BLINDED VETERANS
ASSOCIATION
chartered by the United States Congress
FLORIDA REGIONAL
GROUP
3801 coco Grove
Avenue
Miami, Florida
33133
BVA-FRG Web
site: www.bvafrg.org
NEWSLETTER - November 2010
FRG President's Message: In this issue of the President’s Message, I’m going to lay out the procedures that take place, from the time you request aids or devices from your VIST Coordinator until you receive the item . Our hope is that by understanding the system you may receive the prosthetics items in a more timely manner. After a thorough evaluation around the state, it has been found that the Southwest area, has by far the most problems receiving there prosthetics items in a timely manner, or in some cases not at all. There are 6 VA Medical facilities in Florida excluding the Panhandle, witch is under Biloxi Mississippi. They are Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Bay pines, Orlando, and Gainesville -Lake City. Those facilities coordinate the many VA Outpatient Clinics. The first step is to make the request to your VIST Coordinator. If the item does not require an evaluation by the BROS, the VIST Coordinator sends a consult requesting the aid or device to Prosthetics. If it requires an evaluation, the VIST coordinators send a message to the BROS, for an evaluation. The BROS would go to your home to do an evaluation concerning the device in question. If the evaluation determines that the BV can use and benefit from the item, then the BROS puts a consult into Prosthetics for the item. Whether the VIST or BROS sends the consult, then it is now up to the Prosthetics Service to order the item or items. If you have not received said item after 3 or 4 weeks, after the consult has been sent to Prosthetics, then call your VIST Coordinator and ask for the status of the item. Now if after a couple of more weeks have passed, and you have still not received said item or items, then I suggest that you contact one of the following individuals that can assist. If you reside on the west side of the state , contact Terry King (941) 505-7747. If you live on the east side of the state, contact George stocking at: 305 446 8008. Here is my reason for suggesting that you contact one of the two Board appointed representatives, I quote Donald Freyberger, Director Prosthetics VISN 8, from a question that we had sent to him and here is his answer. “Initial action is taken within 8 days and order should be place "ideally" during this same period. Once initially answered it is placed in pending and should be ordered as soon as possible. A review of pending should be conducted each week and oldest orders should be taken and handled. At 30 days a supervisor should definitely be aware and the order assigned to be completed.” In my suggestion, I have allowed a lot of leeway, to permit any and all unforeseen conditions. I have had far too many veterans tell me that just not worth the hassle, but if this is the attitude taken, we may never be able to solve the problem. Once again our problems are primarily in the Southwest area. Although that area is under the Bay Pines VAMC, the rest of that catchment area is not experiencing problems receiving their prosthetic items. The FRG has been in contact with Don Freyberger and Dan Fields, Bay Pines Prosthetics Representative regarding this matter.
Here is an interesting aid for both total and partially blinded veterans, and the price is under$140. A new voice labeling system Which Allows users to easily record, and re-record, Information onto self-adhesive labels. This Small pen shaped recorder provides easy Recognition sound and just four buttons in a Simple identifiable pattern. Instantly play back the recordings - no computer required. Use The Pen Friend to label food items, including Freezer food and even add cooking instructions, Film and music collections. Organize household Paperwork, record shopping lists or leave audio Messages. Clothing that is dry cleaned can even be labeled. The Pen Friend can also be used as a portable note taker. You can record your message and keep track of it by placing the allocated label in a small notebook or in your diary. This device is great for students as Well as home use.
Features: Simply allocate one of the coded self-Adhesive labels and record and store your Message on the Pen Friend; to play back Touch the Pen Friend tip to the label and it will announce recordings specific to each Label There is no limit to the record length Associated with each label. Over 70 hours of recording time available on 1 GB internal memory. Ability to download MP3 files including Books and music. However, this feature requires a computer. Includes 127 labels in a mix of sizes and Shapes, currently 2 sheets of square Shaped labels and 1 sheet of small circles, Built-in speaker, USB cable, neck lanyard And two AAA batteries. Please only request any item if you feel that you are going to use and benefit from the device. Also remember that the VIST Coordinator will have to determine your eligibility and in some cases the BROS must evaluate and determine if you are able to use and benefit from the device.
