BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION
Chartered by the United States Congress
FLORIDA REGIONAL GROUP, INC.
3801 coco Grove Avenue
Miami, Florida 33133
(305)446-8008
E mail gstocking@bellsouth.net
FRG Web Site: www.frgbva.org
FRG NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2015
FRG Presidents Message: Thanks to the conscientious efforts and hard work of the
dedicated District Directors, their family members, and in some instances, their friends,
we have had some wonderful Informational Luncheons since the 2014 FRG Convention. There
were opportunities for blinded veterans, (BVs), to get meaningful benefits from
attending one or more of the seven luncheons. However, it is the FRG Convention where all
members of the Florida Regional Group are encouraged to help set the future direction and
choose the leaders for the coming year. This issue of the Newsletter provides specifics on
proposed changes that are too be voted upon by members at our 2015 FRG Convention. The FRG
Board of Directors is advancing these changes to make our business meetings both more
efficient and effective. By being efficient we use the time and resources available to get
things done. When we are effective we take care of business that is most important to the
organization. With limited resources, we need to be both efficient and effective for the
good of BVs in Florida. The FRG needs your support and participation to serve
BVs better. We are BVs helping BVs. The greater the support of BVs
the greater maybe the benefits for BVs. If you have previously attended a FRG
Convention you will know the wonderful opportunity it can provide. If you havent
attended before, consider joining us this year and help yourself and help other BVs.
If you have question or need information about the FRG activities, the following is a list
of the FRG Board of Directors: President - Mike Taylor Fleming Island (904) 264-0884 email
met8@comcast.nett; Vice President Gilda (Gigi) Mathis - Lakeland (863) 255-9275 e mail
gigimathis@tampabay.rr.com; Secretary-Treasurer George Stocking - Miami (305) 446-8008
email gstocking@bellsouth.net; Past President Terry King - Punta Gorda (941) 505-7747
email tnking18@earthlink.net; Northwest District - David Bigoney, Tallahassee
(850)554-7819 email d.bigoney@comcast.net; Northeast Curtis Smith - Wellborn (386)
963-3658 e mail curtissmith54@yahoo.com; Central West District Earl Bessent- Tampa (813)
286-1708 email ebessent@tampabay.rr.com; Central East District James Carr - Lady Lake
(352) 259-1702 e mail jesicar76@gmail.com; Southwest District James Duda - Naples (239)
450-6007 e mail jamesduda52@hotmail.com; Southeast District Jim McCoy - Sunrise (954)
748-9428 email jmccoy70@att.net.
State Convention Reminder: This is your final reminder that The FRG State Convention
will be held at the Plaza Ocean Club Hotel, 640 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL
32118 April 30-May 3. Your Convention Committee secured the low guaranteed group rates of
only $80 per day, for 1 to 4 persons per room. In the Plaza Ocean Club Hotel, many rooms
are equipped with refrigerators and microwaves and all rooms have ocean view balconies.
These low convention rates will be in effect 3 days before and/or 3 days after the
Convention. You may come early or stay late for an extended vacation. The low Convention
rates are guaranteed for reservations made on or before April 15th. Reservations made
after April 15th, will be at the low Convention rate but only on a space available basis.
We encourage you to make your reservations immediately to insure your accommodations as
another group is at the hotel that weekend. You may cancel your reservation and receive a
full refund of your deposit, if you cancel 24 hours before noon on the day you were
scheduled to arrive. Send your reservation to the Hotel along with your check for one
night's room rate and 12.5% tax or you may use your credit card number to guarantee your
reservation. Other than your deposit, the hotel will not accept checks for your remaining
charges. You must have a credit card or cash. Better yet, as time is short, you should
make your reservation by calling the toll free reservation number at: (855) 212-3224. Be
sure to specify that you want the guaranteed group rate for the Florida Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association Convention. If you have any problem, call George Stocking at
(305) 446-8008.
Convention Registration Fee: The Convention Registration Fee will be $35 per person (for
each BV, family member, or friend attending). However, an early registration fee of only
$30 per person will be in effect for registration received on or before April 15th. The
registration fee will cover general Convention activities, including the Pizza Party on
Thursday evening, the dinner-dance on Friday night, Hospitality Room, and the Banquet on
Saturday night. Please make your check payable to the FRG-BVA and send it to: 3801 Coco
Grove Avenue, Miami, FL 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 is important for you to send your registration fee in advance to speed up
the registration at the Convention. For those who get to Daytona Beach on Thursday, April
30, the FRG Hospitality Room will be open from 6 to 10 PM. The FRG will host a Pizza Party
from 6-8. If you plan to take part in the Pizza Party add that information to your early
registration information so that we can plan properly and have enough pizza for everyone.
