2005 - OSACVSO Presentation
The Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers
"...to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.."
President Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Mar. 4, 1865
The purpose of our association:
* To provide County Veterans Service Officers opportunities to exchange ideas, procedures and theories
pertaining to Veteran' benefits;
* To enhance the skills and knowledge of County Veterans Service Officers by providing specific in-service
educational programs;
* To increase the public awareness of the services provided by Ohio's County Veterans Services Officers;
* To form mutually beneficial alliances with the Ohio Governor's Office of Veterans Affairs (GOVA),
the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, and all other congressionally chartered veterans service organizations;
* To represent and speak for Ohio's County Veterans Service Officers on maters of state and national
veterans" issues;
* To assist and advise Service Officers and Veterans Service Commissions on county issues upon request.
The purpose of this presentation (information):
* To provide a brief education on the duties and functions of County Veterans Service Officers
- Historical background
- Legal Background
- Role of Veterans Service Commissions
- Role of Veterans Service Officers
- Statewide Statistics
* Financial Assistance
* Claims Assistance
But Most Importantly - The purpose of this Presentation Is to Determine How We can Help YOU!
Our Nation's deadliest battle cost more than lives, it cost our land. Veterans
returned home to find chaos. Fields were ruined and machinery sat idle, falling into a state of disrepair. The
powerful legs and strong backs needed to operation farms were lost to the battle, either dead or maimed. Our economy
suffered greatly, as did our veterans and their families. Who would help our brave veterans that had already endured
so much?
Soldiers' & Sailors' Relief
In May, 1886 the Ohio Legislature enacted the Soldier's & Sailors' Relief Act. This
mandated the formation of a Soldiers' & Sailors' Relief Commission in each of Ohio's 88 counties.
These Commissions would follow an established set of laws for providing assistance to Soldiers, Sailors
and Marines. Provision were also established for helping those survivors or dependents of veterans in dire need.
The Commissions were funded through a small portion of each county's property tax. This practice continued for
Sixty years.
World War II brings About Change
As the War drew to a close, the Ohio Legislature took action that would modify the Soldier's
& Sailor's Relief Act to fit the "modern" needs of those returning home from battle.
In 1945 the Ohio Legislature Made the following changes to Ohio's Veteran Law
* Provide assistance to veterans applying for benefits under the new GI Bill
* Increased the Commission to 5 members
* Added previsions for hiring Veteran Service Officers (VS0)
* Mandated duties of the VSO to include assisting veterans and dependents in applying for any benefits
available under local, State and Federal Laws.
In 1998 the Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Commission was renamed "The Veterans Service Commission".
There are three major duties of the Commission mandated at law:
* Provide Emergency Financial Assistance
* Provide Assistance in preparing and filing claims
* Provide veterans transportation to medical facilities.
Emergency Financial Assistance
* Provide short term basic needs to eligible veterans and their families who demonstrate a need
* Include but is not limited to:
* Food
* Utility payment
* Rent/Mortgage
Claims Assistance
* Provide one-stop service for veterans and other claimants for help with VA claims and claims for
any federal, state, or local veterans benefit.
*County Veterans Service Officers are fully trained and are accredited by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Transportation
* Each County is required to establish policies and procedures governing the transportation
of veterans and their aids to any medical appointment at Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Centers.
* This service is provided at no cost to the veteran.
STATISTICS
When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers, you know something about
it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of the meager and unsatisfactory
kind. - Lord Kelvin (British physicist).
OR ----- there are lies, damned lies, and statistics! - B. Disraeli
Veterans Service Commission
What is a Veterans Service Commission?
* A County Board with Five Members
* Must be a county Resident
* Must have been Honorably Discharged
* Each represent a National Service Org. - VFW; AmVets; AmLegion, DAV; VVA etc.
* Must be nominated by that organization
* Appointed to a Five year term by the presiding judge of the county
What are the duties of a VSC?
*Duties of the VSC are mandated by Ohio Revised Code Section 5901.03 and in a nutshell include
- Employing Veterans Service Officers & such staff as necessary to complete the job
- Establishing policies and procedures for the administration of the Commission, the Veteran Service
Office and Financial Relief
- Causing the budgets for the VSC and VSO to be presented to County Commissioners for Approval
- Establishing programs of Outreach to enhance knowledge of available services to veterans within
the county
- Promote coordination with other county agencies to enhance reciprocal benefit available to veterans
- Promote, monitor and provide funding for continuing education for Commissioners, Veterans Service
Officer and Office Staff
And, among other things, take any other actions required by Title 59
What's Different about VSCs?
* A Veterans Service Commission is responsible to
- The County Veterans
- The Appointing Judge
- The County Commissioners
- The Governor's Office of Veteran Affairs
- The Citizens
* A lawful budget may NOT be revised
* The VSC is SOLELY responsible for the Veterans Service Office, its workings and its staff
* Is SOLELY responsible for determining who shall receive financial relief and to what amount
* Are NOT on equal footing with other county agencies
The unique status of a VSC, however, comes with a great burden.
