Delegates discuss dues, programs for recent graduates

The AVMA House of Delegates discussed a proposal to further reduce AVMA member dues for new veterinarians who graduate as Student AVMA members in good standing, weighing the benefits against those provided by other programs the Association currently offers recent graduates.

Ten state VMAs submitted the resolution recommending the expansion of reduced dues for deliberation during the regular winter session of the HOD in early January. The HOD voted to refer the resolution to the AVMA Board of Directors for consideration by the Strategy Management Committee and the Budget and Financial Review Committee.

Currently, new veterinarians receive free AVMA membership for the balance of the year that they graduate and a 50% reduction in dues for the next two consecutive renewal periods. Under the proposal, new veterinarians would still receive free membership in their graduating year. The proposal would then reduce dues to 25% of regular dues for the first full year of membership, maintain dues at 50% for the second full year, and reduce dues to 75% for the third full year, for a total of $180 in overall savings.

“The goal of this resolution is to financially assist recent graduates who are often burdened with substantial student loan debt, while bonding them to the AVMA as lifelong members,” according to the statement about the resolution.

Many employers pay their employees’ dues, but numerous veterinarians pay out of pocket, said Dr. Richard Panzero, Arizona delegate, during discussion by the HOD.

Dr. Will McCauley, alternate delegate for Washington, D.C., said the financial burden to the AVMA of reducing dues would require reallocation of resources that would put programs at risk.

Dr. Ernest Godfrey, Florida delegate, said, “We do need to think about doing something to help economically the younger people who may not be joining because of the cost.”

Marie Bucko, president of the Student AVMA, said the offer of a dues reduction is thoughtful but doesn’t help recent graduates solve the problem of crippling educational debt. She said, “This is our chance—and our opportunity really—to enhance and showcase the already established programs and to do more tangible resources to recruit and retain recent grads.”

Hidayah Martinez-Jaka, SAVMA president-elect, agreed that the resolution is a thoughtful gesture but said it would be of more value to veterinary students and recent graduates for the AVMA to increase programming in areas such as mental health resources, financial counseling, and continuing education and to continue work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

According to background information from the AVMA Board, “In 2017, the AVMA began developing targeted resources focused on recent graduates’ areas of primary concern: career development, financial health and personal wellbeing. The result included tangible resources including MyVeterinaryLife.com, the My Veterinary Life podcast, the Veterinary Debt Initiative, and the QPR suicide prevention program.” (QPR stands for question, persuade, refer.)

In other actions, the HOD voted to refer the rewritten Rules for AVMA Officer Election Campaigns back to the House Advisory Committee for clarification on provisions related to campaigning and endorsement. The campaign rules apply to the election process for AVMA president-elect and vice president, both elected by the HOD.

The HOD also amended the House manual to state that, in the future, the sitting chair of the Board and of the HAC may not run for president-elect or vice president.