Many faces, one profession
More than 400 positions exist on AVMA councils, committees, and task forces. To showcase the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the volunteers who serve on them and to inspire even more AVMA members to participate, JAVMA News is featuring a few entities each month. For more information about serving on one of these entities, go here, or contact officeevp
avma [dot] org (officeevp[at]avma[dot]org).
Political Action Committee Policy Board
Charge/mission: In compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act, the PAC Policy Board raises funds to contribute to the campaigns of candidates for federal public office. The board is responsible for general supervision and control of the PAC, meaning all PAC decisions and activities are independent of direction from the AVMA Executive Board.
Members:
Dr. Vern E. Otte (KSU '75), chair, Leawood, Kan.; representing PAC area 2 (Central states)
Dr. John H. de Jong (TUF '85), Weston, Mass.; representing PAC area 1 (Eastern states)
Dr. Walter C. Robinson (GA '73), treasurer, Greenville, S.C.; representing PAC area 1
Dr. George E. Richards (IL '73), Danville, Ill.; representing PAC area 2
Dr. Travis D. McDermott (TEX '06), Las Vegas; representing PAC area 3 (Western states)
Dr. Howard R. Moore (ISU '74), assistant treasurer, Tucson, Ariz.; representing PAC area 3
What current project(s) are you most excited about?
Dr. Mark T. Lutschaunig, director of the AVMA Governmental Relations Division, is excited about the AVMAPAC State and School Competition that started July 1, 2008, and ends June 30 of this year.
The AVMAPAC will make $1,000 donations to the scholarship funds of the top two state VMAs and the top two veterinary schools or colleges with the most contributions to the AVMAPAC over the past year.
The four winners will be selected according to two criteria: highest total contributions to the PAC and per capita donors (total donations divided by the number of members/alumni), Dr. Lutschaunig said. Scholarships and accolades will be announced at the AVMA Annual Convention in Seattle.
A recent meaningful accomplishment:
In the 110th Congress, the AVMAPAC raised more than $600,000, Dr. Lutschaunig said.
How are you addressing the profession's pressing issues?
AVMAPAC is one of the tools that the Governmental Relations Division uses to advance the AVMA's legislative agenda, Dr. Lutschaunig explained. It helps the division build relationships with members of Congress and their staffs and educate them about the veterinary profession's issues.
How is the entity addressing the strategic or operational goals of the AVMA?
Advocacy is one of the five AVMA strategic goals and continually ranks high in the reasons why veterinarians join the Association, according to AVMAPAC Policy Board Chair Vern E. Otte.
"The AVMAPAC is an important component in advancing the AVMA legislative agenda by giving the GRD staff the opportunity to develop relationships with members of Congress and their staffs," Dr. Otte said. "These relationships are critically important if we want to pass legislation that is beneficial to the veterinary profession or animal health or defeat legislation that would be harmful to the veterinary profession or animal health."
Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee
Charge/mission: The committee is responsible for developing 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.
Members:
Dr. Abigail J. Risius (ISU '07), chair, Bettendorf, Iowa; representing recent graduates
Dr. Jason E. Johnston (OSU '97), Miami Acres Animal Hospital, Troy, Ohio; representing constituent associations
Dr. Barbara A. Schmidt (PUR '84), Bridlewood Farms, Union, Ky.; representing AVMA House Advisory Committee
Dr. Theodore J. Cohn (TUS '75), Lone Tree, Colo.; representing AVMA Executive Board
Lynn M. Appel, Delaware VMA, Dover, Del.; representing American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives
What current project are you most excited about?
Michael E. Walters, special events coordinator for the AVMA Convention and Meeting Planning Division, said he is excited about reformatting the conference, which the committee will be including in their plans for the 2010 Veterinary Leadership Conference.
In addition, the committee hopes to provide additional interactive and networking opportunities for emerging leaders.
How is your entity addressing the profession's pressing issues?
In developing workshop topics, the committee is making every effort to tie the workshops to the AVMA Strategic Plan, Walters said.
How is the entity addressing the strategic or operational goals of the AVMA?
"We have considered the strategic goals in the planning of the workshop topics and will have workshops specifically devoted to the strategic goals of advocacy and animal welfare," Chair Abigail J. Risius said.
"Also, much of the content of the VLC relates to the economic viability of the veterinary profession. By training veterinarians to be successful leaders, we can hope to advance the AVMA and the veterinary profession as a whole."