In a speech at the American Legion State Convention today, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that the Governor’s Minnesota Veterans Summit will take place on September 21, 2006 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This one day summit will provide information and resources to veterans and those who shape public policy and provide services to returning combat veterans and their families. Government, private sector and non-profits organizations, as well as veterans and their families, are invited to attend.

“The Governor’s Minnesota Veterans Summit will be a chance for us to come together as a whole state to address the needs of veterans and their families,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Our goal is simple and straightforward: we want to make Minnesota the national leader in the providing services to those who have fought bravely for our country.”

The purpose of the summit is to familiarize the public with the services available to soldiers, veterans, and their families, to identify problems or roadblocks in the delivery of services to veterans and their families, and to open dialogue among service providers, policy makers, and those returning from combat. Nationally recognized experts in the areas of the reintegration of solders and veterans will be presenting information and information tables of service providers will be set up through out the day.

The schedule of events for the summit is as follows:
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Minnesota Veterans Summit
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Veterans’ Resource Fair

To register for the summit, visit http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/vetssummit.