Don’t forget about our FRG BVA list
serve. For your information we have over
150 blinded veterans that are currently signed up, and are now receiving the
newsletter which can be read on there computer. Critical information for bv's
is also available on the list serve. This
list serve can also be used to post problems or information, for example, if
you have been denied an item because you were told that the VA does not provide
that item you can ask the other BV's around the state if they have also been
denied. It also has another valuable
use, and that is if you are experiencing difficulty with a device that you may
have, just put it out over the list serve, and there is usually some one out
there to assist you. Terry King, FRG President
(941) 505-7747 email tnking18@earthlink.net;
Vice President Chuck Kays West Palm Beach
(407)873-7993 email chukkays@aol.com; Secretary-Treasurer George Stocking
(305) 446-8008 email gstocking@bellsouth.net;
Northwest District Darryl Goldsmith -
Pensacola (850) 554-7819, email dandv5@cox.net; Northeast District Bill Burgess
-Palm Coast (386) 445-4987 email billstoy1@bellsouth.net; Central West District
Gigi Mathis - Lakeland (863-255-9275 email gigig285@aol.com; Central East
District Ralph Cantrell (407) 857-1908 email odyerc.aol.com; Southwest District
Bob Walczak - Port Charlotte (941) 875-9876 email milwallyg@comcast.net;
Southeast District Bill McDermott – Stuart (772) 287-2105. You may use these contacts for getting information about services
for BV's and activities of the BVA and FRG.
Terry King FRG President
FRG Auxiliary President's Message: As Veterans Day approaches, we not only want to
honor those who served, we also want to
understand their part in the history of our great nation.
Auxiliary Past
President Joanne King and I have often talked about what the FRG BVA Auxiliary might do as a statewide project. I’d like to float something as a possibility. The U.S. Congress created something called
the Veterans History Project back in
2000. The project is ongoing. The materials are archived in the American Folk life
Center of the Library of Congress. The
idea is to collect,
preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear
directly from veterans and better
understand the realities of war. Stories have been sought from veterans
of World War II
(1939-1946), Korean War (1950-1955,) Vietnam War (1961-1975), Persian Gulf War (1990-1995,)
and Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts
(2001-present). In addition, U.S. citizen civilians
who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors,
medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable
stories. Stories can be told
in several ways. They may be written memoirs or audio tape or video taped interviews. Letters,
postcards, v-mail, personal diaries, photographs, drawings, and scrapbooks
may also be submitted. The materials are made available to researchers and to
the general public at the Library of
Congress in Washington, DC, and on the Veterans History Project web site.
The website has
a complete field kit with instructions on how to interview someone and how to submit materials. Personally, I wish I had asked my father more about
his war time experiences. Now it is too late. I would hate for more valuable
history to be lost. We have a treasure
trove in our BV's. Some may be eager to
tell their stories. Other opportunities may exist at a VA hospital or in the community. More information is available at
_http://www.loc.gov/vets/about.html_
(http://www.loc.gov/vets/about.html) . Please call or email
me and let me know what you think of this idea and if you or a family member or friend would like to
participate. Students from
10th grade on may collect stories so even
grandchildren can become involved. Fran Thomas, FRG
Auxiliary President (239) 283-1708 email
PghFran9@aol.com
FRG Meeting Notice: The next meeting of the Florida Regional Group
will be held on Saturday, December 4th, at the Holiday Inn St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport, 3535
Ulmerton Road in Clearwater. The meeting
will begin with a period of socializing at 11:30 AM, followed by lunch at
noon. For lunch, you may have Home Style
Roast Beef or Honey Grilled Chicken and mixed Salad, Potatoes, Vegetable, Rolls
& Butter, Iced Tea or Coffee and Decadent Cheese Cake for dessert. The cost of the luncheon will be $5 per
person, including tax and tip.
FRG President Terry King will preside at the meeting following
lunch. Representatives from the
Department of Veterans Affairs will be on hand to provide information about
services and benefits of interest to BV's and their families. A National Legislative Up-Date will be
presented. Future FRG activities will be
discussed. Information about the FRG
Auxiliary will be presented.
