Blinded Veterans Association
67th National Convention

Galveston, Texas
August 20-23, 2012
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Hotel | Schedule | Travel

Convention Dates: August 20–23, 2012 (please note that this is a change from previously announced dates—the convention starts Monday evening and ends late Thursday night)

Exhibit Hall Dates: August 21-22

Convention Hotel: Hilton Galveston Island Resort Hotel, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77551 (please note that this is a change from a previously announced location)

Please call today to make your reservations at 1-800-HILTONS. Simply let them know you are eligible for the BVA block. Early registration ends June 20. The hotel room block cutoff date is July 20.

Galveston Island Updates

Start planning now to attend the Blinded Veterans Association's 67th Annual National Convention, which will be held in Galveston, Texas, beginning Monday, August 20, through Thursday, August 23, 2012. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not be hosting a concurrent VIST/BROS training session this year due to federal government cutbacks. Because of this change, BVA has had to shift the location to the Hilton Galveston Island Resort Hotel, which is adjacent to the Galveston Island Convention Center, the site of the major convention events. We encourage early registration for everyone, especially those who combine family vacations with BVA conventions. The BVA room block rate of $99 per night is now available August 18-27. The hotel will honor the group rate for the conference dates pending availability so make your reservation early to secure your room. Doing so will allow for a more leisurely stay before, during, and after the convention. The regional group's representatives will be on site to greet you, provide orientation of the hotel, as well as assist you with the numerous activities available on the island. Consider arriving a day early to take advantage of a fishing trip.

The convention officially starts on the evening of August 20 with the President's Reception. The opening business meeting will occur early Tuesday Morning. The convention will conduct the Bylaws & Resolutions meetings Tuesday afternoon. The regional group is planning a unique social activity Tuesday night. Wednesday morning will kick off with the BVA forum, focusing on leadership training, followed by the Father Carroll Memorial Luncheon and afternoon Caucus Meetings. Thursday morning will bring the business meetings to a close with voting on the proposed bylaws, resolutions, and the election of National Officers. The Awards Banquet will be held Thursday evening. Although the convention officially ends Thursday, attendees can continue enjoying the sights and sounds of the island. They may choose the opportunity to squeeze in an early morning fishing trip or visit any number of other island venues.

Hilton Galveston Island Resort Hotel

5400 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, TX 77551

The Convention room rate is $99.00 plus 15 percent tax (9 percent city tax, 6 percent state tax) for both single and double occupancy.

Upon arrival at the AAA Four Diamond Hilton Galveston Island Resort Hotel, which is directly across from the beach, convention attendees will be greeted by a representative of the BVA convention staff. Facing the hotel, the Galveston Island Convention Center will be directly to your left. In front of the hotel are two cabana areas on the left and right, each seating up to 25 people. There are no steps in front of, or entering into, the hotel, which has automatic sliding glass doors. As you enter through these doors you will be standing in the hotel lobby. On your immediate right is the hotel's registration desk area with three check-in stations. On your immediate left is a business kiosk area with three stations and an ATM.

The hotel lobby continues past the registration desk with the Palm Court Restaurant to the left and the hotel's Lobby Bar to the right. Both areas have an open entrance without doors and there are social seating areas along the walls throughout the lobby. Just past the Lobby Bar is an exit door on the right going out to the tropical swimming pool and lounge area that features a Jacuzzi and a swim-up bar and grill. Passing this door and to the right are elevators leading to rooms with private walk-out balconies. Just past these elevators is a long corridor that stretches from the lobby area to the rear of the hotel. Down this corridor, the first glass door on the left is the hotel gift shop. Past the gift shop on the left is the hotel's fitness center. Further down this corridor there are elevators on the right which take guests to the tower rooms. At the end of the corridor is the rear entrance of the hotel where an automatic glass door exits out to the dog relief area and parking lot.

The goal of the Convention Committee is to maximize the pleasure of convention attendees' stays and to increase the productivity of the convention. The hotel offers a long list of comfort and convenience amenities for your stay. All elevators have bells. All rooms above the first floor have an ocean view with coffee makers, bathrobes, free Internet connections, and a host of others. The BVA has arranged two phone lines for your convenience. One of the lines is updated daily with each days detailed agenda. The second line will be for any concerns or issues that may arise during your stay and will be monitored throughout each day.

The Hilton Galveston Island Resort Hotel is a 240-room facility. All rooms have been blocked specifically for BVA convention attendees during August 20-24. This allows the convention staff to totally convert the hotel to a blind friendly environment. Overflow arrangements have been made with other hotels and early registration is advisable. In making reservations, be sure to announce that you are part of the BVA Room Block. For more information, you can call the hotel at 1-409-744-5000 or see the website at www.hilton.com/Galveston-TX.

