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The American Veterinary Medical Association provides numerous opportunities for volunteers to serve both the profession and the Association. Only through the efforts of volunteer leadership does the AVMA achieve success and meet the goals necessary to serve the profession. The Association includes leadership roles in different areas of veterinary medicine – from legislation to education. Your service as a volunteer leader will help you to grow as a veterinarian and help the veterinary profession to grow as well.

Take advantage of the opportunity to work with your colleagues on challenging issues and projects that will help shape the future of veterinary medicine.

Follow the links below to view a list of open positions for the councils and committees.

Council vacancies

Top

• Council vacancies to be filled in 2009
  
  
• Council nomination form (.rtf)
  
  
• Campaign guide

Committee, task force, and trust vacancies		Top

• Committee, task force, and trust vacancies to be filled in 2009
  
  
• Committee, task force, and trust nomination form (.rtf)
  
  
• Executive Board protocol for appointments (PDF)

Liaison vacancies		Top

• Liaison vacancies to be filled in 2009
  
  

Officers		Top

The officers of the Association include the president, president-elect, vice president, executive vice president, assistant executive vice president, and treasurer. Specific duties and responsibilities of the officers are detailed in the AVMA Constitution and Bylaws.

The president, president-elect, and vice president must be active members of the Association for at least ten years immediately prior to their election. All other officers must be active members of the Association immediately prior to their election.

The vice president and president-elect are elected at each annual session of the House of Delegates. The terms of the president, president-elect, and vice president commence at the first regular meeting of the Executive Board following the close of the annual session of the House of Delegates at which they were elected. The president-elect immediately and automatically succeeds to the office of president at the end of the term as president-elect. The president automatically succeeds to the office of immediate past president at the end of the term as President.

The executive vice president, assistant executive vice president, and treasurer are elected annually by the Executive Board. The treasurer can serve a maximum of 6 consecutive, one-year terms.

Executive Board		Top

The Executive Board is the administrative body of the Association—its responsibilities include appointing AVMA committees, trusts, and task forces. Executive Board members must be active members of the Association for as least 5 years immediately prior to their election and must reside in the district from which they are elected. Each district member of the Board is elected for a 6-year term by mail ballot of the AVMA members in their districts for terms of 6 years. The Executive Board holds 5 regular meetings each year between the annual sessions of the House of Delegates.

House of Delegates		Top

The House of Delegates is the legislative body of the Association-its responsibilities include electing the president, the president-elect, the vice president, council members, and the House Advisory Committee.

The House is composed of 1 delegate and 1 alternate delegate from each constituent organization represented. Delegates and alternate delegates represent the principal veterinary organization of each state, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions of the United States, select allied organizations, the Uniformed Services of the US, and the Student AVMA, which meet the criteria set forth in the Association Bylaws. House members are selected by their respective association for terms of 4 years, unless terminated earlier by the organization. Annual sessions are held each year just before or during the convention. The House meets formally during the AVMA Annual Meeting, and informally during the annual Informational Assembly in January held in conjunction with the Veterinary Leadership Conference.

House Advisory Committee		Top

The House Advisory Committee (HAC) is composed of 7 members elected by the House of Delegates to advise and make recommendations to the House of Delegates and Executive Board, and to review and approve the credentials of candidates for president, president-elect, vice president, councils, and the House Advisory Committee. HAC members represent the following categories: private practice, predominantly food animal; private practice, predominantly equine; private practice, mixed, with several species of animals including both food or equine and small companion animal; private practice, predominantly small animal; teaching and research; federal or state government salaried veterinarians; and at-large. The HAC usually meets 5 times per year—twice during the AVMA Convention, once immediately prior to the Veterinary Leadership Conference, and once each in the fall and spring.

Councils		Top
View council vacancies

The AVMA Constitution and Bylaws call for 7 standing councils. The councils serve as advisory bodies to the Executive Board. The councils anticipate the needs of the profession, address issues in their assigned areas, and recommend appropriate actions to the Executive Board. Council members are elected to 6-year terms by the House of Delegates at an annual session to represent specific areas of the profession. The Councils meet twice a year.

Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents		Top

This council serves as an informational and advisory resource to government agencies and to other AVMA groups on issues pertaining to veterinary biologics, drugs, and other therapeutic agents. The Council also fosters the proper use of biologic and therapeutic agents in the practice of veterinary medicine.

