Blinded Veterans Association

“During fiscal year ended june 30, 2015, the board of directors amended the corporate bylaws to adjust the qualifications for full membership to the organization. Previously, in order to obtain full membership, one must have service connected blindness. The membership requirements have been updated to allow membership to those that have sustained a substantial impairment of sight or vision, of which is service connected.”

“The members and associate members assembled at the annual national convention have voting rights and are the supreme authority of the association.”

“The members and associate members assembled at the annual national convention elect the national officers of the national board of directors. The district directors are elected by the members and associate members within their respective geographical district.”

“The members and associate members assembled at the annual national convention approve issues and amendments that arise regarding laws, bylaws, regulations, or policies adopted by said membership.”

“A draft of the form 990 is sent to the chief financial officer by the preparer. It is emailed to the financial expert of the audit committee and the executive director who along with the chief financial officer review the return together and discuss any issues of concern. They may individually or collectively speak with the preparer to discuss their concerns or review the form in detail. After any changes are made, a copy is sent to the full board prior to filing. Any comments they have are reviewed and discussed with the preparer. When completed, the form 990 is signed by the executive director and filed with the internal revenue service.”

“Bva's written conflict of interest policy questionnaire is distributed to all board members, employees, and appropriate outside parties by the cfo prior to the annual convention. The cfo ensures that all questionnaires are completed, reviews them, and discloses any conflicts at the pre-convention board meeting. Board members who have conflicts do not vote on any issues pertaining to that conflict.”

“The executive committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining a competitive compensation program for all employees of the association including the executive director, other officers, and key employees. They meet annually, and as needed, to review, determine, and approve any changes to be made to the compensation program. During the annual meeting the executive committee compares the salaries of the executive director, other officers, and key employees against either salary surveys prepared by independent third parties, or comparability data from peer organizations to determine how they compare against the competitive market. This comparison has historically shown trends of comparability in some positions and below peers in others. The committee considers recommendations and input from the executive director during deliberations regarding other officers and key employees. Usually, the executive committee goes into executive session when discussing the executive director's compensation without the executive director present. During this time they evaluate the executive director's performance and determine compensation. These deliberations and decisions are documented. The president informs the executive director of any changes after the meeting is adjourned.”

“The bylaws and congressional charter of the association are available on bva's website, along with the form 990. Additional information is available upon request.”

“The organization's primary exempt purpose the blinded veterans association (bva) is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization (vso) exclusively dedicated to serving the needs and promoting the welfare of america's blinded veterans and their families. Bva is a nonprofit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization established in 1945 in avon, connecticut, by a small group of combat-blinded veterans from world war ii. The organization's primary purpose includes locating blinded veterans who need services, guiding them through the rehabilitation process, and acting as advocates for them and their families in the private and public sectors, including the u.s. Congress and the department of veterans affairs (va). The staff and membership of the organization are role models, demonstrating that the challenges of substantial vision loss can be overcome. The association also serves as a medium of communication regarding issues affecting blinded veterans, supports vocational and recreational programs that foster rehabilitation, and offers encouragement and emotional support. Va estimates that some 130,000 american veterans are currently legally blind, and that at least half of these men and women remain unaware of their eligibility for special services and benefits. Thousands of additional veterans become blind or visually impaired every year. Bva programs help veterans and their families meet the challenges of substantial vision loss. There is no charge for any bva service and membership in the organization is not a prerequisite. All legally blinded veterans are eligible for assistance, whether they became blind during combat or after active duty due to age or disease. Bva was incorporated in 1947 and chartered by congress in 1958 to represent all blinded veterans. The association does not receive any grants or financial support from the government; instead, it is supported by the generous contributions of thousands of americans who remember the sacrifices of our nation's blinded veterans. The organization is managed by 11 voting members of the national board of directors, along with two honorary members that include the audit committee chair. The positions are held on a voluntary basis. Members of the board give freely of their time and resources. They are all members of bva and all meet the criteria of what constitutes a blinded veteran as defined for all bva members. These requirements are also met by the national sergeant-at-arms and the national chaplain. Board member travel includes attendance at two annual board meetings, one held at the annual convention location and the other at bva national headquarters. Members of the board also conduct business using email and through telephone conversations during the fiscal year. They are involved not only at the national level but also regionally in their area of residence, holding offices and assisting blinded veterans and their families. This fiscal year the board donated more than 7,300 total hours of work and more than $2,500 in reimbursable expenses that were not requested for payment. The national board of directors appoints many committees to oversee and advise the group. All of the committee members are volunteers; some are on the board while others are regular members of the organization. Some committee members are simply concerned and interested sighted citizens who wish to lend a helping hand. During the past fiscal year, committee members who are not on the board donated more than 100 hours of volunteer time. Bva has 52 regional groups in the united states and puerto rico who offer emotional support, social events, and recreational activities to veterans with substantial vision loss and their families at the local level. Regional groups also influence policy changes that are instituted by the association. In february 2015 bva sold its national headquarter's building and relocated to alexandria, va which is within close proximity to capitol hill and the va central of”

