Brothers of the Department of Ohio;

Please accept my sincere appreciation for choosing me to guide the Ohio department for the coming year. My acceptance is with a deep awareness of the trust you place in me.

Let it be known that the Department of Ohio Headquarters is now located in Loveland, Clermont County Ohio.

My special thanks to Past Commander Bob Davis for his direction and leadership to our Brotherhood this past year. His advice, guidance and encouragement are a constant source of motivation for me.

It should be noted that Chief of Staff Jonathan Davis organized, directed and supervised all of the arrangements of the past Mid-Winter and the 128th Annual Encampment in an orderly and efficient manner. The Ohio Department extends a most appreciative thank you to Brother Jonathan Davis.

1. Organization/Communication

A list of your newly elected Department Officers and Department Committee Appointees has been posted on the Department web site. Media questions and articles/pictures for the Banner should be submitted to Senior Vice Commander Don Martin. Prospective membership questions should be submitted to Junior Vice Commander Fred Lynch. For questions regarding policy issues please contact me.

2. Camp By-Laws, Rosters, Officers and E-mail Contact

At the 128th Annual Encampment several minor changes were made to the Department By-Laws. These may affect your Camp By-Laws. We are awaiting approval of these changes by the Commander-in-Chief and when received you will be notified.
I remind all Camp Commanders, Secretaries and Treasurers that they must pay attention to the dates that Forms 22 and 27A must be mailed to the Department Secretary/Treasurer Brother Al Howey. Remember they must be typed and submitted in duplicate. Please include telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for each member where available.

3. Camp Meetings and Events

As your Department Commander I will attend as many Camp Installation ceremonies as possible. Therefore I need Camps to advise me when they plan these events so I can schedule my attendance. Two at the same time will require the “first come first served” approach. You are reminded that Camp Installations are to be conducted only by the Department Commander or his designee. If unable to attend I will designate someone to represent me.

4. National Encampment

It is not too late to make plans to attend the 129th Annual National Encampment in Overland Park, Kansas. Full details are on the National web site.

5. Commander’s 2010-2011 Challenges

The year 2011 will start our Nation’s Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Civil War. This type of opportunity will not come again for another 50 years, so we need to take advantage of this opportunity. This is the time to make our organization better known throughout the state of Ohio and to strengthen our membership.

Our National leadership has given us three building blocks upon which we honor our departed Brothers who fought to preserve the Union and our way of life. These three are Grave Registration, Last Veteran Ceremonies and Monument and Memorial Recognition.  

Brother Kent Dorr, Department Grave Registration Officer, has compiled a list of Civil War Veterans graves in various Ohio Counties that need to be researched at the Veteran’s cemetery and submitted to the National Website. If any of the Counties are in your Camp’s area of responsibility we need your help in researching these graves.

Last Veteran Ceremonies have been held in several Ohio Counties by a limited number of Camps. This worthy endeavor needs to be expanded to all Camps.

Brothers I challenge every Ohio Camp to hold at least one Last Veteran Ceremony in the next 12 months and to complete Brother Dohr’s list of grave sites. This can be the start of the Ohio Department’s contribution to our Nation’s Sesquicentennial Celebration

Have an enjoyable Summer and I look forward to meeting many of you over the next year.

 

 

 

So ordered this 30th day of June, 2010

 

Yours in Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty,

Attested,

Charles S. Reeves	Allan Howey
Charles S. Reeves Commander	Allan Howey Secretary