Examples of Council activity include improving animal vaccine label content to provide additional meaningful information to veterinarians to assist them in customizing vaccine recommendations for their patients; furnishing comprehensive veterinary education on animal product issues; advocating for animals and veterinarians regarding the proper use of compounded drugs; addressing Internet issues affecting veterinary practice with regulatory officials, including pharmacy and diagnostic testing; and reviewing and enhancing the adverse event reporting systems for animal health products.

Representation:
The Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents consists of 12 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for terms of 6 years. Members represent the following areas of veterinary medical activity: microbiology; immunology; pharmacology; clinical pharmacology; private clinical practice, predominantly small animal; private clinical practice, predominantly food animal; private clinical practice, predominantly equine; epidemiology; industry, exclusive; and at-large.

View complete entity description

Council on Communications		Top

The CoC studies and analyzes public perception of the AVMA and veterinary medicine, and recommends projects to improve relationships between the veterinary profession and its numerous publics.

Examples of Council activity include a project to produce a series of children's pet stories; helping to develop the "Dedicated to Service" production video and CD ROM for veterinarians interested in learning about new advances in their field; and the production of an "Animal Welfare 101" educational presentation for members the covers the basics of the current animal welfare debate.

Representation:
The Council consists of 10 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for 6-year terms. Members represent the following areas of veterinary medical activity: private practice, predominantly small animal (2 members); private practice, predominantly food animal (1 member); private practice, predominantly equine (1 member); non-private practice (1 member); public health or regulatory veterinary medicine (1 member); and at large (4 members).

View complete entity description

The Council on Education		Top

The Council on Education recommends standards for veterinary medical education and evaluates and accredits veterinary colleges based on approved standards. The Council also reviews the actions of the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, and the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. The Council is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the official accrediting body for veterinary colleges in the United States. The Council acts independently in making its accreditation decisions.

Representation:
The Council includes 15 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for terms of 6 years. These members represent the following areas of veterinary medical activity: basic or preclinical science (2 members active in this field who are members of the faculty of a university having an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine or a department of veterinary science); large animal clinical science (1 member in this field who is a member of the faculty of a university having an accredited school or college or veterinary medicine); small animal clinical science (1 member active in this field who is a member of the faculty of a university having an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine); postgraduate education (1 member who is actively directing post-professional students in an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine or in a university department of veterinary science); veterinary medical research (1 member who is actively engaged in veterinary research for the majority of the time, or the close director of others who are); private food animal clinical practice (1 member whose veterinary endeavor is exclusively food animal practice); private mixed clinical practice (1 member whose veterinary endeavor is clinical practice with several species of animals including both food or equine and small companion animals); private small animal clinical practice (1 member whose veterinary endeavor is exclusively small animal practice); private equine practice (1 member whose veterinary endeavor is exclusively equine practice); private clinical practice, not further specified (2 members whose veterinary endeavor is exclusively private clinical practice); veterinary preventive medicine (1 member whose veterinary endeavor is in the field of epidemiology, public health, regulatory, or military veterinary medicine); non-private practice, non-academic veterinary medicine (1 member); and at-large.

The Council includes 4 additional voting members and 1 nonvoting (liaison) member as follows: representatives of the public (3 individuals who are not veterinarians) appointed by the Council for a term of 6 years; a Canadian veterinarian to be appointed and funded by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association for a term of 3 years; a veterinarian (nonvoting liaison) appointed and funded by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges for a term of 3 years.

Examples of Council activity include annual review of educational standards; foreign and domestic accreditation; site visits; reviews of annual reports; consultative site visits and review.

Travel:
Each member is expected to attend 2, 2-1/2 day meetings, 1 in the spring and 1 in the fall, at AVMA Headquarters in Schaumburg, IL. In addition, each member will make at least 1 and up to 4 site-visit trips to colleges each year. Site visits usually start Sunday evening and end the following Thursday afternoon, and involve 12- to 16-hour work days. AVMA pays no honorariums for this service, but will reimburse members for all travel, food, and lodging expense while away from home on AVMA business.

