Chapter Chili Cook Off

 

Saturday, May 6 was a cold blustery day at Hidden Springs Campground, the site for the 2006 Chapter 172 Chili cook off. The cold north wind whistled down through Pleasant Valley, as the many contestants struggled to keep their fires lit and their hopes high. Throngs of Chapter members gathered to watch this competition that over the years has been honed to the fine art that is competition chili cooking.

 

The defending champion of the 2005 cook off was there with his magic ingredients and was ready to repeat last year’s victory. (he has requested that his name not be used in this column)  Nevertheless, it wasn’t to be, maybe it was overconfidence, or maybe he is just getting old, or was it something more nefarious? No matter what the reason the gathered multitude seemed to know that an upset was in the air.

 

The judges gathered the finished products and started the official tasting and when the final chin was wiped clean and the votes counted the final standings were.

#1 Marie Krueger

#2 Sarah Parsons

#3 Steve Parsons (no relation)

#4 Chip Bosley

#5 Eddie Parker ( brother of the famous chili cooker Danny Parker, who has never finished 5^th).

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All Hands on Deck

 

A tip of the hat to Chip Bosley and committee for the recent improvements to the deck, sun shades have been added as well as a sound wall to deaden the noise from the a/c. At your next opportunity please go topside and check it out, also remember, what happens on third floor stays on third floor.

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ATTENTION VETERANS

 

The following information is designed to help Veterans with Health Problems and/or Disabilities who need help and do not know where to start when it comes to finding help from Federal Agencies.

The following information is not a complete guide to all your needs. It is meant to be a starting point for veterans who do not know how or where to start. The government is constantly changing the rules so what you read here may be changing even as you read it.

 

DUE TO THE INFLUX OF NEW VETERANS, IT IS ADVISED THAT YOU SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY.

 

All government agencies have rules, regulations, standard operating procedures, and practices, which they must follow by law. You must do it their way to get results. In addition to this, do not expect help from federal employees because they will in many cases be prevented from filling your requests or in some cases even answering your questions.

 

ABOVE ALL, DO NOT TRY TO FILE YOUR OWN CLAIM. SEEK HELP.

 

Some of the questions you will need answered follow:

     What information do I need to file a claim with any expectation of gaining the help I am due?

     Where do I find this information?

      How do I prepare this information to present it.

      Who do I contact first once I get the information prepared.

      Should I get an independent opinion and diagnosis of my health problems or the extent of my disability before presenting my claim to the government.

      Who do I get to help me?

I am sure you will think of more questions that are specific to your personal circumstances.

 

Where do you go to find help when you have a problem?

Go to your local veterans’ organization and speak to their: Veterans Benefits Chairman  

Health and Care Chairman                                                                     Agent Orange Chairman (for Vietnam                                                                                             vets)or                                                                       Veterans Service Officer.

 

 For Chapter 172 members Bobby Cook chairs all three of these committees. In addition to this Bobby will provide information as to service officer availability for your particular state.

If you do not have a veterans organization in your town find one in a town near you.

 

Obtain a list of veterans service officers in your state and contact one.

 

Internet Search Engines allow you to find a large amount of medical information, which may be used to document your claim. This may include after action reports that have been declassified.

For veterans claims information a very good book is, Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents. This information is also available on the internet at www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.htm

 

For social security claims go to web site   ssa.gov and/or phone at

1-800-772-1213

 

In order to win your case you need to know the rules and find an experienced person to help you.

You need to know how to file a claim and how to file an appeal if you case is denied. There is a time limit on filing an appeal. Get help here do not try to do this your self.

It is your responsibility to prove your claim.

Documentation is a must.

Ask for a copy of any and all Doctor’s Appointment results you have with either a civilian or a Veterans Administration Doctor. These records belong to you. They must give you a copy!

Be persistent with your claim. Do not give up.

You may find that somewhere during the process you will need or desire to hire a legal representative to help you with an appeal for a social security case. This is usually not recommended for VA cases but it is a possibility.

 

Don’t wait, gather documentation now, and pursue your case. There are time limits, and also obviously the longer you wait the harder it is to find information. In addition, as you age health problems and disabilities usually become more severe. What is just an occasional aggravation now may become a threat to your life or your ability to earn a living in future years. The time to document your problem is now. A zero percent rate now may increase to a percentage rating or a covered health care item as you age.  For example, your hearing loss may not be a problem at the verbal frequency range at age 20 but by age 50 or 60 you may need a hearing aid as almost everyone will experience some hearing loss as they age.

 

Always search the web sites and read the books to determine what is available. For example, there are VA programs for vocational rehabilitation for 10% or above disability rated veterans and for those with certain MOS.’s without the 10% disability rating. You are also eligible to enroll in Re-Entry, a counseling program for veterans who have served in a combat zone, which is free to authorized veterans.

 

The purpose of this article has been to provide a starting point for veterans with problems who do not know where to go to get help. The authors are fellow veterans who were once without a clue but have gained some knowledge in dealing with the government and wish to share that knowledge with their fellow vets. If you have information which you believe will improve this article, or expand on it, or find errors in the article, please write the chapter adding  Att. Health and Disability help letter to the envelope. We will be glad to review your letter and to get your information. When writing please remember we are not trying to reinvent the wheel just to make it visible to all veterans in need of information.

 

     Committee Chair     
Bobby Cook

Members:
Jim  Feagles 
Steve Parsons
 Tim Hensel
Bill Wright

  Stress and the Vet

~ A Different War! ~

 

                 By David A. Bohn, DC

 

 

      What seems commonplace now — the idea that a traumatic experience can cause stress that surfaces later — was not as widely understood or clearly defined 30 years ago.   In previous wars, veterans were described as "shell-shocked" or suffering from "combat fatigue," but these descriptions were not true diagnoses.

