Quarterly Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting To Be Held In September In Klamath Falls (Photo) - 08/10/26

The third quarterly meeting of 2026 for the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will be held virtually and in person on Wednesday, September 9, in the College Union Crater Lake Complex at the Oregon Institute of Technology, located at 3201 Campus Drive in Klamath Falls. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and will be followed by a town hall meeting at 11:30 a.m., which is open to the public.

Established in 1945, the Advisory Committee holds a distinct and fundamental role in advising the director and staff of ODVA. The nine members of the committee are military veterans from all corners of the state, appointed by the governor to serve and act as advocates for veteran issues and veteran concerns across Oregon.

Following every quarterly business meeting, the committee holds a town hall inviting the public to raise questions or concerns about broad veteran issues or to share information with the committee and agency director.

Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the committee by emailing odva_vaac@odva.oregon.gov. The Advisory Committee meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of March, June, September and December.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Please register at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/2bbb86dc-82be-45fd-b9e6-e2affb3e1d63@aa3f6932-fa7c-47b4-a0ce-a598cad161cf to attend the business or town hall portion of this meeting.

Attendees will be allowed to participate during the town hall portion only and will be invited to turn on their camera and unmute mics during a recorded meeting that will be posted online at a later date.

More information about the Advisory Committee and meeting materials can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Advisory-Committee.aspx.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services or locate a local county or Tribal veteran services office online at oregon.gov/odva.

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Oregon Department Of Veterans' Affairs To Host 2026 Veteran Benefit Expo In Roseburg (Photo) - 07/20/26

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will host its annual Veteran Benefit Expo, Oregon’s largest statewide veteran resource event, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg.

Presented by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Veteran Benefit Expo brings together dozens of federal, state, county, Tribal, nonprofit, educational and community organizations to connect veterans, service members and their families with the benefits, services and opportunities they have earned through their service.

Participating organizations, service providers and veteran benefit and resource experts will be on hand to provide information and direct assistance across a wide range of topics, including VA health care, disability claims, housing, employment, education, long-term care, mental health, recreation, emergency assistance and more. The event will also feature a dedicated Veterans Job Fair connecting attendees with employers and workforce development partners.

“Our Veteran Benefit Expo is designed to be the one-stop shop for all veteran-related benefits and services,” said Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Whether someone recently left military service or served decades ago, we want every veteran and family member who walks through our doors to leave with awareness of veteran benefits they have earned, the resources available in their local communities, new opportunities and the knowledge that they are not alone.”

The Expo is free and open to the public.

Since its launch in 2015, the Veteran Benefit Expo has grown into ODVA’s signature outreach event, traveling to communities across Oregon to improve access to earned benefits and local resources while helping strengthen connections between veterans and the organizations that serve them.

The Oregon Lottery returns as the Expo’s presenting partner. Since Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 96 in 2016, allocating 1.5% of net Lottery proceeds to veterans’ services in the state, Lottery funding has expanded programs and services that improve the lives of Oregon veterans and their families throughout the state.

“Since voters directed a portion of our revenue to services for Oregon veterans, the Lottery has delivered more than $184 million,” noted Lottery Director Mike Wells. “Events like the Veteran Benefit Expo help connect veterans with the benefits they've earned, and we’re honored to play a role in promoting those important resources.”

Organizations interested in exhibiting at the Veteran Benefit Expo may register through Aug. 10. There is no cost to participate, though space is limited. Additional information about the event, including exhibitor registration and event details, is available at expo.oregondva.com.
 

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or Tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva. 

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