Letter from the President

Friends,

Welcome to the web site of the Gateway Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. We are one of 34 chapters nationally and have no association with any organizations with similar names in the St. Louis area. Our chapter was named the "Most Improved" of all 34 PVA chapters for fiscal year 2006-2007. We are an Honor Roll designated charity in good standing with the St. Louis Better Business Bureau. As indicated in our most recent audit and last tax return (Federal Form 990), 66% of our expenditures went to programs. Our audit can be accessed through our homepage and our tax return can be found on the St. Louis Better Business Bureau web site and Guidestar.com. The chapter remained a 501(c)(3) nonprofit veterans organization serving honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces of the United States who have sustained spinal cord injury or disease. Spinal cord injuries often result from wounds in combat, automobile accidents and recreational activities. Spinal cord disease and dysfunction include Multiple Sclerosis (MS), ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), and other diseases affecting the central nervous system of the spinal cord. We receive no Federal government funding. We are governed by a 13 member volunteer board of veterans like myself, paralyzed in an automobile accident 11 years ago while on active duty in the U.S. Army. The vision statement of the Gateway Chapter is "Veterans with spinal cord injury or disease living life to the fullest."

This past year our income exceeded our expenditures for the second time in seven years. In January 2007, our board voted to discontinue the telemarketing sales of products. In good conscience, we could no longer accept the fundraising costs/gross revenue ratio for the sale and delivery of products. The rest of our success is attributed to our Chapter restructure in November 2005 to reduce overhead; we reduced five paid staff positions to 1.5. Also, in May 2006, we sold our building and eight weeks later moved into much smaller rental space. Plus, we have had 2 successful golf tournaments, which have enabled us to increase our program services. As always, service to our members remains paramount.

This last year saw our PVA chapter continue its tradition of service to the membership. We helped sponsor members attend the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in the summer, the winter sports clinic, and participate in the PVA Bass Fishing Tournament. Participation in our Chapter trapshoot program in Alton, Illinois, continued to expand to include members in VA retirement facilities, as well as new members who had not previously been involved in any events. The chapter provided bimonthly luncheons and catered holiday dinners to hospitalized patients at the spinal cord injury unit of the Jefferson Barracks VA complex in south St. Louis County. With the start of fiscal year 2007-2008 (September 30, 2007), we are now providing monthly luncheons. Our transportation program has also expanded to five days per week. We transport outpatient paralyzed veterans to and from the two St. Louis area VA Medical Centers for appointments and recreation events. The expansion of the services is a result of our reduced administrative costs and our increased fundraising success. The last few years, I personally have been persistent in trying to persuade the City of St. Louis to make the Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis accessible to wheelchairs. I am proud to announce that as of the November 2007 Veterans Day Parade, the Soldiers Memorial is finally accessible to our members! The healthcare of our members remains our most important mission. Our Board of Directors remained vigilant in monitoring the care members received at the two St. Louis VA medical facilities, specifically the John Cochran Hospital. Care at that hospital remains problematic with the VA's own patient satisfaction survey for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 showing John Cochran Hospital arguably having the worst patient satisfaction scores of all 132 VA medical centers surveyed. In late December 2007 Gateway discovered there was preliminary planning to close the SCI/D unit at the Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center, and relocate it to the grounds of the John Cochran VA Medical Center. Our Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose such a move as not being in the best interest of the healthcare of our members. We are seeking Congressional and public support for our position, which ultimately is a decision for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Our membership continues to grow, as well as our commitment to help our members "live life to the fullest."

We are rethinking our fundraising and operating paradigms for today's economic climate, becoming stronger and even more determined to serve those who answered our nation's call. We would welcome your support and interest. We need volunteer office workers and volunteers for our monthly luncheons and events. Donations are, of course, always accepted and should be tax-deductible. To make an online donation or read about our privacy policy, just click on the red "donations" tab in the box at the upper left of this page. If you have any questions, please call our local line (314) 427-0393 or toll-free 1-800-426-4058. Thank you for your support!

Stanley D. Brown
President
Gateway PVA