JANUARY 2021 - WECANHELP PAGE 8 HOLIDAY PARTY - PVA CENTRAL FLORIDA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
January 2021 We Can Help Page 8 Holiday Party Page 18-19
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Central Florida Chapter
® 2711 S. Design Ct.
Sanford, FL 32773-8120
Phone (407) 328-7041
The ReWalk Exoskeleton- Fax: (407) 328-7139
Suited for Your Mission
January Board Meeting on zoom is January 14th 10:30 AM.
Website: pvacf.org Table of Contents
Email: office@pvacf.org
The Cover by Oleg Zaicey
Chapter Officers 2019-2021
President.................................................... 5
President..................................................... Steve Kirk
Executive Director...................................... 6
Vice President...........................................Sean Gibbs
Treasurer........................................... Brian Terwilliger We Can Help.............................................. 9
Secretary................................................Jimmy Green T-Ball.......................................................... 16
National Director...............................Craig Enenbach Holiday Party............................................. 18-19
Executive Director John DeMauro
Office Manager Joanne Poretti
Elected Board Members
Dan Guppenberger................................ Class of 2021
David Rountree .................................... Class of 2021
Retired Army Sergeant Roger Sack............................................ Class of 2022
Terry Vereline crosses Ken Weas............................................... Class of 2022
the finish line of the Tim Wolfe............................................. Class of 2023
2019 New York City Eddie Hawks......................................... Class of 2023
Marathon after National Liaison Vice President: Robert Thomas
walking 26.2 miles in
her ReWalk Exoskeleton. Appointees
She received this device
in 2014 and has used it Editor.......................................................... Steve Kirk
to take nearly 1,000,000 Membership/Vol Coordinator........ Brenda Ciccarello
Government Relations Director.................. Ken Weas
steps in the past
five years. National Service Officers:
Earnest Hill (386) 755-3016
David Ray (407)-631-1835
Did You Know That
What is Your Mission? Mission Statement
Paralyzed US Veterans Whether your goals include experiencing the
proven health-related benefits of exoskeleton Paralyzed Veterans of America Central Florida, is a congressionally
May be Eligible For a chartered veteran’s service organization that provides a platform of
ReWalk Exoskeleton? assisted walking, standing to hug a loved one advocacy, education and research, communication, adaptive sports
or completing an entire marathon, ReWalk and recreation for veterans paralyzed as a result of spinal cord injury
Contact ReWalk for or dysfunction, in an effort to afford them with the highest quality of
More Information can you help you achieve them. health care and life experiences.
rewalk.com/contact ReWalk Robotics
200 Donald Lynch Boulevard,
or 508.251.1154 Option 2 Marlborough, MA 01752
www.rewalk.com
PVACF.ORG 2 PVACF.ORG 3
President
O n January 1, 1892 Ellis Island in New York Harbor
opened. Over 20 million new arrivals to America
were processed until its closing in 1954. Trivia on New
possibly from Wales, in 1774. He
unsuccessfully attempted to sell the
island nine years later. Ellis died
York, (Something for the National Veterans Wheelchair in 1794, and as per his will, the
Games) states that 40% of Americans can trace their ownership of Ellis Island passed to
ancestry to someone who processed through Ellis his daughter Catherine Westervelt’s
Island. unborn son, who was also named
Initially, much of the Upper New York Bay’s western Samuel. When the junior Samuel
shore consisted of large tidal flats with vast oyster beds, died shortly after birth, ownership
which were a major source of food for the Lenape. passed to the senior Samuel’s other
Ellis Island was one of three “Oyster Islands,” the two daughters, Elizabeth Ryerson
other two being Liberty Island and the now-destroyed and Rachel Cooder.
Black Tom Island. In the late 19th century, the federal In the 19th century, Ellis Island was the site of Fort
government began expanding the island by land Gibson and later became a naval magazine. The first
reclamation to accommodate its immigration station, inspection station opened in 1892 and was destroyed
and the expansions continued until 1934. by fire in 1897. The second station opened in 1900
The fill was acquired from the ballast of ships, as well and housed facilities for medical quarantines as well
as material excavated from the first line of the New as processing immigrants. After 1924, Ellis Island
York City Subway. It also came from the rail yards of was used primarily as a detention center. During both
the Lehigh Valley Railroad World War I and World
and the Central Railroad of War II its facilities were
New Jersey. It eventually also used by the United
obliterated the oyster beds, States military to detain
engulfed one of the Oyster prisoners of war. Following
Islands, and brought the the immigration station’s
shoreline much closer to the closure, the buildings
others. languished for several years
until they partially reopened
The native Mohegan name in 1976. The main building
for the island was “Kioshk”, and adjacent structures were
meaning “Gull Island”, in completely renovated in
reference to Ellis Island’s 1990.
former large population
of seagulls. Kioshk was composed mostly of marshy, The current island is shaped like a “C”, with two
brackish lowlands that disappeared underwater at high landmasses of equal size on the northeastern and
tide. southwestern sides, separated by what was formerly a
ferry pier. It was originally three separate islands. The
In 1630, the Dutch bought Kioshk as a gift for current north side, formerly called island 1, contains
Michael Reyniersz Pauw who had helped found New the original island and the fill around it. The current
Netherland. It was then sold to Captain William Dyre south side was composed of island 2, created in 1899,
in 1674 and then to Thomas Lloyd on April 23, 1686. and island 3, created in 1906. Two eastward-facing
The island was sold several more times, including to ferry docks separated the three numbered landmasses.
