The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Upcoming Events
BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION 64th NATIONAL
CONVENTION
Blinded Veterans Helping Blinded Veterans
August 18th – 22nd 2009
Portland, Oregon
Hosted by the
Oregon Columbia Regional Group
This
document and all registration forms are available electronically and can also be
downloaded and printed from the BVA website.
www.bva.org/convention
IMPORTANT
DATES TO REMEMBER!!!
JUNE 14th,
2009: Is the Early Registration deadline. Attendees that submit hotel
reservation and convention registration by June 14th will be eligible to receive
a $50.00 rebate for the 5-night stay between August 17-23rd. Register for your
hotel room today!
JUNE 15th,
2009: Is the deadline for Members and Regional Groups to submit Convention
Program Announcement/Ad page. Contact Ms. Hitchcock (800) 669 7079 if you would
like more information on placing an announcement or ad in the Convention
Program. Full page ads cost $100 each half page ads cost $75.
Application
JULY 14th,
2009: Is the deadline for mailing in Registration form and payment to BVA
National Headquarters. After July 14th Late - Registration fee is $100.00 per
person.
JULY 14th,
2009: Is the last day anyone is eligible for the special room rate of $106 per
night. Due to the popularity of Portland, the room block may fill up quickly so
register early. We recommend registering over the phone by calling 1 (800)
996.0510.
JULY 29th,
2009: Is the deadline for receipt of the completed OFFICIAL PROXY for non
attending members. (Proxy Form included in this convention package) Is the
deadline for receipt of the completed Regional Group Delegate Credential Form.
(Delegate form was sent to regional group officers and is NOT included in this
convention package) The official National Headquarters Proxy Form and Credential
Form shall be the only forms recognized at the National Convention.
AUGUST 1st,
2009: The deadline for cancellations.
BLINDED
VETERANS ASSOCIATION 64th NATIONAL CONVENTION
Portland, Oregon
AUGUST 18-22, 2009
OFFICIAL
NOTICE OF 64th NATIONAL CONVENTION
This is the pre-registration packet for the 64th BVA National Convention and
constitutes the OFFICIAL NOTICE of subject Convention pursuant to Section 3a of
Article IX (National Convention) to the BVA National Bylaws (as amended by the
53rd National Convention in Itasca, Illinois, on August 15, 1998). The 64th
National Convention will be held at the Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting
Center, Portland, OR, during the period of August 18-22nd, 2009. This
Pre-registration package includes the Official BVA National Headquarters Proxy
Form. If you cannot attend the convention, review the proxy form instructions
and return it.
This and all registration forms are available electronically and can also be
downloaded and printed from the BVA website.
www.bva.org/convention
INFORMATION
ON PORTLAND - Convention
The Oregon Columbia Regional Group would like to extend a warm and special
invitation to you and your family to join us in the City of Roses for the 64th
National Convention. Take this great opportunity to visit Portland, Oregon and
meet fellow blinded veterans. Portland is a vibrant city with so much to do and
getting around is a breeze. It's easy to find limitless recreation, fabulous
dining and flourishing culture. And, oh yes - the nation's largest variety of
local microbrews, wonderful wineries and so much more. You are invited to come
early or stay late to enjoy all that Portland has to offer.
Portland in August averages 79.5 degrees in the summer. The hotel is perfectly
situated on the edge of Fareless Square, a region encompassing much of the
downtown area. This “fareless square” provides free public light rail
transportation to downtown Portland, assuring easy and accessible access to
hundreds of shops, restaurants and cultural activities.
The
Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center is conveniently located between
the light rail station and the adjacent fabulous Lloyd Center Mall featuring
over 200 stores, 18 movie theaters, restaurants and an ice skating rink.
