March 2014

Vol.17

The Desert Oracle A Member Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America

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The views expressed in the articles of the Desert Oracle are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the AZPVA. Any article not attributed to an individual / group was compiled with available information by APVA staff/members. The Desert Oracle does encourage our readers to submit their articles, interests and/or rebuttals.

Paralyzed Veterans of America Arizona Chapter

E-mail - azpva@azpva.org Web - www.azpva.org

Officers John Tuzzolino, President Gordon Moye, Vice President Leonard Smith, Secretary Dianne Brunswick, Treasurer

Board of Directors Joseph Chitty Joseph Hamilton Roger Lainson Frank Rigo Sue Wudy National Director Leonard Smith Executive Director Peter R. Quinn Administrative Assistant Anthony O’Clair Office Assistant Cyndee Collings Membership and Volunteer Coordinator Anthony O’Clair PVA National Service Officer’s Michael Wilson, Sr. National Service Officer Andy Leyda, National Service Officer Jacqueline Berkshire, Senior Secretary PVA National Service Office 3333 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1055 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-627-3311 Fax- 602-627-3315 800-795-3582

5015 N 7th Ave. Suite 2 Phoenix, AZ 85013 Office: (602)-244-9168 Fax: (602) 244-0416 1-800-621-9217 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm

Contents

Board of Directors…….………..….……..…..pg. 2

Notes from our National Director…...…..…..pg. 3

NVWG and Volunteering…………..………....pg.4

Go Anywhere Chair Ad……….. ....….….…..pg. 5

Suicide in the Military (Protective Factors)...pg. 7

Disability Appeals Process…………..….…..pg. 9

PVA Scholarship Program….…….…..……pg. 10

Women's History Month……………...…......pg.13

Funding for VA Programs………………......pg.15

Membership Report………..……….….……pg.17

Birthdays……………………………………...pg.18

The Arizona Chapter has a prosthetics Lending closet. For a small donation you can acquire a power wheelchair, a manual wheelchair, shower equipment, aluminum walkers, canes, crutches. We also have Hoyer Lifts (manual & electric) Do not hesitate to call the Chapter office if you are in need of any type of equipment. We may have just what you need.

Call us at : 602-244-9168

Attention All Readers !!!!

* The Desert Oracle is Published at least 6 x per Year

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During the week of February 10th through the 15th 2014, Vice President Gordon Moye, Former National Secretary Frank Rigo and I had the pleasure of attending the PVA’s 68th Annual Convention in sunny Orlando, Florida. Many forms of PVA business were conducted at the Annual Convention, including voting on business resolutions, Chapter concerns and/or updates were also addressed. PVA policies and procedures were discussed, reviewed, and sometimes altered. National Executive Board of Director elections were held, and guest speakers were in attendance as well. Many of National’s Staff was present delivering reports and answering questions posed by the National Board Of Directors, and other staff members back in Washington D.C. We were able to video conference call in and ask or answer any questions as well. Guest speakers at the Convention included Mr. Jose D. Riojas, Chief of Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Barry Goldstein, MD, PhD, who is the Chief Consultant in the Office of Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) in VA Patient Care Services. Other matters of business conducted at the convention were the passing out of the Speedy Awards. The member category went to Randy Pleva, a former PVA National President, who has served in many different positions and capacities at both the West Virginia Chapter and the Kentucky - Indiana Chapter. Non-member category of the Speedy Award went to Bill Siebert. Bill is a true veteran’s advocate and President of the Ralph Braun Family Foundation. Election results for new Officers for PVA National were as follows: President: Al Kovach Senior Vice President: David Zurfluh Vice Presidents: Charles Brown, Joe Fox, Tamara Lawter, and Ken Weas. Secretary: Larry Dodson Treasurer: Tom Wheaton. Responsibility of swearing in the incoming Executive Committee is usually that of the outgoing National President. However, at the 68th Annual Convention our very own Frank Rigo had the distinct honor of fulfilling that responsibility. As the 68th Annual Convention has come to a close significant changes have been made within the executive committee. Congratulations to Al Kovach, David Zurfluh, Charles Brown, Joe Fox, Tamara Lawter, Ken Weas, Larry Dodson and Tom Wheaton for being elected into their perspective positions. I look forward to working with them as we continue to move the PVA organization as well as the Chapters forward in a positive direction.

