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May, 2006 AST Newsletter
AST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit limb loss support group.
www.amputeesupportteam.com
“So others may benefit from us.”
Please visit our WEB Site (see above), kept updated by AST
Director & WEB Master John Williamson.
AST Meeting at the Highmark’s Caring Place
AST Board of Directors: L-R Don Hossler, CO-VP; Elaine Shughart;
Chad Kettler; Georgia Foltz, CO-VP; John Williamson; Rod Shields;
Tommy Wade; Dick Nickle, President; Jim Yohn, Leader of AST
Lancaster Chapter; Peter Calcagno; DeEtt Fackler. Note: All
but one of the above is an ACA Certified Peer Visitor
Our last AST Meeting: All who attended our AST Meeting at
the Highmark’s Caring Place on April 26, agree that it
was a most interesting and heart warming experience. After
a delicious healthy meal, we were treated to a tour of the
facilities, with an explanation of Caring Place’s Mission
and Program by our hostess and host: Jeanne Troy and John
Kajic.
Sean receiving Peer Visitor Certificate:
Besides having an AST Board Meeting an hour before, following
our meal and tour, we had our regular AST Meeting. A highlight
of our Meeting was the presentation to Sean Bream, an Honorary
ACA Peer Visitor Certificate, signed by Paddy Rossback, CEO
of ACA. Sean has proven to be an inspirational personality,
reaching out to other amputees, which is impressive, since Sean
is a Quad-amputee and only nine years old.
There will be a Feature Story about Sean in a future InMotion
Magazine. Look for Sean's article later this year.
Pennsylvania Prosthetic Parity Organizing Meeting:
You are invited to a community information and organizing
meeting to discuss Prosthetic Parity in PA.
DATE: June 1,Thursday / TIME: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Peter Lutheran Church, Spring and Union St, Middletown
Pa.
(across the street from Alfred’s Victorian restaurant).
For directions, check the AST Website or telephone: Don Hossler
717-944-2250 / Georgia Foltz: 717-834-5705 / Dick Nickle:
717-258-6849
Refreshments provided.
For Program Information, contact:
Morgan Sheets, APPLL@amputee-coalition.org or 202-302-4373.
Pennsylvanians living with the loss or absence of a limb
are facing discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic
care. Current changes in insurance coverage for prostheses
threaten persons with limb limitations and their ability to
lead independent, productive lives. This is your opportunity
to do something about it.
This meeting is aimed at bringing together people who want
to learn about how to fight for prosthetic parity in the state
of Pennsylvania.
The Amputee Coalition of America is working with people all
over the country to advance prosthetic parity legislation.
Join the Amputee Coalition of America in a meeting to discuss
pushing for prosthetic coverage in the Pennsylvania state
legislature!
Goals of the meeting:
I. Raise awareness about prosthetic parity.
II. Identify leaders and activists to help further parity
in PA.
Can't attend this meeting? For those who are unable to attend
the meeting, please check the AST website at www.amputeesupportteam.com,
or call Dick, Georgia or Don., following the meeting.
NOTE: This Pennsylvania Prosthetic Parity Organizing Meeting
is one of four being held in Pennsylvania, and similar to
what is happening in most other states. In cooperation with
the ACA - Amputee Coalition of America, the ADC – American
Disabilities Coalition, the APPLL – Action Plan for People
with Limb Loss, the AST is hosting this particular meeting,
representing the south-central part of Pennsylvania. The other
three meetings in Pennsylvania are in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
and Wilkes-Barre.
Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital
Pinnacle Health invited the AST to participate in the Grand
Opening of the Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital: Thursday,
April 13, from 3:30 - 6 PM.
Pennsylvania Amputee Golf Open
Pennsylvania Amputee Golf Open was held April 29-30 at Mayapple
Golf Links just outside Carlisle PA. Forty Four amputees from
seven states competed within flighted play over the two day
golf competition. The Tournament was headquartered at the
beautiful Allenberry Resort and Hanger P&O was again the
major tournament sponsor. Snyder’s of Hanover and Brewery
Products of York co-sponsored the hospitality room.
In a first for the PA Open, a playoff for Men's Champion
was necessary with Bob Dean of Charleton Depot, Mass. prevailing
over Steve Hnatko from Scranton. Kellie Valentine Andrews
repeated as the Ladies Champion. The tournament culminated
with an awards Bar-b-que at Allenberry on Sunday afternoon
April 30th.
Bob Buck, Executive Director of the EAGA, demonstrating a
proper golf swing.
For the first time at the Pennsylvania Amputee Golf Open,
the Eastern Amputee Golf Association’s “First Swing”
& Learn to Golf” Seminar and Clinic was presented
by Bob Buck, EAGA's Executive Director. It was a One Day Golf
Clinic held Friday, April 28 2006, the day before the PAGO
Tournament. The Amputee / Disabled Clinic will be held again
next year (2007), the day before the PAGO Tournament.
The following story is one of many humorous and uplifting
events that occurred during the Tournament, this one involving
our own Rod Shields, a member of the AST Board of Directors,
and told by Gary Reinhold, CP, who brought the HANGER sponsorship
to the Tournament (next page):
Rod
and his winning gift certificate.
