Final Preps for BVA 58th
BVA officers, staff, delegates, and family members thereof are
putting the final touches on their preparations for the 58th National
Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, August 26-30.
Convention participants will have a variety of activity options
available to them when they are not tied up in convention floor
gatherings, business meetings corresponding to their respective
roles and interests, district caucuses, or the exhibits.
Late-Breaking Note: A special continental breakfast for all BVA
member attendees is scheduled for Saturday morning. The breakfast
will be hosted and sponsored by the Buffalo, New York, Convention
and Visitors Bureau and the Adams Mark Hotel of Buffalo. The breakfast
is in preparation for a 2006 bid proposal to be presented on the
convention floor by the Buffalo Chapter of the BVA of New York,
Inc. Regional Group later that morning.
Please give special attention also to the Thursday evening activity
at The Alabama Theatre, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The normal admission
price is $32.95. BVA is receiving a group rate of $21.00 per person,
of which the Association is paying $11.95 for each person. This
means that the show will be available to convention attendees
at a bargain rate of $10.00. BVA is also supplying free popcorn
and soda at the theatre. Group transportation will be provided
by buses, which will load at the hotel between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m.
"Most importantly, the particular show we are attending
will be dedicated to the Blinded Veterans Association," said
Convention Coordinator Annette Mongelli. "A spectacular patriotic
finale is sure to bring everyone to their feet."
There has been a significant change in the scheduling of the
keynote address, which was slated for delivery to the delegates
by Secretary Principi on Wednesday morning at the opening business
session (this event was listed in the pre-registration materials
and in the May-June Bulletin). Because of a conflict in the Secretary’s
schedule, however, he is now tentatively scheduled to welcome
and address convention attendees Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Center
East Ballroom, Mezzanine Level. A town hall meeting is also tentatively
scheduled to follow Principi’s remarks. The meeting will
be conducted by the office of Representative Henry Brown (R-SC-1)
and will end at approximately noon.
A complimentary shuttle will be available from the airport to
the hotel and vice versa. Although Hilton hotels do not usually
provide complimentary ground transportation (the convention hotel
was a Wyndham when BVA signed the original contract), the Hilton
Myrtle Beach Resort has agreed to honor BVA’s request.
The shuttles will be marked "Charter Coach Bus" and
will be parked on the first island outside the baggage claim area.
BVA will have volunteers, directed by Coordinator Margarine Beaman,
at the airport during peak incoming flight times to assist convention
participants with obtaining their luggage and getting to the shuttle.
The volunteers will be wearing bright orange badges.
At press time, the shuttle schedule was still not finalized,
but it is anticipated that buses will run every two to three hours.
Ask a BVA volunteer or call hotel guest services at 843-449-5000
to find out the next pick-up time. Taxi service is also an option.
Travel time from the airport is approximately 20 minutes and will
cost $22-$25 per ride.
As of July 23, the sweepstakes total stood at $23,132, which
is slightly more than what the figure was at the same point last
year. This means that the prize pool was worth approximately $11,550
(first prize would be approximately 50 percent of that amount,
or $5,775). Half of the revenue generated through the sweepstakes
will be awarded as prize money and the other half will be used
to defray convention expenses. Sweepstakes coordinator Keleeba
Scott anticipates a sizeable increase in the total as the convention
approaches.
The sweepstakes deadline has been extended from July 31, the
date indicated in the first mailing, to Friday, August 15. Keep
the tickets coming! The more donated, the greater the value of
the winnings. For more tickets, please contact Keleeba at Headquarters
at 800-669-7079 as soon as possible.
The May-June Bulletin
reported that Thursday, August 14 is the deadline for mailing
pre-registration fees to Headquarters and also the cancellation
deadline for a full refund. This is still the correct date for
both deadlines.
A postmark of August 14 is acceptable for the submission of the
pre-registration fees. For notices of cancellation, however, BVA
must actually receive the notification by August 14. A telephone
call to Headquarters is the most certain means of notifying BVA
of a cancellation. A postmark of August 14 is not acceptable for
cancellations. Medical emergencies are the only exception to the
above, and they will be honored with a full refund.
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