Notes From Our National Director

National Director Leonard H. Smith Sr.

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Paralyzed Veterans of America volunteers do invaluable work that makes a real

difference to veterans, their communities and Paralyzed Veterans' chapters.

Volunteering can change your life, too.

Why is it so rewarding?

Volunteers make their communities a better place to live. You can work for an organization and mission you believe in. Having a positive impact on others feels great. You can meet new people and develop new leadership skills. Family volunteering lets you spend time with loved ones while helping others.

Becoming a Paralyzed Veterans volunteer has never been easier. Each PVA chapter offers its own volunteer program with a variety of opportunities to contribute, plus you can commit to as many hours as you choose. Call the Chapter for an Activation Form and get involved!

Are You An AZPVA Volunteer?

Registration is now open for the 34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Each year more than 500 novice and experienced athletes meet for a week of archery, swimming, weightlifting, basketball, quad rugby and more. It's the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest annual wheelchair sports competition of its kind in the world. Throughout the week, veterans realize their abilities and potential while enjoying the spirit of healthy activity and fellowship. The Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America have co-presented the Games since 1985.

34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games Philadelphia, PA

"Where Heroes Make History" August 12-17, 2014

Registration Deadline is April 15th 2014 The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel (1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107) is the official NVWG hotel. Teams are responsible for making their own reservation. Rooms are on a

first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations Process for 34th NVWG Athletes and Coaches Only Reservations can be made online at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/NWVGAthlete2014 or by contacting group reservations at 877-212-5752. Individuals must identify themselves as part of the group 34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games OR “NVWG” to receive the Games rate. All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. The hotel accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, May 20th.

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Introducing the GO Anywhere Commode n Shower Chair Adjustable SKU:CS-A The GO-Anywhere Commode 'n Shower Chair - Adjustable™ has four, 5”-diameter total-lock casters, which enables its occupant to be wheeled from his or her bed to over a commode and/or into a roll-in shower. Additionally, it has a one-of-a-kind, 3-way adjustable seat back, enabling it to be moved forward or back, up or down and to be reclined from a vertical 90-degree position to nearly horizontal. The camber built into the rear legs ensures the overall stability of the chair. We could have just as appropriately named this chair the “GROW-Anywhere Chair” as this model can be made to “grow”. To accommodate growing children, the seat back may be moved further back and the backrest raised higher as a child grows, effectively lengthening the useful life of the chair and eliminating the need to continually replace it as a child grows. The GO-Anywhere Commode 'n Shower Chair - Adjustable™ was designed to be as versatile as possi-ble. With a maximum width of just 18”, the GO-Anywhere

Chair™ may pass through even the narrowest of doorways. The seat height can be adjusted to accommodate for varying bed heights by shortening or extending the telescoping legs. Footrest support height and depth are adjustable are the “knee” angles. The footrest paddles have adjusta-ble heel straps to accommodate different-sized feet. Additional standard features of the CS-A in-clude a calf-strap and 2-way adjustable headrest. Although it was designed to meet the needs of the disabled traveler, this portable commode / shower chair is so comfortable that it is the ideal shower chair for everyday use at home, too. The GO-Anywhere Commode 'n Shower Chair - Adjustable® provides the ideal solution for your toileting and bathing needs with any roll-in shower. The GO-Anywhere CS-A™ is simple to assemble; no tools are required. The seat back is 3-way adjustable. The seat and footrest heights are adjustable. All four casters are equipped with total-lock brakes. Constructed of high-quality aircraft-grade aluminum, it's half the weight of products built

using stainless steel and, unlike those constructed of plastic, it's durable and will last a lifetime.

The aluminum is "anodized" not just "powder-coated", or painted, like most other colored aluminum products. Anodizing is an electrolytic process by which the metal is made harder, more durable and more resistant to chips and scratches.

