Background of image has very light white and grey stripes. On the left half is the short BVA logo with three stars and the letters "BVA" stacked. To the right of the logo is text that reads "Happenings." At the bottom is text that reads "Bringing you updates and news from the Blinded Veterans Association and partners."
Membership
Claims
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Calendar
January 12, 2024
Around BVA
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This weekend and on into next Monday’s federal holiday, the leadership, staff, and membership of the Blinded Veterans Association will pause to reflect on the humanitarian service and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on what would be his 95th birthday. Read more.
Applications Due April 30 for Gruber Scholarships
Dive into the opportunities offered by BVA's Kathern F. Gruber Scholarships – a chance like no other for spouses, dependent children, and grandchildren of blind and low vision veterans seeking support for their higher education tuition. Five awards valued at $2,000 each are available for the 2024-25 academic year. The scholarships are a valuable resource for your family’s educational aspirations. Read more.
Upcoming National Convention Details Now on Immediate Horizon
Photo Caption: Daytime view of the Hyatt Regency taken from the side with more of Jacksonville visible on the left.
BVA Director of Development Meredith Buono-DaGrossa is busy compiling critical details to be distributed shortly to potential BVA 79th National Convention attendees and their families. The mode of communication will be BVA.org, future issues of BVA Happenings, and the Winter 2024 Bulletin. For the time being, however, mark your calendars for July 5-12 as the Association joins forces with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in hosting this historic gathering at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida (see adjacent photo)!
America’s Invisible Heroes Talk Show Features Overton, Poole, Harrison
BVA Executive Director and Army veteran Don Overton, Tennessee Regional Group Secretary/Treasurer and Navy veteran Calvin Poole, and Mid-Atlantic Regional Group President and Army veteran Michaun Harrison appeared on last Sunday’s Operation Confidence “America’s Invisible Heroes” Talk Show, available now as a podcast on YouTube. Read more.
Ways to Give
Social Media Used as Tool for Generating Revenue
Facebook makes it easy to set up fundraising events in honor of your birthday, a memorial gift, or a special occasion in just a few simple steps. Visit Facebook to create a fundraiser and login with your credentials. Select the Blinded Veterans Association, set a monetary goal, choose an end date that works for you, give your fundraiser a title, and let others know that you are supporting blind and low vision veterans. Celebrate your special day knowing you made a difference for BVA!
Ambassadog Scoop Series Courtesy of Waymo
Guide Dog Donald Woofs Kudos to Waymo, Reports Company’s Progress
Donald, a golden lab, looking straight at the camera. He is wearing his harness and has a little US Flag printed bow tie on his neck.
New to BVA Happenings in 2024, the Ambassadog Scoop Series features guide dogs that have become significant in the lives of Association members and their families. The series offers news, tips, and guidance for dog handlers and others who spend time in the company of guide dogs. Read more.
Donald is pictured left wearing his harness and a little US flag-printed bow tie around his neck.
VA Insider
OIT “Year in Review” Sets Forth 2023 Information Technology Milestones
The Office of Information and Technology (OIT) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released its 2023 Year in Review, a summary of OIT’s most important work in powering world-class Information Technology Products to improve access to VA health care and benefits. Highlights of last year’s milestones include: 1) deployment of new features to VA’s new flagship mobile app, 2) working through the hundreds of bumps pursuant to further modernization of VA.gov for its nearly 20 million monthly visitors, 3) pay increases for IT specialists, 4) a return to the fundamentals of Information Technology and engineering excellence, and 5) achievement of several ambitious Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that OIT set at the beginning of the year. To access the detailed Year in Review document, click here.
VA Life Insurance Updates
VA Insurance Service provides insurance products and services to more than 5.6 million clients among veterans, service members, and military families. The coverage, known as VALife, currently totals more than $1.487 trillion. Key program features include 100 years of success, 11 insurance programs, competitive premium rates, annual claims paid totaling more than $2 billion, an online VALife application, an opportunity for online death claims submissions using DocuSign, online instant loans, and virtual document uploading. To access a PDF document that reveals the highlights of VALife, click here.
Upcoming Events
Guide Dog School Admission Process to Highlight Tuesday Dog Handler Meeting
Chelsea White, Outreach Specialist for The Seeing Eye, Inc., of Morristown, New Jersey, will address The Seeing Eye’s admissions process during next Tuesday’s (January 16) Dog Handlers Group meeting. Read more.
Slinger’s Accessory, iOS Games Highlight Next Week’s VetTech
Join BVA’s VetTech Team on Wednesday, January 17, at 2:00pm Eastern Time for a Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcoming Steven Shaw, co-founder and CEO of Slinger, as he discusses the multi-functional Slinger Smartphone accessory. Read more.