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FRG Honors Dr. Stocking

Always a flurry of business and social activity, the Florida Regional Group State Convention May 5-6 added still another ceremonial event to the lineup this year.

Dr. George Stocking's years of service on the BVA Board of Directors are eclipsed only by those of David Schnair, who served for 41 years.

Dr. George E. Stocking, Director of District 5 and a former National President, received a plaque from the FRG leadership and membership in recognition of his lifelong dedication to the progress of the group at the convention’s Saturday evening gala.

The plaque also mentioned Dr. Stocking’s service to many thousands of blinded veterans across the country and his perseverance in urging VA to establish VIST and BROS programs.  

“To my knowledge at least, this is the first time our regional group has formally recognized him after the countless things he has achieved for us both here in Florida and for blinded veterans throughout the country,” said outgoing Regional Group President Terry King. “This was long overdue.”

Terry said that Dr. Stocking’s breadth of knowledge and experience, attention to minute details, and his passion for the BVA mission has made him an indispensable and incomparable resource.

“To a great extent, Dr. George Stocking is the Blinded Veterans Association,” said Terry. “If I need an answer to almost anything related to our organization’s issues, I can call him up and get the information that would have otherwise taken me hours to find without his help.”

Dr. Stocking has been a member of the BVA Board of Directors for 31 years, including stints as National President and National Vice President during 1978-80. He received the Melvin J. Maas Award for professional achievement in 1969.

A service-connected blinded veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Stocking was blinded as a result of burns suffered following a mid-air collision while serving as a jet-flying instructor in the 1950s. In ten years of reconstructive plastic surgery, he underwent more than 100 operations.

Before the end of this process, Dr. Stocking entered a vocational rehabilitation training program, where he was assigned as a darkroom technician. He was afterward placed as a vocational counseling aide in Psychology Services at Coral Gables VA Medical Center, eventually leading to a masters degree in counseling in 1968 and completion of a doctorate in 1970. He has been a counseling psychologist at the Miami VA Medical Center ever since.   

In addition to his contributions to BVA, Dr. Stocking has held a number of leadership positions with a variety of community and professional organizations within the state of Florida.

BVA Merchandise Available Online

BVA National Treasurer Paul Kaminsky has successfully established a BVA online store to benefit both individual Association members as well as the organization itself.

The merchandise is available at www.cafepress.com/bvashop, or by going to BVA’s Homepage and clicking on the link labeled “Shop BVA Merchandise” in the lower left corner.

“What better way to let people know we exist, and that we stand up for the rights of our community, that we are active and doing things, and that we are members ourselves, than by wearing BVA emblem-bearing apparel,” he said.

According to Paul, even the most timid of BVA’s members, those who would prefer not to shout the BVA mission statement from every street corner or to go on a lecture circuit, would feel comfortable wearing a hat or shirt, carrying a bag, or hanging a clock in their home or office.

The online shop, approved by the BVA Board of Directors at the recent mid-winter meetings, is available to anyone who has Internet access anywhere in the world. It has no inventory for which BVA is responsible and has been established by Paul at no cost to the Association. All major credit cards are accepted and the vendor has a satisfactory refund policy.

“It is nice to finally have something this simple that is available to every BVA regional group, Auxiliary regional group, and to our families and friends,” said Paul.

Other merchandise previously available through BVA National Headquarters such as caps, patches, and flags can be ordered as they have been in the past. Order forms for such merchandise can be downloaded through the BVA website, or they can be requested from Stuart Nelson or Keleeba Scott.