Gender balance a challenge for VA Posted By: Ben Butler June 11, 2009 @ 4:37 am Today's Local News Tweet Share Email A new state law requiring appointed boards to be gender balanced could prove troublesome for the Washington County Veteran's Affairs Commission. Commissioner Terry Philips says there are simply fewer female veterans than males. However, he says this will give them an opportunity to identify women who have served. The gender balance law goes into effect in 2012.