On Friday April 28, 2006 the AST sponsored its initial First
Swing Clinic conducted by Bob Buck. After the clinic, a few
of us decided to play a round of golf before the two-day amputee
tournament. I had the pleasure of playing with Rod Shields,
a member of the AST. Rod has not played golf in quite some
time, but he was striking the ball very well. Rod was on course
to shoot his best round in years and on the tee box of hole
#5 Rods attempted to drive the golf ball long and snapped
his torsion adaptor. As he stood there with a concerned look
on his face, when he looked down and saw his foot was pointed
in the wrong direction. I proceeded to the tee box to assist
Rod to his golf cart. The look of disappointment in Rods’
face knowing he was going to miss Saturday and Sundays’
tournament with the EAGA led me to make a phone call to the
Hanger Office in Elizabethtown, PA. I spoke with a practitioner
who agreed to meet Rod Friday night to install a new torsion
adaptor. Rod was pleased with the service he was provided
by Hanger and he went on to have two days of great golf and
even placing in the tournament……….Gary Reinhold,
HANGER, O&P.
Great Job Rod, hope to see you back swinging next year!
AST is still looking for Committee Members.
If you are interested in being on any of these committees,
contact any Board member. The AST Committees are:
1. Newsletter – Programming – WEB Page: Co-chaired
by Dick Nickle & John Williamson
2. Public Relationships – Marketing: Co-chaired by Peter
Calcagno & Georgia Foltz; Dennis Mahaffey3. Fund Raising:
Co-chaired by DeEtt Fackler & Chad Kettler
WITF-TV Membership and Pledge Drive: AST will commit to a
date sometime this coming Fall. If you missed participating
in our last WITF Fund Drive in August, join us then. Those
who participate for the first time get a monogrammed AST shirt.
If interested, contact Don Hossler at: Home: 717-944-2250,
Work: 717-783-0296, or at dehoss@paonline.com.
FIRST MEETING: AST Lancaster Chapter had its First
Meeting, as reported by Chapter Leader, Jim Yohn. This first
meeting had nine amputees, six caregivers, and three vendor
representatives.
The Meeting was very successful and lasted from 7:00 pm until
9:30 pm. With a lot of personal interaction after the scheduled
meeting ended. We have decided that we will be meeting the
last Thursday of each month. If the weather would have been
nicer, we know of several more who would have been there.
All in all, it was GREAT.
Directions to the June 1 AST Parity Meeting (see above
text):
FROM THE AIRPORT
• Follow Harrisburg signs to get out of terminal.
• Take 1st exit on right, (230/Middletown - Highspire)
• At end of ramp make a left onto route 230 East.
• Go 5 traffic lights to the square.
• Turn right onto N. Union St.
• We are approximately 2 ½ blocks on right , then
turn right on Spring st.
FROM CARLISLE
• Take 81 North to 83 South to 283 South to 283 East.
• Take the second exit off 283 East which is North Union
St/ Fulling Mill Rd exit.
• Continue to Stop sign.
• Turn right onto N. Union St., go one mile to stop sign.continue
straight.(N. Union st.)
• Go one mile to traffic light (Middletown Square).
• Continue straight thru light - we are approximately
2 ½ blocks on right, then turn right on Spring St.
FROM HARRISBURG (DOWNTOWN)
• Take 83 north to 283 South to 283 East.
• Take the second exit off 283 East which is North Union
St/ Fulling Mill Rd exit.
• Continue to Stop sign.
• Turn right onto N. Union St., go one mile to stop sign.continue
straight. .(N. Union st.)
• Go one mile to traffic light at Middletown Square.
• Continue straight thru light - we are approximately
2 ½ blocks on right, then turn right on Spring st.
FROM HARRISBURG (COLONIAL PARK)
• Take 83 North to 283 South to 283 East.
• Take the second exit off 283 East which is North Union
St/ Fulling Mill Rd exit.
• Continue to Stop sign.
• Turn right onto N. Union St., go one mile to stop sign.continue
straight.(N. Union st.)
• Go one mile to traffic light at Middletown Square
• Continue straight thru light - we are approximately
2 ½ blocks on right., then turn right on Spring st.
FROM HERSHEY
• Take 322 West to the Middletown / Hummelstown Exit.
• At the stop sign go left, cross the bridge, and turn
right at the light.
• Go to next traffic light and turn left onto Middletown
Rd.
• Go 4.2 miles. There you will make a right onto Main
St.
• Go 4 blocks to the traffic light at Middletown Square.
• Turn left at the light - we are approximately 2 ½
blocks on right , then turn right on Spring st.
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FROM LANCASTER
• Take 283 West to the N. Union St / Route 441 Exit.
• Turn left off exit onto North Union St., go one mile
to stop sign.continue straight.(N. Union st.)
• Go 1 mile to the first traffic light.,in Middletown
• Go straight through the intersection.
• We are approximately 2 ½ blocks on right, then
turn right on Spring St.
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FROM THE PA TURNPIKE
• Take exit #247 (Harrisburg East) and follow RT 283
east towards Lancaster.
• Take the second exit off 283 East which is North Union
St/ Fulling Mill Rd exit.
• Continue to Stop sign.
• Turn right onto N. Union St., go one mile to stop sign.continue
straight.(N. Union st.)
• Go one mile to traffic light at Middletown Square.
• Continue straight thru light - we are approximately
2 ½ blocks on right , then turn right onto Spring St.
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FROM YORK
• Take 83 North to 283 South to 283 East.
• Take the second exit off 283 East which is North Union
St/ Fulling Mill Rd exit.
• Continue to Stop sign.
• Turn right onto N. Union St., go one mile to stop sign.continue
straight.(N. Union st.)
• Go one mile to traffic light at Middletown Square.
• Continue straight thru light - we are approximately
2 ½ blocks on right, then turn right onto Spring St.
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