AVMA seeks volunteers to make a difference

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The AVMA is seeking volunteers to make a difference for the profession by serving as a leader of the Association or in a council, committee, or trust position.

Dr. Sandy Willis, Washington state delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates, has found volunteering for the AVMA to be a personally rewarding experience. She said: "I have the opportunity to work with so many amazing people, from veterinarians to AVMA staff, that I would never have an opportunity to meet otherwise. We work collaboratively, and we have fun.

The AVMA Task Force on Volunteer Engagement meeting Sept. 20-21 at Association headquarters (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

"Volunteering opens my eyes to aspects of my profession with which I am unfamiliar—I am a small animal internist—and gives me the tools and knowledge to address challenges and create solutions for the profession. I feel I make a difference for my colleagues and the animals we serve. As an AVMA volunteer, I help ensure that our profession thrives in a changing environment for generations of veterinarians to come."

Dr. Willis is chair of the AVMA Task Force on Volunteer Engagement, which is looking at how the AVMA can most effectively use volunteers' talents and time in support of member priorities while ensuring a fulfilling volunteer experience.

The AVMA currently seeks candidates for the office of president-elect and two seats on the Board of Directors as well as nominations or applications for numerous council, committee, and trust positions. Get details and forms or email OfficeEVPatavma [dot] org (OfficeEVP[at]avma[dot]org).

President-elect, Board of Directors

The AVMA is calling for candidates to run for president-elect for the August 2019-August 2020 Association year. While the Association will accept applications through summer 2019, candidates who submit materials by April 1, 2018, can participate in the Candidates' Introductory Breakfast in conjunction with AVMA Convention 2018.

Candidates will then have a full year to campaign. Election by the AVMA House of Delegates will take place at its regular annual session just prior to the 2019 convention. The president-elect will serve as president from August 2020-August 2021.

The AVMA also will continue to accept nominations for 2018-2019 president-elect until July 10, 2018, and for 2018-2020 vice president until July 9, 2018. Election by the House will take place immediately prior to the 2018 convention.

The Association is distributing a letter to AVMA voting members in districts VII and IX to invite nominations for a representative from each district to serve on the Board of Directors for a six-year term starting in July 2018. District VII comprises Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. District IX comprises Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.

The AVMA will accept nominations from a state VMA in each district or by petition of 50 AVMA voting members in each district. Feb. 1, 2018, 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.

Councils, committees, trusts

In May 2018, the Council on Education Selection Committee will select three new members for the AVMA Council on Education. The committee will post a call for applications in late December for COE members to represent private food animal practice and private clinical practice and for a COE member at large. The deadline is Feb. 15, 2018.

The AVMA House of Delegates will elect members of councils other than the COE in July 2018 during its regular annual session preceding AVMA Convention 2018. The House fills 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 AVMA will accept nominations for positions on these councils from organizations in the House or by petition of 10 AVMA voting members. The deadline is April 1, 2018.

The AVMA Board of Directors will fill a number of committee, trust, and liaison positions in April 2018. The vacancies include positions on the two AVMA insurance trusts and on 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 a specific organization to be represented by the nominee or as otherwise stated in the vacancy description. The deadline is March 8, 2018.