AMVETS TO HOST SYMPOSIUM FOR TODAY’S VETERANS

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 6, 2010—This summer, AMVETS will bring up to 100 of this nation’s young veterans to the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky., for three days, Aug. 9-11, to discuss issues facing their generation as they return from the battlefield as part of the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention.

The 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans will be a streamlined follow-up to AMVETS’ 2006 National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans. From this summer’s event, AMVETS will develop a new comprehensive report on the needs of our newest combat veterans and introduce new programs designed to meet their needs.

When AMVETS Executive Director Jim King brought the idea to the floor of the AMVETS National Executive Committee meeting for a vote last fall, Past National Commander William A. Boettcher took to the microphone and called on his fellow AMVETS to support the measure, calling the idea, “long overdue.”

Over the last few months, AMVETS leaders, with support from Merlin International, HealthNet, Paws With A Cause, and Humana Health Services, have worked tirelessly to muster support within the organization and among key veterans’ leadership to make this summer’s symposium a reality, and AMVETS posts and departments from around the country have sent participants to Louisville for the event.

Keeping with the inclusive traditions of AMVETS, veterans will represent a diverse cross section of personal and military service backgrounds in an effort to best grasp the issues facing all facets of the men and women who have worn the nation’s cloth in the 21st century.

Upon arriving in Louisville, participants will be assigned to breakout sessions to address major issues affecting the 21st century veterans’ community in three specific categories: Benefits, health care and reintegration.

Once in their breakout groups, subject-matter experts and AMVETS personnel will help guide discussions on a variety of subjects in the context of the group’s overlying mission, such as USERRA issues, VA benefits delivery, health care priority levels, womens’ health issues, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, homelessness and veterans’ unemployment.

Participants in this summer’s symposium will base their discussions off of AMVETS’ report from the 2006 symposium, discussing progress on proposed solutions and identifying potential new issues that may have arisen over the years.

Each discussion will be meticulously documented and results will be compiled for a final presentation to be issued during the General Session of the AMVETS National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 11. AMVETS will then compile a new working document for national leaders to use as a guide to the issues concerning today’s veterans for years to come.

American Veteran magazine, the official publication of AMVETS, will chronicle the symposium events daily on the magazine’s blog. To follow along live throughout the three-day event, visit http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com.

About AMVETS:
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.