Additional
activities to consider while you are here include the Rose Test Garden, The
Grotto, The Chinese Garden, visiting Portland’s Downtown, or the internationally
known Saturday Market, which is the nation's largest open-air market for
handcrafted goods. More information can be obtained by calling Travel Portland,
1.877.678.5263, or visit their website.
http://www.travelportland.com/
Make it a
family affair and bring the children and grand Children. The Oregon Zoo has over
25 exhibits open to the public ranging from the "Great Northwest" to the "Africa
Rainforest". There is always something new and exciting to see at the Oregon
Zoo! or the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, known as OMSI is
well known for its OMNIMAX, Submarine & Planetarium.
The staff
at the hotel concierge desk will be able to tell you about local attractions
that fit your interests.
BVA
National Convention Agenda The agenda is subject to minor changes.
Monday,
August 17th
3:00pm - 7:00pm Exhibit and Registration Open - for all to visit
5:30pm - 6:30pm Wine/Cheese Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Tuesday,
August 18th
10:00am - 6:30pm Exhibit Hall and Registration Desk Open
3:15pm - 3:45pm Rules Committee Meeting (Invitation Only)
4:00pm - 4:30pm Credentials Meeting (Invitation Only)
7:00pm - 9:00pm President’s Welcome Reception - the first Official Event
Wednesday,
August 19th
8:00am - 11:45am BVA Opening Session
10:00am - 6:30pm Exhibit Hall Open
12:00pm -1:00pm Box Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
3:00pm - 5:00pm Bylaws and Resolutions Meeting
(BVA Delegates & Members)
Thursday,
August 20th
8:30am - 5:00pm Day Tours
10:00am - 4:00pm Exhibit Hall Open
5:30pm - 8:00pm BVA Social Evening
Friday,
August 21st
8:30am - 12:00am BVA Forum: Presentations and workshops
12:30pm - 2:30pm Father Carroll Luncheon
3:00pm - 4:30pm District Caucuses
5:00pm - 10:00pm Oregon Beavers Baseball game
Saturday,
August 22nd
8:30am - 12:00pm BVA Closing Business Meeting, Election of National officers
1:15pm - 1:45pm Legislative Update
2:00pm - 3:00pm Field Service Forum
3:00pm - 4:00pm Leadership Training (All Officers & Members)
6:00pm - 7:00pm Awards Reception
7:00pm - 9:30pm Awards Banquet
ABOUT THE
CONVENTION
The Exhibit Hall, which is open Monday afternoon through Thursday, offers an
excellent opportunity to learn about new services and programs, and get hands-on
experience with new devices and technologies that have been developed to aid the
blind and visually impaired. Convention activities will include a welcome form
the Department of Veterans Affairs, business meetings, several tour options
throughout the week, three great presentations on Friday, election of new
officers, updates on Legislative activities, as well as receptions and banquets.
Please note that you must be Registered with the convention to participate and
vote in any of these activities as space will fill up. The next couple of pages
include the draft agenda and some of the highlights of the 2009 BVA Convention
Agenda.
Exhibit Hall: Opens at 3:00pm on Monday, August 17th, till Thursday
New this
year we have extended the Exhibit Hall till Thursday 4:00pm See the schedule for
detailed hours. Various activities will occur in the Exhibit Hall including the
wine and cheese reception, the Presidents Reception and a boxed lunch on
Wednesday. There will be approximately 40 exhibitors in all. Past exhibitors
included ABISee
www.abisee.com,
EVAS: www.evas.com,
Freedom
Scientific:
www.freedomscientific.com,
HumanWare:
www.humanware.com,
LS&S:
www.lssproducts.com,
Vision
Technology:
www.visiontechnology.com,
Magnisight:
www.magnisight.com,
Maxi-Aid:
www.maxiaids.com,
Enhanced
Vision:
www.enhancedvision.com,
American
Printing House for the Blind:
www.aph.org,
National
Library Service:
www.loc.gov/nls,
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic®: www.rfbd.org.
National President’s Reception: Tuesday, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
This time-honored tradition includes an opportunity to meet the National
President and other National Officers. This is a time to reconnect with old
friends and meet new people.