Enoch and Mary Story During colonial times. Little The fill was retained with a system of wood piles and
Oyster Island became a popular spot for hosting oyster cribbing, and later encased with more than 7,700 linear
roasts, picnics, and clambakes because of its rich oyster feet of concrete and granite sea wall. It was placed
beds. Evidence of recreational uses on the island was atop either wood piles, cribbing, or submerged bags of
visible by the mid-18th century with the addition of concrete. In the 1920s, the second ferry basin between
All-In Construction is a locally owned and operated General Contractor that commercial buildings to the northeast shore. islands 2 and 3 was infilled to create the great lawn,
specializes in residential remodeling. We are focused on our veteran and By the 1760s, Little Oyster Island became a public forming the current south side of Ellis Island. As part
of the project, a concrete and granite seawall was built
disabled communities to help renovate their homes in a way that works best execution site for pirates, with executions occurring
to connect the tip of these landmasses.
at one tree in particular, the “Gibbet Tree”. However,
to suit their needs. there is scant evidence that this was common
License CGC 1516577 | VA Contractor No. 09995 practice. Little Oyster Island was acquired by
Samuel Ellis, a colonial New Yorker and merchant Steve Kirk
www.allinconstruction.com | 407-260-0018 | 275 Hunt Park Cove Longwood, FL 32750
PVACF.ORG 5
Executive Director Our Auditors
Wow! Just Wow! That one word to people in need in our community. We conducted
could encompass pretty much a couple of air rifle competitions, in order to fulfill
all of 2020. In my January a commitment we made in 2019, while maintaining
2020 newsletter article, I had social distancing and managing to conduct the events
written, “we will continue with participants wearing masks. We continued to
what we are doing, in 2020.” offer outdoor activities, even though we realized
In its context, I was referring many of our members were hesitant to gather in
to the articles we were writing crowds, even outdoors. We even conducted our major
for our newsletter. However, fundraising event, our Annual Jerry Dugan Memorial
as that statement refers to this Charity Golf Tournament and had the best turn out
past year, how far off could I and most successful event ever! So overall, despite
have been. Since the middle the unprecedented pandemic, in 2020 the Paralyzed
of March of 2020, nothing Veterans of America Central Florida Chapter did
has been anything like what we have ever done in continue to do what we were doing in 2019. We may
the past. Our lives have changed drastically in 2020. have done it a little differently but we continued to
“Unprecedented” is a word that has been used over serve our members, other veterans and the disabled
and over this past year. Certainly, it has applied to community around us.
all of us. Things are far from what we knew to be
“normal” and as we enter the year 2021, it doesn’t
So what is next? What will 2021 bring our way? To
begin with, January 11th is the day registration opens
G.I.V.E Program
look like it will get back to “normal” anytime for the 2021 National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
soon, if at all. However, what remains unchanged The NVWG will be held in New York City August
is Paralyzed Veterans of America Central Florida 8-13, 2021. There may be some Covid-19 restrictions
Chapter’s commitment to rise up and support our but we do not yet know what they will be. If you are
chapter members in every way possible. Serving our interested in attending the NVWG in New York, get
members has been and continues to be our number in touch with PVACF’s Sports Director Sean Gibbs
one priority and I think we have proved that in some at Seang@pvacf.org. We will take a closer look at
of the things we have done since the beginning of where things are with the virus and make decisions
this pandemic. I will give more detail in my annual about scheduling sports and recreation programs once
report to the membership next month but let me we know more and feel comfortable about what we
share a quick summary of what we did, as a chapter, can do safely. We have the 7th Annual Jerry Dugan
in response to the pandemic. First, we immediately Memorial Charity Golf Tournament scheduled for
closed the doors to our building and Joanne and I May 15, 2021 at the MetroWest Country Club in
began working remotely. We did not stop working and Orlando. This is our major fundraising event for the
we did not stop serving you. We just found a safer year. As we always do, we will plan a holiday dinner
way to do so. Next, we postponed all events, including in December of 2021. We will continue to manage
fundraising events, in order to continue to keep our Refurbished Equipment Exchange Program for
everyone a safe as we could. However, even then we the people in Central Florida who need equipment
did not stop serving our membership. We continued and don’t have the resources to get that equipment.
to monitor the office phones and we continued to do Whatever we do in 2021, be assured that we will do
the work necessary to have a successful year. Serving it as safely as possible. We are dedicated to serving
our members is one of the principles we operate under you and are committed to the mission statement
and we worked hard at making sure that happened. of Paralyzed Veterans of America Central Florida,
We purchased and distributed nearly $35,000 worth providing a platform of advocacy, education and
of Amazon Gift Cards for our members, to help research, communication, adaptive sports and
them with ordering online the things they needed. recreation in an effort to afford you with the highest
We secured cases of donated toilet paper (that is quality of health care and life experiences. May you
right, toilet paper) and shared it with as many of all have a healthy and happy new year!
our members and our neighbors as we could. We
purchased masks and sent them to our members
as well as giving them out in our community. We John DeMauro
continued to give away durable medical equipment
6 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 7
We Would Like to Help!