The Convention Late Registration Desk will open at 1 PM on Friday, May 1, in the hotel
lobby. If you have not pre-registered, you may pay your late Registration at that time. If
you have pre-registered, please pick up your name tags and Convention Program. We need
everyone to check in so that we can give the chef the proper count for the dinner dance on
Friday evening and Banquet on Saturday evening. The opening session will be held in the
second floor Ball room at 3 PM on Friday, May 1. The Informational Seminar will be open
with a presentation on Prosthetics and Sensory Aids for the Blind by VISN 8 Prosthetics
Representative. That will be followed by presentations presenting information about
specific low vision and sensory aid devices for the blind. Lisa Kretschmer from Florida
Reading and Vision technology will make a presentation of the Victor Reader Stream. The
Dinner dance will begin with dinner at 7 PM followed by dancing. Again, this year, Marsha
Summers will provide the music. A cash bar will be available for liquid refreshment.
Saturday, May 2, The Annual Florida Regional Group Business Meeting will be held at 9 AM
in the first floor Osprey Room. In addition to reports on the past year and planning the
FRG Program for the coming year, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and
comments on future FRG activities. Elections for FRG Officers and District Directors, for
the coming year, will be held. According to the BVA and the FRG By laws, the election and
instruction of a Delegate and Alternate Delegates to the 70 BVA National Convention in
Louisville, Kentucky in August will also be held. At times, in the past, BV's who were not
active Members (M), Associate Members (AM), Life or Associate Life Members (LM) or (ALM)
have attended and voted at the FRG Convention Business Meeting. This is contrary to the
BVA and FRG By-Laws. Consequently, we are requiring that all BV's who think that they
might attend the FRG Business Meeting contact the BVA-FRG in Miami at least 10 days in
advance of the Convention, so that their active M, AM, LM, or ALM status can be verified.
BV's whose Life (LM) or Associate Life Members (ALM) or who are annual Members or
Associate Members for 2015 whose status is verified in advance will be able to participate
in the roll call vote. A number of FRG By-Law Amendments will be considered. You will find
those proposed Amendments later in this Newsletter. Join us at the FRG Annual Business
meeting 9 AM Saturday morning, May 2.
At 2 PM on Saturday, the second Informational Seminar will be held. It will open with an
update on the Talking Book Library Program. Michael Healer the VA Regional Office Liaison
for the Florida VIST Program will provide information on survivor benefits. Then, a BVA
Field Service Officer, will describe the BVA Field Service Program and join Mike Healer in
answering general questions.
The Hospitality Room will be open from 5 to 7 PM. At 7 PM, the Installation Banquet will
be held in the Ball Room. A Member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame will be Guest
Speaker. The Banquet will close with the Installation of FRG Officers and District
Directors. Join us in the hospitality Room, after the Banquet, for more socializing and
refreshments. You will have a great time renewing old friendships and making new ones. You
will have access to new technology, and information of interest to Blinded Veterans.
Since time is short, call (855) 212-3224 to make your reservations at the Plaza Ocean Club
Hotel. It is best to call during the week as weekends are quite busy. Please send your BVA
Convention registration fee to the BVA-FRG at: 3801 Coco Grove Avenue, Miami, Florida
33133. Also, let us know if you plan to be at the Pizza Party on Thursday evening in the
2nd floor Hospitality Room, so we n have enough pizza for everyone. Come join us in
Daytona Beach for a wonderful weekend.
VIST and BROS Training: For many years the FRG has shared its Convention facilities and
speakers with the VIST Coordinators and BROS in Florida for their in-service training. A
VIST-BROS planning committee has been established and is working on the program for their
training. This year, that in-service training is scheduled to begin at 8 AM on Friday and
continue until the opening session. This will give you the opportunity to meet your VIST
and BROS in an informal setting.
