BVA Supports Stamp Effort
BVA has joined together with 28 other VSOs to address a long-term
gap in the production of veterans-related postage stamps by the
United States Postal Service. The group has collectively sent
a proposal to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee with
specific recommendations to create a commemorative stamp sheet
honoring veterans and the organizations that serve them.
A positive response by the Committee in its next meeting in January
could eventually result in a single BVA stamp on a sheet that
would include stamps from the other 28 organizations participating.
The Committee’s recommendation will go to the Postmaster
General’s office, which will make the final determination.
The BVA stamp of 1981 was the last stamp to directly recognize
a VSO or any other group that serves veterans. Due to changes
in postal system policy, single organizations are no longer eligible
to propose their own stamp as they were 25 years ago.
To send a letter of support to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory
Committee, write to USPS Stamp Development, Attn: Stamp Design,
1735 North Lynn Street, Suite 5013, Arlington, VA 22209-6432.
Gruber Scholarships Again Available
BVA will award six Kathern F. Gruber scholarships for the upcoming
academic year, according to Brigitte Jones, Administrative Director
at the Association’s National Headquarters. Three scholarships
of $2,000 each as well as three scholarships of $1,000 each will
be available for 2005-06. The BVA Scholarship Committee will also
select three alternates.
The scholarships are limited to spouses and dependent children
of blinded veterans, but the blinded veteran in question is not
required to be a BVA member. Scholarships are awarded on merit
by the Committee.
Gruber scholarships are for one year only, but recipients can
reapply. The total number of scholarships that can be awarded
to one recipient is four.
Requests for scholarship applications can be addressed to BVA
National Headquarters, Attn: Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program,
477 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001-2694. They can also be
addressed via email to bjones@bva.org.
Completed applications must arrive at BVA National Headquarters
no later than Friday, April 15, 2005.
Feldman Funds Assist Students
The Blinded Veterans Association Auxiliary (BVAA) will award
four $2,000 and two $1,000 Renee Feldman scholarships for the
2005-06 academic year. The scholarships are open to the spouses
or children of blinded veterans, and membership in BVA is not
required.
To be eligible for a Feldman scholarship, the applicant must
have been accepted at the school of his/her choice. The institution
in question may be a vocational school, community college, college,
or university.
The fees in all cases are paid directly to the school and are
intended to defray the cost of tuition, books, and general fees.
The application process for the scholarships includes supplying
information about previous academic achievement, a statement of
present goals and plans, a 300-word essay, and letters of reference.
Completed application packets must be received no later than Saturday,
April 30, 2005.
For further information and an application, write to Barbara
Stocking, BVAA Scholarship Chair, 3801 Coco Grove Avenue, Miami,
FL 33133. Potential applicants may also telephone Barbara at 305-446-8008.
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