THE PVACF COVID-19 EMERGENCY GRANT
Overview Proof of need (past due notice for utility bill,
past due notice for rent or mortgage payment,
The purpose of this program is to support our
statement of need for food or health care).
membership during their time of need as they live
Description of how you and/or your family
their lives through the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.
have been negatively affected by the COVID-19
Grant Detail Pandemic.
This grant will be provided to individual chapter Distribution Process
members negatively affected by the COVID-19
Funds will be distributed directly to vendor. For
Pandemic for up to $500. The grant may be
food, gift cards will be provided from the vendor
applied to those chapter members needing
of the chapter member’s choice.
assistance financially in the areas of food, housing,
health care and basic living expenses. Chapter Grant Oversight
members are only encourage to apply for this
A COVID-19 Emergency Grant Funding
grant if they can demonstrate a need.
Committee, made up of the Chapter President,
Eligibility Treasurer and Executive Director, will review
all grant requests and will with sole discretion
All chapter members in good standing and not
and authority approve, deny or modify any grant
having previously received this grant are eligible.
request, in whole or in part, for any reason they
Eligible chapter members should consider
deem necessary. All decisions made by the
applying for this grant if they clearly and without
committee will be final and will not be subject to
question need financial assistance. Doing so will
appeal.
ensure that the available funds will be available for
those chapter members with the greatest hardships Disbursement of Funds
during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Upon approval, the Executive Director will
Grant Requirements notify the member of the committee’s decision
via phone and will verify method of payment
Proof of chapter membership (this will be
of the grant. Under no circumstances will any
confirmed by office staff via the PVA Portal)
Land Clearing Enterprise Proof of membership in good standing (which for
funds be distributed or released in advance of or
without the COVID-19 Emergency Grant Funding
the purposes of this grant will be based upon the
500 North Way • Sanford FL 32773 member not being on membership probation or
Committee’s approval.
having any outstanding debt to the chapter.
The chapter must have current contact
information on the member. Address, phone
number, email address.
PVACF.ORG 9
10 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 11
Air Rifles 12 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 13
National Director
Sled Hockey shoulder pads, gloves, helmet and knee pads. Most
players use hockey skates with the blades removed
This past weekend, I had the privilege of playing
to help protect their feet from getting hurt. Most
in my first Sled Hockey game. I’ve been practicing
equipment can be purchased from regular vendors
with a brand new amateur team from DreamPlex in
like CCM, Bauer and Warrior.
Clermont. The game was in Clearwater, so I made it
a mini-vacation with the family. We played a 3rd-tier
team out of Tampa and still got beat 4-1. But when
it’s your first game as a team, it doesn’t matter what The Stick:
the score is. What mattered most is that everyone on Sled hockey players use 2 shortened sticks. The sticks
the team was (COVID) safe and had fun. So I thought have a “pick-end” at the end of the stick to help the
I’d write an article this month on the basics of Sled player propel themselves on the ice.
Hockey.
The Sled:
The Game:
The sled is basically a metal frame with a seat bucket
Sled Hockey was Founded in Sweden in early 1960’s attached. Most players (except amputees) sit with
and introduced at the 1994 Lillehammer, Norway, their legs extended out in front of them. The feet
Winter Paralympics. Since then, it has become very are firmly strapped to the “Nose” of the sled, so
popular sport around the world. Sled hockey rules the feet don’t fall out and become a hazard. Sleds
and equipment are very similar to regular hockey, can be purchased from 2 major fabricators: Unique
except it is played in an adaptive sled and we use Inventions and Mobility Sports.
two sticks instead of one. Sled hockey is played with
three 20-minute periods and use the same goalie net
as regular hockey. The team consists of 6 players (3 I will be posting some Facebook Live videos on our
forwards, 2 defense men and 1 goalie). If a team has PVACF Facebook page to help explain more about
more than 6 players, the players can switch off as this sport. Make sure you follow PVACF on our
much as they want but must maintain no more than 6 Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pvacf). If you
players on the ice at one. live in Central Florida and would like to try sled
hockey as a sport, please feel free to contact Cameron
Gomes at DreamPlex - 352-394-0212
The Equipment:
The equipment that sled hockey players use is
similar to regular hockey. We wear chest pads,
14 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 15
Getting Outside
y o u r
s f o r
h a n k r t
T p o
sup
T-Ball
16 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 17
Our 2020 Holiday Party 18 PVACF.ORG PVACF.ORG 19
Paralyzed Veterans of America Central Florida Chapter 2711 South Design Court Sanford, Florida 32773-8120
You can also read
