"Spudinators" Shine at Golden Age Games
Months of anticipation, successful fund raising, and words of
encouragement from VIST Coordinator Val Duffy all preceded the
competition, but it finally came. When all was said and done,
the blinded veteran bowlers from Boise, Idaho, had once again
finished in grand style, this time cleaning up the medals at the
VA Golden Age Games in Fresno, California, July 17-24.
Consisting of Art Motz, Jim Near, Carl Blush, Jerry Praegitzer,
and Bob Schaney, the Idaho Spudinators took 14 of a possible 16
medals, five of them bowling medals.
"We proved that our seven consecutive championships in the
Bowlers to Veterans Link were no fluke," said Art. "Although
we found ourselves competing individually in a whole new atmosphere,
the poise we have as a team stayed with us as we won individual
awards."
And win they did, and not just in bowling. The group also received
medals in swimming, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. If those accolades
were still not enough, it was Jerry Praegitzer who was chosen,
from among all of the participants, to receive the prestigious
Challenge Award. The honor was presented to the veteran "who
best exhibits exceptional sportsmanship, strength of character,
and the overall spirit of the games."
"These veterans, who represent every branch of the military,
are an inspiration to everyone they meet," said VIST Coordinator
Valerie Duffy. "I am pleased to work for them."
Val helped the group raise just under $4,000 in six weeks in
order to make the trip possible. She will continue to encourage,
inspire, and point them to next year’s games, which are slated
for Norman, Oklahoma.
"The guy I beat out for the gold medal in bowling said he
relishes the chance for a rematch next year," said Art. "I’m
looking forward to the competition, and I’ll be ready for
him."
Five years ago the Spudinators were total strangers to one another.
Now, together, they are Golden Age Games champions, lifelong friends,
and models of inner strength and perseverance in the overcoming
of a catastrophic disability.
Greenblatt, Matthews Ride in VFW Parade
Regional Group President Leonard Greenblatt and Boston-based
Field Service Representative Steve Matthews represented Massachusetts
blinded veterans in the Veterans of Foreign Wars state convention
parade on June 19. They were accompanied by their respective spouses,
Pearl and Suzanne.
The parade, held this year in the town of Danvers, is an annual
event. It features veterans and military bands from a variety
of organizations and venues. The location of the parade each year
depends on the location of the state convention. BVA’s participation
this year came as a result of one of Steve’s VFW contacts
at the VA Regional Office in Boston.
"It was a very warm day, but, boy, did we ever get the VIP
treatment," said Leonard. "The applause we got as we
drove by the spectators this time was moving."
One of the other highlights of the occasion, an "emotional"
one for Leonard, was the means by which he secured the signs for
the cars.
"I simply took the idea to the Menit Sign Company near my
home and asked them to produce a couple of signs that would best
serve us on the side of a car," he said. "A return call
the next day informed me that the company, knowing that the job
was for the Blinded Veterans Association, offered to make us two
signs free of charge."
Chauffeur for the group in the four-door sedan was Suzanne Matthews,
a model of both patience and concentration as she kept pace with
the flow of the parade traffic.
Phoenix Newspaper Lauds BVA Member
Paula Pedene, public affairs officer at the Carl T. Hayden VA
Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and a member of the Northern
Arizona Regional Group, was profiled in the June 7, 2004 edition
of the Arizona Republic by Hal Mattern.
The feature, which highlighted the team approach Paula utilizes
in her job, was published in the Business section of the newspaper
under a regularly featured headline "Who’s in Charge."
The main heading was "PR dynamo earns acclaim by emphasizing
‘we’."
According to the article, Paula was diagnosed with retinitis
pigmentosa in 1982 as she served in the Navy. Once discharged,
Paula pursued a career in journalism and public relations, working
as a radio and television news anchor for the Navy in Tokyo and
in Washington, DC. She began working at the Buffalo VA Medical
Center in 1993 and then moved to Denver for a regional VA public
relations job. She became the first full-time public affairs officer
at the Phoenix facility in 1994.
Just four days prior to the article’s publication, Paula
was presented with a Silver Anvil Award by the Public Relations
Society of America. The award recognized the depth and excellence
of a public affairs plan she has developed for the medical center.
|
