The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Women Veterans Advisory Committee is asking women veterans to register today for the free “Honoring the Past, Driving into the Future Summit,” which will be held on Sat., June 29 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, located at 1500 Broadway, in downtown Tacoma.

“With more and more women in the military it is absolutely essential that we connect with them and help them access benefits and services they earned,” said WDVA Director Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos. “All too often I meet women who don’t think they’re veterans for one reason or another. Our message is simple: if you served your country honorably, you are a veteran and we are here to serve you.”

This free summit will provide women veterans with comprehensive information regarding the opportunities and challenges women veterans face today, information on benefits and services they might be entitled to, and the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. Topics to be covered include health, transitioning to civilian life, finance, leadership, wellness, mental health, employment, education / small business and veterans benefits. War reporter Alex Quade will serve as master of ceremonies, and guest speaker BG (Retired) Becky Halstead (USMA ’81) will lead an interactive panel discussion that focuses on individual empowerment and awareness around health and wellness. There is no registration fee. However, pre-registration is required. You can register online at dva.wa.gov/women_vets.html.

The role of the WDVA Women Veterans Advisory Committee is to locate, identify, and assess the needs of Washington women veterans, provide information to meet the needs of women veterans to include benefits, entitlements, education, employment, and training, through a referral and follow-up process; recommend and plan events, which enhance a positive image of women veterans; and coordinate and monitor efforts to accomplish the above goals.

More information is available online at dva.wa.gov.