As I write this, we have just completed the 50th meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. What an awesome experience! It was like a family reunion at Disney with scientific presentations instead of bouncy castles. I think perhaps we should convert the reception to a potluck in the backyard. What a great opportunity to revisit our memories of past reunions and what it has meant to all of us to be members of this family.
The Annual Meeting is always as much about catching up with old friends as it is about continuing education. While it is the science that brings us together, it is the hallway talk that makes it fun. It is always interesting to learn about the changes in everyone’s personal and professional lives. This year marked a significant change for our AASV family as well, as Dr Burkgren turns over his role as patriarch to the crazy uncle sitting at the kid’s table.
While I am excited and energized about assuming the role as the executive director of our association, I also recognize the daunting task of stepping into Tom’s shoes. Have you noticed the size of those feet! I am considering having all the door headers in the office lowered so I will at least appear to fill the space. He is the only patriarch this family has ever known, and he has taken us on a great vacation. When he loaded up the car, all the kids in the backseat started yelling about where they wanted to go. Tom was able to organize the kids and prioritize a list of destinations for this great adventure. He encouraged the kids to be part of the decision-making process and to take turns driving the station wagon.
I was humbled by the number of people who approached me in Orlando and welcomed me to this role saying, “You’ll do a great job!” My response was always, “thanks for your support and I’ll need it.” What I mean by that is, while I am the one with the title, directing this association is the job of all of us. Our association is blessed with a great staff including Sue, Sherrie, and Abbey in the office, the JSHAP staff driving our journal, and Dave directing our information technology. But, the real driver of the association is our membership. This is our association, and we all have an interest and responsibility in ensuring that it meets our needs and provides value.
It is my goal as executive director to stay true to our mission and provide high-quality continuing education opportunities for our members while advocating for the health and well-being of the pigs in our care. Science will continue to form the basis of how we approach issues facing swine health and production. It is important that we continue to support the swine veterinarians of the future by promoting the activities of our recent graduates and student members and strive to help them address the challenges they face. In addition, I want to ensure that we embrace the diversity of our membership and that every member feels welcome and valued. We need to make sure that we continue to explore how we provide value to, and effectively communicate with, our membership.
Our members have fostered a close working relationship with the farmers they serve. The AASV and pork producers benefit through our interactions with the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, and the Swine Health Information Center. Our association with the veterinary diagnostic labs and university researchers provides access to a wealth of resources that benefit our ability to serve the membership by providing cutting-edge diagnostics, disease monitoring, and research. We continue to work closely with state and federal animal health officials to enhance our ability to prevent, diagnose, and respond to emerging disease threats. Similarly, we have forged relationships with other government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address issues including antimicrobial use, herd security, and public health. The station wagon is pretty crowded!
I want to thank Tom for his 25 years of service to the AASV and for his mentorship, guidance, and friendship over the 13 years I have had the pleasure of working with him. I look forward to his continued support as I transition into the role he so masterfully performed. I am also counting on your continued willingness to participate in the success of the AASV as we build upon our first 50 years. Thanks to each of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your executive director. I am happy to say that I do not believe I have ever heard anyone in the station wagon say “are we there yet?”, but I do hear a lot of “oohs” and “aahs.” That is good, because I do not want to have to pull this car over.
Harry Snelson, DVM
Executive Director