“A) field service and volunteer service programs the bva field service program consists primarily of seven national field service officers and a team of volunteers who are legally blind veterans themselves, working throughout the united states and puerto rico. The national field service officers were based in the following cities: philadelphia, pennsylvania; the district of columbia; decatur, georgia; hines, illinois; houston, texas; san diego, california; and st. Paul, minnesota. They are dedicated and devoted members of bva's staff. Serving as role models, national field service officers assist blinded veterans as they take the first steps in adjusting to blindness. They are responsible for linking veterans with local services. They further ensure that the newly blinded take advantage of va blind rehabilitation services and assist them with the va benefit claims process. They help veterans gain focus and direction to their lives by providing inspiration and encouragement. Understanding the complexities and emotions that accompany the onset of blindness, national field service officers are effective role models in helping newly blinded veterans find and follow the road to independence. They know what is available on both a local and national level. They know whom to call, what to say, and how to cut through the red tape since much of their expertise has been gained firsthand as a result of their own personal experiences with blindness. During fy 2015, the bva field service program was contacted by 9,435 veterans and family members. Va granted 186 claims for compensation and pension to veterans assisted by the program. The program was responsible for more than $3,480,247.58 in total retroactive payments and $485,966.47 in miscellaneous benefits. There were 16 claims affecting blinded veterans that were processed at the board of veterans appeals. The total number of pending claims handled by national field service officers is 708. The field service program transformed its visits to blind rehabilitation centers (brcs), conducted in previous years, into a much more comprehensive veterans care review partnership. Field service officers meeting with va staff and veterans gives a broader and more comprehensive picture of the current status of brcs. This knowledge allows bva to better promote and share best practices from one brc to another. This initiative led to dramatic improvements in services provided to blind veterans at several brc facilities during the current fiscal year. The field service officers were able to reach and assist veterans of whom bva had not previously been aware. Field service officers hold educational sessions for all veterans at the brcs they visit, followed by one-on-one meetings with veterans who need further help and advice. National field service officers received training twice in fy 2015, once at the national convention in sparks, nevada, in august (five days) and again at mid-winter meetings in alexandria, virginia (three days in february). Bva provided funding for travel through the catastrophically disabled travel access program (cdtap) for at least 29 blinded veterans with limited means to attend various brcs across the country. Additional meaningful adjuncts to the bva field service program are bva volunteer offices located in va medical centers, regional offices, and outpatient clinics nationwide. Volunteers are peer counselors and volunteer national service officers (vnsos). The program provides another outlet for blinded veterans to help and serve one another since a large number of bva volunteers are blinded veterans themselves. They listen and share ideas in groups, offer information on programs and services, encourage one another to enter rehabilitation programs, and demonstrate equipment and aids used by the blind. They also reinforce the work of the national field service officer by helping to lift fellow veterans from the discouragement and frustration they often face. Bva volunteers are”