View complete entity description

The Judicial Council		Top

The Judicial Council is the judicial branch of the association and has jurisdiction on all questions of veterinary medical ethics and the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws, and other rules of the Association. The council also investigates and recommends actions pertaining to general professional conditions and matters pertaining to the relationship of veterinarians to one another and to the public. The council also has the authority to request the president of the Association to appoint investigating juries to which it can refer complaints or evidence of unethical conduct which in its judgment are of a serious and substantial nature.

Examples of Council activity include review of proposed revisions to the AVMA Constitution and Bylaws, AVMA governing document interpretation for various AVMA entities, and proposed revisions to the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics.

Representation:
The Judicial Council consists of 5 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for 6-year terms.

View complete entity description

Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine		Top

This Council recommends and encourages programs designed to prevent, control, and eradicate animal diseases with the participation of local practitioners. The Council also studies problems of zoonotic diseases and of production, processing, and distribution of foods of animal origin as they relate to ensuring an adequate food supply that is clean, sound, wholesome, and free from adulteration.

Examples of Council activity include cooperative efforts with the USDA APHIS to develop a new national veterinary accreditation program; assisting in publication of the new, 3rd edition of Zoonosis updates; and addressing threats of foreign animal diseases and bioterrorism.

Representation:
The Council consists of 10 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for 6-year terms. Members represent public health agencies or the armed forces (4 members), agricultural agencies (4 members), and at-large (2 members).

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Council on Research		Top

This Council promotes scientific investigation in all areas of veterinary medicine by maintaining liaison relationships with a variety of biomedical research organizations; identifying and recommending strategic alliances among groups within and outside of veterinary medicine to support and encourage research that advances animal and human health; communicating with the veterinary profession, the biomedical research community, public agencies, and the general public to publicize and promote the role, significance, and relevance of veterinary biomedical research in improving animal and human health; establishing veterinary research priorities; providing recommendations on research policies and priorities; reviewing research grant proposals; selecting research award winners; promoting the communication and dissemination of research information through such vehicles as the American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR); and collaborating with the AJVR editor-in-chief in determining broad journal policies.

Examples of Council activity include sponsorship and organization of the Breakthroughs in Clinical Practice sessions at the AVMA Annual Convention; defining mechanisms to ensure better training of more clinical researchers; defining mechanisms by which a suitable and effective infrastructure for consistent funding of companion animal disease can be completed; and liaison with 6 national/international organizations actively involved in promoting veterinary, biomedical, and agricultural research.

Representation:
The Council on Research consists of 10 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for 6-year terms. Members represent the following areas of veterinary medical activity: veterinary medical research (6 members who are predominantly engaged in active research at the time of election); private clinical practice (2 members who are predominantly engaged in private clinical practice); and veterinary medical colleges (2 members who serve as dean or associate dean/director of research at an AVMA-accredited school or college of veterinary medicine).

View complete entity description

Council on Veterinary Service		Top

This entity works to develop better ways to deliver high quality professional veterinary services to the public and represents private practitioners' interests in the profession, which includes investigating matters pertaining to the economic and social aspects of veterinary service.

Examples of Council activity include development of the AVMA Ergonomic Guidelines for Veterinary Practice; revision of the AVMA Model Policy on Harassment; and revision of the AVMA Policy on Veterinary Facility Occupational Risks for Pregnant Workers.

Representation:
The Council on Veterinary Service consists of 10 active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for 6-year terms. Members represent private practice, exclusively small animal (2 members); private practice, exclusively equine (1 member); private practice, exclusively food animal (1 member); private mixed practice, predominantly food animal or equine (2 members); academic clinical science (1 member); at large (2 members); recent graduate (1 member).

View complete entity description

Committees, Task Forces, and Trusts		Top
View committee, task force, and trust vacancies

The Executive Board may designate special committees to consider matters of interest to the Association. Members of the committees are appointed by the Executive Board or by other organizations that are represented. In most cases, the committees, task forces, and trusts report to the Executive Board or councils. Unless otherwise indicated, these entities meet twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. The AVMA Executive Board is also increasingly utilizing task forces to address specific, single issues and to give members a chance to serve as leaders. These entities differ from councils and committees in that they are temporary in nature and are established to address a specific issue, present a report and/or recommendations to the Executive Board, and then sunset. For these reasons, task forces are not included in this document.

