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
October,
2009
DAVID
FARRELL
Department
Commander
September is
coming to a close. I have had a really
nice time attending some of the District Meetings this month. I am very grateful for the hospitality you
have extended to me while attending the meeting. It means a great deal and it does not go
unappreciated. Besides attending
district meetings, I was invited to Peerless Chapter #10 family and guest cookout. They conveniently scheduled it on the same
day as the District Nine Meeting. I
would like to think they did that so I was able to attend but I know better. They had a wonderful guest speaker there as
well, Col. Terry Johnson. He gave a very
nice power presentation from his recent tour in Iraq. He served as a flight surgeon with several
other duties, bestowed upon our doctors in theater.
Our Fall
Conference is vastly approaching us. For
those who do not know it is 9 – 11 October 2009. I think we have a pretty good conference
schedule for everyone. Adjutant
Williams, Sherry and the office staff have worked extremely hard to ensure we
have a very nice time at our Conference,
So I hope everyone that is able to attend will join us this year. We have some pretty good guest speakers scheduled
and you will also hear from your Department Line Officers as they give their
own seminars on information they chose for you.
As always we will have an auction by the Auxiliary, followed by Bingo,
also conducted by our Auxiliary. The
Auction should provide a very healthy dose of excitement, as well as some
heated bidding. If you have not attended
one of these you are missing out on a lot of fun and laughs. Bingo, well, it’s Bingo!!
May God Bless you all. May God Bless Our Troops serving in the World’s Greatest Military. May God Bless the DAV. Most of all may God Bless the United States of America.
David K Farrell
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,
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
Henry
Snodgrass
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
October 9-11, 2009 DAV
Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
October 10 & 17, 2009 Forget-Me-Not Drive, The Buddy Chapter #43, Cooper Tire, Walmart
Stores, & Great Scott Stores, Findlay, Ohio
October 18, 2009 7th
District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50 at 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio.
October 24, 2009 1st
District Meeting, Harold J. Hursh Chatper #131, lunch at noon and meeting to
immediately follow, Middletown, Ohio.
November 6, 2009 Ohio
Veterans Hall of Fame, Vets Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.
Reception at 2 p.m. Induction Ceremony at 3 p.m.
November 7, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Ross County Chapter #18, Golden Corral, Chillicothe, Ohio.
November 16, 2009 Golden
Corral, Military Appreciation Monday Event.
November 11, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Lloyd C. Ludwick Chapter #123, Various locations in Highland County.
November 21, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Wayne County Chapter #44, Buelers Milltown, Wooster, Ohio.
Feb. 28 – Mar. 3, 2010 DAV
Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
April 11, 2010 8th
District Meeting, Clint Kramer Chapter #12, lunch at 1 p.m., meeting to follow
at 2 p.m., Zanesville, Ohio
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.
By James Keller
Just a few lines to say hello, and
say that I am ok. It fee’s good to get
out once in awhile. I want to thank
everyone for the prayer’s and the cards sent to me. And most important God’s love and care. Then the love and care of my wife Ellen. May God Bless all of you. By God’s love and help I will see you at the
Conference.
GOD THE WEAVER
God
is the weaver of our lives,
I’m
sure that he always strives
To
make our canvas so very bright,
But
it is up to us to live just right.
There
will be dark colors when we’ve done a wrong,
It’s
then he will help us to be more strong,
He’ll
hold our hands and show us the way,
In
our hearts his love will always stay.
There
will be strands of silver and gold,
When
we help the sick, and those who are old,
We
must love the children, one and all,
We
must be there, lest one should fall.
When
our days on earth have been spent,
And
a special angel has been sent
To
take us home, our master to meet,
We
will slowly kneel at his feet.
‘Tis
then we’ll see our canvas in his hand,
We’ll
see the bright colors, when he carried us o’er the sand,
When
we helped the pool, the lonely child, the old,
Then
we’ll be given our seat of gold.
Let
us strive to do our best,
So
some day, we’ll pass the test,
And
our canvas will glisten so bright,
When
we reach that heavenly light.
May
God Bless.
PDC Robert Bertschy
continues to serve DAV Department of Ohio. After the 2009 DAV National Convention
in August Bob drove 1,358 miles (Denver to Brecksville VAMC) to deliver a
DAV van that will serve Ohio veterans needing transportation to Cleveland
VA Medical Center. Bob, on behalf of DAV Department of Ohio, we wish to
extend to you, our sincere appreciation for your tireless efforts for
being a DAV volunteer van driver. Thank you for your service, helping
disabled veterans.
appreciation for your tireless
efforts for beingDAV volunteer van driver. Thank you for your service, helping
disabled veterans.
Pictured
Above: National Veterans 2009 TEE Golf Tournament for Disabled Veterans winning
foursome for their group of blind golfers have three members from Northeast
Ohio. (L-R) Joe Sekbo (Youngstown), Jim
Grabowski (South Dakota), and both George Pyle and Dave May are from Canton and
members of DAV Alliance Chapter 50.
Pictured
above: Members of the Clermont County
Chapter 63 participated in the DAV National Convention in Denver, Colo., in
August. They are from left, Joseph
Johnston, Raymond Hutchinson and James Johnston.
By Marsha Mundy – Clermont Sun Newspaper
During the Disabled American
Veterans National Convention held Aug. 22-25 in Denver, Colo., two area men
were elected to national positions.
“The DAV has 1.2 million members
nationally,” said Joseph Johnston. “We
provide services to those with service connected disabilities and their family
members.”
Johnston was elected to the position
of 4th Junior Vice Commander for the year 2009-2010.
Colonel Johnston served in the U.S.
Army during the Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars. He joined the Army in 1966, serving first as
an enlisted soldier and later as a commissioned officer. He served for 28 years in the Army as a
member of the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Infantry
Division, 10th Mountain Division, 2nd Infantry Division,
82nd Airborne Division, 7th U.S. Corps and Joint Chiefs
of Staff. He is 100 percent disabled as
a result of his service.
Johnston is a past commander of the
Clermont County DAV Chapter 63 and has served in other elected and appointed
officers including the National Interim Legislative Committee and trusteeship
of his department’s employee pension fund.
He is also a past state commander for the DAV Department of Ohio. He currently serves as treasurer for the
local chapter.
Johnston has master’s degrees in
business and executive management from Central Michigan University and the
Army’s General Staff College. Johnston
is also a Mason.
Johnston has worked for nonprofit
organizations since his retirement from the military. He currently serves as the chief operations
officer for the Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services which is the
largest social service organization in the tri-state area. He was recently nominated for the award of
Chief Financial Officer of the Year by the Cincinnati Business Courier.
“The position with the National DAV
is an elected position,” said Johnston.
“I was nominated for the position by the National DAV Nominating
Committee. It is a progressive line, I
will have to serve five years as a junior vice commander before I can advance.”
His job duties include looking out
for service men’s families, providing assistance to all veterans’ families
coming through the VA system.
“This job holds great
responsibilities and it is a great honor to be responsible for looking out for
the welfare of families of veterans. My
thoughts, prayers and deeds will always be with those families.”
Raymond Hutchinson was elected to a
two year term on the National Executive Committee during the convention. Hutchinson is currently serving as the
Adjutant for the Clermont County DAV Chapter #63.
Hutchinson was an E4 with the U.S.
Army during the Vietnam era and although he is not a combat veteran, he has
been 100 percent disabled due to a service related disability for 32 years.
Hutchinson is a member of the DAV,
Vietnam Veterans of America, the AMVETS and the American Legion Post 237. He has served as Past Commander for DAV
Chapter 63 and a Past Commander of the 1st District in the
Department of Ohio. He is also a Mason.
“I worked for seven years for
General Electric and 11 years with the West Clermont Schools in maintenance,”
said Hutchinson. “I have been 100 percent
disabled for 32 years making it difficult to work.”
As a member of the National
Executive Committee, he will be voting on issues for the welfare of the
organization.
“We are proud of these men from our
Chapter who will be serving the DAV National Organization,” said Chapter
Commander James Johnston.
James Johnston was recently selected
to serve as Sergeant-At-Arms for the State of Ohio DAV organization. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, a Mason and
member of the Scottish Rite.
The 1.2 million member Disabled
American Veterans is a non-profit 501(c)(4) charity dedicated to building
better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families.
The DAV was founded in 1920 by
disabled veterans returning from World War I to represent their unique
interests. In 1932, the DAV was
congressionally chartered as the official voice of the nation’s wartime
disabled veterans.
With Americans leaving the
battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the DAV’s services and advocacy are as
relevant and critical today as in any time in our nation’s history.
Annually, the DAV represents more
than 200,000 veterans and their dependents with claims for benefits from the
Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.
The Clermont County DAV Chapter #63
meets 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the American Legion Post 237 in
Batavia. All area disabled veterans are
invited to attend the meetings. For more
information about the DAV contact Reynolds Robertson II at (513) 237-0455 or
visit www.dav.org
NOTES FROM THE STATE ADJUTANT
Frank Williams
Thought for October: Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you
something to do but, it doesn’t get you anywhere!
COLA 2010 UPDATE: Rep Carolyn McCarthy(D-NY) introduced legislation
8Sep09 that, if passed, ensures retirees will receive a cost-of-living
adjustment (COLA) in 2010. Currently,
social security recipients are not scheduled to receive any COLA next year. This Bill (HR3536) would provide a one-time
$150 payment in lieu of COLA. Social Security
COLAs are based on inflation, and since inflation did not increase in 2009,
Social Security payments are expected to remain at the same levels in 2010 as
they have been in 2009.
PATIENT CARE GROUP SCAM: The Office of VA Secretary issued a
warning that a so-called “Patient Care Group” has been contacting Veterans
claiming they are helping the VA with prescriptions and stating VA Pharmacy
billing procedures have changed and they are, therefore, requesting Veteran
credit card numbers for prescription payments in advance of filling their
prescriptions. This
is FALSE!!! The VA does not call
Veterans asking them to disclose personal financial information over the
phone. The VA has not
changed its process for dispensing prescription
medicines. Be safe. Never give out your personal in
ormation to any phone caller!!!
The following information
will be helpful for Veterans seeking employment as it contains links to job
opportunities & information all over the country:
I hope to see
representatives from every Chapter at our Fall Conference which convenes
October 9, 2009. Many interesting
speakers and seminars are on the agenda, including Assistant Director of Ohio Department of Veteran Services; our
Director of Cleveland VA Medical Centers; Ohio Attorney General; A new Service Dogs
Agency with 2 dogs & Trainers and many others. Plus, our National Service Officers will be
there to give you up to date information as well as answer questions
on claims. There will be a lot to learn…….so come join us as we do our best to help
build better lives for Disabled American Veterans and their families.
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!!
THANK YOU FROM JOSEPH JOHNSTON
Several
times in one’s life an honor is bestowed that is so far reaching in its’
magnitude that it defies description. That is how I feel about being elected to
National office as the 4th Jr. Vice Commander of the Disabled
American Veterans. I hope and pray that I am worthy of the confidence that has
been reposed in me to serve this great organization in the coming years. I
would not and could not do this without the current and continued support of my
brothers and sisters in Ohio. You are the reason that I chose to run for this
office—and the reason that I will be successful if I become a National Commander
in the forthcoming years. I have been universally supported by all the
membership of Ohio and I am humbled by that confidence. I only hope that I will
never give a single one of you cause to regret your support to me. I must say
that I love the DAV—when you see a veteran so committed to our organization as
our current National Commander, Bobbie Barrera, you cannot help but feeling
emotionally and spiritually tied to the cause of our fellow disabled veterans
and their families. To all the Ohio delegation at the National Convention who
worked so hard and long to carry my candidacy and message to the other states
and territories, I am forever in your debt. To Frank Williams, my friend and
supporter, who served on the National nominating committee and supported me
there, thank you!! For Dave Bilinovich, our National Service Officer Supervisor
in Cleveland, who presented me to the nominating committee, I can only say
"Semper Fi"! Tom Keller, who prepared our handouts and campaign
materials of every sort, I can never repay your kindness, friendship and
concern for me. To the officers, Past Department Commanders of Ohio, I feel
encouraged each time you speak to me and I am grateful for the contribution
made in my name to the National Service Foundation, which supports our great
organization in so many ways. I also want to thank my friend, my brother, and
companion Ray Hutchinson—Ray you are a true friend and keep me straight! Our
Commander, Dave Farrell and his outstanding corps of officers this year have done
all that they can do to further my aspirations and I will not forget those
kindnesses. I pledge to continue my active support to the Disabled American
Veterans for the rest of my life. The DAV and all of you, are a labor of love
to me. I will never forget my duties, my responsibilities, and hope to be
worthy of the honor that you have all have bestowed upon me. Thank you Ohio!!!
Joe
Johnston