paralyzed veterans of america mid-atlantic chapter · 2020. 9. 6. · ed representatives from both...

Annual Report 2015-2016

Pvamidatlantic.org

ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Mid-Atlantic Chapter


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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2015

AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER

PARALYZED VETERANS of AMERICA 11620 Busy Street, North Chesterfield VA 23236

Tel. (804) 378-0017 Toll Free. 1-800-852-7639 Fax. (804) 378-0026

Email: [email protected] www.pvamidatlantic.org

PREPARED FOR:

Mid-Atlantic Chapter Members, PVA Chapter National Directors, PVA Executive Committees,

and PVA National Appointees

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is one of the six original co-founding chapters of the Paralyzed Veterans of America;

it was officially formed on February 9, 1947. The Chapter office is located in our own building,

acquired in March of 1993 in Chesterfield County, located at 11620 Busy Street, North Chesterfield, Virginia

23236. The Chapter has approximately 930 members, located primarily in Virginia and North Carolina.

It is the philosophy of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter to do everything we can for all veterans. The Chapter has

been and will continue to be very active concerning issues relative to health care and medical treatment. Our

position, is to promote and assure that all veterans receive quality care. Particular scrutiny will be placed in

the areas relative to our membership and all spinal cord injured and diseased (SCI&D) veterans. Our primary

emphasis is directed at both the SCI Service at Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia and the

SCI Long-Term Care Unit at the Hampton VAMC in Hampton, Virginia, and the VAMCs in Fayetteville and

Durham, North Carolina.

Our mission: “to be a supportive community for capable heroes.”

MEETINGS

General Membership Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at 2 pm in the

Spinal Cord Injury & Disease Dining Hall at Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia.

Fayetteville. Board of Directors Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of every month at the

Chapter office. For those who cannot attend, minutes will be sent upon request.

CHAPTER MANAGEMENT The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is staffed with a full-time Administrative Director, a full-time and a part-time

Programs Coordinator. There are two contracted positions, a part time bookkeeper and a part time Adminis-

trator in North Carolina The following is a list of the Officers and Directors that served during the time

covered by this Annual Report:

President, Robert Satterwhite

Vice President, Jimmy May

Secretary, Terence Smith

Treasurer, Ace Cruz

National Director, Reed Weir

Sports & Recreation Director, Jimmy May

Director, Charles Bradley

Director, Rodney Priest

Director, Ronald Richardson

Ad-Hoc Board Members –

Tony Choi, Bill Bjornes, Tai Cleveland

Administrative Director Jennifer Purser

Newsletter Editors, Jennifer Purser

Part Time Programs Coordinator-Heather Williams

Bookkeeper, Regina Watson-Fields

NC Support Admin-Shari Bradley

VAVS Representative, Dan Watkins and Robert Sat-

terwhite, Durham, Terence Smith, Ace Cruz and

Ronald Richardson, Fayetteville, Rodney Priest, Rich-

mond.

Hospital Liaison Officers, Robert Satterwhite, and

Reed Weir ,Richmond. Robert Satterwhite, Hampton,

Dan Watkins, Robert Satterwhite, Durham. Ronald

Richardson, Fayetteville.


Pvamidatlantic.org 3

PVA Service Offices

Virginia

MCGUIRE OFFICE

Kenneth Holman,

Veterans Health & Benefits Specialist II

Senior Secretary, Denise Murphy

804-675-5316 or 1-800-795-3574

HAMPTON OFFICE

Levi Koepp

757-722-9961 Ext. 2934 or 1-800-795-1350

ROANOKE

NSO, Mike Keba

Senior Secretary, Kay Austin

540-597-1707 or 1-800-795-3575

West Virginia

HUNTINGTON

NSO III, Doug Woodard

Secretary, Brenda Adkins 304-399-9393 or 1-800-795-

3577

North Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM

NSO, William Pack

Senior Secretary, Linda Paquette

336-251-0836 or 1-800-795-3622

Maryland

BALTIMORE

Michael Sprague, National Service Officer Candidate

Secretary III, Rose Quinn

1-800-795-3606

NATIONAL ACCREDITED SERVICES

HOSPITAL LIAISON PROGRAM

A Chapter volunteer representative works closely with the staff and patients at McGuire and

Hampton VAMCs with the primary objective of improving the spinal cord injured patient’s care.

The Chapter is fortunate to have a strong relationship with the leaders of the SCI unit and the

medical staff in order to achieve our goals of quality care.

At the McGuire VAMC, our Peer Counseling program supports the physical and psychosocial prob-

lems experienced by newly injured veterans. Along with helping their families transition during

this time. Counseling takes place on a one-on-one basis and assists in the development of coping

skills while providing guidance in the areas of independent living, recreational opportunities, and

other aspects related to the socialization of the newly injured patient.

Monthly meetings held with the SCI&D Chief, Administrative Officer, Nurse Managers, and Chap-

ter representatives gives all concerned with SCI a forum for discussion of issues relating to SCI&D

care, and a platform for working together toward a solution.

The Chapter also supports many inpatient and out patient programs with the support of the Recre-

ational Therapist. It is our belief to be an all inclusive Chapter for both inpatients and outpatients.

