BVA and Board Confront Financial Challenges

by Tom Miller

The Blinded Veterans Association National Board of Directors and Headquarters Staff are urgently pursuing financial solutions to a fiscal problem. While BVA is still in solid financial condition, the board and staff are confronted by a much larger deficit than anticipated in this fiscal year’s operating budget.

As a consequence, during a conference call meeting held in early March, the Board made some painful decisions regarding expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. Examples of savings include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. All board, field staff, and headquarters staff travel have been suspended.

2. The final dues notice mailed each year to nonmembers and former members will not be sent.

3. The remaining district director newsletters have been suspended.

4. The leadership training conference scheduled for Dallas in late April 2004 was canceled.

5. Staff vacancies created by the retirements of National Field Service Program (FSP) Director George Brummell, Administrative Director John Williams, and Administrative Assistant to the FSP Director Vira Hong will not be immediately filled. This decision will be revisited at the Board of Directors meeting at the BVA 59th National Convention in early August. In the meantime, Brigitte Jones was temporarily appointed as Acting Assistant Administrative Director and will assume the majority of the duties and responsibilities of the Administrative Director. The National Field Service program is still active and producing results through the work of the Field Service Representatives, their assistants, and myself.

In an effort to explore sources of revenue to supplement that of our primary source, direct mail, we have been actively meeting with fund raising consultants and other not-for-profit organizations. Although the gross revenue derived from our direct mail campaigns has remained relatively constant, the cost of direct mail fund raising continues to increase. Unfortunately, a not-for-profit organization like BVA cannot pass along the increased costs to its customers.

BVA is not on the verge of collapse, nor is BVA going out of business. The board and staff are working diligently to develop appropriate solutions and strategies to overcome short-term financial problems and assure long-term financial stability. The organization’s finances will continue to be monitored closely in the coming months. The operating budget for FY 2005 will depend largely on the conclusions drawn from such observations.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any ideas on alternative sources of revenue. As always, we appreciate any support you can provide. Now, more than ever, as so many men and women in uniform are serving in harm’s way, we must make certain that the services for all veterans, especially blinded veterans, be preserved.