It’s lightweight, compact, convenient and it’s PORTABLE! Seat and backrest cushions are constructed of durable, waterproof foam providing for

maximum comfort. Both are attached to the chair frame with Velcro® rendering them easily removable for cleaning or replacement.

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Are you waiting on a piece of equipment that was ordered through the VA? Please fill this out and fax it to the number at the bottom of the page.

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The largest study of mental health risk and resilience ever conducted among U.S. military personnel today released its first findings related to suicide attempts and deaths in a series of three JAMA Psychiatry articles. Findings from The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members (Army STARRS ) include: the rise in suicide deaths from 2004 to 2009 occurred not only in currently and previously deployed soldiers, but also among soldiers never deployed; nearly half of soldiers who reported suicide attempts indicated their first attempt was prior to enlistment; and soldiers reported higher rates of certain mental disorders than civilians, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intermittent explosive disorder (recurrent episodes of extreme anger or violence), and substance use disorder. “These studies provide knowledge on suicide risk and potentially protective factors in a military population that can also help us better understand how to prevent suicide in the public at large,” said National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. NIMH is part of the National Institutes of Health. Although historically, the suicide death rates in the U.S. Army have been below the civilian rate, the suicide rate in the U.S. Army began climbing in the early 2000s, and by 2008, it exceeded the demographically-matched civilian rate (20.2 suicide deaths per 100,000 vs. 19.2). Concerns about this increase led to a partnership between the Army and the NIMH to identify risks. The articles reflect different strategies to evaluate information on suicide risk and potentially protective factors. An article by lead author Michael Schoenbaum, Ph.D. of NIMH examined the suicide and accident death rates in relation to basic socio-demographic and Army experience factors in the 975,057 regular Army soldiers who served between Jan. 1, 2004 and Dec. 31, 2009. This study found that the suicide rates increased during this time period, even among those who had never deployed, and also found that being deployed increased suicide risk for women more than it did for men. However, suicide risk still remained lower for deployed women than for deployed men. Additionally, the study identified a correlation between demotion and suicide risk: soldiers who had been demoted in the past two years experienced increased suicide risk, compared to those without such demotions. There was also increased risk in soldiers without at least a high school diploma or a GED certificate, compared to soldiers with similar or higher degrees. The data suggest that being male, white, or a junior enlisted rank put individuals at the highest risk of suicide. The second article, by lead author Matthew Nock, Ph.D., at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., explains the findings from a survey of more than 5,000 non-deployed soldiers, designed to shed light on suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts before and after entering the Army. Recruitment interviews revealed that 13.9 percent of soldiers considered suicide at some point in their lifetime, 5.3 percent made a suicide plan, and 2.4 percent attempted suicide, with between 47 to 60 percent of these outcomes first occurring prior to joining the Army. Researchers found that soldiers attempting suicide appeared to be lower-ranking, enlisted, female, and to have been previously deployed. Certain pre-enlistment mental disorders, including panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, linked to increased rates of suicide attempts after joining the Army. In fact, approximately one-third of post-enlistment suicide attempts tied back to pre-enlistment mental disorders. Pre- and post-enlistment mental disorders accounted for 60 percent of first suicide attempts in the Army. The soldiers’ pre-enlistment patterns of suicidal thoughts and behaviors remained lower than suicidal thoughts and behaviors reported by a demographically-matched civilian group. However, once in the Army, the onset of suicidal thoughts and planning became more common than among comparable civilians. Both groups had similar rates of suicide attempts.

Suicide in the Military: Army-NIH Funded Study Points to Risk and Protective Factors

Continued on page 8

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The last article, by lead author Ronald C. Kessler, Ph.D., at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., describes a comparison of the same set of non-deployed soldiers and a group of similarly aged civilians. Rates of common mental disorders in the U.S. Army are compared with a demographically-matched civilian population from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a national household study that assesses mental disorders. The Kessler study estimated how common certain mental health disorders are among Army soldiers, and whether the disorders developed prior to entering the Army. The most common disorders in soldiers included ADHD and intermittent explosive disorder. Almost 85 percent of those who self-identified as having had a mental health disorder reported that the problem began prior to joining the Army. For some of the disorders—including ADHD, intermittent explosive disorder, and substance use disorder—an early age of onset occurred more among soldiers than in civilians. The study also looked at role impairment, which is whether the disorders seriously affected the soldiers’ home life, work performance, social life, or close relationships. Severe role impairment was found to be substantially more common among soldiers with a mental disorder, than those without. Although the root causes for the rise in Army suicides still remain unknown, these three studies point to risk factors, which may help identify potential protective factors, focus existing prevention programs, and foster the development of novel efforts to reduce suicide and suicidal thoughts and actions among service members at higher risk.

Continued from page 7

Attention All Readers !!!! The Arizona Chapter will be raffling off a set of handmade .45 Caliber Dueling Black Powder Pistols. Tickets will go on sale April 1st and the drawing will be at our Annual Trapshoot at Tucson Trap and Skeet October 25th,& 26th. You do not have to attend the Trapshoot to enter and you don’t need to be present to win. Call the Chapter office for more information.

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Paralyzed Veterans of America is calling on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to refocus efforts and resources to the disability appeals process, which rose to more than 900 days on average last year. The VA’s recent annual performance report shows that the average time for a denied claim to be processed through the appeals system rose to 923 days in fiscal 2013, an increase of 37 percent over the previous year, McClatchy DC reports. The average wait time for an appeal has hovered between 500 and 750 days for roughly the past decade. The 2013 performance report outlines a short-term goal of reducing appeals wait times to 650 days and a long-term goal of 400 days. “Since 2009, the public and Congress’s demand for greater timeliness and efficiency on the front end of the claims process has eclipsed the growing problem on the back end – the increasing number of backlogged appeals,” said Sherman Gillums, Jr., associate executive director of veterans benefits for Paralyzed Veterans of America. “This problem was not exactly unforeseeable, as historically a steady proportion of VA decisions do not get resolved, thus requiring appellate action for final resolution.” Under pressure from Congress, the public and veterans groups, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has ramped up its productivity in order to eliminate by 2015 a backlog of nearly 400,000 claims pending for more than 125 days. Efforts to reduce the overall backlog – including the recent provisional rating pilot program that expedites claims that have idled in the system for two years or more – have resulted in an increased caseload of appeals for the Board of Veterans Appeals, Gillums said. “The problem is the VBA took measures to adjust its capacity to meet the demand through technology and reallocation of human resources, while the Board moved much slower, perhaps due to a lack of external pressure to adapt,” Gillums said. The VA contends that the long processing time for appeals is not a result of inactivity, but rather the many layers built into the system. The department said it is continuing to look for ways to make the appeals process more efficient. Still, while the VA’s intense focus on eliminating the claims backlog has contributed to the surge in appeals, Gillums stressed that the surge is not entirely attributed to resources being diverted from the appeals board to VBA. “VBA and the Board are separate entities with their own staffing structure and processes with some shared resources,” he said. “But the Board leadership bears as much responsibility for devising strategies and tackling the appeals backlog as the leadership at VBA.”

Paralyzed Veterans of America Calls for Renewed Focus on VA Disability Appeals Process

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PVA EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Purpose The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) primary goal has been to assist its members and their families in improving the quality of their lives. This goal has been addressed through a variety of activities, including the establishment of the Educational Scholarship Program. This program assists PVA members and their immediate fam-ily members by providing scholarship funds to help with a post-secondary education. PVA will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to full-time students and $500 to part-time students for an academic year. Eligibility Applicant must be either a PVA member, the spouse of a PVA member, or an unmarried child (under 24 years of age) who is dependent (as defined by the IRS) on the member for principal support. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States. Applicant must be accepted and enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an accredited US college or university. Previous award recipients may apply. Submission Process Individuals who wish to apply for the scholarship program can download the application at www.pva.org or request an application be mailed to them via telephone (800) 424-8200 Ext. 776, or via e-mail christih@pva.org. Completed applications MUST be returned to PVA NO LATER THAN June 17, 2014. Late applications will not be accepted, no exceptions. In ad-dition, any incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Action Trackchair Inquiries CONTACT

Wheelchair Getaways of AZ Dean Ruhlen Authorized Dealer

602-672-4900 dlruhlen@yahoo.com

1-800-642-2042 Call for Rates

Paralyzed Veterans of America volunteers do invaluable work that makes a real difference to veterans, their communities and Paralyzed Veterans' chapters.

