Highlights from AVVA’s 13th National Convention

BY SHARON HOBBS, AVVA PRESIDENT

The 2025 AVVA National Convention is history. It was good to have 87 pre-registered delegates and alternates prepared to discuss and vote on proposed bylaws amendments submitted by our committee and to have members prepared to elect the national Board of Directors for the next term. Here are the highlights:

On Wednesday, AVVA held our Awards Luncheon with about 300 attendees. Gerald Rooks, Director of Veteran Services with Volunteers of America (our Project Friendship recipient), was the guest speaker.

The Commendation Medal is AVVA’s highest award. This year’s recipients were Jack McManus, VVA National President, and Fran Davis, AVVA Missouri At-Large Representative. Both awards were long overdue and both recipients were highly deserving.

The annual awards were presented by the Awards Chair, Tony Gigli. Member-of-the-Year went to Suzanne Blohm-Weber (Florida Chapter 1084). The Fellowship Award recipients were Mary Yanez (Texas Chapter 574), Mark Coan (Missouri Chapter 1014), and Bonnie Juza (Wisconsin Chapter 224).

VISTA awards were presented by the Program Chair, Kathy Andras. She reported that 24,147 volunteer hours were recorded last year. The member with the most volunteer hours was Linda Meyer (Tennessee Chapter 1004); second highest was Diane Gilpin (Florida Chapter 1059); and third was Tammy Adcock (Tennessee Chapter 1004). Region 3 collectively submitted the most volunteer hours. Tennessee was the top state, and Tennessee Chapter 1004 received recognition for the most chapter hours reported. Barbara Coan, the Region 6 Director, received special recognition for her outstanding contribution to our VISTA program.

Before the business session on Thursday morning, we honored two AVVA members. Bobbie Morris (Pennsylvania) and Jeanette Cox (Missouri) were inducted into the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor. AVVA is very proud of them.

Twenty-six bylaws amendments were submitted for approval. Of those, 17 were adopted. Details on the amendments will be posted in the minutes section on our website soon. On Friday morning, AVVA held national elections. Congratulations to the following people elected to our National Board for the next two years: Officers: President, Sharon Hobbs (Tennessee). Vice President, Kathy Andras (Texas). Secretary, Nina Schloffel (California). Treasurer, Joanne Blum (Florida).

Regional Directors: Region 1 vacant. Region 2, Bobbie Morris (Pennsylvania). Region 3, Wynella Bethards (Kentucky). Region 4, Mary Anne Newman (Florida). Region 5, Anthony Gigli (Indiana). Region 6, Barbara Coan (Missouri). Region 7, Terri Rangel (Texas). Region 8, Jennifer Ellis (Oregon). Region 9, Michelle Mackey (California).

Regional Deputy Directors: Region 1 Deputy vacant. Region 2, Lori Calamita-Paton (New York). Region 3 Beverly Pounds (Tennessee). Region 4, Brendia Nix (Georgia). Region 5, Penny Meinhardt (Michigan). Region 6, Jeanette Cox (Missouri). Region 7, Anita Washburn (Texas). Region 8, Ruth Feliciano (Oregon). Region 9 Deputy, vacant.

Our Project Friendship recipient was Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana in New Orleans. AVVA presented a check to them for $27,700 during the VVA Closing Ceremonies. I want to thank everyone who responded with a contribution; your outpouring of donations was astounding. We passed our goal and went on to collect more. We couldn’t have done it without VVA and AVVA nationals, states, chapters, and individuals.

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