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For subscribers interested in reading the full stories that are introduced with each entry, we have created accessible versions of the full newsletter, complete with an interactive Table of Contents, available in both Word and PDF formats.

On behalf of the National Board of Directors and National Headquarters staff, BVA Happenings wishes all Association members and their families an uplifting and enjoyable Veterans Day this Wednesday, November 11. Wherever you may be and in whichever Veterans Day activities you choose to participate, we hope it is an enjoyable and uplifting day. 

Although deemed by many as only a token of appreciation compared to all that America’s veterans have sacrificed, an abundance of Veterans Day discounts throughout the country are available to BVA members this year. The lists of offerings, compiled and continuously updated by VA, include restaurants, retail and grocery outlets, personal care establishments (primarily haircuts and styling), car care businesses, and family attractions that include parks and recreation, museums, and other tourist attractions.

Some discounts are available only on Veterans Day while others are good throughout November. To access the list and the dozens of specific offers, click the button below. Return to the list periodically prior to Veterans Day to capture important updates.

Ahoy There! Register Now for 2027 Convention Cruise

Photo Caption: Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, site of the BVA 81st National Convention

Registration is open for BVA members and their families who would like to attend the April 12-16, 2027, BVA 81st National Convention Cruise to the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Visit BVA.org under the Convention tab for cruise details and the registration link, or use the registration button below this article.

Important Registration Information 

All attendees must register online to submit the required information securely. BVA staff can answer general questions but cannot register attendees. For registration questions and assistance, email bvacruise@landrykling.com during business hours, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern Time. An agent will respond as quickly as possible. Please do not attempt to contact Royal Caribbean directly.

Within two weeks of registering, you will receive a confirmation email with your reservation/booking ID and instructions for completing required forms for special needs and guide dogs. A group rate for guests arriving Sunday, April 11, 2027, the night before departure, is being finalized. Details will appear shortly in BVA Happenings and on the Convention webpage at BVA.org. Get ready to make fun waves with BVA in 2027!

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Cruise to the Bahamas: Basic Schedule

Dates, times, and agenda times may vary slightly and are approximate.



• Monday, April 12, 2027 – Leave Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Port Everglades) at 4:00pm; embarkation expected to begin around noon, and guests are required to be checked in and onboard the ship by 2:30pm (90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time).
• Tuesday, April 13 – Day at Sea/Cruising.
• Wednesday, April 14 – Nassau, Bahamas, 7:30am-5:30pm.
• Thursday, April 15 – Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, 7:30am-5:00pm.
• Friday, April 16 – Return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Port Everglades) by 6:00am, guests to disembark the ship between 7:00am and 9:00am (flights home should not depart prior to noon).

Mark your calendars for the next Board of Directors virtual Town Hall dedicated to the topic of the National Convention. The Town Hall is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, at 3:00pm Eastern Time. The session will cover key registration information, excursion and package updates, and the latest news about the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas cruise. Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting.

Below are the upcoming events for Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Distribution. BVA staff members are not directly involved with these specific events, but BVA members are still welcome at each one. If you are unable to attend one of these events, you can still receive your glasses from BVA by mail. More information about each event can be found in the Word and PDF documents.

• Mesa, AZ - November 7 
• Pittsburgh, PA - November 9 
• Branson, MO - November 10
• Fort Worth, TX - November 12

If you are a BVA member and are interested in receiving the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, or if you have applied to receive them via phone call or by applying through the BVA website, no action is currently needed on your part. You will be notified when we are getting ready to ship out your glasses.

Our tiny team is working to audit for fraud, receive shipments from Meta, and hand-pack each pair for shipping. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

It is not necessary to contact the BVA National Board of Directors, BVA National Headquarters, the Veterans Service Program’s National Service Officers, or anyone at VA about the glasses. 

Photo 1 Caption: Lisa Ehrlich, Florida Regional Group, shared first-place honors in the fall foliage context for her colorful autumn outdoor creation.

BVA members Lisa Ehrlich and Michaun Harrison are the co-winners of the BVA fall foliage display contest, initiated and carried out at the onset of the fall season by Gardening Interest Group Leader and BVA National Treasurer Monique Statham. The highlight of both entries was a striking diversity of color. Lisa’s entry consisted of a friendly scarecrow display that included a guide dog, pumpkins, and colorful autumn leaves throughout. Michaun created a table centerpiece oriented to a Thanksgiving Day meal. See the accompanying photos.