View the Executive Board protocol for appointments (PDF)

American Board of Veterinary Specialties		Top

Charge/Objective:
To furnish advice and assistance to those groups submitting petitions for establishment and recognition of specialty organizations; to make appropriate recommendations to the COE concerning granting of AVMA recognition; to receive and review annual reports from all AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations, and evaluate a detailed, in-depth review of each organization at 5-year intervals; to ascertain through annual reports and 5-year reviews that each recognized veterinary specialty organization's procedures for credentialing, examination, and appeals are administered fairly; and to actively promote specialization and encourage the availability and enhanced use of specialty services by the veterinary profession and the public.

Criteria for recognition of veterinary specialty are currently published in the Policies and Procedures of the American Veterinary Medical Association American Board of Veterinary Specialties (www.avma.org/education/abvs/default.asp).

Meetings:
Once per year, prior to the spring meeting of the Council on Education. The 3-member ABVS Executive Committee meets in late November or early December to accept reports and petitions and establish the agenda for the annual ABVS meeting.

Representation:
One member from the following organizations and from additional specialty colleges or boards as they are established: American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, American College of Theriogenologists, American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, American College of Veterinary Dermatology, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, American College of Veterinary Nutrition, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, American College of Veterinary Radiology, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, American College of Zoological Medicine, American Veterinary Dental College, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Council on Education. Appointments are for 4-year terms and are made by the organization represented.

Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To identify present and future issues of mutual concern to the veterinary profession and the producers of food products derived from animals; and to improve and strengthen relationships and all communication aspects among food animal organizations and the AVMA.

Representation:
One member (whenever possible, an AVMA member) from each of the following organizations: Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Industrial Veterinarians, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Sheep Industry Association, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, National Aquaculture Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Institute for Animal Agriculture, NMC, National Milk Producer's Federation, National Pork Board, National Turkey Federation, Society for Theriogenology, US Animal Health Association, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine, AVMA Council on Veterinary Service, and AVMA Executive Board. Members' terms are not limited.

Animal Welfare Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To gather, study, and interpret relevant information on animal welfare issues of importance to the veterinary profession, and to develop position statements on animal welfare issues for consideration by the Executive Board.

Representation:
The Committee has 16 members who represent the following: laboratory animal medicine, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Avian Pathologists, small animal practice, American Association of Feline Practitioners, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, government service, industrial veterinary medicine, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, humane or animal welfare organizations, zoo and wildlife medicine, Association of Avian Veterinarians, the Student AVMA, and the AVMA Auxiliary.

Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To advocate the role of the veterinarian within aquatic animal health and medicine at the production, practice, educational, research, natural resource management, and regulatory levels for the benefit of aquatic animals; to develop strategies to enhance and integrate the use of veterinarians' expertise to benefit the aquaculture, aquaria, natural resource, ornamental fish, and seafood industries, and the seafood consuming and the pet owning public; and to address the concerns of veterinarians and stakeholders on the availability and use of chemicals and biologics in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Representation:
Membership is composed of veterinarians, and 1 non-veterinarian with interests in aquatic animal medicine from the following categories: academia; extension or diagnostic services; industrial veterinary medicine; public health or epidemiology; private or public practice—food animal production; private or public practice aquarium or ornamental; research in aquatic animal health; state or federal regulatory veterinary medicine; and non-veterinarian—aquaculture industry.

AVMA/Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Joint Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To advise appropriate AVMA and AAVMC entities on issues and matters of mutual interest.

Representation:
The Joint Committee is composed of the AVMA President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President, and the AAVMC President, Past-President, and President Elect.

AVMA/National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Executive Board Liaison Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To ensure ongoing recognition and utilization of veterinary technicians as an integral part of the animal health care team; to increase cooperation, communication, and interaction between AVMA and NAVTA; and to encourage growth of the veterinary technology profession and promote recruitment of potential students for veterinary technology programs.

Meetings:
Meetings are held once each year at the call of the committee chair, usually at the AVMA Annual Convention.

Representation:
The committee consists of 8 members. Three members of the committee represent the AVMA Executive Board and are appointed annually to 2-year terms by the chair of the Executive Board. Three members of the committee represent the NAVTA and are appointed by the NAVTA Executive Committee—the Executive Director, the President, and President-Elect. Two members of CVTEA serve in a non-voting capacity on the Liaison Committee—the CVTEA chair and 1 technician appointed by the CVTEA chair.

