Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Regional Group Meeting Minutes
Fall meeting October 9, 2010
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA. 23667
Hampton, VA. 23667
Minutes
Acting President Forrest Black started the meeting at 9:05 by reading letter of resignation from President George Hicks indicating he was stepping down because of health reasons.
Afterwards the Acting President led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer by Chaplain Clyde Jackson.
Present members were, Forrest Black, Clyde Jackson, George Brummell, Peter Davis, Leon Robinson, Hardy Alexander, Robert Byrd, Ralf Lawton, Chris Semple, Charles Edwards, Errol Noel, Robert Hennigan, Kenneth Carr, Antonio Shelton, Lilly A Washington, Michael White, Josephus Givins, Herbert Patterson, Robert Hicks, James Jackson, John Walsh, Tom Miller, and Claudia Perry, spouses, family members and friends.
The Associate Director of Operations for Hampton VA Medical Center, Ms Benita Stoddard was invited forward for opening remarks. Ms Stoddard said the Hospital has over 1600 staff members and serve over 33,000 veterans in over 400,000 annual visits. During the course of a day the hospital service up to over 1700 vets with a 2009 budget of $200,000,000.00 with a seven per cent growth during the year 2010.
Vist Coordinator James Stephens said his responsibilities are to conduct blind vet’s medical, Ophthalmology, and audiology reviews, refer them to blind rehabilitation, low vision and guide dog training.
Julia Helpern-Gold serves vets with vision from 20/70 to legal blindness and the average vet visits the clinic from four to six times before completing low vision training. Because she is trained and certified as an Orientation and Mobility instructor she’s allowed to train blind vets with basic cane skills but only on station.
If veterans request additional training vets would need to go to Richmond or a Blind Rehabilitation Center.
Tom Eaton Mid-Atlantic Regional Group’s, MARG’s, Website manager discussed the Bill President Obama signed on Friday, The Technology Access Bill giving blind and deaf people access to smart phones, the internet, and other technology, including audio description for television and movie theaters. Tom reported on (MARG’s.com) quarterly progress. According to him, in September at the site experienced nearly 59,000 hits. He answered a question Tom Miller asked during the last meeting, which was how many people transferred from BVA’s website to Marg’s site? Tom Eaton’s answer was that in three months there were 81 people.
Robert Byrd Hampton Chapter President read the Mission Statement of the Blinded Veterans Association and encouraged members, family and friends to encouraged blind vets to join BVA because of the importance of numbers when BVA lobby before congress.
Tom Miller thanked MARG for support of the BVA’s 65th National Convention and reviewed BVA’s history. He informed the group that there were 147 blind vets totaling 360 with families and friends and nearly 400 VA employees present at the Convention.
Jerry Marindin showed and demonstrated a camera or a scanner called the Pearl.V
Vender Allen Barefold of Enhanced Vision brought and displayed hand held magnifiers and other items. He also briefly discussed a new item called the Transformer that has not been released as of yet. Venders of Integration
Technology, Giovanni and his assistant Pat Zawasky demonstrated the victor Reader Stream Library version, and the Braille Note. All venders donated various items which were given as door prizes.
Peter Davis discussed the 65th National BVA Convention including according to him a disappointment that MARG did not receive the Silver or the Golden Gavel Award.
Peter was awarded a letter from Clyde Jackson and also a plaque from the MARG, both for the appreciation for his involvement with the 65th National Convention.
Peter suggested that the group should work harder selling life time membership so that we take the Golden Gavel Award next year.
The afternoon session started off with old business. George Brummell, Secretary presented minutes from the last meeting. It was noted that Leon Robinson’s name was recorded twice. Robert Hennigan made a motion that the minutes be accepted with the correction and it was second by Peter Davis. Hardy Alexander presented the Treasurer’s report. The beginning balance was $7,439.94 with an ending balance of $4,733.13 pending a check from National for little over $2,800.00. Peter Davis made a motion to accept the report and was seconded. Tom Miller reminded the group that $250.00 was given to Jerry Fitchpatric to start a BVA chapter in Winchester, VA. but the Chapter was disbanded because of selling baseball caps without the National Board’s permission. The caps were shipped to National headquarters to be sold. Some caps were sold and Jim Hammond’s investment in to the venture will be refunded and it was suggested that the $250.00 given to Jerry to be retrieved from total caps sells to pay MARG back if amount exist after caps are sold.
President Black reported that acquiring the 501-C3 is still in the works and hopefully by the next meeting it will be a done deal. He has a firm working on the process and thinks the cost will be less than the $2000.00 allotted.
New Business started with Peter Davis making a motion via Tom Eaton for up to $200.00 to purchase new band with as needed for MARG website. Tom Miller seconded and the motion was carried.
Again Peter Davis made a motion. He suggested $200.00 be donated to the auxiliary in support of their scholarship’s program ongoing expense. The motion was seconded by Clyde Jackson and carried.
For the third time Peter Davis made a motion He suggest giving each of the active chapters up to $500.00 to be spent at their discretion between now and the spring meeting but must be spent on veteran’s welfare including a Christmas party as a good will gesture to hospital staff or items for White Cane Day or anything that will give MARG visibility. The motion was seconded by Herbert Patterson and carried.
Past President Peter Davis was called forward to preside over the election of officers. Robert Byrd nominated Forrest Black for President, and it was seconded by Tom Miller and Forrest Black was elected President. George Brummell was nominated by Clyde Jackson, seconded by Tom Miller and George Brummell was elected Vice President. Hardy Alexander remains Treasurer and Dr. Clyde Jackson remains Chaplin. Tom Miller nominated Robert Byrd for Secretary; however according to Peter Davis the National Bylaws prohibits any officer of a Chapter from also holding a Regional Officers position. Tom Miller said if that was the case he would submit a bylaw amendment. Again nominations for secretary were called Robert Hennigan nominated himself for
Secretary and Hardy Alexander seconded and the motion was carried. Tom Miller was called forward to swear in the new slate of officers.
George Brummell was given time to present his idea on how MARG can broaden its scope to helping blind children by mentoring, and passing along discarded equipment including equipment of deceased blind veterans.
Recognition was given to everyone that participated with the preparation and serving of the delicious food.
Respectfully submitted, George Brummell, Secretary
End of Document
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