AVMA entities: continuations, consolidations, sunsets

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Recommendations from the Long-Range Planning Committee involving the Association's strategic plan and the advisability of continuing several AVMA entities were considered by the Executive Board. Actions on AVMA entities were as follows.

  • Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Animal Welfare Committee: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Aquaculture and Seafood Advisory Committee: continued for two years, until 2001
  • Committee on Environmental Affairs: continued until July 2002
  • Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Political Action Committee Policy Board: continued for six years, until 2005
  • Practitioner Food Safety Advisory Committee: merged into the Food Safety Subcommittee under the new name of Food Safety Advisory Committee, as a subgroup of the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine
  • Recent Graduate Committee, Honor Roll Committee, and Membership Enhancement Committee: discontinued and their functions incorporated into the new Member Services Committee (see related story)

In other actions proposed by the Long-Range Planning Committee, the board reaffirmed the Framework for the AVMA Long-Range Plan - that the board had approved in concept last June - as the AVMA Long-Range Plan. The strategic objectives for this Long-Range Plan were approved by the board in 1998. The Long-Range Plan supersedes the Strategic Plan adopted by the board in 1991, so the latter was rescinded. In addition, the board will request that each time an AVMA entity meets, it should review the Long-Range Plan with regard to its charge and suggest changes to its charge, if warranted.

To improve the economic viability of the profession, in keeping with the general objective of professional unity in the Long-Range Plan, the board officially supported AVMA participation in the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues, as recommended by the Long-Range Planning Committee.

Another objective of the Long-Range Plan is to identify important contributions and expertise of constituent organizations and leverage these resources to advance the profession's common goals and issues. To further this objective, the board approved the planning committee's recommendation that a summit conference be arranged for officers and delegates of allied organizations represented in the House of Delegates who intend to be present at the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in 2001.

The term-limit policy for committee members was amended in the interest of consistency. Members are limited to one term in positions with five- or six-year terms, and to two consecutive terms in positions with three- or four-year terms. On the insurance trusts, however, trustees can serve up to three consecutive four-year terms.

The policy on nonveterinarian participants at meetings of AVMA entities was revised to reflect current practices. Three categories of nonveterinarian participation are recognized: consultants, public representatives, and representatives of affiliated organizations.

The board approved an amended annual audit review process submitted by the committee that ensures a more thorough evaluation. Also approved was a protocol by which the board will appoint liaison representatives to other organizations.