Volunteering can change your life, too. Why is it so rewarding?

Volunteers make their communities a better place to live. You can work for an organization and mission you believe in. Having a positive impact on others feels great. You can meet new people and develop new leadership skills. Family volunteering lets you spend time with loved ones while helping others.

Becoming a Paralyzed Veterans volunteer has never been easier. Each PVA chapter offers its own volunteer program with a variety of opportunities to contribute, plus you can commit to as many hours as you choose. Call the Chapter for an Activation Form and get involved!

Volunteering is fun! Start Volunteering Today

Are You An AZPVA Volunteer?

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Recognizing the unique health care needs of women veterans is what brought paralyzed Army veteran Tamara Lawter to nearly 20 years of service to Paralyzed Veterans of America. Now, having been elected in August 2013 as the second woman in Paralyzed Veterans’ history to the Executive Council, Tamara continues her legacy of pushing for adequate women’s health care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system as well as reforming a claims process that often disfavors claims submitted by women veterans. It’s Tamara’s contributions and those of all female veterans that are recognized and celebrated during Women’s History Month in March. With more women serving in harm’s way in the post-9/11 era than in previous conflicts, the need for effective medical care and opportunities to achieve quality of life for women veterans is all the more urgent. “It’s now 2014, and I really can’t believe that after being injured for 20 years that there is not more adequate health care for women by the VA,” Tamara says. Tamara was paralyzed in a car accident in 1994 while returning to her home station of Ft. Stewart, GA, after completing a computer simulated training exercise at Ft. Bragg, N.C. A native of Kearney, NE, Tamara began serving the Great Plains chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America shortly after recovering from her injury, moving from a board member to national director to her current role as a national vice president. Her new role on the executive council includes oversight of women’s health issues at the VA, including ensuring female veterans have a say in choosing a provider for medical and preventive services that the VA contracts out, urging adequate fertility and prenatal care and ensuring that women veterans who are being treated for diseases like breast cancer do not have to travel lengthy distances for their treatment and care. “I’m really hoping that being a female on the executive council will help bring a different perspective on certain things affecting women that need to be taken care of,” Tamara says. “I want to make sure that I focus on women’s issues and highlight what women veterans are really thinking about.” It’s those and other issues that have been the focus of Paralyzed Veterans of America’s continued mission to support women veterans. Aside from it’s involvement in the VA’s National Training Summit on Women Veterans Issues, Paralyzed Veterans advocates for legally authorizing the VA to include reproductive assistance as a standard VA medical service to veterans and continues to fund grants involving women’s health. “Paralyzed Veterans of America recognizes the importance of focusing on the needs of women veterans, particularly those who have suffered severe injury,” said Sherman Gillums, Jr., associate executive director of benefits for Paralyzed Veterans of America. “Many will face issues related to childbearing, psychosocial and family pressures, accessing care in a system traditionally established for men, and other challenges that are unique to women.” With women now the fastest growing subgroup of U.S. veterans, and the number of women veterans expected to increase significantly over the next decade, Paralyzed Veterans of America believes more action is needed to provide effective care and services to female veterans, including overhauling a VA claims adjudication process that often disfavors claims submitted by women. “Their gender did not matter when they were assigned to participate in convoy operations in Iraq or sit behind a machine gun on a guard post in Afghanistan,” Gillums said. “It’s our job to ensure their gender doesn’t determine the quality and effectiveness of the support they receive when they come home.”

