Tuesday, August 24, 2010

VETERANS BONUS

For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Governor, State Leaders Launch Ohio Veterans Bonus Program

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce and Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Bill Hartnett today launched the Ohio Veterans Bonus program in Columbus.

An estimated 200,000 Ohio residents are eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus.

“In November, the voters of Ohio resoundingly supported Issue 1,” Strickland said.
“Ohioans wanted to extend a small measure of our thanks and offer a tangible sign of our profound respect for our veterans of recent conflicts and their survivors. Today we are asking all eligible veterans and their survivors to apply for this special payment from the state.”

“Of course no payment is adequate reward for the sacrifices made on our behalf,” Strickland added. “But these checks will help make a mortgage payment, or put food on the table, or start a savings account. And what’s more, these payments will say something clearly and directly to our veterans: thank you.”

All Ohio veterans could be eligible for a bonus if they served on active duty with U.S. armed forces, including the Ohio National Guard, anywhere in the world during specified periods of time. The active duty must be for purposes other than training. Applicants must have been legal residents of Ohio when they went on active duty and also must be Ohio residents when they apply for a bonus.

“The process of providing these bonuses began a few years ago in Iraq, when an Ohioan serving as an Army captain there wrote to my office on behalf of the servicemen and women in his unit,” said Cordray. “Working together, Ohioans responded in a big way, bringing these bonuses to fruition. It truly is a story of democracy at its finest. My office will continue to work to support our Veterans through the application process, to make it as simple as possible.”
The estimated processing time for bonus applications is approximately eight weeks,
depending on the volume of applications initially received.
To apply for the bonus, applicants should go to www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov, and complete the online application. Ohio’s public libraries are prepared to assist with the online application if applicants do not have Internet access. In addition, staff at Ohio’s County Veterans Service Offices is available to assist in the application process.
Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Bill Hartnett said eligible veterans must satisfy three basic requirements.
“We want to know about residency, geography and time,” Hartnett said. “The Veterans must be Ohio residents now and must have been an Ohio resident when they were called to active duty. Next, we have to know where they served and finally we have to know when they served.”
Eligible veterans may receive $100 for each month of active duty service in the following locations during these specified dates:
. Persian Gulf: Between August 2, 1990 and March 3, 1991, the date when Iraq
accepted the conditions for a permanent cease fire. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus until December 31, 2013.
. Afghanistan: Since October 7, 2001. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus for up
to three years after the President declares an end to U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
. Iraq: Since March 19, 2003. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus for up to three years after the president declares an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq.
. The maximum benefit for service in those three areas is $1,000.
Eligible veterans serving on active duty (except active duty for training) anywhere else in the world during the specified dates, may receive $50 a month up to a maximum bonus of $500. An eligible veteran may combine their service bonuses for a maximum payment of $1,500.
To be eligible for a bonus:
. The veteran must have been separated from the armed forces under honorable
conditions.
. The veteran remains on active duty service.
. After active duty service, the veteran remains in any reserve component of the armed forces, including the Ohio National Guard.







Disappointing News

Keith Harman, Ohio's Candidate for Junior Vice Commander in Chief in 2011 lost his bid for that possition, in a close vote on Sunday 8/22/10, at the National Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

COUNTY COUNCILS

In the July General Orders Commander Sam Compton announced that existing County Councils may continue to exist, but responsibility for maintenance of those county councils will fall upon the District in which they exist and will be the responsibility of the District to disseminate all information and instructions coming from either National or Department.
No new County Councils can be formed.

ALL AMERICANS

Kansas City, Mo., August 11, 2010 -- The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States announced that Leon Johnson of Spencerville, Ohio has achieved All American status as a Department Commander. Commander Johnson is one of only 27 VFW Department Commanders selected world-wide for All American Commander. National Commander Thomas Tradewell said, “The criteria for this honor are based on outstanding achievements in membership growth and participation in other VFW programs that benefit veterans and their communities. The title of All American Commander is the most prestigious honor given by our organization.”


