BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION (BVA)
FLORIDA REGIONAL GROUP, INC.
3801 Coco Grove Avenue
Miami, Florida 33133
NEWSLETTER - March, 2006
NEWSLETTER - March 2006
FRG President's Message: Here
we are again after closing another successful chapter in the history of the Florida
Regional Group. The only regret that I have
concerning the past year, is that we were unable to hold an informational luncheon meeting
in Pensacola. With the new clinic being built
in a joint partnership with the current Naval Hospital, which I understand is the first of
its kind in the country, I feel that's one of our goals for next year should be for the
FRG to hold a meeting in Pensacola. That
objective is of course for next year. Now, we
are looking forward to the 32 Annual Florida Regional Group State Convention. This year's Convention is going to be like no
other previous one. First of all, we have
moved back to the hotel where we held our Convention for many years. It has been completely renovated and is much more
spacious, than the hotel which we have used for the past several years. Being in the middle of Daytona Beach, gives us
more restaurants within walking distance and many more Daytona Beach activities. Let us not forget our most difficult problem, that
is, transportation. This hotel is located
much closer to the Greyhound Bus Station and other transportation facilities. There is also going to be a very large display of
aids and devices for your convenience with "hands on" experience. The distributor that is providing this large
display will also provide refreshments. The
room location will be announced at the end of the opening meeting. Read on, and later in this Newsletter, George
Stocking will give you more details on this our 32 Annual FRG State Convention.
Empty
Seat: Let's all of us make the empty back
seat work this year at the FRG State Convention. This
is how it can work; If you have an empty back
seat and you have a computer, just send an email message with your name, telephone number,
and address to bvafrg@comcast.net and it will be
sent out to BV's on the Distribution List. If
you do not have a computer, then call Dwight Sayer, FRG Transportation Chairman, at:
(407) 877-1970. Now, for those who need a
ride, same as above but just indicate that you are in need of a ride. Of Course, give your name, telephone number, and
address.
The
FRG Distribution List, by the way, is coming along very nicely. It has allowed us to
disseminate information immediately as events
are occurring. For those of you who have not
yet heard of this list, all you need to do in order to received up-dated information
concerning veterans services and programs, is to send an email message to bvafrg@comcast.net and just indicate that you would
like to be placed on the Distribution List.
Now,
in closing, this will be my last Newsletter after serving as President of the Florida
Regional Group for the past 5 years. Now, I
have decided to step down and allow someone else to bring forth new ideas and continue the
work of making our Regional Group one of the most outstanding in the nation. I cannot put into words to express how enjoyable
it has been in serving as President of the Florida Regional Group over the past 5 years. I wish to publicly thank our VIST Coordinators and
BROS for their cooperation in making many of our gains possible. I feel that we have established a tri-parti
agreement between the FRG, VIST, and BROS. That's
how well the cooperation has been. I wish to
further expend my gratitude to all of our Blinded Veterans who have also contributed to
making the job of President, for me, one of the most enjoyable that I can honestly say
that I have ever had. Now, but not least, one
who has worked behind the scenes to assist and provide me with information about the
Department of Veterans Affairs and Blinded Veterans Association - Florida Regional Group, yes, Dr. George Stocking. If it was not for his knowledge, the job of
President would have been extremely difficult. What
he does not know yet, of course, is that my passing of his knowledge is not yet ended. I have decided to continue to work for the Florida
Regional Group for as long as I am able. I
guess that you might say that after 40 some years of organizational work, I have found an
organization that has real meaning and is paramount to the continued welfare of our
Blinded Veterans in Florida. Once again, to
all of the Blinded Veterans, VIST Coordinators, BROS, and Dr. George Stocking, thank you
for your cooperation in making my job serving as President most enjoyable. Terry King, FRG President
FRG Auxiliary President's Message: Just
like Terry King, my worser half, I too, need to step down as President of the FRG
