The Virginia 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. The Chapter has approximately 800 members, located primarily in five states.

It is the philosophy of the Virginia 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, as well as our mission, 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 McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia and the SCI Long-Term Care Unit at the Hampton VAMC in Hampton, Virginia.

PVA Mission Statement 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 McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia and the SCI Long-Term Care Unit at the Hampton VAMC in Hampton, Virginia.

General Membership Meetings are held at 2:00 PM on the second Wednesday of each month in the Spinal Cord Injury Dining Hall at McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia.

The Chapter generally holds its Board of Directors Meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at the Chapter Office Conference Room.

Notices and reminders for both meetings are published in our bi-monthly publication, the "BULLETIN".

We have ten Committees to run our programs effectively and efficiently. The Committees consist of both Board members and other dedicated volunteers. Pictured left is our Board of Directors.

The Chapter continues to be active in many areas of wheelchair sports and recreation due to the interest shown by our membership. We continue to assist those who request our help with expenses incurred while attending the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, ski clinics, bass tournaments, trap shoots and other wheelchair sporting events. We also make donations to several wheelchair basketball teams and bowling teams. We are involved in two wheelchair hunting trips each year.

For the second time in so many years, we helped sponsor the National Wheelchair Pool players Association 8-Ball and 9-Ball Championship. We were very pleased with both the interest and participation. We plan on sponsoring this program annually.

The Chapter sponsors annual Christmas parties and picnics at both Hampton and McGuire VAMC. We also participate in the County Fair at Hampton VAMC in the spring.

The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter PVA encourages our members to use our Sports and Recreation Program as a rehabilitation tool to increase one's independence, self-esteem, enhance quality of life, and create public awareness.
The chapter helped sponsored several members to the National Veteran Wheelchair Games in Alaska, and had many members receive medals for their efforts in various competitions.

We continue to be involved in the "Piers for the Handicapped Fishermen" Program, a joint effort of the Chapter, PRO-AM TEAMS, Mercury Outboard and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. At the PRO-AM Tournament we were able to raise over $3,300. The proceeds from this event will be used to build a pier in Powhatan, Virginia.

Over $25,000 was spent this year on sports sponsorships and recreational activities for our members.
 

The Chapter maintains a program called Membership Services that basically encompasses matters related to projects beneficial to our members, but don’t fall into one of the other aforementioned categories. We contributed much needed equipment for McGuire VAMC SCI, "Yes, You Can" books as well as sip and puff phones. We participated in PVA Awareness Week, making people more aware of our mission and programs that we have to offer.

The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter assists other organizations with worthwhile programs that benefit our members, as well as the disabled community as a whole. Donations have been a big part of our work this year. We helped sponsor Jimmy May, who is one of our most faithful active members, to the Richmond Invitational Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, which is hosted annually.

The Chapter also consistently provides funding to the SCI Recreation Departments at McGuire and Hampton VA Medical Centers. We funded the reprinting of the SCI Handbooks at McGuire and provided the necessary equipment, supplies and internet access to the Computer Skills Lab and its new satellite areas at that Medical Center.

Our Chapter encompasses a large geographical area, which makes it difficult at times to provide services to all our members. We have a group of very active and dedicated members in Fayetteville, North Carolina and the surrounding area to help us bridge this gap. Fayetteville residents; Joe Wright, and Ace Cruz served as Ad Hoc members on our Board of Directors. They were very instrumental in helping identify and provide for our members needs in North Carolina; Terry Labar (Northern Virginia resident) also served as an Ad Hoc member. They all made enormous contributions to our cause and were deeply involved with several successful fundraising initiatives.

Over $37,000 was spent on membership services.
 

The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter PVA publishes a bi- monthly newsletter, the "BULLETIN". The "BULLETIN" has a circulation of approximately 900 individuals and businesses. All members, as well as regular advertisers, other Chapters and National PVA’s Executive Committee, receive a copy. The "BULLETIN" serves to keep the members informed of local events and activities of the Chapter, as well as important information issued from the National PVA. It also includes information on legislation, both state & federal, that affects our members.

The Chapter’s web site has received very high accolades from both members and non-members for its content and appearance. On average, it receives about 1,000 hits per month .The website features the most current information from a variety of sources, and serves as a catalyst to promote member interaction.
 

The Education Assistance Program was instituted to provide quality care for our members and all spinal cord injured or diseased veterans. The Program provides financial assistance in obtaining a nursing degree or attending relevant seminars. This assistance is available to qualified applicants interested in the LPN or the RN Program.

The Scholarship Program is operated on a graduated scale, dependent on the student’s term of commitment. To obtain a 60% scholarship, the recipient is expected to complete two years of service on the SCI Unit upon graduation. A 75% scholarship requires three years of service and a 90% scholarship requires a commitment of five years. In order to be accepted into the program, the interested party must already be employed by the VA. We currently have four people in the program and a waiting list. Both Verna Powers and Susan Ely graduated from the RN program, and are committed to the SCI unit for 5 years.

In addition, we have an educational program for Rehabilitation Nurses. We obtained study video tapes and materials for the Certification of Rehabilitation Nurses. The videos and course materials are an excellent source of up to date information and should help anyone who uses them to study effectively and assist them in their efforts to pass the Rehabilitation certification test. The course will award each RN participant 36.1 continuing education credits.

The total amount spent on this program for 2005-2006 was over $24,000.
 

