House of Delegates may save a seat for AAVMC

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It started as a goal that AVMA president, Dr. Leonard F. Seda proposed during his presidential address to the AVMA House of Delegates in July 1999. Now, the AVMA Executive Board has given the go-ahead to prepare constitution and bylaws amendments necessary to enable the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges to be represented in the HOD.

The proposed constitutional amendment will be reviewed by the board in April 2000. If approved, it will be introduced in the AVMA HOD in July 2000, and voted on by the HOD in July 2001. The annual cost of including this organization in the HOD, with travel expenses, is $2,900.

During the board's Budget and Financial Review Committee session, Dr. Seda said, "This is a timely proposal because of the AAVMC's recent involvement with the AVMA and AAHA in the Market Study and the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues."

During the full board session, board members were concerned that the AAVMC does not meet the requirements for representation as an allied group. But, according to Dr. Seda, the AAVMC could be admitted in the same way as the Uniformed Services.

Establishing a seat in the HOD for the American Board of Veterinary Specialties was another goal of Dr. Seda's. The board disapproved a recommendation to submit constitution and bylaws amendments necessary to enable the ABVS, an AVMA committee, to be represented in the HOD. Board members viewed the combination of allied groups in the House already as giving even representation to specialty groups.

Another concept related to equal representation by special interest and allied groups was referred to the Long-Range Planning Committee. Dr. Seda had proposed submitting constitution and bylaws amendments necessary to expand the Executive Board by two members who would represent the 16 constituent allied organizations of the AVMA. Instead, the board referred to the Long Range Planning Committee his substitute motion to replace the immediate past president on the board with one member who would represent the constituent allied associations.

"This would also allow those considering the presidency of the AVMA to reduce it from a four-year commitment to a three-year commitment [one year each in campaigning, as president-elect, and as president]," he said.

Dr. Seda said that conversations with AVMA members around the country indicate interest in the proposal.

As an added consideration, Dr. Joseph H. Kinnarney, AVMA vice president, suggested, "If we examine the makeup of the board, we should think about redistricting."

The LRPC will consider these factors when it reviews the proposal at its next meeting.