On Monday, October 17th, Nevada County will welcome the members of the California Association of County Veterans Services (CACVSO) as a host for their annual fall conference. County Veterans Services Offices (CVSO’s) are usually the first contact that a veteran, family member, or surviving spouse makes when initially seeking the federal, state, or local benefits that are available to veterans and their families. The CACVSO has 53 members that represent the 58 individual counties within the state. As a group, the CACVSO advocates for veterans at the state level and supports or proposes legislation that will positively impact the veterans of California.
Hosting the CACVSO Fall Conference provides an opportunity for leaders from the VA and CalVet to see firsthand the needs of the veterans in our community. Nevada County was asked to host this event because of the significant progress that it has made in reducing veterans’ homelessness. The county has established itself as a model for what can be accomplished through positive collaboration between multiple agencies to solve complex problems such as veteran homelessness. Furthermore, this will also allow for the VA and CalVet leadership to gain insight into the challenges that exist for our aging and low-income veteran population when discussing available resources in rural Northern California counties.
On Thursday, October 20th, the CACVSO Conference will conclude with a Women Veterans Townhall at the Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building beginning at 4:30 pm, which will be hosted by your Nevada County Veterans Services Office. This town hall will be an opportunity for the veteran women of Nevada County to discuss the resources that they need in this community with the Chair of the CACVSO Women Veteran Committee, Rochelle Arnold, and the CACVSO’s First Female President, Rhonda Murphy. The information that is gathered from this town hall will then be used to assist with the advocacy for women veterans throughout the state.
To conclude this special event, the Vietnam Veterans of America – Nevada County Chapter 535, American Legion Frank Gallino Post 130, Honor Flight of the Sierra’s, and the Nevada County Veterans Services Office will be hosting a night of laughter and fun. Comedian Steph Clark of Funny Girl Events, and Tom Clark, who has appeared on numerous specials, will provide two hours of jokes for the veterans of Nevada County. The show will begin at 7 pm and will be free to the public, and seating is limited. Food trucks and drinks will be available.
David West is the Nevada County Veterans Service Officer. Reach him at (530) 265-1446 or david.west@co.nevada.ca.us. The Nevada County Veteran’s Services Office, 988 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA, is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.