Auxiliary and let someone else lead the FRG Auxiliary into new endeavors. I have enjoyed being President of the FRG
Auxiliary and feel that we have accomplished a lot, during the last several years. I hope that you are part of our election process
and throw your hat into the ring. I cannot
tell you how important and interesting it is to be on the FRG Auxiliary Board. Like I always say, if you are a member of an
organization, you will get more pleasure if you participate. On Saturday, May 6 at 9 AM, the FRG Auxiliary will
hold its annual meeting. At that time,
elections will be held. Please attend and
take part, even if you don't run for a position on the Board. Thanks again for all of your cooperation and
support. Joanne King, FRG Auxiliary President
FRG State Convention Reminder: This
is your final notice that the 2006 Florida Regional Group
State Convention will be held at the Plaza Ocean Club Hotel, 640 North Atlantic
Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32118, May 5-7. The
Plaza Ocean Club is located directly on the ocean and has its own beach, pool, patio area,
snack bar, lounge, and restaurant. Your
Convention Committee has arranged the low rates of only $69 per day for standard room for
1 to 4 people. There are a limited number of rooms with kitchenettes at the same rate of
$69. These rates are in effect for
reservations made on or before April 13th. Send
your check for one day's room rate plus 12.5% tax, or your credit card number to guarantee
your reservation. Since time is short, you
are urged to call the Plaza ocean Club Hotel, toll free, at: (800) 874-7420. There are several Plaza Hotels in the Daytona
Beach area and they use the same toll free telephone number for reservations. Be sure to tell the reservation clerk you will be
staying at the Plaza Ocean Club and will be attending the Florida Blinded Veterans
Association State Convention. The hotel has guaranteed these rates until April
13th. Consequently, you should secure your
reservations at the guaranteed low Convention rate as soon as possible. The hotel will accept reservations up to the day
of the Convention, at the same rates, but only on a space available basis. However, if you wait, all of the rooms may be
taken. These low Convention rates will be in
effect 3 days before and/or 3 days after the Convention.
So, you may come early and/or stay late for an extended vacation. If you make a reservation and are unable to
attend, the hotel will refund your deposit if you cancel by 24 hours before noon on the day you were to arrive. There are two optional charges available at the
hotel: a $2 per person bellman charge; and a
$2 per day room safe charge. The hotel will
waive these charges at your request. If you
do not want those services, be sure to notify the hotel so those charges won't be placed
on your bill.
The Convention Registration Desk will be located in the hotel lobby and will be
open for late registration from 1 to 3 PM on Friday,
May 5. If you have not pre-registered, you
may do so then. If you have pre-registered,
please check in and pick up your Convention Program and name tags at that time. We need to have you check at the registration
table so that we can give the proper count to the chef for the dinner-dance and banquet. The opening session will be held in the second floor Ball Room and will begin at 3 PM on
Friday, May 5. The Informational Seminar
will open with a presentation on Veterans Benefits by Suzanne Murray, VARO Liaison to the
Florida VIST Coordinators. Then Donna
Maitland will provide an up-date on Social Security Benefits.
Dinner-Dance: The Dinner-Dance will begin with dinner at 7 PM
followed by dancing from 8 to ?. Again this
year, the music will be provided by Marsha Summers.
Those of you who have attended before will remember what a great job she does
playing music for good listening and good dancing. Those
new conventioneers will be pleased with an enjoyable musical interlude. A cash bar will be available for liquid
refreshments. This should be a fun evening, So join in the good times.
Saturday,
May 6: The annual Florida Regional Group
Business Meeting will be held at 9 AM in the second floor Ball Room. In addition to reports on the past year's
activities and planning the FRG program for the coming year, you will have the opportunity
to share your thoughts and comments on future FRG programs.
Elections for FRG Officers and District Directors, for the coming year, will be
held. The election of a Delegate and
Alternate Delegates to the BVA's 61 National Convention in Buffalo, New York in August,
will also be held. Proposed resolutions for
presentation to the BVA National Convention will be considered. Proposed Amendments to the FRG By-Laws, will be
considered.
