FLORIDA REGIONAL GROUP, INC.
3801 Coco Grove Avenue
Miami, Florida 33133
FRG NEWSLETTER, Novemberr, 2007
FRG President's Message: We are coming into the Holiday Season, November to
January. To some it's a time for
togetherness, for others, a time to reflect. In
reflecting, it was around a year and a half ago when I was elected FRG President, for the
first time, and I promoted the ideal that we all,
which included friends, families, and persons lending support to our Blinded Veterans
community, become ambassadors for the BVA. Reflect
for just a moment to when you first heard you were entitled to VA benefits, a CCTV, guide
dog, blind or vocational rehabilitation, and in-home care?
Reflecting a little bit deeper, what portion of these benefits and entitlements
directly or indirectly result from the actions of the BVA?
The first answer is that not many are aware of the VA benefits and entitlements,
and they find out usually, from another veteran, or someone who knows of another Blinded
Veteran already in the system. Second answer,
when considering aspects of direct and indirect, it would be safe to say all benefits and
entitlements specifically for Blinded Veterans have evolved from the over 62 years of
laborious efforts of our BVA. What is the
task at hand of an ambassador? It's spreading
the word about the BVA. Through the BVA,
information is consistently provided and readily available to the Blinded Veterans known
to the BVA. It's hard to get information to
someone not known to exist. I personally join
other clubs, associations, or organizations, so that I can look for other Blinded Veterans
within these organizations, and am continuously finding them. I came across a Blinded Veteran in the DAV who
knew about his VA entitlements, but didn't know about the VIST or that he didn't have to
buy his own CCTV. They are out there and I
ask you to find them and not only point them in the right direction, but see if you can
get them to join the BVA. Anyone can go to
our Web Site at: www.bvafrg.org, and download
a copy of a BVA application, or call me at (904) 291-0576 and I'll get one out in the
mail. If we all just sign up one Blinded
Veteran to our association, we would still
only have less than one-half of the Blinded Veteran community in Florida, in our group. So, let's each sign up two!
Switching gears, this Holiday Season time of the year can be a very emotional low
for many. I believe it's called
"preaching to the choir" when I state that the loss of our eye sight, whether it
is total or just severe, impacts our lives tremendously.
It's so easy to fall into the feeling of loneliness, the feeling that they are
unwanted, unworthy, unfit, or nobody cares. These
are very dangerous attitudes that can lead to severe depression and/or anger. We need to recognize these attitudes whether we
personally experience them or see it manifested in our friends. In past Newsletters, I have noted the need to take
time to visit our hospitalized veterans and now is even more the time to be doing so. Not only taking that time, but taking time to
smile, give warm gestures, and a helping hand. For
those who are feeling the anxiety, frustration, depression, and loneliness, denial will
not rid anyone of these feelings. Denial only
allows the individual to drive deeper and deeper into their lives. Sinking deeper into their shell. The more one reflects these attitudes, the more
others begin to believe this is the true character of the individual. Recognizing the problem is the first step, then
reconciling the feeling with those who can help. Talk
with another and let the inner feeling be known. Work
it out. A final note, remember the FRG
operates only on funds received from the annual apportionment derived from the BVA Life
Membership Fund and the gracious donations and bequests made by members and friends of the
Florida Regional Group. If you would like to
make donations, send your check to the FRG at: 3801
Coco Grove Avenue, Miami, FL 33133, the address noted in the Newsletter, attention Dr.
Stocking, FRG Secretary-Treasurer. In the
case of bequests, call Dr. Stocking at (305) 446-8008. or in writing use the address in
the Newsletter header. I also would like to
personally thank all the individuals who show up and participate in our Informational
Luncheons. In closing, as always, keep the
mission alive, and help one another to help each other.
See you soon. Paul W. Kaminsky, FRG
President.
