Blinded Veterans Association

TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF BLINDED VETERANS. - SEE PART III AND SCHEDULE O

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION THE BVA BULLETIN SITS AT THE HEART OF ALL BVA NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS. THIS IS A QUARTERLY PERIODICAL SENT TO ALL BVA MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES, LIBRARIES, HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS, VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND VA BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR WHOM THE ORGANIZATION HAS UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION. THE BULLETIN EDUCATES ON PAST AND PRESENT ISSUES AND EVENTS RELATING SPECIFICALLY, TO BLINDED VETERANS. IT COVERS GENERAL TOPICS ABOUT VETERANS AS WELL AS GENERAL TOPICS ABOUT BLINDNESS (I.E., TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL ISSUES, ETC.). ADDITIONALLY, BVA USES ONE MAJOR TRIFOLD BROCHURE TO SHARE ITS MESSAGE TO THE ORGANIZATION'S STAKEHOLDERS. AVERAGE CIRCULATION OF THESE COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES, IN ALL REQUISITE FORMATS, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE, EXCEEDED TENS OF THOUSANDS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED.THE BVA WEBSITE RECEIVED ON AVERAGE 147,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND 358,000 PAGE VIEWS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. MOST VISITS ORIGINATED THROUGH THE GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE AND 47% OF ALL USERS WERE NEW COMPARED TO 93% DURING THE PRECEDING TIMEFRAME. THE BVA WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND ASSIST IN FULFILLING THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION.BVA MAINTAINS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ON MAJOR SITES SUCH AS FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE. BVA CURRENTLY COMMANDS A SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE OF OVER 14,000 FOLLOWERS. BVA USES SOCIAL MEDIA IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE TO ITS FOLLOWERS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES, LEGISLATIVE NEWS, AND ISSUES FACING BLINDED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SOCIAL MEDIA FOSTERS COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATES BVA FOLLOWERS ABOUT THE HELPFUL RESOURCES AVAILABLE.BVA'S MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER CAMPAIGN INFORMS THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS, DONORS, AND MEMBERS ABOUT RECENT BVA ACTIVITIES WHILE PROVIDING A DIGEST OF MONTHLY NEWS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.BVA ALLOCATES A PORTION OF ITS DIRECT MARKETING EXPENSES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL FUNDS ACCORDING TO AICPA STATEMENT OF POSITION 982 (SOP 982), ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS OF ACTIVITIES OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING, NOW CODIFIED IN FASB ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CODIFICATION 958-720, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES OTHER EXPENSES (ASC 958-720). BVA UNDERTAKES A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO DETERMINE IF THE PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, AND CONTENT CRITERIA ARE MET, AND, IF SO, APPLIES A SYSTEMATIC, RATIONAL JOINT COST ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY.BVA MAKES ITS FINANCIAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WATCHDOG AGENCIES. BVA ADHERES TO THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (#10513), THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WISE GIVING ALLIANCE, AND GUIDESTAR.ORG. BVA IS PROUD TO DISPLAY ITS SEAL AWARDED BY THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB) AS AN ACCREDITED CHARITY.

VETERAN SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER VETERAN SERVICE PROGRAMSTHE BVA VETERAN SERVICE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 11 VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE OFFICERS INCLUDING THREE LEGALLY BLIND VETERANS PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO. FIVE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS ARE LOCATED AT THE NATIONAL VETERAN SERVICE RESOURCE CENTER IN ALEXANDRIA, VA. BVA HAS DEVELOPED A NATIONAL NETWORK COMPRISED OF 168 CROSS-ACCREDITED SERVICE OFFICERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT VARIOUS STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS SERVICES OFFERING FREE SERVICES TO BLINDED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS ASSIST BLINDED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LIFE-CYCLE OF BLINDNESS. THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS EXPERT ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION (VBA) CLAIMS PROCESSES, ASSISTANCE AND OVERSIGHT DURING THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA) BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES PROCESSES, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES. THEY HELP BLINDED VETERANS BRING FOCUS AND DIRECTION TO THEIR LIVES, PROVIDING INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT.FROM YEAR TO YEAR, THE BVA VETERAN SERVICE PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ON AVERAGE 1,600 CLAIM APPROVALS TOTALING ON AVERAGE $4,400,000 IN VBA ADMINISTERED COMPENSATION, PENSION, AND SPECIALIZED GRANT BENEFITS TO CLIENTS. IN ADDITION, THE BVA VETERAN SERVICE PROGRAM CONDUCTS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE VETERANS CARE REVIEW ASSESSMENTS OF THE VA'S BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES. BVA'S BLIND REHABILITATION QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR MEETS WITH VA MEDICAL CENTER STAFF AND VETERANS CREATING ACOMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF EACH BLIND REHABILITATION CENTER (BRC) OR VISION IMPAIRMENT SERVICES IN OUTPATIENT SERVICES (VISOR) PROGRAM. THIS UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS BVA TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES ACROSS VA STATIONS AND INCREASES COLLABORATION WITH VA'S BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES. THE BVA BLIND REHABILITATION QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL OUTREACH AMBASSADOR OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND ONE-ON-ONE BENEFITS ANALYSIS FOR NEWLY BLINDED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.BVA'S VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS ALSO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER OFFICES IN VHA MEDICAL CENTERS, COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINICS, AND VBA REGIONAL OFFICES NATIONWIDE. VOLUNTEER VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS ARE BLINDED VETERANS SERVING AS PEER COUNSELORS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLINDEDVETERANS TO HELP AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER. THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ENCOURAGE BLINDED VETERANS TO ENTER REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, PROVIDE CAMARADERIE AND SERVE AS MENTORS DEMONSTRATING EQUIPMENT AND AIDS USED BY THE BLIND. THEY REINFORCE THE WORK OF THE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS BY LIFTING FELLOW VETERANS FROM THE DISCOURAGEMENT AND FRUSTRATION THEY OFTEN FACE.BVA VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND GOOD SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE, BVA HAD 11 REPRESENTATIVES AND DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVES AND 63 VOLUNTEERS DONATING OVER 6,000 HOURS IN 48 VA FACILITIES.

