Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America Blind Businessmen and Businesswomen Building a Better America!

A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW…

RSVA has a major concern regarding the future of the Randolph-Sheppard program.  It is very important for you and for all BEP vendors in the United States to understand we are facing a weakening and possible ultimate destruction of our Randolph-Sheppard Amendment. 
 
Recently, the Department of Defense (DOD) submitted changes in the DOD food contracting initiative on military bases.  These changes can and will affect the Randolph-Sheppard Act in that our priority is not necessarily a significant factor in obtaining DOD military food contracts on military bases when bids are submitted.

The DOD Initiative, passed by Congress and signed by the President, is apparently very ambiguous, as well as incoherent in its full spectrum.  This may lead to legal recourse that questions the validity of decisions made on DOD food contracts on military bases.  Obviously, the DOD is ignoring and circumventing the Randolph-Sheppard Program.  If there has ever been a time that RSVA needs manpower and financial aid, it is NOW.  Please contact the RSVA Board members or Ralph Sanders, our RSVA Legislative Committee chairperson, and help in any way that you possibly can, with either visiting or writing your Congressmen and Senators.  As RSVA develops a strategy to counter this DOD threat, we may even submit a “counter” legislative bill.

Also, please send your tax-free donation to RSVA.  We desperately need to raise money for legislative professionals.  As you all know, in November 2005, a coalition of blind organizations and others was formed to develop an idea to expand our priority pursuit in other businesses.  We called this idea the Randolph-Sheppard Act Enhancement Proposal.  This proposal involved moving BEP over to the Commerce Department, where their business acumen and Small Business Loans programs would be of great benefit to us. 

This Enhancement Proposal will enable licensed blind individuals, who have been trained to manage and operate food businesses, to go into other forms of businesses.  There are over 91,000 Federal Contracts available to individuals or companies to bid on.  The Enhancement Proposal would give licensed blind individuals a priority on these bids.  A strategy will be developed to obtain a Senate Bill number and pursue this idea through the legislative process next spring.

Once again, RSVA will need your help financially, as well as a dedicated effort in contacting your local Washington officials.  Please contact Ralph Sanders at 702-733-7570 for any questions regarding this legislation.

AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS' MEETING AND LEGISLATIVE SEMINAR

In 2007, ACB will be holding both the affiliate presidents' meeting and the legislative seminar in Washington, D.C.  We hope many of you will begin making your plans to attend one or both of these meetings, as we expect that we will have a full agenda for both.

The affiliate presidents' meeting will begin on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, and run through around noon on Sunday, Feb. 25. The legislative seminar will begin later on Sunday afternoon and run through Tuesday, Feb. 27. Both of these events will be held at the Holiday Inn-Rosslyn at Key Bridge, which is located at 1900 N. Fort Myer Dr. in Arlington, Va. This hotel is right across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and is very accessible by both the Metro and taxicab. The Rosslyn Metro station is within a short walking distance from the hotel. And the room rate is only $99 plus 10.25 percent tax per room per night! The hotel is ready to accept reservations now, so please don’t wait to call them at either (703) 807-2000, or toll-free 1-888-465-4329. When you call, be sure you give them our group code, which is ACB.

LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT VIA THE AUCTION

The California Chapter of RSVA (RSVC) will be hosting an auction at the NTCBV Conference Wednesday evening, February 7, 2007.  A no host/cash bar reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the auction will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Proceeds from the auction will be for support of the RSVA Legislative effort.

Donations of auction items will be greatly appreciated.  Please contact David Hanlon at (858) 610-0825 for item pick-up.  Please join us for an evening of social fun, highlighted by earning funding for RSVA legislative endeavors. RSVC is a non-profit organization, as well as RSVA, so remember your donations are catalogued with a tax receipt, making your purchases even more valuable.   Remember, Valentine’s Day is one week later.   This will be an excellent opportunity to purchase something exciting for your special loved one as well as support such an important cause!