Oregon Women Veterans Conference is Set for Wednesday

(ALBANY) - Women veterans from every branch of the service and of all ages and backgrounds will gather in Albany at the Linn County Expo Center, March 23rd, for the bi-annual Oregon Women`s Veterans Conference.

Many women who served in the military do not realize that they miss out on the benefits they earned as a result of their service. This one-day conference serves as an educational tool, and more importantly a day of celebration for the service and sacrifices of women veterans throughout history in defense of our country.

Dynamic speakers will be featured during the day including Gail Hand, who will talk about the Power of Laughter, retired Army veteran Roger Turk (Silencing Your Inner Critic), and Portland folk singer and Army veteran Haris Blackwood will entertain during lunch. Lunch will be provided at no cost to Conference attendees.

Three primary workshops will be offered: Veterans` Benefits, Women`s Health / Sexual Trauma, and Employment / Job Search. Veterans` service representatives will also be available to discuss benefit eligibility and answer questions. A Beauty and Wellness room is new for the 2006 event.

`The Conference is a forum for providing important veterans` benefit information. The 2004 Conference resulted in women veterans receiving thousands of dollars in disability compensation and other benefits," said Paula Brown, Army veteran and Deputy Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans` Affairs. `These were benefits earned as a result of their service and of which they were unaware until they attended the 2004 Conference. The Conference is also a unique opportunity for building camaraderie among women veterans of all eras--World War II up through those returning from Afghanistan and Iraq."

The Conference is put on with the help and cooperation of the Oregon Employment Department, Portland Vet Center, Salem Vet Center, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. There is no charge for the Conference, but seating is limited to the first 400 who call and register.

To register, call toll free within Oregon, 1-800-828-8801, ext. 2384 or 2385 and 2389, or dial direct, 503-373-2384. Conference check-in will begin on site at 8 a.m. The conference runs between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM. The Expo Center is located off of Interstate 5 at exit 234A in Albany.