After months of preparation and more than four years of anticipation, the BVA 78th National Convention will go forward next week at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis! Many are already in St. Louis or well on their way to their destination. Not everyone is aware that this gathering of veterans with sight loss was originally scheduled and contracted for August 2021 as the 76th National Convention, adding to the excitement that the week in St. Louis is a reality.

Highlighting the convention week is the traditional Opening Session, this year featuring two keynote speakers: Dewaine Beard, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information Technology Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Chief Information Officer; and Michael James Frueh, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits.

Other events and activities, many supported by generous sponsors, include a Service Dog Walk on Monday made possible by Waymo and PetSmart, several offsite trips, an exhibitor and member breakfast sponsored by Bosma, two Lunch and Learn events sponsored by WayAround and Oracle Health, and the creatively designed and first-ever Bow Wow Lounge, also sponsored by Waymo and PetSmart.

BVA Members unable to attend the convention may still be able to connect to several activities. The Association’s Zoom account has the capability to stream to Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Internet radio personality and technical guru Steve Baskis, a BVA member, will have his camera, lights, and microphones ready to go. Steve’s iPhone may provide ad hoc streams of others.

Among the scheduled webcast events are the two Lunch and Learn events, the Opening Session, Thursday’s education sessions, and the Father Carroll Luncheon featuring speaker and Sergeant-At-Arms Brian O’Connell. Ad hoc events include a tour through the Exhibit Hall and perhaps a couple of offsite trips. See the final section of today’s BVA Happenings for additional details and stay tuned to BVA’s Facebook for announcements!   

To access the times for convention events via the online Schedule of Events, click here. Unlike most of BVA’s announcements, which use Eastern Time, all the times listed in the convention program are Central Time. Please calculate time differences when using the online program to join a live webcast.  

In-person convention attendees with travel emergencies or changes in travel plans, or who need to confirm that a volunteer will meet them at the St. Louis Airport, should call BVA Convention Volunteer Coordinator Margarine Beaman at (512) 921-1625.