Annual Commanders Call

Your Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) invite you and your organization leadership to attend the Commanders Call on Wednesday, December 4^th. 

The event will take place at the Thurston County Readiness Center, located at 8303 Kimmie St. SW, Olympia, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

This year’s Commanders Call will focus on three priority areas with an emphasis on supporting rural Veterans and their families. The meeting will include interactive breakout group discussions, allowing attendees to explore these issues in depth. The priority areas are:

1. Suicide Prevention – Save & Transform Lives
2. Unhoused Veterans – Save & Transform Lives
3. Connecting Veterans & Families to Earned Benefits – Be the Leading State in Veteran Service Delivery and Outcomes

Click to RSVP and let us know which priority area you would like to participate in.

To prepare for the meeting, we ask that you consider the questions below with your leadership and bring your ideas with you. 

In relation to each of the three priority areas:

• What barriers or gaps exist?  
• If everything was working very well in this area, what would be (or what is) happening?  (Best practices and possible referral points.)
• Are there regulations (laws, rules, policies) at the State, Federal, or Local level that are barriers?  If there were changes, what opportunities could be created?
• How can other partners support your work?
• What area(s) should Washington State prioritize in 2025?

Additional information:

• WDVA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan
• WDVA Resource List
• Veteran Service Organizations
• Veteran Service Officers / Claims Assistance

This year’s Commanders Call presents an important opportunity to come together as a community and identify ways to prioritize efforts, align statewide commitments, and foster collaboration across the Veteran services network.  We look forward to seeing you on December 4^th!

The Commander's Call will be held at the:

Thurston County Readiness Center 8303 Kimmie St. SW, Olympia

From 9:30 - 12:30 on December 4, 2024.

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