Opening
Business Meeting: Wednesday, 8:00am - 11:30am
Opening remarks from The Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, a
retired U.S. Army four-star general and a veteran of combat in Vietnam. The
Secretary or a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs will
address our convention. A welcome from Oregon Governor Theodore Kulongoski,
retired U.S. Marine Corp, Vietnam veteran. and other state and local official
will also address the session, the BVA will start the business of the
Association.
Blinded
Veterans Association Auxiliary Silent Auction: All week The auxiliary silent
auction helps raise funds for their scholarship program. The auxiliary maintains
a modified agenda with several meetings and presentations designed for their
members. All are welcome to participate.
Day Tours:
Portland Spirit: Monday, through Sunday Is hailed as the Northwest’s premier dinner ship with fresh northwest cuisine, beautiful views of Portland’s’ skyline and live piano music. They have several long and short cruises to choose from. Call them directly for details on sight seeing and other tour options. Tours start at $25.00 per person. www.portlandspirit.com 1 (800) 224 3901
Kayaking and Jet Boat: (Tour A) Monday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Kayak trip on the Willamette River with professional guides and instructors.
This is a hands on physical activity. You will likely get wet and you will have
to paddle. Following the kayaking is a 2 hour 34 miles jet boat ride which
includes a guided and narrated tour of the Portland skyline, the Willamet Falls.
Sponsored by Team River Runner. Pre-Registration Required. $35.00 Per person.
Wine country and Aviation Museum: (Tour B) Thursday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
The BVA Regional Group has organized a wonderful tour of Oregon’s beautiful Wine
Country. A bus will take us through the filbert capitol of the world. We will
get to visit one or two vineyards located in the Willamette Valley, taste the
wine and learn about their history. Then on to the Aviation and Space Museum,
home of the Spruce Goose. While we are there we will have a hands on tour.
Pre-Registration Required, Limited to the first 100 people. $35.00 Per person
Visit Portland: Thursday all day Play tourist on your own or get a group of
friends together. Take this opportunity to visit the Rose Test Garden,
www.rosegardenstore.org The Grotto
www.thegrotto.org, or Portland’s Downtown. No registration required.
White Water
Rafting: Wet & Wild Action (Tour C) Thursday 7:30am – 5:00pm
Professionally guided tour will begin with a scenic ride into the mountains of
Central Oregon passing Mount Hood. We will then head to the Lower Deschutes
River which offers a beautiful desert canyon filled with sage brush, osprey,
incredible basalt rock formations and plenty of excellent rapids. Because of
it's pristine ecology, abundant wildlife and beautiful landscape, it has been
officially designated as a Wild and Scenic River. The rafting trip will cover
over fourteen exciting river miles with numerous Class III to Class IV rapids on
this section of river. Some of the exciting rapids that we will run are Wapinita,
Boxcar, Surf City, Oak Springs, White River and elevator. You are guaranteed to
get wet! $35.00 Per person. Sponsored by Team River Runner. 45-day
Pre-Registration Required. Permission from a Dr. Limit 45 people.
BVA Forum:
Special Presentations Friday, 8:30am - 11:30am
Again this year, we have made arrangements for three presentations. These
informative sessions are open to all registered convention attendees and VA
employees. The topics will include advances in vision research and a
presentation from the Oregon Commission for the blind. Father Thomas J. Carroll
Memorial Luncheon Friday, 12:30pm - 2:30pm We honor Father Thomas Carroll
because of his incredible influence on BVA. He served from 1944-1947 as
auxiliary chaplain of Avon Old Farms Convalescent Hospital and was instrumental
in the founding of the Blinded Veterans Association. Father Carroll brought the
idea of safe travel skills to the Center in the form of the first mobility (cane
travel) program. In 1961, Father Carroll published a book on the rehabilitation
of the blind that won international recognition: Blindness: What it is, What it
Does, and How to Live with it (Little, Brown & Co.). Father Thomas Carroll died
suddenly on April 24, 1971, leaving a legacy of ideas and an institution to
carry on his vision. This year our Guest speaker is Archbishop John Vlasny of
the Portland Archdiocese. He is a brilliant theologian and scholar. He is an
inspirational speaker and has an excellent philosophy toward blind
rehabilitation.
