Defining our future

As the incoming President, I would like to continue to focus on the 2022 Annual Meeting theme, “Defining our Future.” As an organization, we have accomplished many successes for our members and the industries that we serve. All these successes are the result of the members who have graciously dedicated their time and talent over many decades. Without these sustaining members, the association cannot fully achieve its mission. Maintaining and growing our membership is critical to our viability for two reasons. First, we need to maintain or grow the pool of talented, engaged members that give their time as committee members, officers, AVMA delegates, and mentors. It is these collective efforts that are the core of the organization achieving its mission. Second, the two largest sources of revenue to support the organization are both driven by membership, membership dues and annual meeting registrations.

The most important aspect of membership is the continued recruitment of new members, with the predominate source being recent graduates, many of which were previously student members. In 2021, the number of new graduate members that joined AASV was 30. This is the first time this number has dropped below 43 members in the past ten years. Similarly, student membership in 2021 was 225 members, the lowest number of student members reported since 2010. While US membership remains relatively steady, we continue to see a decline in international membership, as well as an increasing trend in inactive or retired members. With the decrease in recent graduate and student members and the increase in inactive or retired members, it is imperative that we proactively address membership numbers for the continued success and viability of the organization.

Today, the reasons for the decrease in student and recent graduate members are undefined. It is critical that we work to understand why these trends are occurring and develop strategies to address them. Some thoughts to begin the conversation:

• Are AASV student outreach activities effectively informing a broad range of students about the organization and career opportunities in swine medicine?
• Are there opportunities to improve student outreach and recruitment, such as expanding efforts to reach students earlier in their academic careers prior to acceptance into veterinary school?
• For those who are student members but do not continue to be members after graduation, what are the reasons?
• Is the need for veterinarians focused on swine medicine decreasing?
• Is AASV creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where students and recent graduates want to belong?

The trend in decreased retention of new members in the first five years post graduation is not unique to AASV. In his December 2021 American Association of Bovine Practitioners President’s Message, Dr Pat Gorden describes a similar trend among their recent graduates. I would like to recognize the AASV Early Career Committee for creating and planning the successful, first-ever Early Career Swine Veterinarian Conference in conjunction with the 2021 Iowa State University James D. McKean Swine Disease Conference. This is a great example of the continued focus and efforts needed to address current membership issues, well done! I look forward to the continued collaboration with the membership as we move forward in defining the future of AASV. Thank you all for your efforts, the organization would not be successful without each of you and your contributions.

Mike Senn, DVM, MS
AASV President-elect