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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
The BULLETIN
Old Dominion Brawl
May 29th-31st, 2015
Paralyzed veterans of America
www.pvamidatlantic.org
Mid-Atlantic chapter
Volume 15, Issue 2
www.pvamidatlantic.org
April-June 2015
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
INSIDE THIS EDITION...
PARALYZED VETERANS of AMERICA
MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER
11620 Busy Street
North Chesterfield, VA 23236
Tel. (804) 378-0017
Toll Free. 1-800-852-7639
Fax. (804) 378-0026
Email: VAPVA@aol.com
www.pvamidatlantic.org
Board of Directors
President: Robert Satterwhite
Vice President/Sports: Jimmy may
Secretary: Terence Smith
Treasurer: Ace Cruz
National Director: Reed Weir
Director: Ronald Richardson
Director: Rodney Priest
Director: Charlie Hayden
Director: Tom Walthall
Ad-Hoc Board Members
Tony Choe
James Evans
Ronald Dennis
Staff
Administrative Director:
Jennifer Purser
Bookkeeper: Regina Watson-Fields
National Service Officers,
Denise Murphy, Richmond 1-804-675-5316
William Pack, Winston-Salem 1-800-7953622
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5
President’s Message
Advocacy & Legislation 2015
6
National Service Officer’s Report
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Sports, Rec and Rehab
9
Calendar of Upcoming Events
10 Old Dominion Brawl 2015
IN MEMORIAL
With deepest regrets,
we mourn the
passing of our Chapter Members
Lynnwood Clarke
Harry S. Fowlkes
Melvin Johnson
William Moore
Keith Robinson
Lynwood Robinson
Sid Stanley
Ralph Yelton
Membership Count:
949
Email Your Bulletin
If you would like to receive
The Bulletin via email instead of by mail,
please send your full name and email
address to: vapva@aol.com. Please write
“Email my Bulletin” in the subject.
MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER MISSION STATEMENT
“A supportive community for capable heroes”
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by Robert Satterwhite
STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED
We need our members to come forward and be a part of
your organization. We need you and your time. Think
what you can do when you’re giving your time, talent,
wisdom, and experience to your chapter who needs you. You can add to the
quality and health of your life. Research indicates that volunteers enjoy better health, make new friendships, stay active and involved in the community,
and learn new skills. Be part of our movement to transform the Mid-Atlantic
Chapter through the involvement of its members. By donating your time and
skills, you can help make funds go farther for your organization.
Donating your time to the Paralyzed Veterans of America supports lifechanging programs that empower our disabled veterans to
live full, productive lives. Whether it’s advocating for quality health care and benefits, funding vital research into spinal
cord injury and disease, helping with job training and career opportunities, or providing physical, emotional and social well-being through adaptive sports, Paralyzed Veterans
of America works tirelessly on behalf of disabled veterans and all who
served.
Dan Watkins
at the
Fletcher
Bell Bass
Fishing
Tournament
2015
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
Advocacy & Legislation 2015
by Terry Labar
2015 Advocacy and Legislation Seminar
Representatives from the Mid-Atlantic chapter met in Washington from March 1 –
March 6, 2015 for the annual Advocacy/Legislation Training Seminar. All of PVA’s
Chapters were represented at a two- day seminar in Arlington where we discussed the
needs of Paralyzed Veterans and their on-going physical and mental health.
At the conclusion of the seminar, PVA President Al Kovach was scheduled to provide
joint Testimony with the heads of all the disabled veterans organizations before a joint
session of the House and Senate Committee’s on Veterans Affairs. Due to inclement
weather, the testimony that was scheduled for Thursday, March 5 and the House and
Senate visits that day were cancelled. We therefore had to reschedule our visits for
Wednesday.
The Mid-Atlantic Government Relations Team represented by Terrance Smith, North
Carolina; Terry Labar and Rodney Priest, Virginia converged on Capitol Hill armed
with the talking points provided by National. Their meeting with policy makers was
designed to improve benefits and health care services for veterans and their families.
We realize that we are facing an economic crisis with sequestration, taxes, and cuts in
entitlement spending in order to reduce the deficit. The Department of Veterans Affairs
has been exempt from the sequestration cuts except for Administration. They are operating on appropriations proposed in the Independent Budget which closely funded their
needs. The disabled veteran community is therefore adamant that the needs of veterans
continue to be administered to and that any reduction in programs and services is
unacceptable.
Every chance we get we continue to remind members of Congress there is a price to pay
for sending young men and women to war. Our wounded veterans have asked for little
and given so much, and with less than 1% of our nation’s population serving in the
military we demand that the budget not be balanced on the backs of those heroes that
guarantee our freedom.
Terry Labar and Rodney Priest
with Rep. Rob Wittman and
Military Defense Fellow
Chad Schumacher
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICER’S REPORT
by Bill Pack
What do you mean I’m not eligible for dental care?!!
You have been drawing compensation at the 100% rate forever, and you need dental care. You
are informed by the Dental Clinic that you are not entitled to treatment through the VA, because you are not rated at 100%.
If you are 60,70,80, or 90% disabled, but are being compensated at the 100% rate due to Individual Unemployability (IU), then the computer will only indicate the percentage you are rated
and not 100%. So, really, you are not rated as 100% disabled, and the clerk knows the information provided is correct.
How do you correct this? Go to “Eligibility Office” and explain the situation. The representative will check the system to verify the information as to whether or not you are entitled to the
dental care. If the system has been updated correctly, the “Eligibility Office” will inform the
Dental Clinic, that you are entitled to dental care.
Eligibility may not be able to confirm that your are eligible and in receipt of IU that would authorize your dental care. Provide a copy of the latest VA award letter that indicates what percentage you are rated and that you are rated for IU and being compensated at the 100% . This
should solve the issue for you.
The authority for dental care that outlines the eligibility for veterans rated less than 100% and
in receipt of individual unemployability is 38 CFR 17.161 (h).
For more information on Dental Care and other health care benefits call your PVA National
Service Office.
Article by Bill Pack, Sr. NSO
Fantasy Sports
For many sports enthusiast, the ability to control a professional sports team is the ultimate dream. Online Fantasy Sports Leagues allow this dream to become a (virtual) reality. Players can compose a team of athletes to compete against both friends and strangers!
To succeed in online fantasy sports, you need the business savvy of a general manager,
the knowledge of a pro scout, and the strategy of a head coach. We dare you to accept the challenge
and test your skills by joining our Fantasy Leagues (Mid-Atlantic Chapter).
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is very active in many areas of Online Fantasy Sports (to include
NBA,MLB,NFL and Nascar), which is a critical element in the social and mental well-being of spinal
cord injury/disease Veterans. We have been managing Online Fantasy Sports Leagues for over a decade on yahoo’s platform. We encourage our members, family, and friends to use this program as a
rehabilitation tool to feed the competitive spirit, build camaraderie, and enhance self-esteem. If you’re
interested in joining any of our Online Fantasy Sports Leagues simply go to http://pvamidatlantic.org/
sports/ and be sure to copy the League ID and Password for you will need it when registering. There
will be a link to yahoo’s platform where all the Chapters Fantasy sports are played . Please
contact Gerald Gibbs at gibbscs@cox.net if you have any questions or concerns.
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Virginia-West Virginia Chapter
By Kathryn Zapach
Central & Eastern Virginia and Blue Ridge chapters of the National MS Society Unite
Exciting changes continue to happen for the National MS Society. The Central & Eastern
Virginia and Blue Ridge chapters are joining together to form a new chapter called the
Virginia - West Virginia Chapter. The new chapter will now serve over 12,000 individuals
with MS and their families throughout Virginia and West Virginia, as well as three counties in northeastern North Carolina and seven counties in southeastern Kentucky.
By combining the talents of our boards, staff and volunteers we can more effectively to enhance programs, services, and advocacy opportunities for those living with MS, as well as
their families and increase fundraising and improve operating efficiencies, so that more
money can go towards research and stay local to fund our mission.
We will have staff, volunteers, and offices in Richmond, VA; Virginia Beach, VA; Charlottesville, VA; and Charleston, WV. Our promise is to continue to offer education, support, services, and advocacy to and for Virginia and West Virginia residents and partner
with local companies, volunteers, and organizations to ensure that fundraising activities
like Bike MS, Walk MS, Women on the Move Luncheons, and Dinner of Champions are
fruitful and grow and further fund our mission.
The staff and board of both chapters have worked closely together to discuss and plan for
the wonderful opportunities that are in front of us as well as a continued partnership with
the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the PVA. As we move forward as this new chapter, we hope
to serve more people living with MS, inclusive of our veterans diagnosed with the disease.
There will be many opportunities to be involved in awareness activities, volunteer, and
participate through education, support, and advocacy programs, including our Walk MS
Richmond on May 2 in Innsbrook, so we hope to see you there!
For additional information visit: www.MSVirginia.org or www.WalkMS.org.
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
www.pvamidatlantic.org
April-June 2015
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
Calendar of Events April– June 2015
Events for May-June 2015

