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September 26, 2025

Countdown to Fall Gardening, Still Time to Register 

The Fall session of the Gardening Interest Group facilitated by Monique Statham will bloom once again in only ten days. The series of five-week virtual sessions begins on October 6. Open to all blind and low vision veterans via zoom on Monday evenings at 6:00pm Eastern Time, the series will focus on Fall gardening, open discussions with guest speakers, and a scarecrow contest!

For links to join the calls, please visit the calendar at BVA.org. A Zoom link and other detailed information will also be provided in next week’s BVA Happenings.

The first five NEW participants (must be a BVA member) will receive a free gardening kit courtesy of Team BVA. To qualify for a kit, please complete the Team BVA Registration Form by clicking the button below. Be sure to select the gardening option on the drop-down menu.

BVA Receives Written Thank You for Meta Connect 2025 Participation

Officials at Meta (formerly Facebook) have sent a written expression of thanks to BVA Executive Director Dr. Vernon Humphrey and Legislative Director Lea Rowe for attending and contributing to a DC Connect Happy Hour Reception on September 18 in the Nation’s Capital. Last week’s BVA Happenings included a brief recap of the worldwide virtual event that originated in Menlo Park, California, and specifically BVA’s involvement.

Finding His Way Back to Music: The Story of Stephen Butler

A BVA Happenings Original  

When Navy veteran and current BVA Judge Advocate Stephen Butler lost his vision, his world went dark in more ways than one. Then a diagnosis of advanced diabetes took the feeling in his hands and feet, leaving him without spatial awareness, and without the tactile feedback needed to navigate the world or play the musical instruments he once loved.

“I went from being a warrior, capable of completing any mission, to holding onto someone’s elbow just to avoid tripping over a curb,” Stephen recalls. “It was humiliating, and I didn’t see a way forward.”

District Director Welcomed at Youth Hockey Club 50th Anniversary

BVA Director of District 1 John O’Connell appeared by invitation at the Winding River Skating Center in his now hometown of Toms River, New Jersey, on September 13. The occasion was a Saturday launch of the Toms River Hockey Club’s 50th anniversary season.

Prior to the drop of the puck, players welcomed both John and Alex DePalma, the latter of whom co-founded the Brick Starts Challenger Organization in 2009 to teach skating and hockey to children and young adults with developmental disabilities.

Louisiana/Mississippi Joins VFW and American Legion in Presenting Braille Flags

Donations of Braille flags and plaques continue to forge ahead in the deep south as the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group teamed up on this occasion with American Legion Post 19 and the Jennings Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3686 on September 18 to donate a plaque, this time to the Jeff Davis Parish Visitor Center in southwestern Louisiana.

The group also donated a Braille flag at the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park Visitor Center in an accessible location for the public to see and feel. The Jeff Davis Parish consists of the towns of Elton, Lake Arthur, and Welsh, as well as 20 unincorporated communities. Learn more about the plaque and flag presentations.

Remembering Gold Star Families This Weekend

In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day. The observance continues today but includes the entire family, now officially designated as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day by proclamation of President Barack Obama in 2011 to honor parents and families of service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in defense of their country. The 2025 observance is this Sunday, September 28. 

Ambassadog Scoop Series Courtesy of Waymo

Hannah here again and I am thrilled to announce that the 2026 BVA Ambassadog Calendar/Planner will be available at the end of October. The 13-month large print item features BVA’s Ambassadog Teams, programs and services provided to our blind and low vision veterans, military and federal holidays, and much more. The anticipation of the rollout of these calendars among my fellow guide dogs is overflowing.

The calendar will be available for purchase at the BVA Store. Bulk orders of ten or more may be purchased by emailing Patrick at pfischer@accessibility.net. 

Our gratitude extends to BVA’s friend Patrick at Accessibility dot Net, Inc. for his “pawesome” sponsorship and for supporting BVA’s Ambassadog Teams. Celebrate the upcoming year with BVA and allow the Ambassadogs to guide you and show you the way! 

Ways to Give

Your BVA Store — A Great Way to Give 

VA Insider

Latest Grant Awards to Fight Veteran Homelessness Total $84 Million

VA this week announced $42 million in grants to cover legal services for homeless veterans and another $42 million for case management services. The latter grants aim to improve housing retention by veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless, or who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing. Some 176 organizations across the country are beneficiaries of the grants.

Next Week's Events

Ambassador Educational Series

September 30, 2025 (Tuesday), 2:00pm Eastern Time



The session is open only to BVA members who previously signed up for Ambassador training.

VetTech and Educational Series

October 1, 2025 (Wednesday), 3:00pm Eastern Time

BVA is a congressionally chartered 501(c)3 Veterans Service Organization accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Our Employer Identification Number is 53-0214281. All contributions are fully tax-deductible.