Please remember the Curt Patchell Family, in your prayers.
Curt was admitted to the hospital in mid December complaining of chest-pain

* * *  January Guest  Speaker
Our January speakers will be Candace and Doug Farst of CR Tours & Travel.
They will be talking about organizing a tour to Washington D.C. in July 2014 to visit all the war memorials

December Events

* * *  Thursday - December 12, 2013
Chapter 649 held its annual Christmas Dinner at the Owensville Fairgrounds.
Over 60 people attended, each bringing covered dishes and deserts, providing plenty of food for all.
Shortly after dinner, Santa Claus made a special appearance to our dinner, sending the message to all in attendance that, - - - Santa Claus is watching you.
Many thanks, to Chapter 649 member, Jerry Bridges for your donation of the hall rental, and too all our members who provided covered dishes of all sorts (and large portions of them)
Our Chistmas dinner evening was GREAT !  -  -  Good Times were had by all.

* * *   Friday- December 13, 2013 - Columbus, Ohio
Members of Chapter 649, who serve on the Board of Directors within Buckeye State-Council attended the BSC annual Christmas Dinner.    State Council president Tom Burke provide a short summary to all in attendance while reflecting back, over the many years of State Council’s existence, refreshing the memories of how much BSC has excelled.

Dinner was served and gifts were presented to all in attendance. Afterwards Tom invited all to stop-by his suite to sit and chat, lots of stories and laughs filled the room, making a very enjoyable evening.
* Note to all : Be careful with what you say when speaking to Cliff, he has a knack of remembering stories that happen to me 50 years ago, and is not afraid to prove to all, not only is my neck red, there are also times when my face turns even a brighter red.

* * *  Saturday- December 14th:
State Council conducted its quarterly Membership Meeting. All Delegates of Chapter 649 attended.
State Council President (Tom Burke) informed all attending, he will not be running for another term as
State Council President when the State Convention is held in May 2014 this coming summer.
(Clermont County / Eastgate). - Tom ( U.S. Navy ) became a member of Buckeye State Council in 2004, and has BSC President for the past eight years.
Tom and wife Robin, have elected to spend more time together at home, allowing them to visit their
children /  Grand-Children, and friends, more often.

Tom / Robin - Thank you for all you have done for all the veterans within Ohio. -  - You will be missed !

* * *  Sunday- December 15th:
Members of Chapter 649 distributed two banana boxes stuffed full of canned food, staples, and other supplies, along with a shopping-bag containing a Honey Baked Ham or Turkey, and a $ 300.00 gift-card, to each of the nine separate families who reside in Clermont County.  Each distribution created Tears of Joy from each recipient, along with a room filled with many “Thank You”,  “Thank You”,   “Thank You”

Thank you to all members who provided the delivery to each family.
Thank you to all organizations for your generations donations; Honey Baked Hams,
AVVA Regina Herbolt, for the 4-H turkeys which were donated, Amelia Jr. High, for the canned-food-drive provided, Miami Rifle & Pistol Club, which provided funds, allowing us  to buy food needed to fill each basket.
Special THANKS to AVVA member, Joann Gregory, for sorting through each item collected, making sure all canned-goods were well within their expiration dates, and also buying last-minute items of fresh food, candy, and fruit, allowing each basket to be fully rounded with supplies.

* * *  Sunday- December 15th:
Buckeye St. Council District Director Cliff Riley (chapter 649) and Wayne Gregory traveled to Dayton, Ohio to partake in Chapter 97’s Christmas Dinner, and also the 30-year- (as a chapter) Anniversary.
Larry Frazee, Paul Wilson, Don Jones, Cliff Riley, presented Plaques and Certificates to Chapter 97 President, Tom Istvan and all Chapter 97 members in attendance on behalf of Buckeye State Council.
Congratulations, Chapter 97

* * *  Friday- December 20th A.M.
Chapter members Darryl Trace, Ed Cole and Wayne Gregory attended Linden Grove School to sing Christmas Carrols to the students. Darryl played the guitar, class students took turns playing the piano,
as the entire classroom sang Christmas songs. - -  Everyone had a fun time.

* * *  Friday- December 20th P.M.
Chapter members Darryl Trace and wife Jessie, along with Wayne Gregory visited the residents at Georgetown Veterans Home, providing the residents & staff with an evening of country music.
Singing songs from their era. Songs they remember hearing everyday while growing up and while serving in the military. Shortly after each song would begin, the entire room-full of people, was singing right along with us.  After an hour of music, we shut-down the music and each of us paired-up with a Veteran, thanking them for serving their country, listening to the stories they had to tell.

Before departing, we wished all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Reminding them “They are not Forgotten", and we will return soon.

* * *  Recognition Corner - Volunteers Of  6 4 9
Each month during 2013, Chapter 649 has provide a photo of a member within the chapter along with a short bio, to enlighten all who receive our Chapter Newsletter of a person they have noticed at our monthly meetings, but have never taken the opportunity to speak with.
We have many men and women within our chapter who have volunteered to be a Chairperson of an event committee.   Once the decision has made to have a fundraiser event, the Chairperson usually provides  a sign-up sheet for any member who wishes to become a part of their committee, so they may assist and provide the help needed to make the event a success.
In some cases the volunteer may not be able to attend that event because of a work related issue, but they do have the time and knowledge to design a flyer used for advertisement of the event.
Others may realize that it would be nice to have a tent to provide shade during a hot summer day,
or used as a shelter on a rainy day.
Volunteering to participate in any event is 50% of the event being a success; the other 50% is having the available items needed for the event.

1993 - 2014;
To All Who Have Chaired an Event,
To All Who Have Participated in Any Event,

Thank You for supporting V.V.A. Chapter 649

* * *  Mark Your Calander
On February 26th chapter members will travel to Cincinnati V A Hospital to visit with patients.
Each night the VA hospital has BINGO night, Horse Races, a movie or some other activity to help relieve the monotony of hospital life. Jo Ann Norton, Recreation Specialist at the VA Medical Center and our July 2013 speaker, has offered us the opportunity to host Bingo or Horse Races.
V A generally start their activities around 6:30 P.M. and finish by 7 P.M., Volunteers should be home no later than 8 P.M.  -  -     Specific details will be forthcoming at the January meeting.

* * *   Green Screen  Photos   -   January - Meeting
If your are a member of Chapter 649 and have not been photographed in front of our Green Screen please consider doing so while attending the monthly Membership Meetings.
Our Chapter 649 Webmaster, will be taking photos of V.V.A. and A.V.V.A. members, at the end of our January meeting.
Also : If you have a photo of yourself, taken while serving, during your time in the military, please bring your photo to our meeting, so it may be scanned and used to place on our website.
( Photo will Be Returned ) 
Please refrain from wearing articles of clothing containing the color of green.
FYI, by using a Green Screen, this allows different backgrounds for use of your photo.
Visit our "Then and Now" web page to view examples for using a green screen

* * *  Request From Brick Chairman
February 1st begins our annual Brick Sales.
Although Bricks are available for purchase 365 days a year, each February Chapter 649 begins a drive to sell bricks so there is ampel time to have the orders cataloged and sent to Kentucky for cutting, and returned for placement at our memorial before Memorial Day.   If you would like to order a Commemorative Brick an application is available upon our website, which can be filled-in on your computer, http://www.vva649.org/649_forms/@_Brick-Fill-In-Form.pdf then printed-out and mailed to our  PO Box. 
Each brick purchased is place at our memorial and has a Grid-Location, enabling all our web viewers to search our website for the grid-location that brick is loacated at. http://www.vva649.org/brick_grid/649_grid/newbrickmenu.htm

Please remember, when filling out the "Brick Order Form", to include an e-mail address (if available)  
By providing an e-mail address and a phone number, Chapter 649 will have access to call or write you, informing you when your purchased brick has been placed at our memorial, also providing you with the grid location of your brick, making it easier to locate.
Due to winter weather conditions, the placing of Memorial Bricks will be postponed until early spring.
Order your Commemorative Brick now so it will be ready for spring-time placement, and viewable for our Memorial Day event.

Purchase a Brick for a family member who served in the military, or to just to say Thanks to a family member who was there  for you as you grew-up. ( Cost $ 30.00 )

* * *  Veteran Kinnection

CINCINNATI, OHIO (DECEMBER 9, 2013) – The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is partnering with veterans’ support group Veteran Kinnection to offer a free Veterans Talk series for the community beginning in January 2014. Veterans Talk is a seven-week program that is available to current service members and veterans. “This is a great opportunity to connect with other vets, discuss frustrations or concerns, share a story or a laugh, and help each other improve personally and professionally,” said Chris Cravens, a veterans’ advocate with Veteran Kinnection. Classes are limited to the first 20 veterans who sign-up; two sessions will be held with classes running from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at local YMCA branches.
“I am proud the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati can offer all our veterans another opportunity to support their health in spirit, mind, and body,” said YMCA of Greater Cincinnati President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy Walker.
The Y recently launched a new veteran’s initiative at the 13 branches of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati,
as a way to thank vets and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Call today to reserve your space in one of the free classes. The seven-week classes will be offered
(two sessions) at the following YMCA of Greater Cincinnati locations
Read More : Veteran Kinnection PDF

Contact::  Kathy Lehr
YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
(513) 310-1937
klehr@cincinnatiymca.org


* * *   HGSP  Reminders
If you have clothing or other house-hold item you wish to discard, please consider donating to the VVA by calling-
888. 518.VETS ( 8387 )
View website and schedule a pick-up date for your donations.
Remember : If you are making your donation to support Vietnam Veterans, You MUST mark all containers used for your donation, to read V V A !  
By placing the letters VVA on the bag or box containing your donation, this will assure your donation to reach the correct container for VVA supplies to be resold.