SERIES 2002-2003
JUNE 30, 2002

Brothers of the Ohio Department:

 First, let me sincerely thank you for your support in electing me
 Department Commander.  I intend to do whatever I can to live up to
 your confidence in the next year.  And, I'm sure that with the 
 cooperation you've shown in the past, we'll be able to accomplish much.
 Secondly, let me express my thanks to Sect./Treas. Dick Greenwalt 
 and his wife, Bea, for again organizing the annual Department Encampment
 at Mt. Union College - just a great place and so reasonable.  And, also,
 much thanks to Chief of Staff Bob Davis for arranging the Campfire and Banquet
 programs.     


1.  Organization/Communication

 Issuance of the first General Order of the 2002-2003 year is occurring at 
 this time to insure that all Brothers in the Ohio Dept. are promptly informed
 of the Officers and Committees elected and appointed at the 120th Encampment
 (June 14-16).  This list is attached and has also been placed in the 
 Ohio Dept. section on the National website (www.suvcw.org/oh/deptoh.htm). 
 Should you have questions or need help during the year, contact those officers
 responsible for the specific area.  Media questions and articles/pictures for
 submission to the Banner should be forwarded to SVC Jon Silvis. Prospective 
 membership questions should be directed to JVC Brad Tilton.  For questions 
 involving policy issues, please contact me directly.  The same goes, if for some
 reason, you have difficulty contacting other officers.  A key continuing objective 
 of our Dept. is good communication and we want to make it work!

2. Camp Roster, Officers, and Email Contact

 With the attached list, Ohio Brothers know the new Dept. Officers and how to 
 contact them. 
 However, we at the Dept. level have continuing difficulty in obtaining a current,
 accurate list of all Ohio Dept. Brothers, Officers in the Camps, and the email contact
 for each Camp.  I request that, if you have not done so already, forward this information
 to Brother Greenwalt NOW!  In addition, email to the Signals Officer Ray Nagel (orion@fuse.net),
 names of your current Camp Commander and Secretary, plus an email contact.
 This information is posted to our Dept. website and is a valuable communication tool - if the
 information is there and accurate. 

3.  Camp Meetings and Events

 In order to develop a closer bond between the Camps and the Ohio Dept., I want to visit as many
 Camps and events as I can this year - including those in the northern part of Ohio.  To accomplish
 this objective I need your help. Please request my attendance for a specific event as early as 
 possible.  My acceptance will generally be based on "first come, first served." 
 If there are events where scheduling conflicts occur, e.g. Memorial Day, I will try to have one 
 of the other officers represent the Department.  Note that individuals must be approved by the 
 Commander in order to represent the Department at an event.  


4.  National Encampment - Springfield, IL

 It's not too late to make plans to attend our 121st National Encampment in Springfield, IL. 
 (Thurs. Aug. 8 thru Sun. Aug. 11) and I encourage you to do so.  You will find it fun and informative.
 This is where the key decisions are made that effect our Order.  And, particularly this year we want
 to have a good representation for the Ohio Dept. in support of our "favorite son," PDC and current 
 SVCinC Bob Grim for the office of Commander-in-Chief of the SUVCW.  You can pre-register for the 
 Encampment via the form in the Banner or register on-site at the Encampment.  To be able to stay at 
 the Encampment hotel, you need to make hotel reservations by July 7.  The actual Encampment meetings
 start Friday morning.

5.  Camp Newsletters

 Since becoming JVC, I have been fortunate to receive Camp Newsletters from several Camps, and have 
 much appreciated this courtesy because it keeps me up to date on the happenings and work being done.
 To aid in improving the communication link between the Dept. and your Camp, please add the Dept. 
 Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, and Jr. Vice Commander to your email or snail mail list for your 
 publication.  For those Camps not currently having a newsletter, consider starting one 
 - it's a great communications tool and will undoubtedly increase attendance at your Camp meetings
 and activities.  Such a publication can be done inexpensively by starting with only a page or two 
 and mailing it by email to those members on the internet.

6.  Last Union Civil War Veteran

 It was proposed by PDC Don Darby at this year's Encampment that we determine the last Union veteran to 
 survive in each Ohio county and for the entire state and that appropriate recognition be noted to that 
 effect by marking the gravesites of these veterans.  To start the ball rolling on this project, 
 the Grave Registration Officer and Memorials Officer in each Camp should start researching this information.
 Once determined for your counties, inform our Dept. Memorials Officer so he can track progress.


 In closing let me wish you a wonderful summer.  I look forward to working with all of you to achieve the objectives
 of our Order in the coming year.

By Order of:		Attested:						



James H. Houston	Richard L. Greenwalt
Commander		Secretary/Treasurer