AVMA/American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (ASVMAE) Joint Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To identify ways to increase cooperation, communication, and interaction between the AVMA and ASVMAE for the benefit of the membership of both organizations; and to provide a forum in which the 2 organizations can share information, discuss emerging issues and other matters of mutual interest, and coordinate efforts and actions to enhance and improve the lines of communication and contribute to the success of the respective memberships.

Meetings:
Meetings are held once each year.

Representation:
The committee will comprise 6 members. Three members of the committee represent the AVMA Executive Board and are appointed for 2-year terms, and 3 members represent ASVMAE. Each organization appoints its own representatives.

AVMA Political Action Committee Policy Board		Top

Charge/Objective:
In compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act, to raise funds for the purpose of making contributions to the campaigns of candidates for federal public office.

Meetings:
Meetings are held 3 times per year. One meeting is held at the AVMA annual convention—the other 2 in Washington DC in the spring and fall.

Representation:
The Executive Board and the House Advisory Committee name 3 members each to the PAC Policy Board. Of those appointed by the Executive Board and the House Advisory Committee, 1 must reside in each of the 3 convention location zones. Appointments are for 2-year terms ending at the close of the annual AVMA meeting, or when a successor is elected, with no one to serve more than 3 full terms or 6 years during his or her lifetime. The 6-year limitation was established in 1980.

Membership consists of representatives from PAC Area #1, PAC Area #2, and PAC Area #3 (1 each appointed by the Executive Board and 1 each appointed by the House Advisory Committee.)

Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To serve as an advisory committee to the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and insure wide species-based, veterinary practitioner input on issues of biologic and therapeutic agents including, but not limited to, drug availability, distribution, use and residue control, and on quality assurance for products of food animal origin.

Representation:
The Committee consists of members who are representatives from the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Association of Avian Pathologists, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, aquaculture and seafood medicine, and zoo and wildlife medicine.

Each organization represented on CPAC, except COBTA, nominates 2 clinical practitioners to serve as its representative and alternate representative. The alternate representative serves when the primary representative is unavailable. The AVMA Executive Board appoints the representative for each organization. Appointments of all representatives, except the representative from COBTA, are for 3 years, but any represented organization may request that its representative be terminated early and nominate a replacement to fill the unexpired term. Each year, COBTA appoints its representative and an alternate representative for a 1- year term.

An advisor from the Animal Health Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration-Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service are also invited to attend the meetings.

Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues		Top

Charge/Objective:
To address the veterinarian's role in emergency and disaster issues; to address the effects of disasters on animal health, public health, and the veterinary profession; to contribute to the development of AVMA position statements on disaster and emergency issues that affect the veterinary profession; and to develop guidelines for the veterinary profession to use regarding various aspects of disaster situations.

Representation:
The committee consists of 8 members who have established experience and expertise in disaster preparedness and emergency issues. The members are designated as follows: 1 each from VMAT, food animal practice, small animal practice, federal or state public health agency, Committee on Environmental Issues, poultry medicine, equine practice, and the armed services. There is an Executive Board liaison representative to the committee, and an AVMF Board of Directors liaison representative. The Representatives from the Committee on Environmental Issues and the AVMF Board of Directors are appointed by those entities. Other members are appointed by the Executive Board.

Committee on Environmental Issues		Top

Charge/Objective:
To address the effects of environmental quality on animal health, public health, and the veterinary profession; to identify means to encourage and support science-based practical solutions to environmental challenges; to recognize and prioritize legislation, regulation, and public policy relating to environmental issues; and in conjunction with allied groups, agencies, and other entities, address established and emerging environmental issues that effect wildlife and ecosystem health.

Representation:
There is an Executive Board representative to the Committee who is appointed by the Board Chair. Appointments are for 3 years and representatives may serve a maximum of 2, 3-year terms.

The committee consists of 15 members, representing: American Animal Hospital Association, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, Veterinary toxicology, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine; Veterinary ecology, i.e. a veterinarian who has a master's degree or doctorate in ecology or at least four years full-time employment in which ecological science or ecosystems management constituted a substantial part of his/her work responsibilities; Government service; Student AVMA; AVMA Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee; AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine; and AVMA Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee.