FRG Auxiliary President's Message: Dear Fellow FRG Auxiliary Members and the BV's, Fall is here and the busy season is upon us with
the monthly BVA-FRG luncheons and the variety of activities around the state. In Ft. Myers, once again, I chaired our annual
Vision Awareness Walk-A-Thon involving the agencies in Lee County that work with visually
impaired citizens. The FRG is represented on
our committee and a number of BV's walked to raise citizen's awareness of the Blinded
Veterans and to raise some funds for the Florida Regional Group. This year, we had 155 walkers that received a
complementary lunch at Carrabbas Italian Grill. They
also received a T shirt marking the event, a
goody bag, and chances on some very nice prizes. Music
was provided by a Cape Coral Lions member, who is visually impaired. He and his wife sang and entertained the troops. The oldest BV that walked the entire 2 miles was
89 year old Edwin Wack, known to his friends as Bing.
He is a computer user, loves the chat room, and walked the entire 2 miles. He did tell me that he had to rest 3 times but he
did it. He was disappointed in himself
because he had to rest. The youngest walker
was in a stroller and the oldest was 97. Quite
a span of years. The FRG will share in the
donations. My dream of trying to educate the
public about visual impairment and what visually impaired people can accomplish with the
proper training and equipment is starting to become a reality. I am so proud of everyone who participated. John Thomas, our Southwest District Director, was
the FRG representative on the committee, along with Larry Newman. One of the Cape Coral Lions who is a visually
impaired artist, prepared certificates for
all of the sponsors of the Walk-A-Thon and the individuals who did outstanding work. We had a new organization, this year, The Winning
Kids, which is a group organized to teach visually impaired children Braille, long time in
coming. My personal goal is also a reality,
as the Blinded Veteran is becoming an active citizen of the community through his and her
participation in events such as the Walk-A-Thon. Everybody
is ready and willing to do it again next year. Think
about it for your community. You get much
more than you give. Hope to see you at the
FRG Luncheon meetings around the state in the coming months. Joyce Thornton, FRG Auxiliary President
FRG Meeting Notice: The next meeting of the Florida
Regional Group will be held on Saturday, December 1, at the Bill Irle's Restaurant, 1310
North Ft. Harrison Avenue (US Highway 19 Alternate) in Clearwater. As in the past, this meeting at Bill Irle's is
shaping up to be another afternoon of good food, good times, and good friends. Please plan to join us there and renew old
friendships and make new ones.
The meeting will begin at 11:30 AM with a period of socializing, followed by lunch
at noon. For lunch, you may have either: Baked Boston Scrod or Wiener Schnitzel and Fruit
Cup, Salad, Potato, Vegetable, Rolls &
Butter, Iced Tea or Coffee, and Dessert. The
price of the lunch will be $5 per person including tax & tip. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks will be available for
an additional charge.
FRG President Paul Kaminsky will preside at the meeting following lunch. A National Legislative up-date will be presented. Information about the FRG Auxiliary and its
programs will be provided. FRG activities for
the coming months will be discussed. Representatives
from the Department of Veterans Affairs will be on hand to provide information about
services and benefits for Blinded Veterans and their families.
The restaurant has asked us to notify them as to the number who will be attending
and the choice of lunch desired, by November 28. Please
make your reservations prior to that date by writing to Central West District Director Bill Geden at: 622 East
Foresthill Place, Hernando, FL 34442 or call Bill at (352) 341-6875. In St. Petersburg, You may call Bay Pines VIST
Coordinator Jody Teper at (727) 398-6661 ex 4516 or Tampa VIST Coordinator Charles
Nieberding at: (813) 631-7140 or in Clearwater, call Ben Wells at: (727) 536-1762. It
is important for you to make your
reservations so that the restaurant may prepare for our meeting.
To get to the restaurant: From Tampa,
take State Road 60 across the Courtney Campbell Causeway, continue West to Ft. Harrison
Avenue (US Highway 19 Alternate) go north several miles to Bill Irle's. It is a red building on the west side of the
street. Free parking is available behind the
building. From the South, take I 275 across
the Skyway Bridge to State Road 60, go west on SR 60 and continue as above. From the North, take US 19 south to State Road 60,
go west and continue as above.
