, two years as
Sixth District Commander, and six years as Chapter 35 Adjutant and Service
Officer. In addition, I serve on the
Summit County Veterans Service Commission, with over five of the last twelve
years as Commission President. As such,
we successfully advocated the placement of a VA Clinic in Akron and the VA
Western Reserve Cemetery in Rittman. With the help of many, we secured and
built a new Summit County VSC building that is a credit to our armed forces
veterans.
Also, I served as District Commander of the Ohio State Association of
Veterans Service Commissioners, and currently am on that group’s Liaison
Committee with the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as being Judge
Advocate. My activities include
testifying before the Ohio House of Representatives on veterans’ matters. In addition, I have served as court-appointed
guardian to veterans confined to long-term care facilities.
Like many of you, these positions allowed me to support the DAV’s
mission, to build better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their
families. Like our NSOs and many of you,
I know the satisfaction of hearing a fellow veteran say: “You have changed my
life!”
Thank you for the support that you have given me in the past. It would be a privilege to continue to serve
as an officer of the Department of Ohio.
/s/ Mike Stith
DENNIS HANNEMAN
Please
consider Dennis Hanneman a candidate for DAV Department of Ohio Executive
Committee or a higher office. He is
presently serving on the Department Executive Committee and he is the Commander
of the DAV Putnam County Chapter #77.
Dennis
Hanneman is a life member of many veterans organizations these include: Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American
Veterans, Sons of the American Legion, Voiture 40/8.
Dennis
is married to Darlene Hanneman for 39 years.
They have four children.
I
am concerned for the Veterans and veterans rights. As a Viet Nam veteran, I feel that I can
promote and help the DAV and other fellow veterans in their difficulties and
problems. I have been active with many
veterans organizations for over 30 years helping veterans and their families.
Thank
you for your consideration.
s/Dennis F. Hanneman
FROM THE NSO OFFICE
Chapter Service Officer (CSO) training will be
conducted by the National Service Officers (NSO) on Thursday, June 16th, from
9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Department Convention. All Chapter Commanders
are reminded that they are required to send a letter to the Cleveland NSO
Office with the names of the primary candidate and any alternate
candidate. Each Chapter is limited to two (2) candidates for this
training. The Chapter Commander is always
welcome, but this training is geared towards the Chapter Service Officer and
the Assistant Service Officer. Chapters with representation will be
certified by DAV National.
NOTE FROM JIM BRITTON
I
wish to thank everyone for the prayers, cards and well wishes. They have meant so very much to me!