History Made - For the first time in Ohio Chapter 2's history of Charity Raffles, history is made under the leadership of Darlene Fankhauser.  Our Chapter 2 Charity Bike Raffle is a resounding success.  All charity raffle tickets for the Harley Davidson Dyna FXD were sold - YEEEEEHHHAAAAAA.   Darlene is Ohio Chapter 2's "Activities, Advertising, Events and Fund Raising Committee" Chairperson.  Congratulations to Darlene and her Committee members.  Your hard work is really paying off for our disabled, hospitalized, and homeless veterans.

Members on Prayer List - September has been a tough month for Ohio Chapter 2 members.  We ask you to pray for Edna Troyer in the loss of her Dad.  Please pray for Jim Sheets who is experiencing heart problems.  Please remember Doug Porter who has been hospitalized and facing health issues.  And please pray for Reverand Earl Rollyson as he continues fighting congestive heart failure.  Also, as most of you might already know, our Brother Ron Mani is hospitalized over in Pittsburgh with a severe, life threatening case of pneumonia and is currently in an induced comma.  Please pray for Brother Ron.

Wade Park VA Visitations Records - Your Chapter 2 "Government Relations / VA Committee" is working hard to ensure our VA visitation records get caught up and are made accurate.  Please allow me to be pointed by saying that the inaccurate VA visitation records ARE NOT the fault of the Wade Park VA Volunteer Services folks.  Unfortunately, our VA visitation records became stale due to our own fault due to a lack of communications (enough said).  Kolleen Mauric, Government Relations / VA Committee Chairperson, along with your humble Deputy Representative, Danny Griffin, are working hard to get all of our visitation records up to date.  Kolleen and Danny are working with Ms. Shirley Hanks, Wade Park VA Volunteer Specialist. 

Ms. Shirley Hanks, VA Volunteer Specialist One Excellent Lady. JOB WELL DONE SHIRLEY - WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU FOR SURE!

Ms. Hanks is our resident VA Volunteer Services expert on getting the VA computer records synchronized with Ohio Chapter 2 visitation records.  We've already had several meetings with Ms. Hanks who has given us good and sound advice on how to get our records updated.

During the last meeting with Ms. Hanks, we learned that the VA no longer needs a member's social security number in order to input a member into the VA's computerized visitation records system.  The VAVS (Veterans Administration Volunteer Services) is now using the member's "date of birth" instead of the social security number.  Once a member's date of birth is placed in the VA computer, the VA computer produces a unique serial number for the member.  This unique serial number is then used to enter the member's volunteer hours into the VA computer.  As soon as we get all of our members reestablished into the VA computer, we will be given each member's serial number so that we can, ourselves, enter each member's volunteer hours.  Progress is being made thanks to Shirley.

On a sad note, Ms. Hanks will be retiring in November of this year.  We will miss her greatly and hope that the VAVS can find someone that can keep up with Shirley's expertise - this will be tough for the VAVS as Shirley has an excellent reputation.  We will definitely miss Shirley when she retires.

Ride safe as always - the 2008 riding season is starting to wind down. 

Please remember to pray for our Chapter 2 members with needs and please continue to pray for all of our POW/MIAs and veterans.

Your Humble Servant,

Danny Griffin
Web Master
Rolling Thunder® Ohio Ch. 2

Ride with Rolling Thunder® on a 2002 HD Ultra Classic - Your humble Web Master is attempting to keep up with the Henrys.  As most of you know, Woodie and Bard have a new 2008 HD Road Glide with training wheels.  I admit that I am attempting to out class Woodie by getting a 2009 HD Ultra Classic.  I cannot, however, out class Woodie without first selling my 2002 HD Ultra Classic (loaded too).  So, if you're interested, give me a call - you know where to find me - and I will make you a "brother-in-law" deal.  The 2002 HD Ultra Classic is well maintained with all maintenance being performed by Freedom Harley Davidson in North Canton, Ohio.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
Had no army, yet kings feared Him..
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.
 

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

WOW - Rolling Thunder® XXI has come and gone: after spending my Memorial Day in Washington, DC, for the past fourteen years, I can say for sure that Rolling Thunder® XXI was the absolute best trip yet.  The weather was fantastic - totally dry with cool mornings makes for some good riding and well as allowing everyone to visit all of our veteran memorials.  Ohio Chapter 2 members Ty Geiser, Vice President, and Doug Wisor, Chairman of the Board, were in charge during our trip to Rolling Thunder® XXI.  Ty did a great job leading us into Crystal City with a new route for this year.  We made the trip to DC in record time (approximately eight hours which included all the fuel stops).  When we got into DC, we never slowed down.  Great job Ty.  Doug drove his truck and pulled the Thunder Trailer (just in case we had someone with bike problems).  Ohio Chapter 2 had eighteen members attend the Demonstration Run this year.  All of our members were able to travel to and from Washington, DC, with no incidents of any kind (one exception though - see last paragraph below) and with super great weather going and coming.  The camaraderie between all our members was one of brotherhood and fellowship with Ty and Doug being the mother hens.  I just hope that all Ohio Chapter 2 members can attend next year.

