Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Tournaments

Partner drawing at Clarks Hill Lake i Augusta, GA

I have been in a wheelchair for 18 years as of Jan 17, 2012. Before my accident I loved to fish and Bass fishing was my true passion. I am not whining or complaining about my condition, but I would kick myself if I could. Because I had not gotten involved with the Paralyzed Veterans of America years ago. The PVA offers several sports programs to get injured Veterans and recently returning Veterans back to living and enjoying life. The Paralyzed Veterans of America (www.PVA.org) strives to advocate for Veterans rights, benefits and health care.
The PVA Bass Tour is run and managed by Alan Earl who serves with the PVA National sports program.
http://www.pva.org/site/c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.6305943/k.A52C/PVA_Bass_Tour.htm
That is Alans picture in the fog sitting at the dock in Augusta, GA at our last event at Clarks, Hill Lake. It was about 10:30am and still pretty foggy. What a great picture though, it captures so much of the solitude and independence that I feel daily in my own chair. No idea whats out there but knowing its coming and not wanting to get out of its way. Checkout the web page and our schedule for 2012. Please think about coming to an event as a participant or a volunteer. There is a bank division and a boat division with a new Bass Boat and cash prizes. The boat captains win some pretty good stuff and money as well. All of the volunteers I have met all say the same thing. Do it once and your hooked as they feel so rewarded helping and watching these guys to enjoy fishing again. It is a two day event with meals provided and lots of good people. There are 7 events a year held in nationally renowned Bass lakes that the pros all fish too. Our angler of the year qualifies for the Bass Federation Classic and a chance to earn a spot at the Bass Master Classic and compete with the pros.
Our next event is at Lake Toho in Florida on April 14th and 15th with partner pairings done on the 13th. http://www.pva.org/site/c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.7696177/k.3E36/2012_Schedule.htm#Citrus
is the registration website.
At the first event on Clarks Hill Lake in Augusta, GA I caught 4 keepers but finished 22nd and I got 79 points towards angler of the year. I had alot of fun and it is a beautiful lake with lots of voluteers. None of our events could happen with the volunteers and the sponsors.

Kentucky & Indiana Paralyzed Veterans of America

I am a T7 completely severed spinal cord paraplegic.  I am a honorably discharged veteran of the United States Marine Corps and serve on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of Kentucky and Indiana Paralyzed Veterans,  www.kipva.org  Our orginization is here to serve Veterans with spinal cord injuries, disorders, and disease for our two states.  We are a Chapter of The Paralyzed Veterans of America.  www.pva.org   We can help a veteran with their benefits and quality of care that they recieve at a VA hospital spinal cord unit.  We are advocates for veterans as we follow and help with legislation that affects all veterans and especially spinal injuries.  Our KIPVA Chapter strives to improve the quality of life of our members through activities of all types.  Sports that include, fishing, hunting, all types of shooting events, trap, skeet, rifle and pistol, bowling, billiards, and family events.   All of these are also done on a national level through the PVA and at the Veterans Wheelchair games in conjunction with the Veterans Administration.  We also accept associate members who are not veterans.  We are a 501C nonprofit orginization and welcome donations and volunteers for our events. 

It is truly amazing to see a veteran that has not fished in years and thought they never would again catching their first fish from a wheelchair; or harvesting that first deer, beating their friends in bowling or taking their family to a Colts game with the KIPVA Chapter.   We meet the second Tuesday of each month and welcome everyone, so please come and join us and see what we are about.