Make sure to take advantage of these special events while attending VLC.

NOTE: All times listed in Central Time

High-performing boards: Veterinary association best practices
Brought to you by Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE)
Thursday, January 4
7:30 a.m.
The greatest asset of any association is its volunteer board of directors and the partnership with staff. As with any asset of such importance, its care and feeding are paramount to the returns it produces.

This program, a collaborative offering of AVMA and VMAE, will take you through an in-depth exploration of governance leading practices that have been validated in high performing boards. It will also focus specifically on the roles, responsibilities, and the important relationship between the board, the board chair, the executive director, and the staff.

This program requires a separate registration fee. Learn more and register today.

Connecting with a Cause
Thursday, January 4
1 p.m.
Hosted by

Come make new connections, or reconnect with fellow colleagues, while eating some sweet treats and decorating cards for patients at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. This is a great opportunity to meet your mentor and learn more about AVMA's MentorVet Connect.

Dance fitness class
Friday, January 5
6:30 a.m.
Start your day with a group dance class, taught by a professional instructor. Boost your cardio stamina, strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. No prior dance experience necessary!

Keynote – The science of inspiring learning and change with Richard Boyatzis
Friday, January 5
8 a.m.
Hosted by

Growing and developing is a major driving force in our quest to help others, make a difference and contribute to a better organization and society. Coaches, as a class of people who help others establish a deep emotional connection with others called resonance, whether teacher-student, professor-student, doctor-patient, nurse-patient, coach-coachee, mentor-protégé, manager-subordinate, and likely parent-child and spouse/partner to spouse/partner. They are literally, in tune with clients. Their own levels of emotional intelligence allow them to create and nurture these resonant relationships. They use their EI on the path through mindfulness, hope, compassion, and playfulness.

These experiences of mindfulness, hope, compassion, and playfulness are essential to renewal of the human organism at the neurological, hormonal, emotional, and behavioral levels. Based on decades of research into emotional intelligence competencies and longitudinal studies in their development, professor Richard Boyatzis will lead the audience through examples of how coaching with compassion (i.e., coaching a person to the Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA), their vision and values) is key to leadership development and more resonant relationships. He will describe recent fMRI studies on coaching to the PEA versus the Negative Emotional Attractor (NEA), as well as recent doctor-patient studies showing that arousal of the PEA increased treatment adherence for Type II diabetics. He will explain why it is central to neuro-endocrine renewal in the human body (which is the only antidote to the ravages of chronic stress).

VLC Social Hour with AVMF and AVMA PAC
Friday, January 5
5 p.m.
Hosted by

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) and AVMA's Political Action Committee (PAC) want to say thank you for all your donations and contributions, respectively, over the last year. Celebrate by gathering with your fellow veterinary leaders to relax and unwind after a day of learning. Drink tickets will be provided.

Morning yoga
Saturday, January 6
6:30 – 7:15 a.m.
Join us for a morning yoga class, taught by a registered yoga instructor. This class is appropriate for all levels of experience. Take some time to center yourself before you begin the day!

Closing party
Saturday, January 6
5 p.m.
Hosted by

Don't miss this year's sports-themed closing party! Wear your favorite team gear at this can't-miss event. All attendees will receive a team AVMA leadership pennant and 10 lucky winners will win an AVMA hockey sweater!