Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Regional Group Meeting Minutes
Spring Meeting 16 May 2009
Newport News
Vice President George Hicks sounded the gavel at 9:15 AM. He introduced the acting Director of Hampton, VA Medical Center, James Burch for opening remarks. Mr. Burch recognized the BVA’s focus on BVA’s Peer Support program and emphasized the fondness of the relationship between BVA and Hampton VA Medical Center.
Basil Rowland explained the types of eye conditions and percentages of diseases seen at Blind Rehabilitation Centers, MD leading at 40 percent and combat related traumas at 1.4 percent. He also informed the group that the up coming week will be his last week as VIST and that he will be moving along to a new position at VA Central Office.
Julia Haler, Director of Blind Rehab followed. She talked about the Low Vision Clinic at Hampton, the services it provides and that the program is full time up and running.
Evelyn Heatwole, VIST at Richmond spoke about the eventuality of lodging four vets at their “Hottell” program and that they had a recent 10 day trial run however vets did not stay overnight.
There were two representatives from Integrated Technology Group demonstrating the Trekker Breeze and the ictor Stream.
After lunch at 1:30 the business meeting started.
The secretary George Brummell presented Minutes from the last meeting. Skip Sharp made a motion to accept the minutes and was seconded by Forrest Black.
Skip Sharp presented the treasures report, and George Brummell made a motion to accept the report and it was seconded by Ralph Lawton. Skip also informed the group it was his last meeting because he was relocating to the state of Massachusetts.
The next order of business was the election of new officers because of the resignation of President Peter Davis for medical reasons, and to fill Skip Sharp’s treasurer’s position.
Hardy Alexander was nominated for treasurer by Robert Bird and seconded by Dr. Clyde Jackson. The Secretary George Brummell placed his ballot for Hardy and was second by Robert Bird and Hardy was accepted by acclamation.
Forrest Black was nominated for Vice-president by Robert Bird. The nominations were closed with the single nominee by Dr. Clyde Jackson and seconded by Hardy Alexander therefore Forrest Black was also elected by acclamation.
Tom Zampieri was called forward to administer the oaths for Vice-President and Treasure.
Afterwards Vice-President Black took the gavel.
George Brummell nominated George Hicks for President and was seconded by Ralph Lawton. Leon Robinson was also nominated for the position by John Ward however George Hicks was voted in as the new President of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Group.
The new President took charge of the meeting after he was administered the oath by Tom Zampieri.
The floor was open for electing delegates and alternates. Leon Robinson and George Hicks were nominated to represent as delegates. George Brummell made a motion to close the nominations with the mention two names. It was seconded by Clyde Jackson and after the vote, George Hicks was voted Delegate, Leon Robinson voted as first alternate, Dr. Clyde Jackson voted as second alternate and George Brummell volunteered for third alternate. Then there was a call for a vote to decide if the amount given to delegate would be $250.00 or $500 and after the vote it was decided the amount would be $250 for each delegate with the exception of George Brummell who declined accepting the funds.
George Brummell was then instructed by the President to sign four Credentials forms. They were signed and given to Tom Zampieri to be delivered to Bridgett Jones, Administrative Director, BVA.
George Brummell made a motion that $100 for a full page convention ad. It was voted on and carried, as well as $250 for the BVAA Scholarship Fund.
Jerry Fitzpatrick from Winchester, VA requested permission for a chapter to be started in Winchester. George Hicks with some discussion agreed to pay a visit to Winchester to examine the possibilities of erecting a new chapter.
Tom Zampieri was given the floor for a report on Legislative matters. He talked about all the positive changes in Blind Rehab and for the first time in history for FY 2010 the budget for Blind Rehab will be over 105 million dollars. He also explained HR-228 the Scholarship Bill, a VA fund for Orientation and Mobility Instructors.
“Student interested in employment in the VA or in a University program becomes eligible for VA federal scholarship educational money.”
President Hicks’s gavel ended the meeting at approximately 3:30pm informing the group that the next meeting will be hosted by the Salem Chapter in October.
Respectfully submitted,
George Brummell
End of Document
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