ANNUAL CONVENTIONBVA HOSTS AN ANNUAL CONVENTION EACH AUGUST IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THIS ALLOWS DIRECT INTERACTION BETWEEN LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, EXPOSURE TO THE LATEST REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY, POLICIES, RESEARCH AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION ON BEHALF OF ALL BLINDED AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED VETERANS.DURING EACH ANNUAL CONVENTION, BVA PRESENTS AWARDS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS. A BLINDED VETERAN WITH PROVEN OUTSTANDING EMPLOYMENT PERFORMANCE AND ADJUSTMENT TO DAILY LIVING RECEIVES THE MAJOR GENERAL MELVIN J. MAAS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. A VOLUNTEER RECEIVES THE DAVID L. SCHNAIR AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE BVA VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. A BVA MEMBER WHO PROVIDES THE MOST OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HIS/HER REGIONAL GROUP RECEIVES THE IRVING DIENER AWARD. CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION ARE AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND EMPLOYERS WHO PROVIDED OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO BLINDED VETERANS AND/OR TO BVA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.THE ANNUAL CONVENTION PROVIDES EDUCATION SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES, INCREASING INDIVIDUAL COMPETENCIES, CAPABILITIES AND OVERALL INDEPENDENCE. VOLUNTEER SERVICE OFFICER TRAININGS ARE CONDUCTED AS WELL AS ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES SEMINARS. THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION HOSTED 53 EXHIBITORS WITH PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS, TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND THE LATEST PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY. BVA MEMBERS, VA BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC ALL VISIT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EXHIBIT HALL.MEMBERSHIPBVA SERVES AS A MEMBERSHIP DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. MEMBERSHIP CONSTITUTES AFFILIATION IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS IN A LOCAL REGIONAL GROUP. ANY BLINDED VETERANS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES BVA PROVIDES REGARDLESS OF MEMBERSHIP STATUS. BVA PROVIDES LOCAL ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE 45 REGIONAL GROUPS. THESE LOCAL GROUPS FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET NEW PEOPLE FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES, TO ESTABLISH FRIENDSHIPS, AND TO GAIN A VOICE AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION.BVA LIFE MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE DEPOSITED INTO A LIFE MEMBERSHIP FUND, WHICH IS MANAGED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPOINTED BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT. THE DUES ARE INVESTED AND THE ANNUAL EARNINGS (INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS) ARE APPORTIONED TO THE REGIONAL GROUP BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LIFE MEMBERS IN EACH GROUP. BVA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS DOES NOT BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THE LIFE MEMBERSHIP DUES, SIMPLY MANAGING AND ADMINISTERING THE FUND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND AN EXTERNAL PORTFOLIO MANAGER. IT IS A BOARD-DESIGNATED FUND.BVA INCLUDES AN AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY WHERE VETERANS WITH SIGHT, FIRST RESPONDERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, FEDERAL AGENCY STAFF, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AMONG OTHERS CAN JOIN AS MEMBERS VIA THE BVA WEBSITE.ADVOCACYBVA'S CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER DESIGNATES IT AS THE ORGANIZATIONAL ADVOCATE FOR ALL BLINDED VETERANS BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. BVA'S NATIONAL PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AND NATIONAL STAFF PRESENT ANNUAL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON VETERANS AFFAIRS IN AN EFFORT TO SHARE INFORMATION AND CONCERNS ON SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE VA TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLINDED VETERANS. THEY ALSO MEET PERIODICALLY WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEIR KEY STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD), THE WHITE HOUSE, AND VA OFFICIALS TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THEM REGARDING THE UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC NEEDS OF BLINDED AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED VETERANS ACROSS OUR NATION. BVA'S EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS SEEK TO ENHANCE THE SPECIALIZED REHABILITATION PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY VA THAT ASSIST BLINDED VETERANS IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF AND ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS, WHILE HELPING THEM ACQUIRE THE ADAPTIVE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE INTO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.BVA COLLABORATES AND PARTNERS WITH RECOGNIZED INDUSTRY LEADERS IN ADVOCATING FOR CONTINUED AND EXPANDED RESEARCH INITIATIVES, EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, BENEFITS, ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERY, AND ADEQUATE ACCOMMODATIONS RELEVANT TO ITS STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY.