2004-2005 Dept. Orders #3

DEPARTMENT OF OHIO

SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR

Bradley A. Tilton - Ohio Department Commander 2004-2005

DEPARTMENT ORDERS #3

Series 2004-2005

By the time you receive these orders we will be into the New Year. I sincerely hope everyone had a joyous and safe holiday season with family and friends. As we head into another year, I encourage everyone to make an effort to recruit new members to our Order. The Department continues to grow and prosper only through your efforts.

In accordance with our Constitution and Regulations, all Camps should install their new officers by the end of January. Let me offer my wishes for great success to all who were elected. Camp secretaries are reminded to submit your Certification of Election and Installation of Camp Officers (Form 22) to Department Secretary, Dave Medert by February 1st. Form 22 has recently been revised to include each officer’s contact information. Please use the latest version, which can be found at www.suvcw.org or contact the Department Secretary.

Camp Secretaries are also reminded that your Camp Annual Report (Form 27) is due to Department Secretary, Dave Medert, by April 30. Please include a complete roster of all camp members and their annual per capita dues. National dues are $18 and Department dues are $4. After the Annual Report is submitted, membership status changes should be reported to the Department Secretary with Form 30 by the 15^th of the month after the change occurs. Dues for new members are pro-rated by quarter.

Once again, the Council of Administration has voted to waive National per capita dues for brothers serving in the military on active duty in a combat zone. The Ohio Department will follow this example and waive Department per capita dues. Camps are encouraged to do the same. Camp Secretaries should submit the name, rank, and unit of each brother to be exempted along with their Annual Report.

The mid-winter meeting is scheduled for January 29, 2005 at Veterans Memorial Room 205 on West Broad Street in Columbus. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. with the Department Council meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The meeting should end by 2:00 p.m. No business may be transacted, however, we will be giving reports, making plans, and taking suggestions for the Ohio Department. All brothers are encouraged to attend. All Department Officers and Committee Chairmen are asked to give a brief report. If you are unable to attend, please forward your report to me before the meeting.

February 12, 2005 will mark the 196^th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. All camps are encouraged to honor our 16th President in some way. Many camps have a special dinner in remembrance. This is an excellent opportunity for brothers and their families to come together.

Camp Secretaries are reminded to apply to the National Treasurer for payment of the Life Membership reimbursement for brothers who’s Life Membership Fee was paid in full before December 31, 2001. Form 10 for this purpose is available from the Department Secretary or the National Treasurer. The National Treasurer must receive the completed form by March 31, 2005.

The Memorial Stone in honor and memory of the Grand Army of the Republic at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery at Rittman, Ohio has been completed. It will soon be placed on the Memorial Trail at the cemetery.

We will have a dedication/presentation program on Saturday, April 9, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at the cemetery. All Camps are encouraged to bring their Camp flag and participate in the program. Brothers are encouraged to come in uniform and participate in a rifle salute. Members of the Allied Orders and guests are also welcome. This is also the 140^th anniversary of Lee’s surrender. Any brother who would like to help plan the program should contact me.

Brother Dick Greenwalt has confirmed that the 123^rd Annual Ohio Department Encampment will be held on June 17-19, 2005 at Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. Please make plans to attend. More detailed information will be in the next Department Newsletter.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 124^th National Encampment will take place at Nashua, New Hampshire on August 4-6, 2005. Please make plans to attend. More information will be found in The Banner and on the National web site.

The National Treasurer, Max Newman, has given notice to the Council of Administration that he must resign his position due to health problems effective at the 2005 National Encampment. We should look within our Department for candidates to serve the remaining two years of Max's term. If you have the desire and expertise to take on this position, please let me know.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War awards two $1,000 scholarships annually for tuition and books to high school seniors and college students (male or female). The application, as well as the standards of selection, can be found at www.suvcw.org. The deadline is March 31, 2005

All brothers who are attorneys are requested to send your name and address to Department Counselor Henry E. Shaw, Jr., 27 Griswold St., Delaware, OH 43015-1716, [email protected]

Last but not least, I want to thank all of you who attended the joint reception for Ohio Department Auxiliary President, Sandy Prosak, and me on October 10. A special thanks goes to PDC Ralph Shadel, Bob Davis, and Bruce Phipps for organizing the event.