Paralyzed Veterans of America Recognizes Women’s History Month

Tamara Lawter, National Vice President of Paralyzed Veterans of America

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CMI Mobility, now celebrating our 30th anniversary, is a respected member of Arizona’s automotive business community. We strive to understand the needs of our customers and then follow through to fit the customer with the right wheelchair-accessible vehicle at the right price. Our prices are always fair, often times thousands below the competition, and always includes a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty on new conversions in addition to a warranty on the vehicle. If you are looking for a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle or just an upgrade from your current vehicle, call to speak with one of our specialists. CMI Offers a range of wheelchair-accessible vans such as the Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Toyota Sienna and Scion, Honda Odyssey and Element, Volkswagen Routan and the Ford Transit Connect.

Ask for Stewart

Please make sure that if you have MOVED or even away for a short period of time, to change your address with : 1. The VA / Social Worker 2. Your Service Officer

3. Southeastern PVA: 1-800-292-9335 FILL IN THE BLANKS!!!! *FIRST NAME:-________________________________________ CUT AND PASTE THIS TO AN E-MAIL

*LAST NAME:-_____________________________________________ SEND IT TO :

*ADDRESS:-_______________________________________________ AZPVA@AZPVA.org *CITY: STATE: ZIP:-_________________________________________ *PHONE:-__________________________________________________

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Today Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) National President Bill Lawson urged Congressional leaders to protect Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care from politics and to provide sufficient and timely funding for all VA programs. “As Congress and the Administration continue to face immense pressure to reduce federal spending, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of ensuring that sufficient, timely and predictable funding is provided to the VA. While we appreciate the increases offered by the Administration’s budget for FY 2015 and the FY 2016 advance appropriations, particularly with regards to health care and benefits services, we have real concerns that the serious lack of commitment to infrastructure funding to support the system will undermine the VA’s ability to deliver those services. Similarly, we remain concerned that the funding levels provided by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in the recently passed omnibus appropriations bill will be insufficient to address the continuously growing demand for VA health care services,” Lawson told lawmakers. In oral and written testimony before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Lawson also urged legislators to enact legislation that would open the Comprehensive Caregiver Assistance program to all veterans. Currently, the VA only offers this program to veterans with a service-connected injury that was incurred after September 11, 2001, which excludes the majority of Paralyzed Veterans’ members from these VA caregiver benefits; and because the law also excludes veterans with serious illnesses or diseases such as ALS and MS, both of which eventually leave veterans dependent upon caregivers. “No reasonable justification can be provided as to why pre 9/11 veterans with a service-connected injury or illness should be excluded from the caregiver program. It is time for the Committees to step up and get this done,” stated Lawson. Lawson also brought attention to changes in VA’s prosthetics program and the need for greater oversight of a new VHA policy that essentially turned a 5-day ordering process into one that now takes months or longer in cases involving life-critical devices like customized limbs and wheelchairs costing over the micro purchase threshold of $3000. “When veterans are forced to bear the excruciating wait for independence that prosthetics offer due to red tape, the country’s reputation suffers. George Washington declared: ‘A nation is judged by how well it treats its veterans.’ We declare today that this Congress and VA will be judged by the independence—or lack thereof—enjoyed by veterans who rely on VA prosthetics to live,” added Lawson.

Paralyzed Veterans of America Testifies Before Congress Urging Sufficient and Timely Funding for VA Programs

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2014 Authors of Annual ‘Independent Budget’ Look to Congress to Correct Funding Deficiencies WASHINGTON, DC—Four of the nation’s leading veterans service organizations—AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), are expressing their concerns with the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2015, which proposes $68.4 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The groups, who coauthor The Independent Budget (IB), a comprehensive budget and policy document, now look to Congress to correct the funding deficiencies and to reconsider the recommendations outlined in the IB—which calls for $72.9 billion to sufficiently meet veterans’ health care and benefits needs. Of great concern to the veterans groups is the serious underfunding of VA construction accounts. The President’s budget for construction is approximately $2.75 billion less than what the IB recommends. “While we appreciate the increases offered by the Administration's Budget for FY 2015 and for advance appropriations for FY 2016, particularly with regards to health care and benefits services, we have concerns that the serious lack of commitment to infrastructure funding to support the system will undermine the VA’s ability to deliver those services,” said The Independent Budget authors. “We now look to Congress to correct the funding deficiencies.” The President’s budget proposes $61.9 billion for total medical care for FY 2016 advance appropriations and $589 million for medical and prosthetic research. While The Independent Budget recommends $62.4 billion for total medical care for FY 2016 advance appropriations and $611 million for medical and prosthetic research. Additionally the President’s overall budget request for VA is approximately $4.5 billion less than what the IB recommends for overall discretionary spending for FY 2015. This marks the 28th year that The Independent Budget has been developed by AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans and VFW. The document is written by veterans for veterans detailing funding requirements for VA. The Independent Budget aims to present a full picture of veterans’ needs—and how government can meet these needs.