Friday
Night: Take Me out to the Ballgame Friday, 6:15pm
Catch the Portland Beavers versus the Iowa Cubs. Game starts at 7:05pm The BVA
is scheduled to be an honored guest at this game. Park food and refreshments
will be available. Pre Registration Required $25.00 Per-person.
BVA Closing
Business Meeting: Saturday, 8:30am - 12:00pm
Adoption of Bylaws and Resolutions, Election of Officers, Vote on the location
of the 2011 Convention. The 65th National Convention will be in Washington, DC.
BVA
Leadership Training and Legislative update: Saturday, 1:15pm - 4:00pm
Legislative Update: presented by Tom Zampieri, BVA Director of Government
Relations. Leadership Training: presented by Sam Huhn, District 3 Director. It
is highly recommended that all Regional Group Officers plan to attend.
BVA
Reception and Awards Banquet: Saturday, 6:00pm - 9:30 pm Presentations of the
Golden Gavel, Silver Gavel, David L. Schnair, Major General Melvin J. Mass
Achievement and Irving Diener Awards.
CONVENTION
REGISTRATION EARLY REGISTRATION - June 14th
Early registration is defined as making your hotel reservation through the
Doubletree Hotel and submitting the convention registration forms to BVA before
June 14th. Only BVA Members that register early are eligible for a $50.00 BVA
rebate. Eligibility Rules; One rebate per room can be requested, 5 night minimum
stay. The rebate form will be included in your onsite registration package.
Board of Directors and BVA employees are not eligible for the rebate. Please
allow 4-5 weeks following the convention for the rebate check to be processed.
REGISTRATION Registration Form
(also located at bottom of page if reading through)
Registration Form (Word Format)
$90.00 Per Person Registration. $55.00 for each child if they are participating
in any banquets or convention activities. Registration deadline is July 14th,
2009. Registration guarantees your registration package, including your name
badge, meal tickets, optional activity tickets, and convention program, as well
as other special gifts that the Regional Group is still in the process of
securing.
Late-Registration: After July 14th and/or onsite registration is $100.00 and
does not guarantee access to all convention events as space is limited.
HOW TO
REGISTER FOR THE CONVENTION
Complete the attached Registration Form for the 64th National Convention. Be
sure to let us know which of the events and food functions you will be
attending. This year we are requesting RSVPs in addition to the basic
registration so that we have sufficient seating and transportation for all
events and meetings. Please let us know if you need accommodations for a
wheelchair or guide dogs. Mail the completed form and send full payment in the
self-addressed return envelope provided in this package. BVA will accept payment
in the form of a check, money order, or VISA, Discover, and Master Cards. Make
your hotel reservation by calling the Doubletree Hotel at the number provided in
the section of this document titled “HOTEL RESERVATIONS”
INFORMATION
ON THE DOUBLETEE HOTEL
1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon, United States 97232
Tel: 1-503-281-6111 Fax: 1-503-284-8553
The Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center rooms feature large work
desks, high-speed Internet access, two phones, in-room coffee and tea, hair
dryers, on-demand movies, personalized voicemail, and incredible views of either
the city skyline or the Cascade Mountains. Enjoy Portland dining in one of our
two restaurants, the Multnomah Grille or Eduardo's Mexican Grill and Cantina,
offering both a taste of the Northwest and the Southwest. After dining
take a relaxing swim in the outdoor seasonal pool. The trendy shops on Broadway
are just blocks away, and Holladay Park is across the street, where you can
relax and take in the beautiful Oregon scenery.
HOTEL
RESERVATIONS
All reservations must be made with the Doubletree Hotel before July 14th, 2009.
