June 9, 2009

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to host Women Veterans Conference at Fort McCoy
Outreach event is third yearly conference for women veterans

(MADISON) - The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will host, "Women Veterans - Facing the Challenges," the 3rd Annual State of Wisconsin Women Veterans Conference, beginning Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2009 at the Wisconsin Military Academy, located at 90 South 10th Ave., Fort McCoy, Wis.

The conference will feature presentations, workshops, and static displays, and will provide information for and about women veterans, including federal and state benefits, programs, and services for veterans and topics of interest including employment, education, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and reintegration.

Among the prominent guest speakers will be Kenneth B. Black, Acting Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, who will provide the welcome, and keynote speaker Major General (Ret.) Marianne Mathewson-Chapman, former Deputy Surgeon General for the Army National Guard in Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen. Mathewson-Chapman has provided oversight of the health and wellness of 350,000 Army National Guard service members in 54 states and territories, and was the first woman in the Army National Guard promoted to the rank of Major General. She retired in August 2005 after serving over 35 years of military service. Currently she is the Nurse Executive at the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for ensuring VA Services and Benefits are accessible to the National Guard and Reservists returning from OIF/OEF. She lectures widely on VA services and benefits to all senior level Guard and Reserve leadership and family readiness organizations.

Several workshops will be held, with topics including, "Issues that face women veterans and their families," veterans benefits, compensation and pension, yoga, and social networking/web safety.

Registration sign-in will take place at the Wisconsin Military Academy at Fort McCoy from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, September 18 and from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 19. Registration forms are available online (or can be mailed to those calling to register) and must be returned to WDVA by August 31, 2009.

For more information, visit the WDVA Women Veterans webpage to access the conference agenda and register online at www.WisVets.com/womenvets, or contact WDVA's Women Veterans Coordinator Gundel Metz at (608) 266-1312. For information on WDVA programs and services visit our home page at www.WisVets.com or call toll-free 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).