Responsibility - Veterans Service Commissions enjoy a unique history and status. They
are vested with a special public trust to see that those who have served our country receive a decent burial and are remembered
with honor, and that they and their families are kept from indigency.
Lynch v. Gallia Cty. Bd. of Commrs. (1997), 79 Ohio St. 3d. 251 - Violating what we consider a sacred trust
can lead to removal from office!!!
Let's Look at Numbers....... Veterans Service Commissions are funded by up to five-tenths of a mil
on country funds received through real property tax. The budget is reviewed by the board of county commissioners
to ensure it is lawful.
* Ohio's total available VSC .5 mil $103,944,966.63
*Total 2003 VSC budget submitted - $52,064,912.95
*Total 2003 VSC budget spent - $41,865,860.55
*Average VSC Financial Relief Grant - $332.09
Statewide VSCs & VSOs
*There should be 440 Veterans Service Commissioners Statewide
* There are approximately 265 Veteran Service Officers Statewide
The Forty Two Million Dollars spend Statewide (or about 2% of the federal dollars brought to Ohio) not only
includes the financial relief granted, but also includes all office expenditures and training costs for Veterans Service Commissioners
and Veteran Service Officer. The training is an integral part of maintaining our level of knowledge & professional
ability, is also required by law, and is necessary to maintain our accreditations and certifications.
Let's Look at More Number.......
* Eleven Million Four Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Eight (11,435,798) -
The number of People in Ohio
* One Million One Hundred Forty Four Thousand Seven (1,144,007) - The number of VETERANS
in Ohio
What does this mean to you?
VOTES - Of the 11,435,98 people in Ohio, about 75% are 18 or over, so, in other
words, voting age! (8,532,105) - So although Ohio's Veterans make up 10% of the total population, they make up 13.5% of the
voters. - But Wait! There's More!!!
Relationships - Let's add some family members to the equation..
* If we add a spouse - We now have 2,288,014 voters (27%)
* If we add a sibling... - We now have 3,432,021 voters (40%)
* If we add a parent.... We now have 4,576,028 voters (54%).
Statistics extrapolated from the OSACVSO 2003 Annual Report, The Dept. of Veterans' Affairs and the U.S.
Census Bureau. Does Not include active duty, National Guard or Reserve Personnel!
What Does this Mean? - Who really knows? It does show that Veterans and their families
can be a significant part of the voting population.
Do Veterans vote as a block? No, most likely not, but they can be passionate about Veterans' issues...
What's Really Important?
* Ensuring Ohio remains one of the greatest States in the Union!
- Meeting the needs of Ohio's population
- Meeting the needs of your constituents
- Meeting the needs of YOUR Veterans.
Whatever your political ideologies, the fact of the matter is what with today's international situation,
the Veterans of today are as important as those of yesterday!
How Can We Help? Why Should We Help?
* We are Professionals
* We are experts in our field
* We are certified by the State
* We are accredited by the Department of Veteran's Affairs
* We represent just about every National Veterans" Service Organization, and their Veterans
What Have We Done?
* We serve Ohio's Veterans and their dependent each and every day
* We deal in every facet of every issue facing your Veterans
* We have been directly responsible for or have greatly contributed to bringing almost TWO
BILLION Dollars ($1,957,859,000 - fiscal 2003) into the State of Ohio for our Veterans and their survivors or dependents
* We have assisted Veterans and their families with obtaining other State Benefits
* We have lessened the burden on our respective counties and the State of Ohio by bringing in a multitude
of federal benefits.
* We have been recognized by Washington D.C., as having one of the best Veterans Benefits Programs
in the Nation
* We are required to obtain Continuing Educational Credits or lose our status as professional, just
like doctors or lawyers
WHY IS THIS INFORMATION SO IMPORTANT TO ME?
Because it can Happen Again. (War)
Because They Earned It...... (our Veterans)
Because They Deserve it... (our Veterans)
Remember President Lincoln? "....to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow
and his orphan...."
Or, as the Department of Veterans' Affairs puts it.....
"Veterans are our Nation's MOST PRECIOUS national resource"
Or........ As the Father of our Nation Said: "The willingness with which our young people are
likely to serve any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive veterans of earlier
wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington.*
THANK YOU!
The Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers would like to thank you for taking the time
to review this presentation.
We would also like to thank you for your service to the people and State of Ohio. Your responsibility
is great.
Please do not hesitate in contacting a Veterans Service Office in your district for assistance. They
can be located in the telephone book under county government, or by clicking on:
We look forward to working with you on any legislation that may effect Veterans' issue before the General
Assembly.
(1) Click on Web Site(s): Ohio State Association(s) info.
