= AVMA/SAVMA  Members Only

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Is the AVMA Annual Convention primarily a political meeting?

No, it's not—but it has been perceived as a political meeting in the past. We're different from some of the other national meetings. We have governing bodies—the House of Delegates, Executive Board, councils and committees—and we're the umbrella Association for the profession in the United States. The convention is a convenient place for our leaders and decision makers to meet. We try to separate the convention from our governing activities, by putting the HOD session and certain business meetings on the front end of the convention. It's all important, but we want to maintain a distinction for both.

In 1997, we had roughly 350 hours of continuing education and 5,000 attendees, so the political and business activities tended to dominate convention conversation. Now, we have close to a thousand hours of CE, and nearly 10,000 people attended our convention last year. Today, the AVMA convention is just as much, if not more, about CE and socializing than it is a business meeting.

In the past four years, what direction has the continuing education program taken?

Besides the dramatic increase in CE offerings, the scope and quality have been noticeably enhanced. The AVMA has some of the highest quality and most diverse CE that can be found anywhere. Our surveys and registration records show the interactive labs are a big hit, so we keep expanding them. When we began the labs in 2001, we offered only four. In Philadelphia, we'll have close to 31 labs for veterinarians and technicians. We offer a variety of sessions for species ranging from aquatic to equine to rabbits, guinea pigs, and other companion animals.

Is it worth a drive for veterinarians, students, and technicians near Philadelphia to register for a single day of the convention, July 24-28?

Absolutely, it's worth it, although we'd rather have them attend for four and a half days, to get the entire feel of the convention. To visit the exhibit hall, take in CE, go to the multimedia education center, and enjoy special events, they'll have to make some choices, if they're joining us for only one day.

But, we understand that summer is a busy time for veterinarians. So, if they can get to the convention for only a day, we have on-site registration that will allow them to attend CE and anything else they want on that particular day. If they come the first day—Saturday, July 24—they can attend the general session with their registration badge, if they are one of the first 3,000 to arrive. On Monday, their badge entitles them to purchase tickets to Family Night. Sporting events are held various days, and their badge will allow them to buy those tickets as well. The one-day registration fee for AVMA members is $185, and for nonmembers is $300.

It will be a busy day for those who are there for only one day, but it will be well worthwhile.