The restaurant has asked us to notify them as to the number who will
be attending and the type of luncheon desired before December 1st. Please make your reservations prior to that
date by writing to Central West District Director Gigi
Mathis at: 2852 Chapsworth Lane, Lakeland, FL 33813 or call Gigi at (863)
701-9389, email gigig285@aol.com . In St. Petersburg,
You may call Bay Pines VIST Coordinator Jody Teper at (727) 398-6661 ex 4516 or
in Clearwater, call Ben Wells at: (727)536-1762. In Tampa, call Vist
Coordinators Rick Brown at (813) 903-2442 or Jessica Buccolo at (813) 972-2000
ex 2225. The restaurant needs the reservation information in order to prepare
properly for our meeting.
To get to the Holiday Inn in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater areas, take
US Highway 19 north or south to Ulmerton Road (State Road 686), go east about
1.5 miles. The Holiday Inn will be on
the left side of the road. From the
South (Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Bradenton) take I 75 north to I 275 north then to exit 16/30 Roosevelt Blvd. (SR 686,
continue west to Ulmerton Road (SR 686) about 1.25 Miles. Holiday Inn will be on your right side. From the Tampa area, take I
75 north or south to I 275 south. Go across the Howard Franklin bridge to the 2nd exit (exit 18/31 Which is
Ulmerton Road (SR 686). Go west 1.25
miles to Holiday Inn on your right side.
From the east (Orlando, etc.) take I 4 west to
I 275 then continue as above. If you
need directions, call the Holiday Inn at (727) 577-1900. Do not call the Holiday Inn for reservations
but one of those listed above. Free
Parking is available next to the restaurant. Check with your fellow Blinded Veterans,
family members, and friends and make plans to join us on Saturday, December 4th in Clearwater. We look forward to meeting you there.
Last year, a number of BV's made reservations but did not attend or cancel. Consequently the FRG had to pay $16 for each
reservation under our guarantee.
Although you only pay $5 for the lunch, the FRG subsidizes it with an
additional $11. If someone makes a
reservation and does not come or cancel, the FRG must pay $16 for guaranteed
reservation. If you can't come, please call
and cancel before Dec.1st.
US Legislative Up-Date: At present, Congress is in recess. It is anticipated that it will convene for a lame duck session about November 15 to finish those appropriations bills not yet completed. The VA's appropriation for fiscal year 2011 has passed and the funds are available to the VA. The BVA's bill to lower the requirement for the 2101 B Adaptive Housing Grant from 5/200 to 20/200 passed the House but not the Senate. There is a slim chance that the Senate may vote on that measure during the lame duck session. If the senate does not pass it, the BVA will have to start over in the new session of Congress. There is a FRAUD on the internet. Like so many things today that anyone can fabricate something about anyone or some policy and without anything other than just a desk top, start a chain of false information. There has been and still are rumors from veterans that a huge increase is coming for service connected veterans and in this case the person doing this actually took a real piece of legislation, but added incorrect information. This caused veterans to call there congressmen and Senator's staff and ask if a certain bill did pass congress. The bill did pass but did not include a large increase in service connected compensation for disabled veterans. Presently, there is no legislation to increase compensation. If there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index, there may be a small Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in January. If there is a COLA it will be reported in future FRG Newsletters.
Remember to mark
your calendar for Saturday, December 4th, so that you, your family
members, and friends,
may attend the FRG meeting at the Holiday Inn St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Airport for an interesting and enjoyable afternoon. Be
sure to call those listed above and make your reservation before December 1st.
FRG Meeting Schedule
December 4 FRG
Meeting Holiday Inn St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport
January 8 FRG
meeting Ocala Hilton Hotel
February 5 Proposed
FRG meeting MacDill AFB Enlisted Club in Tampa
March ? Proposed FRG
meeting in the Ft. Lauderdale area
April 28 - May 1 FRG
State Convention Plaza Ocean Club in Daytona Beach
FRG Newsletter Staff
Terry King FRG
President
Fran Thomas FRG
Auxiliary President
George Stocking FRG
Newsletter Editor