The Veteran Newsletter > January 2013 - Ohio Department of ...

DONATIONS TO
OVH-VAC, INC.
The Ohio Veterans Home Volunteer
Advisory Committee (OVH-
VAC, Inc.) is a 501(c)3 established
solely for providing goods and services
to the Ohio Veterans Home
for the benefit of its residents.
Donations received during the
month of November:
AMVETS 55, Sheffield Lake
AMVETS 112, Newton Falls
AMVETS 6, Massillon
American Legion 99, Toledo
VFW 8686, Sheffield Lake
James Deely, Chardon
United Way of Erie County—
Employee Payroll Deductions
Army-Navy Garrison, Galion
Elks 465, Elyria
VFW 1078, Bucyrus
VFW 6941, Wellington
American Legion Aux., 41, Norwalk
When contributing to our 501(c)3,
please make your check payable to
OVH-VAC, Inc.
Al Lonz, Chairman
OVH Volunteer, Terry
Nichols spreads holiday
cheer with Pet Therapy
dog, Wicket.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Road Soldiers News
This article brings to a close
Lance’s contributions to The
Veteran Newsletter as the
writer for the Road Soldiers
Cycling Club of the OVH.
Retirement looms on New
Year’s Eve after 24.75 years
of civil service that followed
2 years of contract services
and a couple of years of
volunteer work. It has been a
long and interesting journey.
Perhaps the best part of my
(Lance’s) role at the OVH
has been the Road Soldiers
Cycling Club. For 17
seasons, from a very, very
modest start in the summer of
’96 to now, the day after our
2012 Christmas Banquet, the
Road Soldiers have been
gathering together to promote
cycling, but more
importantly, a fellowship of
riders, drivers, and
volunteers. It is the
fellowship of the members
that is the most important
thing in the experience and
existence of the club! While
we ride and do cyclingrelated
things, it is the bond
of fellowship that has made
the club special and kept it
going through all kind of
weather and events – both on
and off campus.
You’ll note, in the above
paragraph, that I wrote the
same thing thrice about the
importance of the RSCC
fellowship. Looking back on
all the miles and events of 17
seasons, I’ve come to realize
that the RSCC provided the
best kind of social service
there is in the Home. The
RSCC has prompted and
inspired people to get up, get
active, get moving and get
involved. While so doing it
has created a family and
bonds of friendship that have,
in some cases, set aside years
of inactivity and isolation
among various individuals.
The club has also consistently
had a service mentality
wherein it has not just taken
from the cycling resources in
Ohio or the OVH, but has
sought to contribute to them.
We are part of the Firelands
Rails-to-Trails Organization
and have linked up to many,
many service posts and trail
judicatories across the state.
We have consistently sought
to promote the advantages
and opportunities of the OVH
to any who would listen to
our message. Our trailer,
alone, is a huge rolling bill
board for the Home that
advertises OVH wherever it
goes. None of this happened
by accident, but has been a
planned and purposeful thrust
of the club to increase a
positive awareness of the
OVH in all that we do.
As I move on into retirement
and my involvement with two
different volunteer trail patrol
organizations, I’ll stay busy
with cycling and contributing
to
cycling-related
organizations in two different
counties. I’ve learned that
one has to remain active, in
retirement, or one soon dies;
the only reasonable thing to
do is keep active, keep
involved, and keep
contributing. That, I intend
to do.
I close this last article with a
words if thanksgiving. First
to Jackie Grendow, RN/CD,
who was my first supervisor
here, and who “instructed”
me and a resident to go riding
together. That order begat
what is now the Road
Soldiers.
I also thank all the
administrative commitment to
let the RSCC flourish over
the years, but even more
importantly, perhaps, is
thanksgiving to the
departments and workers who
accommodated the RSCC and
my involvement in it. My
social service peers picked up
the slack when I was out “in
the boonies” with the club.
Dietary workers provided
provender to keep us fed and
hydrated. The police
department and maintenance
department made sure we had
motor vehicles to get to our
venues. Our treasury handled
purchase orders and simple
cash outlays. We could not
have done what we have done
without all that subtle and
invisible commitment and
support!
Additionally, I owe
thanksgiving to the wonderful
people in the military service
posts across Ohio who have
opened their posts and hearts
to us for years. How many
meals and how much
fellowship and acceptance we
received in all the corners of
the state! So, too, we have
enjoyed the support of many
Veterans Service Officers and
Offices as well as trail
judicatories (park districts
and trail organizations). We
even enjoy the support of one
National Park (the Cuyahoga
Valley National Park).
Finally, I say “Thank you!” to
the 183 veterans who have
ridden with the club over my
17 years. I am deeply
indebted to you for your
fellowship, friendship and
activity. You are what made
punching the clock
worthwhile. If OVH was the
“cake” of my professional
service, the Road Soldiers
was certainly the “icing,” the
sweetest and most desirable
part! I thank you all!
Yours in wheelin’ about,
Lance N. Franke, Staff
Liaison
12 Sandusky