The FRG Auxiliary will also hold its
meeting at 9 AM on Saturday in the 1st floor Osprey Room.
The BVA Auxiliary is not a "Ladies Auxiliary" but is open to all family
members and friends of the BVA. The Auxiliary
will receive reports on the past year and make plans for next year. It will also elect officers for the coming year.
At 2 PM on Saturday, a second Informational Seminar will be held in the Ball Room. The session will begin with a presentation by Mike
Gunde Chief of the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Services about new innovations in
Talking Book Services . Terry King has arranged to have a movie shown
about our military personnel in the conflict in Iraq, with emphasis on the women veterans.
The Hospitality Room will be open from 5 to 7 PM.
The Installation Banquet will be held in the Ball Room at 7 PM. Terry King, FRG President, will be Master of
Ceremonies. Craig Kiser, Director of
the Florida Division of Blind Services will be our Guest Speaker. Prior to the end of the Banquet, the FRG
Auxiliary will hold the drawing for its raffle. The
Banquet will close with the installation of Florida Regional Group Officers and District
Directors and the FRG Auxiliary Officers for the coming year. Join us in the Hospitality Room, after the
Banquet, for more socializing and refreshments. Sunday
will be the time for goodbyes and travel home.
Convention Registration Fee: The
Convention Registration Fee will be $35 per person (for each BV, family member, and/or
friend attending). However, an early
Registration Fee of only $30 per person will be in effect for registrations received on or
before April 13th. The Registration Fee will
cover general Convention activities, including the Dinner-Dance on Friday night, and the
Hospitality Room and Banquet on Saturday night. Please
make your check payable to the BVA and send it to 3801 Coco Grove Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133. Please
include the first and last name of each person registering, so that we will be able to
make name tags prior to the start of the Convention.
It will be helpful if you will send your Registration Fee in advance. This will greatly speed up the late registration
at the Convention. It takes a lot of
volunteer work to put on this Convention and your help will be greatly appreciated. Remember, contact the Plaza Ocean Club to make
your hotel reservations and send your Convention registration fee to the BVA FRG in Miami.
West Palm Beach Convention Transportation:
Paul Mimms, VIST Coordinator at the WPB VAMC, is attempting to arrange
transportation to the State Convention. If
arrangements can be made, they will leave the West Palm Beach VAMC on Thursday Morning May
4 and return Sunday afternoon. For
information call Paul at (561) 422-5260.
Directions: To get to the Plaza
Ocean Club Hotel in Daytona Beach, take I 95 to exit 261, International Speedway Blvd., go
East to Atlantic Avenue (Highway A 1 A) then North one half mile. The hotel will be on your right, directly on the
ocean. From I- 4, go to I 95 then north a
short distance to exit 261 then repeat as above.
VIST
Coordinators Meeting: Again this year,
the Florida Regional Group will share its Convention facilities with the VIST Coordinators
and Blind Rehab Specialists in Florida for an in-service training meeting prior to the
start of our Convention. This year, it will
begin at 8 AM on Friday and continue until our opening meeting at 3 PM. We are happy to have the VIST Coordinators and
BROS with us and appreciate their taking part
in our Convention. We greatly appreciate the
dedicated service they provide to Blinded Veterans. Let's
express our appreciation for the wonderful work they do for us.
While you have this Newsletter in hand, make your arrangements to attend our FRG
State Convention. Please remember to send
your Convention Registration Fee to the BVA FRG in Miami and your hotel reservation to the Plaza Ocean Club
Hotel in Daytona Beach, or better yet, call them at: (800) 874-7420. Remember, if you need to cancel your reservation,
you will receive a full deposit refund, as long as you cancel 24 hours prior to your
scheduled arrival date. Join with us and
renew old friendships and make some new ones.