On Sunday, we teamed up with Becky Tompkins (now Mrs. Blackmore), President of Ohio Chapter 8, for the ride into the Pentagon parking lot.  Obviously, Becky has a lot more clout with our National Chapter than any past or present Ohio Chapter 2 officers as she was able to get us the best parking position ever.  Our position in the Demonstration Run was almost up front - this is the closest to the front that I've ever been in fourteen years.  Way to go Becky - I want to follow you next year too.

On Friday, we all went to the Harley shop to make sure we could get plenty of Rolling Thunder® XXI shirts and stuff.  After the Harley shop, we all went in different directions.  I made the decision to hook up with a member who needed some help retrieving some of his deceased uncle's possessions.  Ed and Kolleen Mauric also went with us.  Believe it or not, this member passed up Hooters twice - never stopped once at Hooters.  Can you imagine that?  How many guys do you know that would pass up Hooters - especially when you are dying of thirst.  Anyway, we were helping Mike and Cyndy Hvizdos retrieve the remains of their deceased uncle and some of their uncle's possessions.  I got dehydrated due to the heat and lack of fluid - remember that we passed up Hooters twice.  After gathering up Mike's uncle's stuff, Mike then took us through Bethesda and Georgetown (yes, we were very lost - again) during the height of the Friday rush hour.  More heat coming off the pavement and more dehydration setting in.  By the time we got back to Crystal City, I had to immediately go to the Crystal City Sports Bar for a lot of liquid nourishment.  Too late though - I was already dehydrated but was able to down several beers, eat part of a hamburger, and then crashed in the bed for the rest of the day - I missed our Rolling Thunder® XXI candle light vigil which I hate missing.  Thanks Mike for passing up Hooters twice.  I know if we had just stopped at Hooters just once, I would have been alright and been able to make the vigil.  Oh well - lesson learned.

On Saturday, I made sure I took all the time I needed to visit all of our Veteran Memorials to make up for missing the Friday night candle light vigil.  I really felt guilty as the candle light vigil is a center point of the Rolling Thunder® experience - it's like missing church on Sundays - you just feel guilty.  Know what I mean?  My favorite places to visit are the Vietnam Memorial (known as "The Wall") and the Arlington Cemetery - I always try to pay homage to all of our brave soldiers who gave all for us and I especially make sure I get by and see Audie Murphy's burial site.  Audie's burial site is very near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Saturday night, Kolleen Mauric and I attended the Annual National Meeting of Rolling Thunder®.  I was very pleased to hear our supreme leader, Artie Muller, rail on Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Ms. Pelosi deserves our wrath as she is holding up House Resolution 111 - Select Committee on the POW/MIA Affairs.

On Sunday, we all traveled with Chapter 8 and a contingent from California to the Pentagon Parking lot.  Vice President Ty allowed the older members (just me - I'm the oldest) to have the day off - the rest of the members went to sell patches and pins.  I was sure that the sales team of Harold, Pam and Lisa Murray would be the team that sold the most as Lisa was placing the patches to be sold on top of her breasts (hope someone took a picture of this technique).  To me, this sales technique is most creative and certainly a winner.  If I didn't already have a 2008 patch, I would have certainly bought one from Lisa.  The winning Ohio Chapter team, however, was the team of Ed and Kolleen Mauric assisted by Edna Troyer.  This team was seen going back and getting more patches and pins after they sold out their first batch.  Congratulations to Ed, Kolleen and Edna for a job well done and a trophy for Lisa for creativity.

I talked to Kevin Ivey, Ohio Chapter 2 Photographer, and Kevin assured me that he would have pictures of our Rolling Thunder® XXI trip available for everyone.  Kevin has a good camera and takes some really good pictures.  Can't wait to see the pictures.

On A Sad Note: one of our members, Woodie Henry, who originally traveled with us to Washington, DC, was traveling back to Ohio with the Ohio Chapter of the Leathernecks when a mishap occurred.  During his ride back with the Leathernecks, Woodie went down in a solo, fairly low speed accident.  Woodie was wearing his helment at the time of the accident which did save his life.  Barb said Woodie was in ICU due to some blood on his brain as well as other problems from the accident.  Woodie also sustained a broken ankle which will have to be operated on when he gets back to Ohio.  When I was finally able to talk to Woodie (he called me), he sounded in good spirits and was very upbeat under the circumstances.  Some of his Leatherneck members will travel back to Maryland and pick up his bike which didn't get too damaged.  Please remember Woodie and Barb in your prayers.  As a side note, Barb was not on the bike at the time of the mishap.  Barb was traveling with the Leathernecks but was in her car - so Barb is in good health but just a little shook up after witnessing the mishap.  Hopefully, Woodie and Barb will be home soon.

Ride safe this summer and please remember to continue to pray for all of our POW/MIAs and veterans.

