Organization: MINNESOTA PARALYZED VETERANS OF
Mission: THE MINNESOTA PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA (MNPVA) IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING FORMER MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC PARALYSIS AS A RESULT OF SPINAL CORD INJURY OR DISEASE. THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA IS TO TAKE THOSE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO RESTORE SPINAL CORD INJURY OR DISEASED VICTIMS' BODIES AND LIFE POTENTIALS AS CLOSELY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO THOSE AMERICANS NOT SUFFERING SPINAL CORD DYSFUNCTION.
Activities: LEGISLATIVE: IN PERSON MEETINGS WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID. MINNESOTA PVA CONTINUES TO HAVE A PRESENCE ON THE MINNESOTA SPINAL CORD AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ADVISORY COUNCIL. AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (MSCOD), MINNESOTA PVA GAVE TESTIMONY AT STATE SENATE LEGACY HEARINGS. NEEDS FOR TRAIL ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS WERE DISCUSSED. MINNESOTA PVA IS ALSO WORKING WITH OTHER VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS ON A PCA REFORM BILL FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. MINNESOTA PVA HAS FORGED LEGISLATIVE TIES WITH OTHER VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MEMBERSHIP OR APPOINTMENTS WITH SEVERAL MINNESOTA VETERAN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. MILITARY ACTION GROUP (MAG), UNITED VETERANS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (UVLC), COMMANDERS TASK FORCE (CTF), MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (MDVA). ADVOCACY: MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (MSCOD), ASKED MINNESOTA PVA TO HAVE INPUT INTO BLOOMINGTON STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY DUAL TRAIL PROPOSAL. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE GREENWAY PROJECT THAT WILL CONNECT TO OTHER TRAILS AND A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT IS TO HONOR WAR VETERANS ALONG THE TRAIL. WE ARE NOW ALSO PART OF THE HASTING'S MISSISSIPPI RIVER GREENWAY PROJECT. BY INVITATION, MINNESOTA PVA MET WITH OFFICIALS ABOUT DAKOTA COUNTY'S ADA TRANSITION PLAN FOR COUNTY HIGHWAY RIGHTS OF WAY. BY REQUEST, MINNESOTA PVA WAS ASKED FOR INPUT INTO ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS AT SCHULZE BEACH IN LEBANON HILLS PARK. MINNESOTA PVA CONTINUES TO MEET WITH PARK OFFICIALS ON ADDITIONAL ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS AT LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK. MINNESOTA PVA CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE IN RENOVATION PLANS WITH THE TARGET CENTER ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MINNESOTA PVA AND MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (MSCOD) CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH US BANK STADIUM CONCERNING PARKING AND ADA COMPLIANCE NEEDS, TICKET SALES, TRIP HAZARDS, SIGNAGE AND COUNTER TOPS. ADA SYMPOSIUM WAS CANCELED FOR IN PERSON PARTICIPATION, HOWEVER, VIRTUAL TRAININGS WERE OFFERED AND ATTENDED BY 2 OF OUR MEMBERS. MINNESOTA PVA HAS A MEMBER ON THE METROPOLITAN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMMISSION (MPOSC). LIAISON: THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER OF THE PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA CONTINUES TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS VA MEDICAL CENTER. ALL IN PERSON VISITATION HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO COVID. HOWEVER, OUR SENIOR VETERANS HEALTH AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST CONTINUES TO ADVISE OUR MEMBERS, VIA PHONE CALLS. HE WILL LET US KNOW WHEN OUR HELP IS NEEDED. WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE VA VOLUNTEERS SERVICES COMMITTEE THAT MEETS EVERY QUARTER. BY ATTENDING THIS MEETING, OUR ORGANIZATION CAN HELP THE VA WORK WITH PATIENTS AND STAFF FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.
SPORTS AND RECREATION: MNPVA MAINTAINS A VERY ACTIVE SPORT AND RECREATION PROGRAM FOR ITS MEMBERS AND ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES., THE ABILITY TO BE ACTIVE IN SPORTS OR BECOME INVOLVED WITH A RECREATIONAL EVENT. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO GET THE MEMBERS INVOLVED WHETHER YOUNG OR OLD, AND NEWLY INJURED OR LONG-TIME WHEELCHAIR USERS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HEALTH BENEFITS BY KEEPING ACTIVE, SUPPORT AMONG THE MEMBERS DURING EACH EVENT AND THE CAMARADERIE DEVELOPED AMONG THE ATHLETES AT EACH EVENT IS PRICELESS. THE CHAPTER OFFERS FREE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP WHICH INCLUDE: TICKETS TO MINNESOTA TWINS BASEBALL TEAM, MINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY TEAM AND MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOOTBALL TEAM. ALL IN PERSON TICKETS WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID. TRAPSHOOTING: 10 MEMBERS COMPETE PER SEASON, AND 6 MEMBERS TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT STATES TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS. THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS THIS YEAR WERE CANCELED DUE TO COVID. WE DID HOLD ONE LOCALLY AND ONE IN BRAINERD AS A FUNDRAISER. BOTH WERE WELL RECEIVED DURING THE FALL. BOWLING: 25-30 MEMBERS BOWL WEEKLY AT 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. ALSO, THE SCI RECREATION THERAPIST TAKES IN-PATIENTS FROM THE HOSPITAL OUT OCCASIONALLY TO THE BOWLING ALLEY TO ENJOY A DAY OUT. MINNESOTA PVA CONTINUES WITH OUR AIR RIFLE PROGRAM. THE CHAPTER PRACTICES WEEKLY IN THE FALL AND WINTER AND HAS A FRIENDLY COMPETITION WITH OTHER PVA CHAPTERS. THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED COVID. WE ALSO HAVE, ON AVERAGE 25-30 MEMBERS WHO COMPETE IN THE YEARLY NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES WHICH ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THIS WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID.
MEMBERSHIP: MNPVA HAS AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WHICH IS ABOUT 339 MEMBERS. DUE TO COVID WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HOLD OUR NORMAL MEMBERSHIP EVENTS, SUCH AS, GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, OUR ANNUAL PICNIC IN JUNE OF EACH YEAR AND HELD ON THE GROUNDS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS VA MEDICAL CENTER. THIS ALLOWS NOT ONLY OUR REGULAR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS BUT HOSPITAL IN-PATIENTS AND HOSPITAL STAFF TO SOCIALIZE, EVEN IF FOR A SHORT TIME. OUR ANNUAL BANQUET IS NORMALLY HELD IN OCTOBER EVERY YEAR WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER APPROXIMATELY 100 MEMBERS AND ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID WE SUSPENDED AND EVENTUALLY HELD VIRTUALLY IN NOVEMBER. ALSO, IN DECEMBER THE CHAPTER HOSTS ITS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON WHEREAS, WE INVITE OUR SCI/D IN-PATIENTS ALONG WITH OUR HOSPITAL STAFF AND PVA MEMBERS TO ENJOY TIME TOGETHER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
NTEE category: Recreation & Sports
Secondary category: Mutual & Membership Benefit