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The Bylaws and Resolutions Committee approved 44 resolutions at
the BVA 58th National Convention. The general membership in turn
approved 41 of the 44 during the Saturday morning business session.
RESOLUTION 1-03
RESOLVED, that the National President
shall send letters of appreciation to those organizations and
individuals contributing to the success of the 58th National Convention,
as well as to those other individuals and organizations assisting
and supporting BVA during the past year.
RESOLUTION 2-03
WHEREAS, the Visual Impairment Service
Team (VIST) approach to service delivery was established in 1967
to provide much-needed services to blinded veterans, AND
WHEREAS, because of staffing and funding
problems, these services have not been provided to all eligible
blinded veterans, or in equal proportions, AND
WHEREAS, the VIS Team Coordinator is the
TEAM member responsible for initiating aggressive outreach activities
and the timely delivery of comprehensive services, AND
WHEREAS, in all but several stations,
VIS Team Coordinators have other responsibilities in addition
to the VIS Teams, thus precluding the provision of needed services
to all eligible veterans, AND
WHEREAS, the quality and quantity of services
are directly dependent upon the amount of time that the Coordinator
has to devote to this assignment and upon that person's knowledge
and motivation to provide the needed services, AND
WHEREAS, in some stations these services
have been even further eroded by decisions made by supervisors
regarding the selection, placement, and changing of Coordinators,
AND
WHEREAS, it is understood that direct
funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Office
has been provided to such programs as alcohol abuse, drug abuse,
day treatment centers, spinal cord injury centers, etc., AND
WHEREAS, more efficient and timely services
could be provided to eligible blinded veterans if a similar approach
was taken to the funding of full-time Coordinators for VIS Teams,
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Blinded Veterans Association,
in convention assembled in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on this
30th day of August 2003, hereby strongly urge VA to take prompt,
positive action to provide funding for full-time Coordinators
of all remaining VIS Teams presently not so funded in the VA system,
AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Director of Blind Rehabilitation
Service, VA Headquarters, should concur in the selection, placement,
and assignment of staff personnel filling the positions of VIS
Team Coordinators.
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