Committee on Human-Animal Bond		Top

Charge/Objective:
To establish goals for the profession with regard to teaching, research, and service relating to the health benefits of the human-animal bond. The Committee reviews recent published material on the human-animal bond; seeks the counsel of knowledgeable people; and identifies specific areas where the AVMA should be involved and develops position papers for each of these areas.

Representation:
The committee consists of representatives from the following areas: public health, private small animal clinical practice (2), colleges of veterinary medicine, private clinical practice—predominantly equine, private food animal clinical practice, veterinary ethology, zoo/aquatic/wildlife medicine, and SAVMA.

Committee on International Veterinary Affairs		Top

Charge/Objective:
To study global issues affecting the AVMA in areas such as the role of the Association in international affairs, forming partnerships in influencing the potential disruption of food supplies, accreditation of veterinary education, and other evolving international matters arising, and recommend to the Executive Board courses of action in international affairs of the Association.

Meetings:
The committee holds two meetings of two days/two nights duration at AVMA Headquarters.

Representation:
The committee is composed five members: the AVMA Globalization Monitoring Agent, one member representing the Executive Board, two representing the AVMA Council on Education, and one representing the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The AVMA Globalization Monitoring Agent will serve on the basis of his/her position. The Executive Board will appoint other representatives from nominees presented from the respective groups.

The Committee meets on an annual basis.

Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities		Top

Charge/Objective:
To recognize veterinary technician training programs that are fully capable of graduating acceptable assistants for veterinarians and to assist in the development of such programs; and to study all matters pertaining to activities of veterinary technicians, and to advise the Executive Board concerning the implementation of AVMA policy concerning such matters.

Travel:
Each member is expected to attend 2, 3-day meetings; 1 in the spring and 1 in the fall. Meetings are held in Schaumburg, IL. In addition, each member will make an average of 1 or 2 evaluation site visit trips to the veterinary technology programs annually.

Representation:
The Committee consists of 18 members. The membership includes ten veterinarians—1 each from the following categories: Council on Education, state boards of examiners in veterinary medicine, private large animal practice, private small animal practice, laboratory animal medicine, regulatory veterinary medicine, industrial veterinary medicine, faculties of colleges of veterinary medicine, educators of veterinary technicians, and at-large. In addition, the Committee includes six veterinary technicians (2 of whom are non-program affiliated, and 1 who must be an educator in a veterinary technician program), and 2 public members who must be engaged in activity other than veterinary medicine or employment as a veterinary technician. All technician members must be members in good standing of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

Convention Management and Program Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To plan and conduct the Annual Convention in a manner that will fulfill the mission, objectives, and priorities for the Annual Convention; to study ways in which to improve the convention format and make it more valuable to the membership; and to strive to generate a profit at the Annual Convention.

Meetings:
The Committee meets in the summer, at the end of the Annual Convention; in the fall, at AVMA Headquarters; in late fall/winter, in the convention city one convention cycle in the future; and in late winter via conference call to formulate a recommendation to the Executive Board to choose the convention city eight years in the future.

Representation:
The Committee is composed of a chair and 8 section managers. Each section manager chairs a subcommittee of program coordinators, each of whom is responsible for organizing a specific portion of the convention. Section managers: food animal/equine, companion animal, public and corporate practice, personal and professional development, veterinary technician, other convention, poultry medicine, and wet labs.

With the exception of the veterinary technician manager, each section manager is appointed by the Chair of the Executive Board, for terms of 3 years. The veterinary technician section manager is nominated by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) for Board consideration. Members may serve 3 consecutive terms.

Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates®		Top

Charge/Objective:
To oversee the ECFVG certification program (www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/default.asp), that evaluates the professional competence of graduates of non–AVMA/Council on Education-accredited foreign colleges of veterinary medicine, to the benefit of such graduates and of the state veterinary licensing agencies, and of other concerned parties.

Representation:
The ECFVG consists of 1 member from each of the following organizations: AVMA Council on Education, Veterinary Members of State Veterinary Licensing Boards, Senior Administrative Executives of State Veterinary Licensing Boards, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), Government Service, Canadian National Examining Board (NEB), and Clinical Practitioners holding an ECFVG certificate.