May 1, 2015- (TBA) Fort Lee Trapshoot-Fort Lee, Petersburg, Virginia

May 13, 2015-Hampton County Fair, Hampton VA Medical Center,
Hampton, VA

May 21,2015-Flag laying, Amelia Veterans Cemetery,
Amelia, Virginia

May 25,2015-Memorial Day, Amelia Veterans Cemetery,
Amelia. Virginia

May 29-31,2015-Old Dominion Brawl, Osborne Landing,
Henrico, Virginia

June 10, 2015-Spring PVA Picnic, McGuire VA Hospital,
Richmond, Virginia

Support Your Chapter!
Shop Amazon and Support
PVA, MId-Atlantic
June 21-26, 2015– National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Dallas, Texas
http://smile.amazon.com/
ch/54-6053585
Charles “Chuck” Willis Memorial
PVA National Billiards Tournament 2015
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
Old Dominion Brawl 2015
www.pvamidatlantic.org
10
Volume 15, Issue 2
April-June 2015
Sponsors Old Dominion Brawl 2015
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Volume 15, Issue 2
Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Paralyzed Veterans of America
11620 Busy Street
North Chesterfield, Virginia 23236
April-June 2015
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 4305
Midlothian, Virginia
Change Service Requested
www.pvamidatlantic.org
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