US Legislative Up-Date:
For many years, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Fiscal Year was
reported, Congress has passed a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Service Connected
Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits equal to
the increase in the CPI. On October 19,
Congress passed a 2.3% COLA in Compensation and DIC benefits for the coming year. Individuals receiving Social Security benefits and
the Non Service Connected Disability Pension will also receive a 2.3% COLA. These COLA will take effect on December 1 and
appear in the checks you receive in January.
The three measures upon which the BVA has been working in this session of Congress
have not yet passed. The Paired
Organ bill passed the House of Representatives 419 to 1.
A similar measure has been reported favorably by the Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee, but has not yet been acted upon by the full Senate. Tom Zampiere, BVA Director of Government Affairs
has been working with Senator Akaka's, Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee,
office to expedite its going to the Senate floor. It is hoped that the full Senate will
vote upon it shortly. Among other things,
that measure would make 20/200 the legal description of blindness at the VA. There appears to be no opposition to the measure
but it is not a priority to the Congressional leadership.
If we can get it before the Senate, it appears that it has an excellent chance to
pass.
The effort to get Congress to establish a Military Eye Trauma Center of Excellence
and Registry, appears to be on course. S 1999
has been introduced into the Senate and HR 3558 has been introduced into the House of
Representatives. These measures will
establish an Eye Trauma Center of Excellence in the Department of Defense (DOD) to
register all eye injuries and promote the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, and
rehabilitation of military personnel with eye injuries.
It will also establish a sharing of medical information with the Department of
Veterans Affairs to have a seamless transition to life long treatment and service for eye
injured personnel. Since the measure will be a Military Center it will be considered by
the Armed Services Committee. Tom Zampiere
has worked hard to get these measures out of the Committees. We have had favorable reports in the news media
regarding these measures. To date, the DOD
does not appear to have a handle on the number of military personnel who have suffered eye
injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. In
addition, many of the traumatic brain injured soldiers have limitations in vision which
will cause problems in the future. The VA
needs to be informed of all of these military personnel so that they may have the
necessary treatment and rehabilitation service both now and in the future.
The bill to provide scholarship funding for individuals to take graduate training
in orientation and mobility and Blind Rehab Teaching is still in the Committees. When the funds are used the recipient would have
to work at least 3 years for the VA. Currently,
there is a shortage of BROS in the VA system and when additional positions are opened, the
shortage will even increase. These
scholarships will greatly improve that situation. To
date, the support has been favorable but the measure is not a high priority with the
Congressional leadership.
The Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits Commission has been meeting in
Washington and around the Country for several years.
Recently, its report was delivered to the President and Congress. It is quite comprehensive and contains many
recommendations which would be beneficial to severely disabled veterans. Presently, Service Connected Disability Benefits
are paid on the average loss of earning capacity for individuals with the various
disabilities. One of the provisions in
the report recommends that loss of quality of life be added to the determination of the
level of compensation for severely disabled veterans.
It recommended an increase up to 25% for loss of quality of life for those severely
disabled veterans. Congress has made some
favorable comments about the report and promised to introduce appropriate legislation. However, due to the length and complexity of the
report, it is unlikely that any legislation will be considered this year. Congress will hold hearings on this report next
year before introducing any legislation.
Please join
us at Bill Irle's Restaurant in Clearwater on Saturday December 1 for an interesting and
enjoyable afternoon. Get a group of your
fellow Blinded Veterans together and bring them with you.
Remember to make your reservations before November 28 by calling those listed
above. If you make a reservation and can't
come, please call and cancel your reservation so that the FRG will not have to pay for
lunches not used. We look forward to meeting
you in Clearwater on Saturday, December 1.
Schedule of Events
December 1
FRG meeting at Bill Irle's Restaurant in Clearwater
January 5
FRG meeting at the Quality Inn in Ocala
February 2
FRG meeting MacDill AFB Enlisted Club in Tampa
March ?
Proposed FRG Southeast District meeting
April 5
FRG meeting in Pensacola
May 2-4
FRG State Convention Plaza Ocean Club Hotel in Daytona Beach
August 12-18
BVA National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona
Newsletter Staff
Paul Kaminsky
FRG President
Joyce Thornton
FRG Auxiliary President
George Stocking
Editor