Official Business
As is customary, meetings of the Executive Committee and Board
of Directors began on August 7, three days before the opening
business session. Field Service Representatives, the Rules Committee,
the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee, and the BVA Auxiliary also
met early in the convention week. BVA National Headquarters Department
Directors and Field Service Representatives presented reports
to the Board.
BVA Controller Kathy Ruais provided the budget report for FY
2004 and the proposed budget for FY 2005 during Wednesday’s
opening business session. A motion to approve the new budget was
seconded and passed on the convention floor. Inherent in the approval
was acceptance of a long-range plan by Immediate Past President
Joe Burns to gradually balance the annual budget.
Convention delegates approved one bylaw amendment and 41 resolutions
during the Saturday closing business session. The resolutions
will be posted on the BVA website and sent to VA for responses,
which will, in turn, also be posted on the website.
The BVA Board of Directors approved the appointment of Brigitte
Jones as the new BVA Administrative Director. Tom Miller announced
the action at various business meetings throughout the week.
Re-elections and New Officers
Elections for seven positions on the Board of Directors were
held in conjunction with the BVA 59th National Convention. Six
of the seven elections – for National President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Director of District 4, and a special election
for Director of District 2 to fill the position left by the death
of Tom Gearhart – did not have an opposing candidate. At
the mention of the name of each national officer up for re-election
during the closing business session, BVA National Secretary Dr.
Norman Jones, Jr., stood to declare a unanimous vote for each
one.
District directors elected for full three-year terms are:
Director of District 2 (special election)—Dr. Robert Smith,
3rd
Minnesota Regional Group
Director of District 3—Sam Huhn
Pennsylvania Regional Group
Director of District 4—Dr. Roy Kekahuna (uncontested)
San Diego Regional Group
The National Board of Directors also appointed the following
two blinded veterans to national positions:
National Chaplain - Neftali Sanchez
Silver State Regional Group
National Sergeant-at-Arms - Paul Kaminsky
Florida Regional Group
Exhibits, Memorabilia
On Monday afternoon, 21 companies with products exclusively for
the blind and visually impaired began setting up their wares in
23 booth spaces in preparation for the early evening wine and
cheese reception. Although the reception was arranged to encourage
the attendance of VIST/BROS personnel, a number of blinded veterans
also paid a visit to the event.
"We greatly appreciate the extra time, effort, and expense
these vendors make to come and demonstrate to us the latest technology,"
said Tom Miller, who several times encouraged convention attendees
to visit the exhibit hall.
Box lunches were provided in the hall on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Tuesday lunches were provided by MediVox RX Technologies to
attendees of the VIST/BROS and Audiology conference. Blinded veterans
and their families had the option of purchasing box lunches, distributed
the next day, at a reduced price.
Although not a technology company that provides aids for the
blind and visually impaired, Creations by Hazel continued as an
exhibit hall tradition. Due to illness, the booth was unfortunately
minus the two most central figures and familiar faces this year:
Hazel and Harold "Doc" Powell. Creations by Hazel was
capably manned by Northern Arizona Regional Group President Tom
Hicks, who was assisted by his father, Al, and son, Tom.
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