Executive Director’s message: The essentials (March 2018)

The year 2019 will mark 50 years of existence for the AASV as an organization. I have been told by several of our more “experienced” members that they were impressed by how much they benefited from membership in AASP. It was a common comment that they could take knowledge from the Annual Meeting or from the newsletter, later the JSHAP, and put it to use in daily practice. Their conclusion was that this knowledge created value far beyond the cost of membership and became essential to their success as a swine veterinarian.

I would like you to consider what you find essential in your day-to-day practice of swine veterinary medicine. There are probably some common themes surrounding this question. Essentials like diagnostics, disease prevention and treatments, biosecurity, epidemiology, production management, and emerging diseases. Some of what you deem essential may be dependent on the challenges you are currently facing on your clients’ farms. Some of these challenges may be quite acute, while others may be more chronic and reoccurring. Other essentials may be related to your own interests. I find that many of our members have inquisitive minds and insatiable curiosities. They value knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge.

As you consider your list of essentials, also think about the role that AASV plays in your daily practice. AASV’s mission is to increase the knowledge of swine veterinarians. If we are to remain true to this mission, then we as an organization must strive to have a positive impact on your daily practice. We must have the correct member benefits in place and active. The AASV currently relies on the annual meeting, the digital e-Letter, the Journal of Swine Health and Production, the web site, and the AASV office and staff to fulfill the mission.

I would be remiss if I did not ask you to consider how we might strengthen and improve the daily impact of AASV. Member input and participation are essential elements for an organization such as the AASV. One of the greatest fears of an organization is for members to begin to consider the organization to be irrelevant. If that were to happen, then the organization would be short-lived. There are multiple ways for providing input to AASV. You can reach out to any AASV officer, district director, committee chair, or staff member. Another way to provide input is to become a member of an AASV committee. These committees report directly to the board of directors as well as submit direct requests for action and funding from the board. The committee chairs have a face-to-face meeting with the board every fall.

The other area for consideration is the assessment of the future needs and wants of the AASV members. The essentials for swine practice today may not include what will be needed for the future. The time to plant a tree is 15 years before its shade will be needed. The same truth applies to developing future membership benefits today.

The AASV started developing digital benefits in the late 1990’s. The AASV web site and e-Letter were started with the idea that their greatest utility was most likely to be better appreciated in the future rather than immediately. This came to be true as the digital world became an essential part of daily activities rather than just a tool for email. The explosion of the use of the Internet, computers, smart phones and tablets gave substance to the predicted need. I give credit to members like Morgan Morrow who had a vision for the future and moved AASV to prepare benefits to meet the needs of swine veterinarians.

Going forward, member benefits such as the annual meeting, the Journal of Swine Health and Production, and the e-Letter can lead the way to new benefits and technology. Current membership benefits can provide a launching pad for the development of future benefits. However, holding too tightly to a current benefit can also be an anchor holding the AASV in place rather than moving it forward. Balancing between the two can be a challenge. Knowing when and how to move forward is vital to the long-term success of any organization. With member input, the AASV can continue to be an essential resource for swine veterinarians.

Keeping the AASV relevant for swine veterinarians was the challenge for the last 50 years. It remains the challenge for the next 50 years. Providing knowledge that is essential for our members in their daily practice will ensure their success which will in turn ensure the success of the AASV.

Tom Burkgren, DVM
Executive Director