NARG Offers Service, Compassion
Members of BVA’s Northern Arizona Regional Group and its Auxiliary spent January 18 entertaining veterans at the nursing home within the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix. The principal organizer of the event was Faye Duvall of the NARG Auxiliary.
“This was something we’ve wanted to do for a long time as an expression of appreciation to the patients, and it was well worth the care, planning, and sacrifice that went into it,” said Hazel Powell, president of the NARG Auxiliary and a former national Auxiliary president.
The group served sugar-free lemonade and cookies. Each patient, nurse, and caregiver present received a gift bag containing a BVA pen, a regular notepad, a pad of post-it notes, stickers, sugar-free candy, and a small cardboard graphic of an American flag appropriate for key rings.
Activities consisted of a sing-along of old-time favorite songs, made possible by the piano proficiency of a medical center volunteer, and by song sheets that were distributed to everyone present. Auxiliary member Cindy Conter donated a stuffed animal to each individual attending the sing-along. She also brought paperback books for the veterans to take to their rooms and read.
Other BVA and BVAA members participating in the visit were Bill and Lois Tavernor, Henry and Hazel Kilmer, Cal and Nancy LaBarda, and Harold “Doc” Powell. A noteworthy absentee was National Auxiliary President Dora Gabe, who had planned to be there and who had made it to Phoenix from Tucson, only to have her car break down en route to the medical center.
“Despite the work involved, you know that an endeavor has been successful and important when you immediately want to do it all over again,” said Hazel, who also expressed hope that the visit will become at least an annual event. “That’s how I think we all felt as we left the nursing home.”
Zampieri Receives One More Honor
Tom Zampieri (second from left) receives prestigious award from, left to right, AAPA President Rick Rohrs, President of the AAPA Veterans Caucus Mike Milner, and AAPA Executive Director/CEO Dr. Steve Crane. |
BVA Director of Government Relations Tom Zampieri, former Physician Assistant for VA and a relative newcomer to the BVA National Headquarters staff, received the Lifetime Achievement from the Veterans Caucus of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
The award presentation was originally scheduled for Memorial Day 2005 but conflicted with Tom’s participation in the Veterans Service Organization White House breakfast and BVA wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery. The presentation instead had to wait until February 24 of this year, when AAPA held a planning meeting scheduled closer to Tom in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.
“This is our highest award,” said Caucus President Mike Milner. “In the more than 25 years of the caucus, only six people have received it, and Tom was nominated for his long service to veterans and his dedication to the Physician Assistant profession.”
Tom worked as a clinical PA for 23 years, 19 of which were in VA Medical Centers in New York, Richmond (Virginia), and Houston. He has co-authored a number of medical journal articles on urology and spinal cord issues and has been interviewed on a number of national issues for other articles. He has served in many leadership roles and on various committees in the PA field. He is a longtime member of the caucus of veterans belonging to AAPA.
Discover Card Now Accepted
BVA now accepts Discover Card for all financial transactions, including new memberships, renewals, convention registration, and merchandise purchased through BVA National Headquarters.
According to Membership Manager Alyson Alt, transactions can be processed through written documents such as applications and merchandise order forms. They can also be initiated over the telephone with designated headquarters staff members.
BVA also continues to accept VISA and Master Card payments.
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