Travel Rates

Travel discount rates have been obtained and are included below. BVA urges convention participants to use Houston Hobby Airport, which is much smaller than Bush Intercontinental and considerably easier to navigate. The Convention Committee, along with the USO, will have representatives at both airports to assist with arrivals. Additionally, once you make travel arrangements, please contact Margarine Beaman at oleo50@hotmail.com or at 512-921-1625 to coordinate for a BVA volunteer to meet you at your gate.

Limousine Travel Information

Galveston Limousine Service Phone: 800-640-4826 or 409-744-5466.
Reservations and prepayment are required in advance.

If you require a wheelchair accessible van, you must notify the clerk with Galveston Limousine Service when making your reservations.

When calling in for ground transport reservations, be sure to advise the clerk that you are with the BVA conference/convention to assure that you receive the discounted rate.

Deadline for reservations to obtain the discounted rate: July 20, 2012.

Shuttle Schedule Rates and Times

Hobby Airport to Galveston Hilton: $60.00 per person round trip
Schedule: 11:30am---1:30pm---5:00pm
Bush Airport (IAH) to Galveston Hilton: $70.00 per person round trip
Schedule: 10:30am---12:30pm---4:00pm
Galveston to Hobby and IAH:
Schedule: 8:00am---10:00am---1:30pm

If there is a group (minimum of 5 passengers) arriving before or after these scheduled pickup times, another scheduled time can be provided. This is also true on the return from Galveston. Peak travel departure times from Galveston will be accommodated by buses.

Airfare

Discounted Airfare Information
If appropriate, when boarding your flight coming to Houston, request that the boarding agent arrange for a motorized car for you to use for transportation purposes throughout the airport. These are wonderful helps, transporting passengers to wherever they wish at no charge.

United Airlines - Reservation Information:
1. Call your professional travel agency or United Meetings at 800-468-7022 and provide the Z Code ZME4 and Agreement Code 814509. There will be a $25 service fee collected, per ticket, for all tickets issued through United Meetings Reservations. This fee is subject to change without notice. The service fee is nonrefundable and applies to all itineraries, one-way or round-trip. To avoid a service fee and receive an additional 3 percent discount*, book your reservations online at www.continental.com. Enter both your Z-code and Agreement code (without a space) in the Offer Code Box. *Additional 3 percent discount applies to published fares only.

2. Checked baggage fees apply:  $25.00 for the first checked bag and $35.00 for the second checked bag when traveling within the US and Canada.

American Airlines - Reservation Information:
1. Call your professional travel agency or American Meetings at 800-221-2255 and provide the authorization code - 3482BH. There will be a $25 service fee collected, per ticket, for all tickets issued through American Airlines Reservations. This fee is subject to change without notice. The service fee is nonrefundable and applies to all itineraries, one-way or round-trip. To avoid a service fee, book your reservations online at www.aa.com. Enter your authorization code in the promotion code box. This discount applies to published fares only.

2. Checked baggage fees apply:  $25.00 for the first checked bag and $35.00 for the second checked bag when traveling within the US and Canada.

Delta Airlines - Reservation Information:
1. Call your professional travel agency or Delta Meetings at 800-328-1111 and provide the Meeting Event Code - NM9D8. There will be a $25 service fee collected, per ticket, for all tickets issued through Delta Airlines  Reservations. This fee is subject to change without notice. The service fee is nonrefundable and applies to all itineraries, one-way or round-trip. To avoid a service fee, book your reservations online at www.delta.com. Enter your code in the Meeting Event Code box. The discount will be applied to all applicable fares.

2. Checked baggage fees apply:  $25.00 for the first checked bag and $35.00 for the second checked bag when traveling within the US and Canada.

Southwest Airlines - Reservation Information:
Southwest gives discounted rates for groups of 10 or more from any one destination. If you have a group of 10 or more, contact Brenda McDaniel at 915-204-0101.

