red, white, and blue star with initials B V A

Our Team

Raquel Welch
President
Email: rdwelch21@gmail.com
Phone: (228) 563-4655

Claude Roberts
Vice President

Email: claude.roberts75@yahoo.com
Phone: (504) 418-0654

Shawntina Gibson
Secretary
Email: rgibson903@gmail.com
Phone: (859) 396-2871

Joe Burns
Treasurer
Email: jburns1945@aol.com

Phone: (504) 940-8100

Corine Stanley
Chaplain
Email: redbird1956@icloud.com

Phone: (601) 786-8853

National Resources

Forms
Documents
    • Original Charter (PDF) (DOC)
    • Revised Charter (PDF) (DOC)
    • Bylaws (PDF) (DOC) (WEB)
    • BVA Policies (PDF) (DOC) (WEB)
    • Proposed Bylaws and Resolutions Memo (Coming 2024)
    • Proposed Bylaw Amendments (Coming 2024)
    • Annual Proclamation (PDF) (DOC)
    • BVA Brochure (PDF)
    • Historical Achievements (PDF) (DOC) (WEB)
    • Historical Achievements Bulleted (PDF) (DOC)
    • 2024 Official Convention Letter (Coming 2024)
    • 2024 Convention Credentials Memo (Coming 2024)
    • 2024 Convention Credentials Form (WEB)
    • 2024 Convention Proxy Form (WEB)
    • How to Host a White Cane Awareness Day Celebration (PDF) (DOC)
VA Fact Sheets
  • Special Mode Transportation (PDF) (DOC)
  • Advanced Low Vision Clinic Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Blind Rehabilitation Center Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Blind Rehabilitation Service Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Intermediate Low Vision Clinic Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Visual Impairment Services Team Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Guiding Veterans with a Visual Impairment Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Assisting Veterans with a Visual Impairment Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation Fact Sheet (PDF)

Meeting Details

Second Friday of Every Month
10:50am CT

Call: (515) 604-9949          Meeting ID: 994270#
(ONE TOUCH CALL)

***Please see “Events” section for Annual Banquet Announcement

Regional Group Resources

  • Regional Group Bylaws (PENDING)
  • Regional Group Manual (PDF) (DOC)
  • Regional Group Officer Report (PDF) (DOC)
  • Regional Group Finance Report Memo (Coming 2024)
  • Regional Group Finance Report Form (Coming 2024)
  • Regional Group IRS Form 990-N Instructions (PDF) (DOC)

News

Happy 102 Birthday Earl Forstall

HAPPY 102nd BIRTHDAY EARL!!!

Born 09-23-1919

Earl Forstall entered the military at the age of 22 as a private in the Army Air Corps. As an engine specialist based out of Boise Air Force Base, his first plane was a B-17 flown by actor, pilot and Brigadier General James ‘Jimmy’ Stewart. After that, he was promoted to Crew Chief and assigned to the B-24 named “Queenie”. Queenie flew 59 missions without one mechanical failure. He was a member of the 8th Army Air Force, 445th Bomber Group and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. He is a twice recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal and Honorable Service Medal. His other citations include European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, American Campaign, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. His unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, with a personal citation for Earl.

He married Elizabeth Lou Cole in 1953 and they raised a family of seven children together. He opened a typography business in the city of New Orleans, Forstall Typographers/The Ad Shop, with two of his brothers and became a leader in the field of typography regionally. He closed the business after 50 years of service to the city. He has 11 grand-children and two great-grandchildren. He lost his wife in 1994 after 40 years of marriage. He continues to live independently in the home in which he and Liz raised their family.

In 2019 Mr. Earl celebrated his 100 birthday at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. The Louisiana/Mississippi BVA Regional Group, Inc sponsored the party with honors and citations from President Trump, Louisiana Senators Cassidy and Kennedy, U.S. Representative Richmon, Louisiana Governor Edwards, the World War II Museum and BVA President Zampieri. Mr. Earl is a long time BVA member and has held many offices in the Louisiana Regional Group, due to his hearing problems he does not join in the monthly teleconference meetings, but he does attend every banquet and other regional get togethers. Mr. Earl attributes his longevity to clean living and a good cocktail every evening.

National White Cane Day

Today is National White Cane Day which is a day sat aside to bring awareness to an essential tool that allows those who are visually impaired to move freely.

White canes were introduced in 1930 as a way to help visually impaired people and alert others. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson established White Cane Safety Day in an effort to raise awareness of people who carry a white cane.

The white cane symbolizes freedom and independence because it showcases that those who are visually impaired have learned to maneuver through life although they have a physical limitation.

News 25 spoke to Raquel Welch, a visually impaired veteran. Welch lost her sight in 2009 and uses her white cane to get around. “The white cane allows for better mobility. Once you enter the blind rehab you are trained with the white cane along with any other types of tools that will help you navigate the world. It’s a sighted world that we are living in and we are trying to navigate the world the best way we can.”

This day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day in 2011 by former President Barack Obama.

To view the accompanying video (CLICK HERE).

July 2022 Newsletter

July 2022 Newsletter (PDF) (DOC)

Events

Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group to Host Annual Banquet June 11, 2022 12:00pm – 3:00pm

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