Blind Veterans
National Chapter #1
WEB SITE: http://www.davbvnc1.com/contents.htm
November/December
2016Newsletter
Editor: Dennis O’Connell
bvnc1@optonline.net
"IF I CANNOT SPEAK GOOD OF MY COMRADE,
I WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM OR HER."
OFFICERS OF THE BLIND CHAPTER
Commander James
Hogan (CA)
Phone (661) 251-7870; Email: ja2paroses@aol.com
Senior Vice
Commander Ron Lester (AZ)
1st Junior Vice
Commander Leonard Pope (NJ)
2nd Junior vice Commander Herschel Harris (GA)
3rd Junior
Vice Commander Dennis O’Connell, PC (NY)
Judge Advocate Dennis
O’Connell, PC (NY)
Chaplain Rev. Tony Martino, PDC (IL)
Phone 847 736 2111; email: deaconmartino@gmail.com
Adjutant/Treasurer Paul Kaminsky (FL) (also
webmaster)
Phone 904
291-0576; email: pkjax@kaminsky.com
PLEASE, if you know of any member who is sick or
deceased inform one of the officers whose contact information is listed above
ASAPP.
IN MEMORY:
On Friday,
March 18, 2016 Carroll E. Prosser, Judge Advocate for the Department of South
Carolina and Commander of Grand Strand Chapter #30 passed away. Carroll was a
Past Department Commander for South Carolina and Past Chapter Commander for the
Blind Veterans National Chapter #1. On October 30th, 2016 the DAV Chapter #30
in Myrtle Beach, SC renamed the Chapter to the Carroll E. Prosser Chapter #30
in his honor. During the ceremony our Blind Chapter Adjutant/Treasurer Paul
Kaminsky and his wife Maureen who traveled from Florida to present the newly
renamed Chapter’s Commander with a framed Braille Flag dedicated to Carroll.
The Braille Flag will serve to remind members of the Carroll E. Prosser Chapter
#30 of Carroll’s ties to our Blind Veterans National Chapter #1. Carroll to the
end was very active in Myrtle Beach and with our Blind Chapter. He will be
missed.
Picture of Carroll E. Prosser Chapter 30
Commander Gossett (Left) receiving a
Framed Braille Flag from Blind Chapter
Adjutant Paul Kaminsky (Right).
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDER
Greetings to
All! As we approach the New Year 2017 my wishes for all of you are to be happy,
healthy and active. As the Blind Veterans Chapter #1 of the DAV we must
continue to put forth our presence and keep the lights of understanding burning
in our comrades. We have all had the benefit of excellent rehab training and
there is not much we cannot do, we simply do it differently. Get out there, and
show them how it is done.
I am looking
forward to representing all of you at our Mid-Winter Legislative conference in
February in Washington D.C.
I am also
looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible in New Orleans for the
National Convention. Don’t forget that
the Blind Chapter has their first meeting on Friday July 29th. Make your plans
and reserve your hotel now!
CONVENTION MESSAGE FROM THE ADJUTANT/TREASURER
Sorry for the
delay on getting out the post-convention information, but when our computers
wipe us out it takes time to not only get repairs done, but also the time to
rebuild stored data. With that said I can now relay that the Disabled American
Veterans held their National Convention in the great city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Once again it was an excellent event topped off with the performance of Gary
Sinise with his Lt. Dan Band. Added to this year’s entertainment was Lee
Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA”. The food was great, entertainment super,
and the sharing of fellowship uplifting. As usual the business and seminar
session s kept us active and involved giving a strong feeling of mission
accomplishment and unity.
Saturday, July
30, 2016 the Blind Veterans National Chapter #1 annual reunion held its first
business meeting at 9:00 am. At 4:00 pm the second business meeting was held.
Roll call of
officers followed the opening invocation given by Ron Lester, and the Pledge
led by Judge Advocate Dennis O’Connell. Officers present were Commander Jim
Hogan, Sr. vice Ron Lester, 2nd Jr. vice Leonard Pope, 3rd Jr. vice Dennis
O’Connell, Adjutant/Treasurer Paul Kaminsky.
Officers authorized absent: 1st Jr. Vice Day May, Chaplin Tony Martino.
Delegates present were Dennis O’Connell, James Hogan, Ron Lester, Leonard
Pope. Alternate Delegates: Herschel
Harris, Paul Kaminsky.
Following the
reading and approval of the previous reunions meeting minutes, the Treasurer’s
Report was given. Following is the brief summary of the annual treasury report:
DAV BLIND
VETERANS NATIONAL CHAPTER #1, FINANCIAL REPORT
JULY 1, 2015
TO JUNE 30, 2016
Beginning
Balance: $72,132.73
Income:
• Dues per Capita: $356.50
• Interest/Dividends: $30.39.
• Donations: $7,014.00
Total Income:
$7,400.89
Expenses:
• Convention (Stipends) (C&A
Orientation) & (Mid-Winter: $8,099.82
• Postage, Office Supplies &
Printing: $245.71
• Charitable Contributions: $1,000.00
• Other Expenses Includes:
Installation
Breakfast,
Caregiver Lunch,
Bank Charges,
Donor appreciation Award,
Total Other
Expenses: $3,403.11
Total
Expenses: $12,748.64
Ending
Balance: $66,784.98
Checking
Balance: $6,810.59
Savings
Balance: $59,974.39
Ending &
Total Bank Balances: $66,784.98
Several
business items were also discussed during the business meetings. Noted was that for the third year in a row
the Chapter had met its membership goal and received a fourth flag pendant from
National Headquarters.
Commander
Hogan assigned committee responsibilities to the Delegates and Alternate
Delegates as were deemed necessary.
Convention
Committee Assignments: Jim Hogan:
Hospital and Volunteer; Dennis O’Connell: Legislation & Vet Benefits; Ron Lester:
Nominations; Leonard Pope: Constitution
& Bylaws; Paul Kaminsky:
Credentials. All Delegates and Alternate Delegates attended all assigned
committee meetings and all convention business meetings.
The newly
elected officers are listed above, at the beginning of this newsletter.
All officers were installed Tuesday
August 2, 2016 and the Chapter’s Installation Breakfast. Honored guest Past National Commander Wally
Tyson conducted the oath of office services.
The closing
event of the DAV National Convention was an evening where we attended the
presentation of our new National Officers.
We then had a very nice dinner followed by entertainment. Plan next year to attend 2017 National
Convention, July 29 – August 1, 2017, Hilton New Orleans, Riverside, 2 Poydras
Street, New Orleans, LA 70130,
Telephone: 1.800.Hiltons or 1.504.561.0500, Group Name: Disabled American Veterans, $130
Single/Double
In closing we
wish our newly elected DAV National Commander for 2016 – 2017, National
Commander David Riley a most successful and productive year
Remember to always ask for your veteran’s discount!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!