Want to serve the profession? AVMA has opportunities available

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The AVMA’s greatest asset is its members’ expertise and knowledge base in understanding the complexity of the veterinary profession, says AVMA President Tom Meyer.

That’s why he is asking members to consider volunteering—or encouraging someone they know to volunteer—to serve the profession on an AVMA entity. The AVMA is seeking candidates for president-elect and seats on the Board of Directors as well as nominations or applications for numerous council, committee, trust, and liaison positions.

“Your willingness to serve on an AVMA entity by sharing your skills and knowledge will have a profound effect on the future direction of the profession,” Dr. Meyer said. “I would also add that the personal rewards and fulfillment of serving your profession in a leadership role has no measure.”

Members of the Panel on Depopulation meeting at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois (Photo by Malinda Larkin)

President-elect

The AVMA seeks candidates to run for president-elect for the July 2018-July 2019 Association year. While the Association will accept applications through spring 2018, candidates who submit materials by April 1, 2017, will be able to participate in the Candidates’ Introductory Breakfast at AVMA Convention 2017.

Candidates will then have a full year to campaign. The president-elect receives a $75,000 annual stipend while the president receives $125,000. Election by the AVMA House of Delegates will take place at the 2017 convention. The president-elect will serve as president from July 2019-August 2020.

Board of Directors

The Association is distributing a letter to AVMA voting members in districts II and VI to invite nominations for a representative from each district to serve on the Board of Directors for a six-year term starting in July 2017. District II comprises Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. District VI comprises Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Board members receive a $10,000 annual stipend.

The AVMA will accept nominations from a state VMA in the district or by petition of 50 AVMA voting members in the district. District residents are eligible to run for the Board if they have been AVMA voting members for at least the preceding five years.

Feb. 1, 2017, is the deadline for receipt of nominations. If a district has more than one nominee, the Association will distribute a ballot to each voting member in the district.

Committees, trusts, liaisons

The House of Delegates will elect council members in July during its regular annual session preceding AVMA Convention 2017. There are vacancies on the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine, Council on Research, Council on Veterinary Service, and Judicial Council.

The Association will accept nominations for council positions from organizations in the House of Delegates or by petition of 10 AVMA voting members.

The Board of Directors will fill a number of committee, trust, and liaison positions in April 2017. The vacancies include positions on the two AVMA insurance trusts and on 17 committees addressing subjects ranging from animal welfare to antimicrobials to veterinary economics.

For many of these vacancies, AVMA members can apply on their own behalf or make a nomination on another member’s behalf. For other vacancies, nominations must be made by local or state veterinary associations, by organizations represented in the AVMA House of Delegates, by a specific organization to be represented by the nominee, or as otherwise stated in the vacancy description.

The AVMA must receive applications or nominations for committee, trust, and liaison positions by Feb. 20, 2017, and nominations for council positions by April 1, 2017.