(June 14th if you intend to qualify for the BVA’s $50.00 rebate. $106.00 + 12.5%
tax +13.25 = 119.25 per night.) Call 1 (800) 996-0510 and request the
Blinded Veterans Association Group rate. Please indicate single or double, if
you will have your service animal and if you require a refrigerator for
medications (Note: $10.00 additional fee for a refrigerator)
PLEASE NOTE: Guest rooms are limited, register early to confirm accommodations
and the discounted room rate. The Doubletree Hotel accepts checks and major
credit cards. When making your reservation, be advised that the first night's
stay with tax will automatically be charged on the credit card to guarantee the
reservation. This fee is refundable up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival.
If you have reserved your hotel room, and then cannot attend for any reason,
please notify the hotel immediately so that another veteran can stay in
the hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm - Check-out is 12:00 noon.
REFUND
POLICY - BVA PRE-REGISTRATION
If you pre-register for the convention and then cannot attend for any reason,
full refunds will be given if you notify the National Office before August 1st.
Refunds will not be given after August 1st, 2009.
PARKING:
The garage is connected to the Hotel and has an 8 Foot clearance. RV’s can get
special parking permits to park on the access road next to the hotel. Overnight
Self Parking - $9.00 with in-out privileges, charged to your room. Day Parking
is $5.00.
DOG RELIEF
AREA: Will be located in the hotel’s parking structure. Directions to access
this area will be provided at check-in. Additionally, across the street from the
hotel is the Holladay West Park. You are required to clean up after your animal.
ARRIVING
AND DEPARTING PORTLAND OREGON
Portland International Airport (Airport Code PDX) is currently served by 14
commercial airlines offering more than 500 arrivals and departures daily.
The Doubletree Hotel is located 10.8 miles– about 20 minutes from the Airport.
Shuttle, Taxi and light rail train options. The Regional Group will be
coordinating complimentary ground transpiration. There is also a light rail
Fares: Adult All Zone ($2.30), Youth/Student ($1.50) or Honored Citizen ($0.95)
or Taxi’s, and at the time of this documents production are quoting
approximately $30 -$35 subject to change. The New Rose Cab Company 503 282 7707
offers wheelchair and handicap accessible transportation (please reserve in
advance). The BVA Volunteers at the Airport will provide you with details and
about the transportation. Wheelchair Service or Assistance for Sight-impaired
Travelers For wheelchair service or blind assists please contact your airline in
advance; otherwise, use any of the white courtesy phones located throughout the
terminal to contact an airport operator for assistance from 6:00 a.m. to
11:30 p.m. Your wheelchair (or blind assist) aid will assist you with your
luggage. There is no charge for wheelchair assistance, but gratuities are
appreciated. BVA will have Volunteers at the airport during peak arrival and
departure times. We will make every effort to have someone at the gate to meet
individuals traveling alone. Please send your arrival and departure
information to
chitchcock@bva.org 4 weeks in advance of your arrival.
Airport
Service Dog Relief Area
A service dog relief area is located outside baggage claim at the north end of
the terminal (lower level).
AIRLINE
INFORMATION
Airlines have continued to cut back on their overhead and are no longer offering
group discounts. Be sure to ask about military/veteran discounts, Sr. Citizen
discounts, and all other discounts that you may be eligible to receive through
other group affiliations. The following airlines currently fly into Portland.
American
Airlines (800) 433.7300
www.aa.com
Continental
Airlines (800) 523.3273
www.continental.com
Delta Air
Lines (800) 221.1212
www.delta.com
Frontier
Airlines (800) 432.1359
www.flyfrontier.com
JetBlue
Airways (800) 538.2583
www.jetblue.com
Northwest
Airlines (800) 225.2525
www.nwa.com
Southwest
Airlines (800) 435.9792
www.southwest.com
United
Airlines and United Express (800) 864.833
www.ual.com
US Airways (800) 428.4322 www.usairways.com
Registration Form (Word Format)
End of Document