The Chapter maintains three financial assistance programs, designed to help non-service connected members in need. There is a small amount set aside each year to financially assist members who are suffering a financial hardship. These funds are only used in extreme dire cases of hardship. The Adaptive Equipment Program purchases van lifts, hand-controls, etc. The Home Structural Assistance Program assists financially 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. A total of over $12,500 was expended on these three programs this year.
 

The Chapter has a new Special Development Committee that serves to find much needed funds and other resources to sustain the programs. The Special Development Committee organizes raffles, tournaments, and host online sports competitions that produced noteworthy income for the Chapter. Midwest Publishing (the Chapter’s telemarketer) was also a viable, consistent source of income throughout the year. The Chapter is very excited about partnering with Seely and Associates, who were hired on commission to assist us with grant and proposal writing. Our plans are to solicit donations from Corporations and other major donors.
 

As we have previously reported, the Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America has become a major source of advice and information in the community. We say this with a certain amount of pride, because more and more individuals/organizations know that we have and dispense good, reliable information. Networking within the community is essential if you are to receive reliable information and succeed in advocacy and legislation.

Our Chapter has been active for years with the area Disability Services Boards (DSB). The Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee (EDAC) of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and their subcommittees on transportation continues to hold our interest. We also attend quarterly meetings of a group established by the Greater Richmond Transportation Corporation (GRTC) and CARE, the van system that is provided for people with disabilities. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) invites its ridership to air any and all problems/concerns/needs regarding their transportation, in order to provide better service. These are very lively meetings and a great learning experience. Over the years, we have served as a Deputy to the Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services (VAVS) and are very proud to continue to serve on that organization’s (VAVS) Executive Committee. We hope to live up to the expectations and we appreciate all the support we have received. We continue to be involved with the Advisory Committee for the Goodwill Medical/Adaptive Equipment Program. This program addresses four major barriers to obtaining equipment and supplies for older adults and persons with disabilities. These barriers are cost, access, supply and storage. Equipment and supplies are donated, repaired and cleaned. These items are then distributed to persons in need; based on requests and recommendations for assistance, which are made by referral. We are very proud of the success of this program.

In order to keep our membership better informed about what is happening in Virginia’s Department of Veterans Services, we regularly attend the meetings of the Joint Leadership Council (JLC) and their Board. The JLC represents 22 Veterans Services Organizations (VSO’s), who act as advisors to the Board. The Board is responsible for monitoring the welfare of Virginia’s veterans and setting policies to enhance veteran services. We have a member serving on the Veterans Services Board.

Over the years, we have continued to make businesses, hotels, medical facilities and shopping centers ADA accessible.

Our Chapter continues to monitor state and federal legislation and eagerly and gladly tries to guarantee basic civil rights due to all Americans, especially paralyzed veterans.

In recent years, the Chapter has supported the Yale University Neuroscience and Regeneration Center and will continue to do so in the future. This year, we were extremely proud to contribute $1,000 to their efforts. They are collaborating with other leading spinal cord research centers around the world in their battle against spinal cord dysfunction.
 

The Chapter has a Hospital Liaison Program that works very closely with McGuire and Hampton VA Medical Centers. The Chapter Liaison Program's primary objective is to improve the spinal cord injury patient’s care. This is done by visiting and staying in communication with the patients and taking any problems or concerns the patients may have to the Service Officer, who will address the matter and deal with them accordingly. Our goal is the resolution of issues and improving the communications between patients and staff.

The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter is very fortunate to have a group of dedicated volunteers .Our volunteers assist in-patients with banking, shopping and personal errands. They also work closely with the Director of Sports and Recreation at all recreation functions.

At McGuire VAMC, there is a Peer Counseling Program that deals with the physical and psycho-social problems experienced by the newly injured veteran. Counseling takes place on a one-on-one basis. This type of format assists in the development of coping skills, and provides guidance in the areas of independent living, recreational opportunities and other aspects related to the socialization of the newly injured patient.
 

PVA currently maintains Service Offices on the SCI Units at both the McGuire and Hampton VAMC's. The office on U Wing of the SCI Service at McGuire allows easy contact with both in-patients and out-patients, as does the Service Office in Hampton, which is located just off the dining hall.

Patients admitted to the SCI Unit are contacted by the Service Officer and offered assistance in obtaining all of the VA benefits to which they are entitled by law. The Service Officer is responsible for providing assistance to all veterans seeking benefits. This service is for, but is not limited to, our membership base and both in-patients and out-patients on SCI Service. These services are provided free of charge in compliance with our Congressional Charter.

In addition, the Service Officer is expected to maintain communication with Prosthetics, Pharmacy, GU , SCI Service, etc. Their focus is on those areas that are important to the individual veteran's needs. This includes all of the available treatment and applicable entitlements being sought by the applicant.

Also, the National Service Officer at McGuire is in direct communication with SCI Management. Monthly meetings are held with the SCI Chief, Administrative Officer and Nurse Managers. Chapter representatives are also present at these meetings. This gives all concerned with SCI a forum to discuss issues relating to SCI care and a platform to work together toward a solution. Our National Service Officer also discusses patients’ complaints with nursing supervisors as problems arise.

Listed left are the Accredited Service Officers and the locations that were in place as of September 30, 2005
 

In summary, the Chapter has enjoyed a very productive and economically sound year. Our program expenditure rate was 60%, which well exceeds our required 51% for a non-profit organization. We continue to work very hard to keep administrative expenses down and provide funding to projects that in some way will benefit our members and ultimately accomplish our goals.