Volunteer Liaisons

Tom Dove, Joel Satoris, Keith Wingfield and Jim Harding

Key Elements

Pictured from left to right: Paula Brown, Shad Certain (in back), Kevin Baker, Marissa Botkin, Zacharary Cutsworth (in back), Jennifer Fleming and Jim Willis

December 9 was the date of OPVA's annual prime rib dinner at the Veteran's Home in The Dalles. This year, OPVA had help and excellent support from North Salem High School's JROTC Bravo Company. Their unit raised $480.00 to help support the dinner. Four of these cadets, Cadet Sergeant Marissa Botkin, Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Jennifer Fleming, Cadet Private Kevin Baker, and Cadet Zachary Cutsforth and their First Sergeant, Shad Certain, attended the dinner. Unfortunately, their bus was having serious problems and they all had to leave before they ate. They did, however, visit the wards and talk to the veterans.

Also attending the dinner were Jim Willis, Director, and Paula Brown, Deputy Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, and Tim Jederberg, President, and Joseph Reiley, Vice President of the Oregon Service Officers Association.

After dinner, we were privileged to judge the Christmas decorations in the wards, the records center and the kitchen. The prize was a pizza dinner. After serious deliberation, we voted to award the prize to the kitchen staff. Not only were the decorations beautiful, they had to be ingenious because nothing can be put on counters, etc. by law. And...one of the workers had an irresistible Santa hat that jumped from side to side.

The food was wonderful, and the staff and veterans were delighted and delightful to be with. An added plus was the fact that the weather held off so that we could get there and back comfortably. This is a wonderful annual event and is worth every penny OPVA spends in putting it on for our veterans.

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Portland VA Medical Center Self-Care Lodging Unit request for reservation, responsibility and information forms are now available in the OPVA office. Contact Kris at 503-362-7998 or 1- 800-333-0782 if you would like this information mailed to you.

For Primary Care Appointments at 865 Medical Court Dr. NE, Salem, OR contact Peggy Schneider at the Portland VA at ext. 54261.

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[Providence MS Center] Providence Multiple Sclerosis Center cares for more MS patients than any other facility in the state. A team of MS experts, including neurologists, therapists, nurses and researchers, offer patients aggressive therapy. The center is a leading participant in regional, national and international clinical trials.

[ECOS] A community alliance of over 40 partner agencies convened to manage and support a "One Stop" workforce development system in East Multnomah County, Oregon.

[The official VA homepage] Key resources for benefits, programs, and medical care.

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 Click on picture below to view Autonomic Dysreflexia Training Video for ER Staff and EMT's.

Are You A Person With A Disability Who Uses Personal Assistance Services At Work?

ATTENTION!!!!! RESEARCHER SEEKING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH STUDY

Are you a person who currently lives with a spinal cord injury?
Do you know someone who currently lives with a spinal cord injury?
Do you have an interest in participating in an exciting and innovative research study?
Do you have an interest in learning more about yourself?
Are you currently struggling with some part of your life? If so, do you want to learn some ways to potentially help you change your life?

If you answered “YES” to all or most of these questions, are interested in participating in a research study, and meet the following criteria then contact this study’s researcher:

(a) Have lived with a spinal cord injury for at least one year;
(b) Are between the ages of 18 and 55
(c) Might feel that your injury was ‘unfair’ or ‘unjust’ regardless of the cause or attributing factor
(d) Would be interested in working on forgiveness
(e) Do not currently drink over three drinks per day or use illegal substances

I am presently working on my dissertation entitled, "An On-Line, Self-Study Forgiveness Intervention: A Comparable Intervention in Decreasing Negative Emotions and Increasing Quality of Life in People with Spinal Cord Injury." I am interested in recruiting 20-30 persons with a spinal cord injury.

This study is an experimental design. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two interventions and participants will be able to complete the interventions at their given geographical locations. In short, selected participants will be asked to complete some initial assessments, participate in an 8-week intervention followed up by a series of post-tests. The study will primarily require approximately 3 months to complete, excluding a 2 month follow-up assessment. Total time required of participants will be 5 months due to the 2 month follow-up assessment.

If you have further questions or want additional information, please contact Susan Stuntzner, Rehabilitation Psychology Doctoral Candidate, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, 432 N. Murray Street, Madison, WI, 53706, email: smstuntzner@wisc.edu, phone: (608) 438-2478.

SCI Physical Activity/Exercise Survey [Oregon PVA Awarded Grant for $18,500 to teach
Emergency Rooms & EMTs Statewide About Autonomic Dysreflexia]