Food Safety Advisory Committee		Top

Charge\Objective:
To advise the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine (CPHRVM) on food safety and security issues; to prepare policy recommendations for the CPHRVM and the Executive Board on the subject of food safety; and to study management and practitioner measures to enhance food safety at production levels, including microbiological, chemical, and physical hazard reduction.

Representation:
The 2 members of the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine are selected by the Chair of the CPHRVM. Each of the other organizations represented nominates a representative to serve a 3-year term—the AVMA Executive Board considers and confirms the nominees. Representatives may serve a maximum of 2 three-year terms.

The committee is composed of members representing the following: CPHRVM (2 members), American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, and International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine.

Group Health Life Insurance Trust (GHLIT)		Top

Charge/Objective:
The purpose of the Trust is to provide and maintain group life, accident, disability, professional overhead, hospital indemnity, supplemental income, rabies prophylaxis, and major medical benefits for members (called the member program) of the Association, as well as those members' dependents, who are eligible under the terms of the contract and for other benefits as determined by the trustees.

Meetings:
The trustees hold 3 meetings annually—1 in the spring, 1 in the fall, and 1 at the site of the AVMA annual meeting in July. The spring and fall meetings are held in the Chicago area unless business dictates that they hold the meeting at other locations. The Trust may meet more frequently as necessary. Committees and subcommittees of the Trust may meet as needed and in such locations as is deemed necessary by the Trust chair.

Representation:
The trustees should have an interest in the subject of insurance and should be willing to devote substantial amounts of time on occasion to projects undertaken by the Trust. Appointments to the insurance Trusts are made for terms of 4 years, with the possibility of 2 consecutive 4-year reappointments, not to exceed 3 full terms.

One AVMA staff member is appointed by the Executive Vice President to serve as an ex-officio, non-voting trustee. The 9 other trustees are appointed by the Executive Board for terms of 4 years. Trustees are eligible for reappointment to 2 consecutive 4-year terms for a total of 3, 4-year terms (12 years total).

Governance Performance Review Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To conduct scheduled, periodic, performance evaluations of entities according to established protocol to ensure that each entity is fulfilling its charge, performing effectively, and remaining integral to AVMA's objective; and to review and advise the Executive Board on recommendations to establish a new entity to ensure that it does not unnecessarily duplicate the charges of existing entities.

Meetings:
The Committee holds 1 meeting of up to 2 days per year at AVMA headquarters and is authorized to conduct official business electronically and by telephone throughout the year.

Representation:
The committee consists of 5 voting members who represent the following: House of Delegates (1) AVMA staff (1) councils (1) committees (1) and at-large (1). Committee members are appointed by the Executive Board for 3-year terms, with a maximum of 2 terms, except for AVMA staff members who are appointed by the Executive Vice President.

Legislative Advisory Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To establish one legislative voice for veterinary medicine and to ensure that the needs and concerns of all industries within veterinary medicine are incorporated into AVMA's legislative process; to integrate the needs and concerns of the represented organizations; and to assist the Executive Board in formulating and implementing legislative policy and positions on federal regulatory proposals.

Representation:
All members of the committee must have e-mail and fax capabilities. Appointments of all representatives except the Executive Board Chair are for 3 years, with a maximum of two 3-year terms. Each organization, except the AVMA Executive Board, nominates a representative and an alternate representative.

The committee is composed of members representing the AVMA Executive Board (3, one of whom is the Chair of the Executive Board), AVMA House of Delegates, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Animal Hospital Association, American Assn of Bovine Practitioners, American Assn of Equine Practitioners, American Assn of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, American Assn of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Assn of Swine Veterinarians, American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and American Association of Industrial Veterinarians.

Member Services Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To enhance the ability of the AVMA to advance the veterinary medical profession; to address the diversity and economic condition of the veterinary profession; to identify detailed characteristics of veterinarians (e.g. age, gender, year of graduation, professional experiences) to understand existing diversity and recognize areas of commonality; to analyze data, review relevant studies, and recommend actions to the Executive Board to increase veterinarians' satisfaction with the AVMA; to develop a plan for recruitment and retention of members to maintain the strength of leadership of the AVMA as the profession's umbrella organization; and to actively promote wellness to the veterinary profession.

Representation:
The Member Services Committee comprises 12 members representing: honor roll (1), recent graduates (2—1 practice owner and 1 at-large), academic veterinary medicine (1), non-academic public-sector veterinarian (1), board-certified specialists (1), industry veterinarian (1), private clinical practice (4—1 practice owner, 1 employed practice associate, 1 food animal veterinarian, 1 at-large), student AVMA officer or delegate (1). Committee members are appointed for 3-year terms, with a maximum of two terms, except for the Student AVMA officer, who is appointed by the Student AVMA to serve a 1-year term.

Professional Liability Insurance Trust (PLIT)		Top

Charge/Objectives:
The purpose of the Trust is to provide professional liability insurance coverage designed specifically for veterinarians; to permit review of claims and offer expert advice to claims personnel by a board composed of veterinarians; to realize dividends when experience permits; to improve the general practice of veterinary medicine by calling attention to the most frequent complaints made against veterinarians; and to encourage loss-prevention methods through an extensive educational and informational program.

The Trust also oversees and administers the AVMA Worker's Compensation insurance program instituted in 1984. Business Package, Business Auto Insurance, and Umbrella Liability coverages were added in 1993 and Employment Practices Liability was added in 1996. Personal Lines coverages (automobile, homeowners, etc.) were added in 1999 to provide a complete range of casualty coverages for AVMA members.

Meetings:
The trustees hold 3 meetings annually—1 in the spring, 1 in the fall, and 1 at the site of the AVMA annual meeting in July. The spring and fall meetings are held in the Chicago area unless business dictates that the meeting be held at another location. The Trust may meet more frequently if necessary. Committees and subcommittees of the Trust may meet as needed and in such locations as deemed necessary by the Trust chair.

Representation:
The trustees should have an interest in the subject of insurance and be willing to devote substantial amounts of time on occasion to projects undertaken by the Trust. The trustees have input to the Executive Board with regard to appointments to the Trust and may recommend the professional activity needed to balance representation of the Trust, with regard to species of animal, specialty, and needs of the Trust.

One AVMA staff member is appointed by the Executive Vice President to serve as an ex-officio trustee. The 7 other trustees are appointed by the Executive Board for terms of 4 years. Trustees are eligible for reappointment to 2 consecutive 4-year terms for a total of 3, 4-year terms (12 years total).

State Advocacy Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To support AVMA efforts to foster successful participation of constituent organizations in state legislative and regulatory affairs for the benefit of animal health and welfare, public health, and the veterinary profession; to collaborate with constituent organizations and appropriate AVMA staff to scan emerging issues and assess needs regarding state legislative and regulatory affairs; to provide a Crisis Advisory Team (CAT) that is able to respond rapidly in urgent situations to address gaps in AVMA policy in regard to state legislative and regulatory affairs by developing recommendations for immediate or expedited consideration by the Board of Governors or the Executive Board.

Representation:
The committee consists of 8 voting members who represent the following: Executive Board, House of Delegates, American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (veterinarian or non-veterinarian), East Region (Convention Zone One), Central Region (Convention Zone Two), West Region (Convention Zone Three), at-large member (veterinarian or non-veterinarian), and Legislative Advisory Committee.

Strategic Planning Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To coordinate and foster an effective strategic planning process; to elicit input from all pertinent stakeholders for the purpose of identifying, gathering, and analyzing information and trends that may impact the AVMA; to prioritize issues that have the greatest possible implication for the AVMA; and to collaborate with governance entities and staff to monitor and periodically update the strategic plan, which includes goals, objectives, and tactics.

Representation:
The committee consists of 6 voting members who represent the following: House of Delegates, AVMA staff, councils, committees, at-large, recent graduates.

Committee members are appointed by the Executive Board for 3-year terms, with a maximum of 1 term, except for AVMA staff members who are appointed by the Executive Vice President.

Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee		Top

Charge/Objective:
To develop leaders for the benefit of the individual and the profession; and to plan the annual Veterinary Leadership Conference so that it provides an annual forum to enhance the leadership, governance, and public relations skills of state and allied organization leaders, CEOs, and recent graduates.

Meetings:
The entity meets immediately following the Leadership Conference, and by telephone conference.

Representation:
The 6-member committee is appointed by the Executive Board, from the following groups Executive Board (1 member), Council on Public Relations (1 member), American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (1 member), recent graduate (graduated within the last seven years, 1 member), constituent association officer (1 member), and House Advisory Committee (1 member). Members serve staggered three-year terms.