As I compose this special message, we on the Blinded Veterans Association’s Board of Directors have finished up our first trimester of service to the organization. There have been several things that have happened during that short period of four months, for which we can be both grateful and, on the other hand, challenged by some of the complexities facing us.

Collectively, we have encountered cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and other maladies. We have had children and grandchildren born, and we have also lost relatives and friends. Serious conflicts overseas greatly concern us. In short, we have experienced both gains and losses, and reasons to both rejoice and grieve. In addition, we have continued to work toward solving the problems presented within the organization by pairing them with what we feel are effective solutions that give the organization guidance and a path to improvement.

As we experience another holiday season, we as BVA members have several things about which we can be positive. We have seen some growth in membership, and through our efforts, I believe we have made some progress in closing the gap between the uppermost leadership of the organization and the membership body itself. We have established a team that cements the relationship among the most prominent programs in our organization and placed them closer in communication with both the Board and the membership. We have made a critical step in transparency with the posting of our approved Board minutes on the website for all of you. In the coming months, we will be launching a series of Town hall meetings and educational sessions for direct communication between the Board and the membership in several forums. These Town Halls will hopefully present opportunities for education, support, and guidance to the membership, as well as providing opportunities for engagement between the membership and the Board.

We are actively involved in the process of making those decisions that will lead to the staging of the 79th National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, in July 2024. Not only will we be meeting in a month that diverts from the one in which the convention has typically been held, but the format will be different as well. Our hope is that the format will better meet the needs of the membership based on the feedback we have received in the past.

I wish all the members of the organization a joyous holiday season. I know this can’t be the case for everyone, but I want it to be true for as many as possible. I also hope that the New Year can be a joyous one as we come together in being true to our longstanding motto: Blinded veterans helping blinded veterans. May we become one team, engaging in one fight with a single vision because we are one BVA.

On behalf of the National Board of Directors, I send you Season’s Greetings and wishes for a great celebration of whatever holiday is yours to celebrate at this time of the year. We look forward to continuing our service as your President and your Board in the coming year.