Make your voice heard

The AVMA is once again inviting its members to contribute toward decisions involving a wide range of veterinary-related issues. Service on councils, committees, and other AVMA entities will enable volunteer leaders to have a say on various matters, including veterinary education, disaster and emergency issues, the human-animal bond, and food safety.

"The AVMA wouldn't be the relevant and vibrant organization it is today without the expertise and energy that volunteers bring to the table," said Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, AVMA CEO and executive vice president. "To stay focused on our members, we need a diverse group of veterinarians to serve on AVMA councils, committees, and entities.

"The rewards of this service to our profession far outweigh the sacrifices," he said.

The AVMA is currently inviting nominations for 93 vacancies on Association entities and five liaison positions (see charts). The House of Delegates will fill council openings when it convenes in July 2010 in Atlanta. The Executive Board will make committee, trust, and liaison appointments at its April 2010 meeting, and the House Advisory Committee will make two appointments at its March 2010 meeting.

Because the AVMA professional classification codes serve as the reference to determine eligibility for a candidate to serve on an entity, it is imperative that the AVMA member's information be current. Therefore, candidates should visit the AVMA Web site here and check the accuracy of their professional activity information by clicking on "Update your member information," making any adjustments that may be necessary.

Councils

The AVMA is seeking nominations to fill 11 council vacancies. Nominations can be made by organizations represented in the HOD or by petition of 10 voting members.

Council nomination materials, including descriptions of the councils and instructions for publishing candidates' biographies in the 2010 Campaign Guide, are posted on the AVMA Web site here. These materials can also be obtained by calling AVMA headquarters at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6605, or e-mailing OfficeEVPavma [dot] org (OfficeEVP[at]avma[dot]org).

Council nominations must be submitted by April 1, 2010, to the AVMA Office of the Executive Vice President. Nominations for the Council on Education, however, must be submitted by Feb 1, 2010. Nominators should use the prescribed nomination form to ensure that nominations will not be invalidated because the information supplied is incomplete.

With the exception of the COE, council members' terms are three years, with the opportunity to serve an additional three-year term. Terms on the COE are six years. No member may serve simultaneously in the HOD and on a council, or on two councils. A council member who completes a term may become eligible for election to another council at the next HOD annual session. The AVMA Bylaws also require that, if an area of representation is specified in the vacancy, nominees must be actively engaged in that area or have been so at the time of retirement.

AVMA guidelines for council nominations further stipulate the following:

• Nominations made by an organization represented in the HOD must be signed by an officer of that nominating organization.
• A nominee will not be eligible to be a candidate for more than one council per year.
• A candidate will not be permitted to change the category of representation after the April 1 nomination deadline.

Trusts, committees, and boards

Nominations are invited for AVMA trust and committee vacancies to be filled by the Executive Board at its April 2010 meeting. Nominations are also invited for two Political Action Committee Policy Board members to be appointed by the HAC at its March 2010 meeting. Trust and committee nominations should be submitted to the AVMA Office of the Executive Vice President no later than March 8, 2010.

Committee nominations, unless otherwise noted, may be made by local or state veterinary associations, by allied groups represented in the HOD, or by an AVMA member on that person's or another's behalf.

Each nomination must include a one- or two-page resume. Only the first two pages of lengthier resumes that are submitted will be reviewed.

Trust and committee nomination materials, including descriptions of the various entities, are also available on the AVMA Web site. Inquiries on these vacancies can be answered at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6605, or by e-mail at OfficeEVPavma [dot] org (OfficeEVP[at]avma[dot]org).

Vacancies to be filled by the House of Delegates

Vacancies to be filled by the Executive Board

* Eligible for re-election
† See list of acronyms used for organizations
‡ Nominees must have expertise and experience in disaster preparedness and emergency issues.
If underlined, the organization nominates its representative.

Vacancies to be filled by the House Advisory Committee

Liaisons:

Acronyms: