____

ROBERT BERTSCHY

Department Commander

It has been 7 months since I was nominated and elected as State Commander, Disabled American Veterans Department of Ohio. I truly have enjoyed each and every day serving as your commander. I have met a lot of good and dedicated DAV members.

I want to thank the hospitality shown to me at the different chapters and districts. I also want to thank all of the chapters that invited me to their Christmas parties.

I have visited Chillicothe VAMC, Dayton VAMC, Columbus CBOC, Georgetown Veterans Home, and the Sandusky Veterans Home DAV Christmas party. In the spring, I plan to visit the Cincinnati VAMC, Cleveland Wade Park VAMC, Brecksville VAMC and the Sandusky Veterans Home.

I hope you have been following the election primaries this month. No matter what your political affiliations, I encourage you to take an interest in the candidates during the primaries. You fought for your constitutional right for a free election, so please exercise your right and cast your ballot for those who haven’t forgotten your sacrifices and support veterans’ issues.

Speaking of elections, as a member of your local chapter, participate in nominating and electing the best candidate to serve the DAV Mission “ Service To Veterans.” Nominations of chapter officers

shall be held at a meeting in March and second nominations and elections shall be held in April. There shall be no voting by proxy or voting by absentee ballot. Installation of chapter officers shall take place within thirty (30) days of their election or appointment. Neither a chapter commander nor any vice-commanders may serve as chapter adjutant or treasurer. Upon election or appointment, and installation of the successor to any such office, all chapter property in his or her predecessor’s possession shall be surrendered to the newly installed officer.

Each chapter shall submit a chapter officer report to the state department, National Organization, and the nearest National Service Office within ten (10) days after the installation of newly elected or

appointed chapter officers. Failure to this is grounds for suspension of your charter.

As newly elected chapter officers, it would be advisable to review your chapter constitution and bylaws to confirm that they have been updated within the past five (5) years.

Final Thought: I would like to THANK each DAV member in Ohio for all you do for your fellow veterans and their families in your communities. Please keep up the good work that you do “Service to Veterans.”

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

Mike Shaw (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

James Keller 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

March 2-5, 2008 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

March 29, 2007 2^nd District Meeting, Dayton VA, Building, 305, Multi-purpose room, lunch at noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m., Dayton, Ohio

April 6, 2008 8^th District Meeting, Bellaire Chapter #117, Lunch at 1 p.m. and meeting to begin at 2 p.m., Bellaire.

April 12, 2008 Testimonial Dinner Auxiliary Commander Dorothy Clark, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio

April 13, 2008 3^rd District Meeting, Van Wert Chapter #54, VFW, Meeting to begin at 1 p.m., lunch will follow, Van Wert.

April 13, 2008 5^th District Meeting, VFW Post, 3494 Ashland Road, Mansfield, Ohio at 1 p.m. Mansfield Chapter #21 will serve lunch after the business meeting.

April 19, 2008 Testimonial Dinner Commander Robert Bertschy, Holiday Inn, Canton, 4520 Everhard Rd., NW, Canton, OH

April 27, 2008 6^th District Meeting, Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, at 2 p.m.

April 27, 2008 7^th District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50, at 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio

May 30, 2008 DAV Day at the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati, Ohio

June 5-8, 2008 DAV Department Convention, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio

August 9-12, 2008 DAV National Convention,

Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas.

October 10-12, 2008 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 4-7, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

October 9-11, 2009 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 10-13, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

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

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Thought For February:

“A man may be a fool and not know it – but not if he is married!”

The Social Security Administration has just recently came up with a new and unique way of making a determination on claims for disability. It is called “Quick Disability Determination” (QDD), and was first introduced in New England where 97% of the cases were decided within 21 days. This is a predictive model that analyzes specific elements of data within the electronics claims file to identify where there is a high potential that the claimant is disabled and where evidence can be quickly and easily obtained. When making the announcement of implementing QDD Nationwide, Social Security Administrator Michael Astrue said, “The length of time many people wait for a disability determination is unacceptable. I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy as possible.” He also said The Social Security Administration will continue to incorporate more diseases into the QDD model which will allow more claims to be considered through this new process.

My question is: Since this new process is working so well with the Social Security Administration, why can’t the VA “get on board” and adopt a similar system to expedite their claims processing for our veterans??? I plan to bring this matter up at our Midwinter Conference in Washington the first week in March.

The Governor’s Office of Veteran’s Affairs (GOVA), of which I am a member, works closely with the Governor as well as our State Legislators. In this regard, Governor Ted Strickland signed HB 372 into law which will go into effect on March 20, 2008. Excerpts from this bill are as follows:

Exempt military retired pay from State Income Tax.
Exempt estates from probate fees of service members who died while serving in a combat zone.
To designate Interstate Routes 70 and 71 as the “Purple Heart Trail”.
To provide that standard Purple Heart license plates be issued without charge.
To authorize display of combat battle stars on special combat or military license plates.

The entire contents of HB372 may be viewed at: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_372

Low income, needy veterans who are 65 or older, or physically disabled and served at least 90 days during WW2, Korea, Vietnam or the Gulf Wars, can apply for VA Improved Pension Program. For online help go to: www.vetassist.org The American Veterans Institute in Tipp City, Ohio sponsors this website where you can download forms and step-by-step guidance to fill out the forms.

President Bush, on January 17^th, released $3.7 billion in VA funding that is earmarked to help reduce the unacceptable claims backlog, hire PTSD Counselors and Claims Adjudicators to work with returning OEF/OIF veterans.

As always, keep our troops in your prayers as they fight the good fight in the war on terrorism. And, never forget FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

H.B. 372

Below is the release regarding the Governor signing H.B. 372 into law. You can view the AC T at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_372. The bill will go in effect 90 days from December 20^th.