      Remembering old stressors from weeks, months, and even years earlier can be just as stressful as when they first happened, creating a rise in blood pressure that can occasionally be dramatic.

      The “fight or flight” syndrome is just the beginning of our battle with ongoing stress. While it was long believed that stress could be relieved by “taking your mind off of things,” apparently this is no longer enough.

      The effects of an emotional stressor do not end with the removal of that stressor.   Simply thinking about a stressful experience can produce significant and sustained blood pressure responses.  And high blood pressure has been known to increase one’s risk of heart disease and plagues nearly one out of every four Americans.

      The level of stress in our society is escalating. In fact, our nervous systems are probably being bombarded with more pressure than at any other time in recent history. This on-going or chronic stress can take its toll on us mentally, and also on and our bodies, lowering the threshold that would normally be required before we begin to succumb to sickness and experience pain or "dis-ease." 

      The damage caused by stress is cumulative. Each time you experience anger, resentment, worry, and fear, you create more and more destruction to the body.  To protect ourselves we must consciously pay attention to the fight-or-flight response.  

      The fight-or-flight stress response releases adrenaline, causes blood to flow to the muscles and away from other organs not necessary for defense, alters the digestive process, makes glands begin to over- or under-secrete, initiates an increase in blood pressure, forces pulse and breathing rates to speed up, and triggers pupil dilation.

      Every time your body triggers the fight-or-flight response, for situations that are not truly life-threatening, you are experiencing, in effect, a false alarm. Too many false alarms can lead to stress-related disorders like, heart disease, high blood pressure, immune system disorders, migraine headaches, insomnia and sexual dysfunction.

      It is the prolonged and constant levels of pressure that we find ourselves under in the modern day that can lead to unhealthy stress levels.  Plus, too many false alarms wear down the body and can lead to many other stress-related disorders.

      However, there is hope.  When you have and are maintaining a healthy nerve system through chiropractic care, you can boost your immune system and resist the negative impact and forces of these stresses more easily. Good chiropractic care is an important part of our health and well-being.

      Chiropractors have also always recognized that physical, emotional and chemical stress affects the spine and nervous system.  We all need to make lifestyle choices that reduce the physical, emotional, and chemical stresses in our lives.  In today’s hectic paces, some of theses stresses are unavoidable.  However, chiropractic is a form of care that helps reduce the effects these stresses have on our nervous system.  This natural, healing are can make significant changes in the quality of your life.

      There has never been a time when chiropractic care has been more important to the health and well being of our nation than today. The recent economic and political events have affected all of our citizens not just emotionally and psychologically but physiologically as well -- making chiropractic care more important than at any time in the past.

      So, if stress is getting the better of you and you fear its long-term effects, don't be afraid to seek help. Consider chiropractic care as an option, the payoff can include less fatigue, more peace of mind and a longer, healthier life.

 
Family Picnic

 

Saturday June 17 is the Chapter 172 family picnic at Hidden Springs Campground. Bring the family and come running, as always it will be good food and fun.

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The Thousand Veteran March

 

July fourth is the 1000 veteran march in Frostburg. There are sign up sheets at the Chapter if you would like to participate. If you feel that the march will be more than you can stand rides will be provided. The march will conclude at the FSU campus with a presentation to be followed by a luncheon at town center.

Chapter member Vic Ryan is the coordinator for the event, also Chapter members, Charlie Pennington, Joe Brennen, Bob Cook are members of the committee.

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CHAPTER 172 OFFICERS AND BOARD FOR

2006-2007

President, Roger Krueger

First Vice-Pres. Steve Parsons

Second Vice-Pres., Jim Malloy

Secretary, Bill Lange

Treasurer Rick Webb

 

Board of Directors

 

Chip Bosley, Dave Shaulis, Bob Peck,

Ken Darnay. Bob Cook,  Rusty Dennison

 

State Council Delegates

Roger Krueger, Jim Harris, Harold Stallings

Jim Williams

 

Nominating Committee

Danny Bantz, Lawrence Wilson

 

Committee Chairs

Color Cmdr. Joe Brenen

Comm. Service Chip Bosley

Constitution…Steve Parsons

ETABO…Don Burkett—

Finance…William Lange

Govt. Affairs…William Lange

Membership…Ken Darnay

Minority Affairs Dave Shaulis

Vets Affairs Rusty Dennison

Veterans Benefits Bobby Cook

Women Vets Harlan Smith

Agent Orange…Robert Cook

Scholarship Rusty Dennison

Grunt Shirt…Harry Bosley

Health and Care…Robert Cook

Museum…Jim Feagles

Chap.Photog…Charlie Pennington

Newsletter…Steve Parsons

POW/MIA…Don Burkett

Reflections…Roger Krueger

SPOC… Steve Parsons

Social Comm. …Roger Krueger        

Vets Assistance…William Lange

Web site…Nelson Linderman            

 Chapter Meetings

Chapter meetings are the first Thursday of each month at 20:00 hours at the Chapter Home 17 North Liberty Street, Cumberland, Maryland. Boards of Directors meetings are the first Thursday beginning at 18:00 hours and the third Wednesday of each month at 18:00 hours. All chapter members are encouraged to attend both the membership and Board of Directors meetings.


email the editor Steve Parsons … s-eparsons@atlanticbb.net


Disclaimer The newsletter “The Point” is a monthly publication of Chapter 172. The viewpoints or opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the writer and are meant only for informational and entertainment purposes. These opinions do not represent the official policy of VVA National or Chapter 172. All unsigned articles are by the editor; all other submissions will have the contributor’s name as a byline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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