by Tom Miller
Annette Mongelli, BVA Conference Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the Executive Director for 12 years, has announced her intention to retire. The decision came in mid-July and took effect following the wrap-up of all BVA 60th National Convention business. Failing health was the principal reason for Annette’s decision. Prior to joining BVA, Annette worked for AMVETS for 12 years in a similar capacity.
Annette has been a tremendous asset to BVA during her tenure. Her professionalism, knowledge, and expertise in convention planning have been invaluable. She has played an important role in both BVA National Headquarters and convention activities.
Those who have worked closely with Annette over the years, particularly in convention planning, have often been impressed by her no-nonsense negotiating style. Consequently, she successfully negotiated a number of highly outstanding hotel contracts.
Among her most significant accomplishments at BVA was the streamlining of the process by which regional groups bid to host national conventions. Annette developed comprehensive specification sheets that are submitted to the convention bureaus in the prospective host cities. These “spec sheets” outline in great detail BVA’s needs in searching out a convention hotel, and they provide the hotel industry with an opportunity to respond with a realistic bid.
Without question, Annette will be sorely missed by BVA. We nevertheless wish her all the best in her retirement. Hopefully, without the stress inherent in convention planning, her health will improve and she can thoroughly enjoy retirement. It goes without saying that working for a blinded vet also carries with it a good deal of stress. Retirement may actually afford her the opportunity to travel to vacation destinations with her husband, Mike, without the pressures of planning and resolving problems that have so often arisen for her during the conventions. Thank you, Annette, so much for your years of devoted service to BVA and to America’s visually impaired and blinded veterans.
Following the announcement of Annette Mongelli’s retirement, the BVA National Board of Directors approved the hiring of Christina Hitchcock to fill the position. BVA members who attended the recently concluded convention had the opportunity to meet Christina. She was able to spend the week observing and learning the ropes.
Christina has been employed by George Mason University in Northern Virginia for the past eight years and lives right in the District of Columbia. She has a diverse background with experience in several different areas that will certainly be beneficial to BVA. Christina assumed her new duties with BVA on September 19. We welcome her to the BVA family.
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