Veterans Groups Urge Congress to Strengthen VA Budget

Its that time of the year again everyone!!! Dear Members and Friends,

You and your family are invited to our Annual Southern Arizona PVA Picnic on Saturday April 5th 2014 at Ora Mae Harn Park in Marana, hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America Arizona Chapter. The Board of Directors meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 am and lunch will be served around 11:30 am. This year, our menu will be Nathan’s Hot Dogs and Angus Beef Hamburgers. The Chapter will provide water and sodas for everyone. We strongly encourage you to bring side dishes and any other food contributions that can be served and shared with the members and their friends. Please RSVP as soon as possible so we have a good idea of how many people will be attending. The more, the merrier! Bring your families, friends, neighbors, and fellow Veterans! Please RSVP by April 1st 2014- (602)244-9168

Hope to see you all there,

Any questions, or if you would like to add to the calendar please call the

office at 602-244-9168

MEMBERSHIP REPORT from

The Arizona Chapter

The Arizona Chapter voting membership stands at 504 as of March 1st 2014. National and AZPVA records show our voting membership as:

272- Service Connected 232- Non-Service Connected

The Arizona Chapter encourages each of our members to contact the Chapter and let us know how you are doing, and if we can help you in any way. If you know of any of our members who have passed away, or if you have an address/phone change, please contact the Chapter as soon as possible. Also, if you would like to receive the Desert Oracle Newsletter by e-mail, please call or e-mail the office with your e-mail address.

Do you know a veteran with spinal cord dysfunction who isn’t a member of the AZPVA? Let us know at the Chapter office by calling

602-244-9168 or 1-800-621-9217 e-mail: azpva@azpva.org

Please have someone contact our Chapter office in the event of a member’s death so that we can inform other member’s who might wish to pay their respects to the departed.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2 3 4 Mardi Gras

5 6 7 8

9 Day light Savings Time

10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 St. Patrick’s Day

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23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 1 2 3 4 5 Picnic in Marana

March 2014

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March William C. Capp Cruz C. Marquez David E. Loranger Jan C. Many Dean K. Tomlinson John M. Wright Charles S. Carpenter Michael B. Henman Manfred David Peter S. Earnshaw George M. Moore Ronald M. Courteau Mike D. Hartert Joseph G. Seley John R. Weathersby Craig N. Bash Michael R. Pierre Joseph M. Hamilton Frederick G. Olliver Daniel M. Rzonca Steve T. Doty Cynthia F. Farar Bruce D. Laurelez William Hartley Jeffrey M. Kern Hal F. Wochholz Steven E. Grigware Frank J. Klonoski Robert A. Rasgorshek George F. Paige Michael J. Salvagio Daniel P. Storm

Daniel P. Storm James L. Young Richard A. Dill William D. Kohn John E. Carter Gaylon L. Grodt Ricardo M. Munoz Sonya Perduta Joseph A. Assise Bruce Hendrickson Rusty J. Lassiter Barbara A. Mical Donna M. Perkins Thomas G. Swettenam Wanda L. VanHoose Wonda L. VanHoose Michael S. Roberts Michael D. Simmons Darrell L. Covert Lonnie O. English Bruce Demboski Christopher J. Doody Maurice P. Doran Steven R. Cedo Terri L. Marquart Terrie L. Marquart Heather Craighead Alfreda V. Stone Taylor William J. Ensinger Daniel T. McCarthy Luther G. Spraggins Arthur C. Dreker