Photo 2 Caption: Thanksgiving centerpiece display by Michaun Harrison, Mid-Atlantic Regional Group, garnered first-place honors for her as well.

Both the Adaptive Sports and Activities Interest Group and VetTech will take a leave of absence next Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10 and 11, respectively. For the first time since VetTech’s beginning four years ago, the scheduled session next week falls directly on Veterans Day.

Enjoy the special day at a Veterans Day community or national event, or at home comfortably with family and friends. Unless otherwise advised about a possible makeup session, the Adaptive Sports and Activities Interest Group will next meet on Tuesday, December 8, since it meets monthly. As a weekly meeting, VetTech will resume the Wednesday after next (November 18). 

• The title of Marine never fades.
• Once a Marine, always a Marine.
• There is no such thing as a former Marine, an ex-Marine, or a retired Marine.
• No former Marines, only Marines.

At no other time of year are those creeds more openly exhibited than on November 10, the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The birthday this year marks 251 years of service to the nation--even before the nation officially became a nation in 1775.

Join the most recently produced episode of Visions of BVA in which podcast host Steve Baskis interviews David Szumowski – Vietnam War veteran, Past BVA National President, retired Southern California judge, and author of Reach for More: A Journey from Loss to Love AND Fulfillment, a memoir he published in 2019.

The November podcast became available last weekend. It can be accessed on all major platforms, most notably the Association’s YouTube Channel, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. 

Photo Caption: National Library Service patrons can read David Szumowski’s Reach for More: A Journey from Loss to Love AND Fulfillment via Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). The BARD book number is DB 99056. Narrated by Stephen Van Doren, the book is a read of 4:22 (four hours, twenty-two minutes)

Members of the Blinded Veterans Association Auxiliary (BVAA) will meet virtually via Zoom in the organization’s bimonthly Town Hall this Tuesday, November 10, at 8:00pm Eastern Time, BVAA National President Kenneth Witt announced earlier this week. Please plan to attend using the link below.

BVAA is comprised of family members and friends of veterans with sight loss. Its mission is to support these men, women, and families in any way possible—from securing health insurance to paying for education. The organization serves as a wealth of support and information to caregivers of all ages and relationships to America’s blind and low-vision veterans.

Attention BVA members residing in District 3: A special Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00pm Eastern Time, Director of District 3 Kenneth Mitchell announced this week. All BVA members in District 3 are invited and encouraged to attend the Town Hall, which is being coordinated and sponsored by the Florida Regional Group.

The Blinded Veterans Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Time: November 17, 2026, 3:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 812 2129 3105

Passcode: 247250

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,81221293105#,,,,*247250# US (Washington, DC)

+13052241968,,81221293105#,,,,*247250# US (Chicago)

BVA’s Book Club Interest Group has selected Bodily Harm by Robert Dugoni to read during most of November until its next meeting on November 25. Bodily Harm is a pulse-pounding story of corporate greed, espionage, and the lengths one individual is willing to go for justice. The BARD number for Bodily Harm is DB 71305, and the total reading time is 12:20 (12 hours, 20 minutes). Narrating the book is the popular Dan John Miller.



Bodily Harm opens with a big win for David Sloane and his new partner, Tom Pendergrass, in a malpractice case centered on the death of a young child. But on the heels of this seeming victory, an unlikely character—toy designer Kyle Horgan— comes forward to tell Sloane that he’s gotten it all wrong: Horgan is the one who is truly responsible for the little boy’s death and possibly others—not the pediatrician Sloane has just proven guilty.

Ambassadog Scoop Series Courtesy of Waymo

VA Insider

VA and the Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC), of which BVA is an original member, have announced the release of the 2026 Veterans Day Teachers Resource Guide. The annual updated guide supports educators, youth leaders, and community organizations in teaching the history and significance of Veterans Day while honoring all who served. The online guide is a well-kept secret when it comes to materials about this unique day.

It goes without saying that life in 2026 can be complicated. For all the planning that is done for a productive day or week, there are unexpected traffic tie-ups, a computer problem, an ill parent or child, a flat tire, a sudden power outage, a leaky kitchen faucet that keeps dripping even after O-rings are replaced, an inordinately long line at the post office, or visits to three different stores to finally find a needed item. The list of stressors is unending.

Next Week's Events

Adaptive Sports and Activities Interest Group

VetTech and Educational Series

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.