September 2, 2009

Conference to Cover “Coming Home” Issues faced by Vets and Their Families

September 2, 2009 - Washington, D.C. - Veterans and Military Families for Progress, a national membership organization advocating on behalf of veterans, active duty, and military families, released its preliminary agenda today for biennial national conference taking place at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington Virginia on Sept. 25-27, 2009. 

Panel discussions will cover housing and homelessness among vets and their families; educational and employment opportunities;  advocacy and outreach on behalf of this group; military families; intergovernmental best practices; and VMFP’s Veteran and Military Family Savings Bond Program, which has the consideration of decision-makers within the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Friday will include a “day on the hill” opportunity for attendees to visit Members of Congress to remind them of VMFP’s mission.  Members of the VMFP National Capitol Region Chapter will be on hand to escort out-of-town attendees through Congressional offices and transportation will be provided from the hotel to the Capitol Hill.  Friday afternoon’s panel on outreach and advocacy will include Paul Sullivan, Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense; Barbara Leach, President of My Rural America; and, Patrick Campbell, Legislative Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is expected. Kevin Secor Veteran Service Organizations Liaison and Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs will serve as moderator for this special panel session..  A hospitality event Friday evening will include live music and guest speakers including several Members of Congress. 

“Saturday will be jam-packed with information for attendees,” Bill Dooling, Executive Vice President of the national membership organization said. Dooling, retired educator and veteran of the Vietnam War is in charge of the conference’s programming efforts.  “And we are pleased to have Noel Koch, First Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transition Policy and Care Coordination within the Department of Defense deliver remarks about his role there and another role he grew into;  that of full-time grandfather while his daughter and son-in-law were both deployed.”

Saturday evening’s banquet dinner will be another high moment for attendees and a selection of V.I.P. guests are expected to speak.  In addition, the organization will be recognizing the 2009  Max Cleland Lifetime Achievement Award winner, VMFP’s Public Service Award , and the VMFP Torchbearer Award.

Sunday morning the conference will close on a strong note as VMFP’s President, Matt Cary, presents an update on the Veteran and Military Family Savings Bond Program which has been proposed to the administration and various government bodies. The VMFP Savings Bond Program is a way to support those who have served and their families, while not exhausting taxpayer resources.  Following that session, the membership of VMFP will review any bylaws changes, elect new officers and members of the organization’s board of directors, and then close the conference by 2 p.m. 

“We have received registrations from folks across the country, and expect a good sized crowd,” Shawn Van Doren, VMFP’s Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Conference said.  “With the program we have planned, I believe attendees will be very pleased.” 

For information on registration and sponsorship visit the website at www.vmfp.org.  For media passes, use the contact information below. 

Veterans and Military Families for Progress is a 501(c)(4) organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. and recognized as a Veterans Service Organization by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  It is made up of members from across the country, and from across the breadth of rank and military services, who served, are serving, or are members of families of those who have heeded the call to serve their country in the U.S. military.

Contact Information:

Veterans and Military Families for Progress

Maura Satchell, Conference Chair

media@vmfp.org

PO Box 66353

Washington, DC 20035

Cel: (615) 238-5500