SERVICE PROGRAM

PVA maintains National Service Offices (NSO), on the SCI&D units at both the McGuire and

Hampton VAMCs. The office on U Wing of the SCI&D Service in Richmond allows easy contact

with both in-patients and outpatients, as does the Service Office in Hampton, located just off the

dining hall. Patients admitted to the Unit are contacted by the NSO and offered assistance in ob-

taining all of the VA benefits to which they are entitled by law. The NSO is responsible for provid-

ing assistance to all veterans seeking benefits. This service is for, but not limited to, our member-

ship base and both inpatients and outpatients on SCI&D Service. These services are provided free

of charge in compliance with our Congressional Charter.

ADVOCACY

The Chapter partners with various leaders in our community to advocate for better benefits, living

conditions and ADA compliance in our communities. Each year members of the Chapter visit elect-

ed representatives from both Virginia and North Carolina in Washington D.C., to advocate for vet-

erans’ rights and the rights of all people with physical and mental challenges.. The Chapter also

monitors state legislation and eagerly assists in guaranteeing basic civil rights due to all Ameri-

cans, and especially paralyzed veterans. We have a strong Advocacy and Legislation team that fol-

low and participate in many meetings, gatherings and events that are related to advocacy for our

veterans.


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SPORTS, Rec and Rehab Program The Chapter is very active in many areas especially in adaptive sports and recreation—a critical ele-

ment in the physical and mental well-being of spinal cord injury/disease Veterans. We encourage our

members to use this program as a rehabilitation tool to increase independence, self-esteem and enhance

quality of life. We continue to assist those who request our help with expenses incurred while attending

the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, or any other PVA supported event. We also make donations

to several wheelchair basketball, bowling, and rugby teams and are involved in numerous wheelchair

sporting events each year.

The program is also a recreational program. We sponsor holiday parties at the Hunter Holmes McGuire

(McGuire), Hampton, Fayetteville, and Durham VAMCs, and picnics at the McGuire, Hampton, Fayette-

ville and Durham VAMCs. We also have a various gathering and other recreational events at our chap-

ter office. Also ,within this program we have helped with community projects that bring accessibility to

our Mid-Atlantic area. These projects include handcycle trails, accessible projects and support of other

organizations that carry the same mission.

MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

This program specifically relates to services that are critical to our members, but that are not covered by any

of the other specific programs. In this program we raise awareness, like through PVA Awareness Week, we

They have made enormous contributions to our mission. We also host a New Injury orientation ever other

month. This allows us to be face to face with our new injuries, meet their families and help them built support

systems. We generate about 20 new members a year from this program. We are also honored to have a large

group of Associate Members, who are very active in our chapter and help spread our mission. Our Member-

ship Program is all inclusive. Any program we have includes both inpatient and outpatient members, people

with disabilities and veterans. We are proud of our Membership Program because of its ability to bring great

resources to our membership and to those who may need support.

Membership Count as of 9/30, 2016 was 923.

COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

The Chapter publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Bulletin, which has a circulation of approxi-

mately 1,100 individuals and businesses. We also use the Mail Chimp program to send professional

notifications to all our supporters, members and volunteers. We have a strong social media pres-

ence through both Facebook and Twitter. The Bulletin keeps members informed of events, activities

and state and federal legislative issues as well as important information issued from the National

PVA. Our website www.pvamidatlantic.org and serves as a catalyst to promote member interaction.

FINANCIAL/ACCESSIBLE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAMS

The Financial Assistance program is designed to help non service-connected members in need. A

small amount of money set aside each year to assist members who are suffering a financial hard-

ship and in dire need. In this program we also help these veterans in need by introducing them to

our Vocational Program or guiding them to a Social Worker to help them. The Accessible Independ-

ence Program purchases van lifts, hand-controls, etc. The Home Structural Assistance Program

assists with the installation of ramps, widening of doors, and installation of necessary adaptive

equipment that enables those in need to achieve greater independence in the home environment.

This program is supported by a grant through he Sheltering Arms Fund, our Beyond the Call of

Duty Car show and generous donations from The Home Depot and the Home Depot Foundation

and various other organizations. We were able to assist a number of our members this year.

FUNDRAISING PROGRAM

The Chapter’s Special Development Committee serves to find much needed funds and other re-

sources to sustain our programs. This Committee organizes raffles, tournaments, and two major

events each year to help support funding and branding. The North Carolina group also organizes

events to raise money for the


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Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Paralyzed Veterans of America

11620 Busy Street

North Chesterfield, Virginia 23236

Change Service Requested

Non–Profit Org

US Postage Paid

Permit No. 4305

Midlothian, Virginia

MID-ATLANTIC PVA

DONATION AND VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Donations to our 501(c)(3) organization are fully tax deductible. Please mail your check to:

Mid-Atlantic PVA

11620 Busy Street

North Chesterfield, VA 23236

Or go on-line to www .pvamidatlantic.org and click on the “Donate Now” button to make a donation via Pay-

Pal or your credit card.

Volunteers are always needed to assist with our sports and recreational activities, and for support at events at

the VA hospitals in Richmond and Hampton, Virginia.

To volunteer, please either call our office on (804) 378-0017 or toll-free on 800-852-7639, or go to our web

site, click on the “Contact Us” button and complete and submit the message form.

However you can support our paralyzed Veterans, we truly thank you.

paralyzed veterans of america mid-atlantic chapter · 2020. 9. 6. · ed representatives from both...

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