DISTRICT ALL AMERICAN COMMANDERS

Hank Wetzel, Commander of District 1, in the Department of Ohio
David Mahlie, Commander of District 2, in the Department of Ohio
Robert Critell, Commander of District 3, in the Department of Ohio
Linus Kilchenman, Commander of District 6, in the Department of Ohio
George Dennison, Commander of District 7, in the Department of Ohio
James Dill, Commander of District 8, in the Department of Ohio
John Amburgey, Commander of District 11, in the Department of Ohio

The above are seven of only 51 VFW District Commanders selected world-wide for All American Commander. National Commander Thomas Tradewell said, “The criteria for this honor are based on outstanding achievements in membership growth and participation in other VFW programs that benefit veterans and their communities. The title of All American Commander is the most prestigious honor given by our organization.”

Thursday, August 5, 2010

OHIO DAY NATIONAL HOME LETTER

Dear Commander Compton & President Painter:

It was a pleasure to see you both on Ohio Day at the National Home. We were so pleased again this year with the large turnout of our Ohio friends and everyone had a great time. We are overwhelmed at the support from our Ohio family - the grand total from Ohio Day donations was $43,736.26! This of course does not include the wonderful gifts of back to school supplies for the children you provide each year. What generosity from the Department of Ohio membership!

Our Public Relations team, Patti Marriott and Pat Cotter enjoyed working with your VFW National Home Chairman, Robert Gianonne and VFW Ladies Auxiliary Veterans and Family Support Chairman, Jill Householder, who are truly wonderful VFW National Home ambassadors.

Cindy, thanks so much for the gift of the bag – and the shirt design was a big hit with the children this year – they love it!!

You must be very proud of the Department of Ohio members who so lovingly dedicate their time to help support their VFW National Home programs and services. We truly appreciate their hard work and dedication and are very grateful to all of the members who do so much to make Michigan Day a special time.

Thank you for your generous support as together we provide Help, Hope and Honor to our active-duty military, veterans and their children and families here who are working hard to achieve a brighter future.

Sincerely,

Patrice Green
Executive Director

Monday, August 2, 2010

GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS

HERE ARE SOME PIECES OF INFORMATION I RECEIVED FROM MEG KLAAMEYER.

VFW Post 3383 Commander Shawn Freedom Jackson & his wife Adriana just welcomed their new baby boy, Joshua Freedom Jackson at 8:03 pm tonight. Little Joshua weighed in at 7# 7 oz. & 19" long. Shawn also a VFW State Service Officer in the Cleveland Office.
Cards can be sent to: 580 Park Hill Drive #10
Fairlawn, OH 44333

Dayton VAVS ladies rep, Frances Hummons, had surgery this past Thursday to repair an aneurysm in her stomach. Surgery went well and she is at home recuperating.
Cards can be sent to: 808 Burleigh Ave.
Dayton, OH 45402

I was asked to let everyone know that George Denison, Past D7 Commander is going into Wade Park VA on August 4th for a lung biopsy, he will be in the hospital until the 6th from what Dalene said.

Address for George: 1446 West 110th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44102

I have sad news to report. Secretary of the auxiliary, Post 3360, Babe Mansfield was taken by cancer. She will be greatly missed as she was the heart and soul of Post 3360 auxiliary.

Babe`s services will be held Tuesday August 3rd. at 11:00 A.M. at Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home here in Defiance. Visitation is from 9:00 A.M. until time of service Tuesday morning. Our Auxiliary will be conducting a memorial service at 9:30 A.M.

Cards may be sent to:
Babe Mansfield Family
219 Prospect St
Defiance, Ohio 43512

Received a phone call from Commander Charine that Luke Sawicki (D7 Jr Vice Commander) wife's cousin passed away about a month ago in Afghanistan from a road side bomb. There is to be a memorial service tomorrow (Saturday, July 31st) in Ashtabula. I do not have any details on where this will be held.

Cards can be sent to : Sawicki Family
5381 Savannah Drive
Ashtabula, OH 44004