Call Brenda also for personal assistance in making reservations with any airline using the following contact information: Brenda K. McDaniel (brenda_mcdaniel@sbcglobal.net)
Independent Travel Consultant
4301 Park Hill Drive
El Paso, TX  79902-1357

TSA Helpline for Travelers with Disabilities

Please see the links below and the press release regarding a new service from the TSA for travel.
http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2011/1222.shtm
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/tsa_cares.shtm

Draft Schedule of Major Events

Monday, August 20
Time TBA Fishing Trip (advanced registration required—more information will be posted shortly)
9:30 am-6:00 pm: Registration & Information
11:30 am-5:00 pm: Auxiliary Silent Auction
3:15 pm-3:45 pm: Rules Committee Meeting
4:00 pm-4:30 pm: Credentials Meeting
7:00 pm-10:00 pm: BVA President's Welcome Reception

Tuesday, August 21
8:00 am-11:00 am: Opening Business Meeting
8:30 am-9:30 am: Welcome
8:30 am-5:00 pm: Auxiliary Silent Auction
9:45 am-11:30 am: Opening Business Meeting
10:30 am-6:30 pm: Exhibit Hall
11:30 am-1:30 pm: Lunch Break
1:30 pm-2:00 pm: Presentation 1
2:00 pm-3:00 pm: Presentation 2
3:00 pm-5:00 pm; Bylaws & Resolutions Meeting
Time TBA: Live Charity Auction

Wednesday, August 22
8:00 am-Noon: BVA Forum: Research Presentations and leadership training
10:30 am-6:30 pm: Exhibit Hall
Noon-3:00 pm: Father Carroll Lunch
3:00 pm-5:00 pm: District Caucus Meetings
Evening To Be Determined

Thursday, August 23
8:00 am-Noon: Closing Business Meeting, Bylaws and Resolutions, Elections, Updates on Future Conventions
1:00 pm-1:45 pm: Legislative Updates
2:00 pm-4:00 pm: Leadership Training
6:00 pm-10:00 pm: Awards Banquet

Friday, August 24
8:00 am-Noon Sightseeing in Galveston. There will be shuttles from the hotel to the Strand District and other points of interest on the island.

Saturday, August 25
Optional Activity USS Stewart and USS Cavalla

During the BVA 67th National Convention, the Greater Houston Regional Group will offer group rates to Association members and their families for a unique and unforgettable opportunity. Galveston's premier fishing spot and the city's largest recreation areas, Seawolf Park, is located on Pelican Island just north of Galveston Island. The Houston Group will offer the Park's "Sleepover Program" August 25-26. Both the USS Stewart and the USS Cavalla are available for this program where participants can "…sleep in the same bunks and walk the same decks that the brave crews did when they were taken into harm's way during World War II."

The USS Stewart is a World War II era Edsall Class Destroyer Escort 238 that was built in Houston, Texas, in 1942 and commissioned May 31, 1943. She commenced North Atlantic convoy operations in 1944, making 30 crossings with occasional enemy submarine and aircraft encounters. The USS Stewart was moved to the Pacific Theater in 1945 to conduct training exercises out of Pearl Harbor until the end of the war. Installed at Seawolf Park in 1974, she is one of only two surviving destroyer escorts in the United States and now stands as a memorial to the many men who served on Destroyer Escorts during World War II.

The USS Cavalla is a Gato class submarine built in the summer of 1943. She served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was capable of carrying 24 torpedoes and a crew of 80 men. On June 19, 1944, on her maiden patrol, she sank the 30,000-ton aircraft carrier Shokaku. This earned her the Presidential Unit Citation. Most of her duty was spent assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, escorting convoys to Europe and the Caribbean. After the war in 1952, she underwent conversion to a new class of American sub, the SSK (Hunter/Killer), to meet the Soviet threat. The USS Cavalla is the only remaining ship from the World War II era that is credited with the sinking of an aircraft carrier.

This educational program for veterans and their families has a minimum requirement of 20 participants and a cost of $20 per person plus transportation. The sleepover includes a pizza dinner. For registration, email Roy Young at royyoung149@windstream.net. The deadline to register for this activity is June 30. See you on the Island!

Remember These Dates

JUNE 20: Early registration deadline. Attendees that register at the Hilton and submit their BVA convention registration by June 15 will be entered to win a complimentary four-night stay during the convention. Announcement of the winner will be made during the Awards Banquet on August 23.

JULY 20: Deadline for mailing in registration form and payment to BVA National Headquarters. After July 20, the late registration fee of $20 per person will automatically be added to a registration resulting in a $120 per person charge.
July 20 is also the deadline for members and regional groups to submit a convention program announcement/ad page. Contact Ms. Hitchcock at 800-669-7079 for additional information on placing announcements or add in the convention program.
July 20 is also the last day to obtain the special room rate, if indeed availability still exits.

JULY 30: Deadline for receipt of the completed Official Proxy for non-attending members (proxy form must be requested from Administrative Director Brigitte Jones).
It is also the deadline for receipt of the completed Regional Group Delegate Credential Forms. The official National Headquarters Proxy Form and Credential Form shall be the only forms recognized at the National Convention.