Proposed By Law Amendments: Below you will find 5 proposed By-Law amendments to be
considered at the FRG State Convention at the May 2 Annual FRG Business Meeting 1. Add a
new Article X which will require a Member or Associate Member to notify the FRG Secretary
before 3 pm the day before the Annual Business Meeting if they plan to vote on issues and
elections at the Business Meeting. 2.Change a section regarding notification of By-Law
amendments to require more detailed information on changes or additions to the FRG
By-Laws. 3. Move the section in the present Article X regarding the Roberts Rules to
be a separate Article4.4 Add a requirement that BVs who are unable to attend the FRG
Convention and desire to run for office notify the FRG Secretary before 3 PM the day
before the Annual FRG Business meeting that he/she will accept nominations and will serve
if elected.
5Add a Sub Section G to Section 4 in Article VII Duties of District Directors.
The first will set up a new Article X entitled Voting Procedures and move the present
Article X to become Article XI etc. If passed, it will make the FRG By-Laws consistent
with the BVA National Convention rules as follows: Next is an excerpt from the Report of
the Rules Committee which has been adopted by the membership at the BVA National
Convention assembled for the last 40 years. Except as provided in these rules, only those
Members, Associate Members, Delegates and Alternates who have registered and have been
recognized by the Credentials Committee shall be eligible to vote.
Proposed Amendment 1. Article X Florida Regional Group Voting Procedures:
1. All members in good standing that desire to cast their vote at the annual state
convention, must register no later than 3:00 PM the day prior to the opening business
meeting. 2. Following registration, a roll call voting list will be prepared from those
who have registered and only those Blinded veterans whose names are on the roll call
voting list will be eligible to vote.
FYI Below is the present Article X for the procedures to amend the FRG By Laws.
ARTICLE X Procedures for Amending By Laws: Section 1. These By Laws may be amended by the
two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Members and Associate Members of the Regional
Group in meeting assembled, provided that written notice has been given to each Member and
Associate Member of the Regional Group, in good standing, not less than thirty (30) days
in advance of the convocation of the meeting for the purpose stated.
2. Anything not covered by these By Laws or the Blinded Veterans Association By Laws,
shall be covered by Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Section 3. A copy of any Amendments to these By Laws shall be forwarded to The National
Headquarters of the Blinded Veterans Association for review and approval before the next
regular meeting of the Florida Regional Group.
Proposed new Article X or XI
ARTICLE X Procedures for Amending By-Laws Section 1. These By Laws may be amended by a
two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Members and Associate Members of the Regional
Group in conventionmeeting assembled.
Section 2. Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the FRG
Secretary at his or her mailing address, postmarked no later than ninety (90) days before
the
FRG Convention.
Section 3. A copy of all such proposed amendments shall be made and distributed to the
Members and Associate Members no earlier than ninety (90) Days, and no later than thirty
(30) days before the FRG Convention.
Section 4. A copy of any Amendments to these By Laws shall be forwarded to The National
Headquarters of the Blinded Veterans Association for review and approval before the next
regular meeting of the Florida Regional Group.
Proposed Amendment 3. Proposed Article XI, XII, or XIII Roberts Rules. Anything not
covered by
these By Laws or the Blinded Veterans Association By Laws, shall be covered by Robert's
Rules of
Order, Newly Revised
Proposed Amendment 4, if passed, will be added to Article V at the end of Section 2 and
will read:
Any Member or Associate Member who is unable to attend the FRG State Convention due to
illness or Previous engagement must produce a signed statement to the currently acting
Secretary on or before 3 PM the day before the Annual FRG Business Meeting. The letter
must indicate that he or she will serve if elected.
By-Law amendment 5 will add a Sub-section G. to Section 4 Article VII Duties of Officers
and
District Directors as follows:
Article VII Section 4 SS G. A least once each calendar year, be responsible for contacting
all Blinded
Veterans who reside in his/her District, paying special attention to incorrect mailing
addresses,
telephone numbers, e mail addresses and problems that the BV may be having.
Remember to make your reservations for the FRG State Convention at the Plaza Ocean Club
Hotel in Daytona Beach, April 30-May 3. We dlook forward to meeting you there.
BVA-FRG Meeting Schedule
April 30-May 3 FRG State Convention Plaza Ocean Club Hotel
Daytona
August 17-21 BVA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky
FRG Newslettter Staff
Mike Taylor FRG President
George Stocking FRG Newsletter EditorType your paragraph here.