ACT SUMMARY

· Exempts from certain probate fees the estate of a decedent who died while in active service as a United States armed forces or National Guard member serving in a combat zone.

· Exempts from the Ohio income tax, retired military personnel pay for service in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps or a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard.

· Requires a state or local licensing agency to renew an expired occupational or professional license or certificate held by a member of the National Guard or the reserves that expired because of the member's service.

· Allows a licensee who has been called to active duty upon the order of the Governor to have an extension of time in which to fulfill continuing education requirements.

· Requires a licensing agency to consider relevant military experience in determining whether a licensee has fulfilled continuing education requirements.

· Prohibits discrimination based on military status with respect to the Ohio Civil Rights Act and various other anti-discrimination laws regarding employment and work related issues, housing and real estate acquisition, health care, and insurance.

· Requires the Attorney General to appoint a staff member of the Consumer Protection Division to expedite certain cases or issues raised by a person, or the person's immediate family, who is deployed on active duty.

· Extends the 20% credit available to certain military persons on civil service examinations to any member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the United States armed forces who has completed more than 180 days of active duty service pursuant to an order of the President or an act of Congress.

· Creates the Incumbent Worker Training Program to make grants to certain Ohio businesses and trainers to increase employee occupational skills.

· Allows a person who was awarded a battle star for engagement in actual combat against the enemy to request the display of the combat battle star on a special combat or military license plate.

· Requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to adopt rules to determine (1) the specific combat or military license plates that are appropriate for the display of battle stars and (2) the documentary evidence necessary as proof of the battle star award.

· Creates Civil Air Patrol license plates, available to members in good standing of the Civil Air Patrol.

· Eliminates all fees and taxes charged for "Purple Heart" license plates except for the additional fees charged for initial reserve and personalized "Purple Heart" license plates, which are reduced by 25%.

· Designates Interstate Routes 70 and 71 in Ohio as the "Purple Heart Trail."

Governor Announces Free Income Tax Assistance

Available Through the Ohio Benefit Bank

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today that the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has launched a statewide effort to provide free federal and Ohio income tax return assistance to Ohioans with household incomes below $54,000 per year.

The assistance is offered through The Ohio Benefit Bank – a free service that provides help for low and moderate-income Ohioans to claim tax credits and other work support benefits. “Completing a tax return can often be a complex and time-consuming process. That’s why I encourage Ohioans who need assistance to take advantage of the Benefit Bank’s tax preparation services,” Strickland said. “Benefit Bank counselors stand ready to help families with their taxes as well as determine their potential eligibility for additional benefits.” The Ohio Benefit Bank is offered through a public-private partnership between the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and more than 400 faith-based, non-profit, governmental and private-sector partners.

Trained counselors are currently staffing more than 120 Benefit Bank sites and clinics across

the state to help prepare and file federal and Ohio income tax returns at no cost to eligible Ohioans. Free income tax assistance is also available through an online, self-service program at www.OBB.Ohio.Gov. Ohio public libraries are also partnering with the Benefit Bank to provide internet access and encourage individuals to utilize the online program.

Ohioans can also check potential eligibility for other work support benefits such as healthcare coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies and food stamps at Benefit Bank sites and clinics or online.

To identify tax assistance services available in local communities or to get additional information on the Benefit Bank, please call 1-800-648-1176 or visit www.OBB.Ohio.Gov. In less than 18 months of operations, the Benefit Bank has helped more than 7,500 Ohioans claim more than $9 million in tax credits and other work supports.

However, more than $1.6 billion dollars in tax credits and other supports go unclaimed by eligible Ohioans who do not apply. More than 95 percent of these unclaimed funds are federal dollars. This includes more than 165,000 Ohioans who do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Ohio StateAssociation

Of County Veterans Service Officers (OSACVSO)

President: James M. McAuliffe

News Release from the Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers (OSACVSO)

The Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers (OSACVS0) wishes to remind veterans that WWII, Korean Conflict Veterans and Vietnam Conflict Veterans could be eligible for High School Diploma, as authorized under Ohio State Law. Forms and full information is available at your local County Veterans Service Office.

The Ohio law allows veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict, who left high school prior to graduation to serve in the armed forces of the United States, or who left school prior to graduation due to family circumstances and subsequently entered the armed forces of the United States, to receive their high school diploma.

Family members of deceased veterans can also apply and receive the deceased veterans’ diploma posthumously. To qualify the veteran has to be "a resident of this state" or "was previously enrolled in any high school of this state" and must have received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States for service during the specified date for either World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict, and the veteran has not been previously granted a high school diploma. Veterans are advised they should have their honorable discharge (separation document) or DD-214 with them when they apply.

Specified service periods are: (WWII - Sept. 16, 40 to Dec. 31, 46, Korea Conflict - Jun. 27, 50 to Jan. 31, 55, Vietnam Conflict - Aug. 5, 64 (Feb. 28, 61 for veterans who served "in country" before Aug. 5, 1964) to May 7, 75 in any branch of the armed forces of the United States).

Branches of armed forces of the United States that are eligible: United States Army Air Corps, United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local Veterans Service Office/ Veterans Service Commission. Your County Veterans Service Office/Center is the number one resource for obtaining benefits in the State of Ohio. Many Federal, state and local benefits are available to eligible veterans and their dependents. You are invited to stop in at your local veterans office. All 88 counties have trained, certified Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Service Commissioners and staff that can assist veterans and their dependents with their claims for benefits such as compensation, veterans & widows deaths pension/DIC, education, burial, markers, financial assistance etc. And answer questions about Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and provide transportation to DVA Medical facilities, and do records searches.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS