ODVA Advisory Committee
ODVA release – The next meeting of the Veterans Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in person at Mount Vernon Community Hall, located at 640 Ingle Street in Mount Vernon. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by a town hall meeting, which is open to the public. Since the ODVA Veterans Advisory Committee was established in 1945, it has held a distinct and fundamental role in advising the director and staff of ODVA. The nine Veteran Advisory Committee members are military veterans from all corners of the state, appointed by the governor to serve and act as advocates for veteran issues and veteran concerns across Oregon. This meeting is being held in person only. The public is invited to attend. Following every quarterly business meeting, the committee holds a town hall inviting the public to ask questions or share information with the committee and agency director. This time is set aside for individuals to bring up broader veteran community issues. Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the committee by emailing odva_vaac@odva.oregon.gov. ODVA’s Reports to the Veterans Advisory Committee are available to the public on the ODVA website: www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Advisory-Committee.aspx YouTube: This meeting will be recorded and placed on ODVA’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQVavs9KmvDeJ42ySFtY8A/.
Veteran’s Advisory Committee
ODVA release – Salem YMCA Hosting Veterans Stand Down Event on September 13th. The Salem YMCA will host a Veterans Stand Down event on September 13, 2023, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the YMCA located on 685 Court St NE. The Stand Down will feature a resume workshop (9-10 a.m.), a balancing your budget seminar (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), legal services (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), and a job fair (10 a.m.-1 p.m.). Lunch will be provided and veterans will have the opportunity to speak with organizations about multiple services. Free transportation will also be provided through Cherriots. Other services available include: Medical/dental services; Housing assistance; Counseling & substance abuse referrals; Haircuts; Pet care; Help accessing VA services & benefits; DMV assistance; Legal assistance. If you or a veteran you know has any questions, contact Rosa Macias at rosa.macias@va.gov. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, email Sara at sara@j-one-9.org.