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Next Week’s VetTech Sessions: Be My Eyes—See the World Together

Join BVA’s VetTech Team on Wednesday, October 25, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the upcoming Weekly Wednesday Webinar features Mike Buckley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Be My Eyes. Mike will explain this service, free of charge, that connects the blind and low vision with sighted volunteers and company representatives for the purpose of visual assistance through a live video call.  During the webinar next week, Mike will add the important footnotes to successful […]

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Successful Ohio Golf Outing Offers BVA Needed and Appreciated Support

BVA was again the fortunate beneficiary of proceeds from the Mark Kline Memorial Golf Outing this past July 29 in Norton, Ohio. The event, now six years in the making and still expanding, celebrates the life of a contact lens and spectacle frame sales representative who admired veterans so much that he annually participated in the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride in memory of all MIAs and POWs.  Mark Kline’s family and friends, most notably Mark […]

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Application Process Continues for Winter Sports Clinic 2024

Please act as soon as possible to participate in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic scheduled for April 1-7, 2024, in Snowmass, Colorado!  The world-class event, co-hosted by VA and Disabled American Veterans, is also supported by a host of private sector sponsors. Registration includes lodging, meals, and a variety of sports and recreation activities such as those enumerated below. Because a doctor must fill out a portion of the application and because demand […]

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MVP Now at 984,000-Plus

With each passing week, VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) continues to inch closer to accomplishing its unfathomable goal of a million veterans enrolled.  “We appreciate your continued partnership and support,” Jennifer Deen recently told Veterans Service Organizations. Deen is MVP’s Associate Director of Cohort and Public Relations. MVP is a national research program looking at how genes, lifestyle, military experiences, and exposures affect health and wellness in veterans. The program is the largest research effort at […]

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Winter Sports Opportunities Open at STARS Colorado Ranch

Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports (STARS) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, opened registration for four ski adventures in early 2024 for disabled veterans, including a new program session for women veterans only. Lodging, ski equipment, lift ticket, along with breakfast, snacks, and dinner, are all included in the 5-day/4-night package. Lodging is at the STARS Ranch. Read more. Session dates are: Veterans Ski & Ride Session 1: January 14 – 18 Women’s Ski & Ride Week: February […]

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Reconnecting with Fellow Veterans Next Week and Beyond via Buddy Checks  

Coinciding with National Buddy Check Week October 16-20, BVA is pleased to re-emphasize its own Buddy Check initiative to be carried out by the Association’s two graduating classes of Ambassadors. The upcoming outreach effort includes a check on well-being and an offer of support.  Ambassadors are trained blind and low vision volunteers who are passionate about helping other veterans. They will reach out by phone or email simply to check in and provide information about […]

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Dog Handler Agenda to Include Group Member Introductions, Roster Update

All past, present, and future dog handlers among BVA’s blind and low vision veterans are encouraged to join this Tuesday’s (October 17) session via Zoom at 4:00pm Eastern Time. The session’s agenda includes the introduction of new Guide Dog Handler Group members and the updating of email addresses and telephone numbers.  The meeting is open to all veterans with sight loss who are interested in topics and issues associated with guide dogs.  Attendance at previous […]

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VetTech Next Week: VA Website Accessibility through Veterans Usability Project

Join BVA’s VetTech Team on Wednesday, October 18, at 2:00pm Eastern Time as the upcoming Weekly Wednesday Webinar welcomes Brian Moon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Perigean Technologies. Brian will explain the company’s role in spearheading the Veterans Usability Project, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research initiative to understand how veterans and caregivers interact with VA websites and mobile applications.  The results of the Veterans Usability Project will directly affect how VA will, […]

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Still No Speaker of the House? What Now?

In this week’s BVA Happenings, BVA Deputy Director of Government Relations Alek Libbin provides additional clarity to the recent historic removal of Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) from the House speakership. Last week, the House of Representatives did the unprecedented: It voted out the chamber’s Speaker. And, last night, likely successor Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA-1) withdrew from the race after securing a majority of the Republican support he needed but lacking support of the full House. […]

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Saluting the U.S. Navy on 248th Birthday

Today is Birthday #248 of the United States Navy, the only branch of the military organized prior to the Declaration of Independence! Yes, the origins of the Navy actually predate July 4, 1776, by almost a year. According to author Raymond G. O’Connor’s Origin of the American Navy, on August 26, 1775, the assembly of the colony of Rhode Island sent its delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to request that “a fleet of […]