At the 98th Annual Department of New York Convention, at the morning session on Saturday July 13, 2017 at Syracuse, New York. Rena Nessler from Ontario County, was the first women veteran elected as Department Commander of the Departmewnt of New York. Commander Nessler was born in Flint Michigan and is enrolled member of the Ojibwa Indian Tribe, from the White Earth Reservation of Minnesota. She is a US Navy veteran, serving from May 1969 to May 1972, at the 9th Naval District, Great Lakes, Illinois. She has been a member of the Winnek Post 396, in Geneva, New York since 1980. Commander has been Post Commander, Ontario County Commander and 7th District Commander. She has also held many positions from Post level to National level. She has been married to her husband Jim, for 40 years, the have three children and seven grand-chinldren. (Photo Doug Malin.)