“C) advocacy the association's congressional charter designates bva as the organizational advocate for all blinded veterans before the executive and legislative branches of government. The bva national president, board members, and national headquarters staff members are invited to present testimony before both the house and senate committees on veterans affairs in order to share information and concerns related to specialized programs and services offered by va to visually impaired and blinded veterans. They also meet periodically with members of congress, their key staff, the department of defense (dod), the white house, and va officials to inform and educate them regarding the unique and special needs of the blinded and visually impaired veterans in america. Bva's educational efforts seek to enhance the specialized rehabilitation programs that are designed by va. The goals are to assist blinded veterans in the acceptance of and adjustment to the loss of vision and to help them acquire the adaptive skills necessary to be successfully reintegrated into their families and communities. Active efforts are continually made to educate federal agencies and legislators. Such efforts are the important means by which blinded veterans and their family members eventually become equipped with the necessary resources to access the health care services and benefits they have earned. Bva continued to be very effective this past year, presenting blinded veterans' priority issues before congress and congressional staff members in a variety of meetings and hearings. Association representatives also met frequently with other vsos, disability advocacy associations, and representatives from va and dod. Bva's national president submitted his annual written testimony in march to the house and senate va committees. A severe snowstorm delayed oral presentation of the testimony until may 20, when bva's director of government relations delivered the prepared remarks on a panel of eight organizational representatives. Legislative updates were sent by email to the bva board, staff, members, and regional groups. Numerous meetings with various congressional offices and a variety of committees were scheduled and held in an effort to actively monitor and support the wide variety of legislation introduced in congress that impacts veterans and their families. Bva, in concert with other major vsos, provided the necessary information to ensure that fy 2015-fy 2016 advanced appropriations for the vha budget were increased to meet the needs of veterans' health care programs. Continued efforts were devoted this past year to dod's implementation of the vision center of excellence (vce) and defense veterans eye injury vision registry (dveivr). As a result, vce has increased dod staffing to ten and vha is planning increased staffing (interviews are in progress). Bva continues to raise awareness for oif and oef veterans with traumatic brain injury visual system dysfunction to ensure that screening, diagnosis, treatment, and vision research are funded. Bva's efforts were instrumental in trying to secure additional va co-operational funding for fy 2014- 2015 in the va budget for vce. Efforts to fully implement dveivr continue with dod inserting 17,375 service members' records into the system. Va, however, has lagged far behind in providing extractors access to clinical eye records in the va vist database. Working with the national alliance for eye and vision research (naevr), bva attended meetings with key congressional committee members and key budget staff with the specific aim of increasing the congressionally directed medical research program for vision. Bva continues to advocate for alternative defense traumatic brain injury (tbi) vision research programs, securing $10 million in fy 2014 funding for the vision trauma research program (vtrp) funding and $10 million for fy 2015 defense appropriations for vtrp. Bva continues to monitor the waiting times, length of stays”

“C) advocacy the association's congressional charter designates bva as the organizational advocate for all blinded veterans before the executive and legislative branches of government. The bva national president, board members, and national headquarters staff members are invited to present testimony before both the house and senate committees on veterans affairs in order to share information and concerns related to specialized programs and services offered by va to visually impaired and blinded veterans. They also meet periodically with members of congress, their key staff, the department of defense (dod), the white house, and va officials to inform and educate them regarding the unique and special needs of the blinded and visually impaired veterans in america. Bva's educational efforts seek to enhance the specialized rehabilitation programs that are designed by va. The goals are to assist blinded veterans in the acceptance of and adjustment to the loss of vision and to help them acquire the adaptive skills necessary to be successfully reintegrated into their families and communities. Active efforts are continually made to educate federal agencies and legislators. Such efforts are the important means by which blinded veterans and their family members eventually become equipped with the necessary resources to access the health care services and benefits they have earned. Bva continued to be very effective this past year, presenting blinded veterans' priority issues before congress and congressional staff members in a variety of meetings and hearings. Association representatives also met frequently with other vsos, disability advocacy associations, and representatives from va and dod. Bva's national president submitted his annual written testimony in march to the house and senate va committees. A severe snowstorm delayed oral presentation of the testimony until may 20, when bva's director of government relations delivered the prepared remarks on a panel of eight organizational representatives. Legislative updates were sent by email to the bva board, staff, members, and regional groups. Numerous meetings with various congressional offices and a variety of committees were scheduled and held in an effort to actively monitor and support the wide variety of legislation introduced in congress that impacts veterans and their families. Bva, in concert with other major vsos, provided the necessary information to ensure that fy 2015-fy 2016 advanced appropriations for the vha budget were increased to meet the needs of veterans' health care programs. Continued efforts were devoted this past year to dod's implementation of the vision center of excellence (vce) and defense veterans eye injury vision registry (dveivr). As a result, vce has increased dod staffing to ten and vha is planning increased staffing (interviews are in progress). Bva continues to raise awareness for oif and oef veterans with traumatic brain injury visual system dysfunction to ensure that screening, diagnosis, treatment, and vision research are funded. Bva's efforts were instrumental in trying to secure additional va co-operational funding for fy 2014- 2015 in the va budget for vce. Efforts to fully implement dveivr continue with dod inserting 17,375 service members' records into the system. Va, however, has lagged far behind in providing extractors access to clinical eye records in the va vist database. Working with the national alliance for eye and vision research (naevr), bva attended meetings with key congressional committee members and key budget staff with the specific aim of increasing the congressionally directed medical research program for vision. Bva continues to advocate for alternative defense traumatic brain injury (tbi) vision research programs, securing $10 million in fy 2014 funding for the vision trauma research program (vtrp) funding and $10 million for fy 2015 defense appropriations for vtrp. Bva continues to monitor the waiting times, length of stays”

“D) membership bva is a membership-driven organization. Membership in bva constitutes membership in the national organization as well as in a local regional group. It is not necessary to be a member to benefit from the services bva provides. In fact, bva offers the choice of the digital or print version of the quarterly bva bulletin to any blinded veteran regardless of membership status. The bva bulletin is a valuable resource that blinded veterans find useful in order to keep abreast of relevant information. Bva membership also provides opportunities to meet new people facing similar challenges, to establish friendships, and to gain a voice at the annual conventions. Without membership, the aforementioned programs would not exist since they have been established by members and developed with their needs in mind. A blinded veteran can join as either an annual or a life member. During fy 2015 a new membership database imis was implemented to enhance membership management. All life membership dues are deposited into a life membership fund, which is managed by a life membership board of trustees appointed by the national president. The dues are invested and the annual earnings (interest and dividends) are apportioned to the regional group based on the number of life members in each group. Bva national headquarters does not benefit financially at all from the life membership dues but only manages, or administers, the fund with the assistance of the board of trustees and an external portfolio manager. It is a board-designated fund. E) scholarship program bva's kathern f. Gruber scholarship program completed its 31st year. The scholarships are open to a dependent child, grandchild, or spouse of a blinded veteran or an active-duty blinded service member of the u.s. Armed forces. The blindness may be either service-connected or nonservice-connected. For the academic year 2014-15, there were six scholarships of $2,000 each. The thomas h. Miller scholarship has completed its third year, annually awarding one scholarship of $1,000. The guidelines are the same as those established for the kathern f. Gruber scholarship but with additional consideration towards music and fine arts students when possible and applicable.”

“Building maintanance: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 37,437. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 37,437. Bulletin: program service expenses 51,615. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 51,615. Printing: program service expenses 6,112. Management and general expenses 3,461. Fundraising expenses 35,869. Total expenses 45,442. Professional fees: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 36,088. Fundraising expenses 25,422. Total expenses 61,510. Public relations: program service expenses 18,000. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 18,000. Repairs and maintenance: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 30,591. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 30,591. Web design: program service expenses -3,088. Management and general expenses 14,508. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 11,420. Direct mail data processing: program service expenses 46,340. Management and general expenses 803. Fundraising expenses 38,762. Total expenses 85,905. Direct mail donor processing: program service expenses 39,261. Management and general expenses 681. Fundraising expenses 32,840. Total expenses 72,782. Direct mail list rental: program service expenses 65,361. Management and general expenses 1,134. Fundraising expenses 54,673. Total expenses 121,168. Direct mail package and shipping: program service expenses 601,381. Management and general expenses 10,424. Fundraising expenses 503,040. Total expenses 1,114,845. Direct mail production cost: program service expenses 16,422. Management and general expenses 284. Fundraising expenses 13,736. Total expenses 30,442.”

“The review process has not changed from previous years.”