Your Humble Servant,

Danny Griffin
Web Master
Rolling Thunder® Ohio Ch. 2

Our Needs Are Being Met: I've got to give a big thank you to a few folks.  Doris and Cliff Conley of Cuyahoga Falls worked very hard for Ohio Chapter 2 this past month.  Doris and Cliff, knowing that Ohio Chapter 2 enjoys making visitations to the Wade Park and Brecksville VA centers, gathered up a ton of items for our veterans' ditty bags.  Doris and Cliff gave us bags of books, puzzles, toys of all kinds, socks and the whole shebang.  Thanks again to Doris and Cliff Conley for all you've done for our veterans.  A big thank you also goes to Mr. Lenny Nester, Officer for the Gram Road Giant Eagle for giving so much to help Doris and Cliff gather the items for the needs of our veterans serviced by Ohio Chapter 2.  Thank you again Mr. Nester for caring about our area's disabled, hospitalized, and homeless veterans.

Harley Davidson Raffle is On: As a member of Ohio Chapter 2, I know our members are out there selling those tickets for a chance on that Harley Davidson DYNA FXD.  If you get turned down on an offer to buy a ticket, please remind your potential donor of our web site address just in case your donor changes their mind and wants to buy a chance on this fine ride.  All the instructions on how to buy a ticket through our web site are detailed on the Harley Davidson DYNA FXD web site page.  The link to get to the Harley Davidson DYNA FXD page is at the top of our "Home Page."  So let's get those tickets sold so we can have an early drawing.

Don't Forget Our Advertising Opportunities: While you're selling tickets on the Harley, remember to ask your donor if they would like to advertise on our Thunder Trailer.  The cost to advertise is very reasonable and, as you all will recall, President Fankhauser is devoting a lot of time to ensure that the Thunder Trailer gets into all of our localized parades.  Click here for more information on our Thunder Trailer advertising.

Serving Our Country - Chaplain Ed Needs Your Help: Our Chaplain, Ed Rouse, needs your help to keep our web site current.  If you know of any of our relatives serving overseas, make sure you call Ed and give him the details of the deployment.  We will place the deployment information on our "Serving Our Country" page.  Please give Ed all of your details - soldier's name, nickname too, deployment address, branch of service, rank, and get some pictures too!  Nothing like some good pictures to honor our loved ones serving our great country.  If you have some good stories about your soldier, lay it on thick, so they will know we're thinking of them.  Our service personnel have computers too - so let's get their stories on our site so everyone can keep up with them.

Do You Know of Any Prayer Requests?  Also, please remember that if you have any prayer requests, please call Ed so he can get your requests on to our "Prayer List" Page.  Not having anything to put on our Prayer List Page is a good thing meaning that everyone is doing ok.  However, we do know of members and loved ones who can use our prayer support - so let us know so we can include them in our talks with our Lord and Savior.  Prayer does work on all kinds of problems as well as opportunities.

POW/MIA Radio: If you get a chance, listen to the POW/MIA Radio on Sunday nights between the hours of 5 till 8 pm Eastern time.  The radio program is hosted by Rod Utech.  Click here for more details.

My bike is primed and ready to go to D.C. for our Rolling Thunder® XXI protest rally.  So get ready to ride and ride safe for sure.

Your Humble Servant,

Danny Griffin
Web Master
Rolling Thunder® Ohio Ch. 2

Ms. Gina Chon is our Hero too:  Gina Chon, Cincinnati, has written an article which is shown on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.  I encourage each of you to read Ms. Chon's article since the article is dedicated to our missing POW/MIAs in Iraq.  You can read Ms. Chon's article by clicking this link to our Matt Maupin Page.  When you get through reading the article, please e-mail Ms. Chon at gina.chon@wsj.com and thank her for her coverage of our POW/MIA issues.  You can't get better coverage for our POW/MIA issues than the front page of The Wall Street Journal.  Thanks again, Ms. Chon, for all you're doing for our POW/MIAs.

Calendar Changes:  Make sure you check our Events Calendar (click here to see Calendar) as we've made many changes to our schedule.

Adopted POW/MIA:  You've probably also noticed by now that our Editor's Dispatch Page has now passed into our history book since we no longer issue a monthly, hardcopy newsletter.  On the Editor's Dispatch Page, we always paid homage to Our Hero - John Leighton "Robbie" Robertson, Col., U.S. Air Force, who was shot down over North Vietnam on September 16, 1966.  Col. Robertson is Rolling Thunder® Ohio Chapter 2's adopted POW/MIA.  Our former newsletter, entitled "The Robertson's Release," was named after Col. Robertson.  To continue to honor the memory of Our Hero, Col. Robbie Robertson, the Ohio Chapter 2 Board of Directors and our membership unanimously elected to have our Ohio Chapter 2 web site dedicated to his memory.  Our web site now shows reference to Col. Robertson on both our Welcome Page and our Home Page.  Click the following link to see more specific information on our adopted POW/MIA hero - Col. Robertson:  Click here to go to our page dedicated to Col. Robertson.

Chapter Notary Public Named:  Congratulations goes to member Scott Hamilton for successfully obtaining his Notary Public license.  Scott volunteer to be Ohio Chapter 2's official Notary Public.  With Scott's help, our new member application process will finish quickly.  Thanks again Scott for all you do.

As Summer is getting closer, please remember all of our POW/MIAs - ride safe for those who can't.

Your Humble Servant,

Danny Griffin
Web Master
Rolling Thunder® Ohio Ch. 2