As we approach the end of 2022, I want to take time to reflect on the year and AASV.
After a virtual annual meeting in 2021, we were able to meet in person in Indianapolis. The sense of excitement and engagement amongst the members after minimal in-person meetings was palpable, and that enthusiasm carried through to the engagement of members in other AASV activities throughout the year. I would like to take another opportunity to thank all those involved in the meeting planning, and especially thank all the speakers who provided us with innovative, challenging, timely, thought-provoking presentations. It takes a tremendous amount of time and talent to make this meeting a success!
In March, the AASV officers and staff had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC for a joint meeting with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) officers and staff for stakeholder meetings. During the meetings, we met with representatives from the American Veterinary Medical Association Government Relations team, US Customs and Border Protection, US Food and Drug Administration, National Pork Producers Council, National Milk Producers Federation, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service, Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the US House and Senate Agriculture Committee’s staff. These discussions provided updates on pending legislation, funding, and specific program updates on issues that impact food animal veterinarians. The continued opportunity to collaborate and communicate with AABP around all these topics is appreciated.
The AASV committees met at the AASV Annual Meeting, and most met again later in the year. Currently, there are 16 active committees with well over 350 AASV members volunteering their time. Many of the committees have been active bringing position statements and requests for financial support of projects to the board of directors. Several have also developed preconference seminars as part of the Annual Meeting. Thanks to everyone who has given their time to be part of a committee, or in some cases, multiple committees. If you are interested in joining a committee please reach out to the chairperson, or plan to attend the upcoming meeting at the Annual Meeting in Denver. To see current committee information, including past agendas and plan of work, please go to aasv.org/aasv/committee.php. All committees would benefit from the addition of new members and new perspectives!
In conjunction with the spring board of directors meeting, a strategic planning session was held. During this session, gradual declining membership was identified as an area of opportunity for the organization to evaluate more closely. Some of the observed decrease is in international membership, which may be related to global travel restrictions and the inability to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Other reasons for the decline are more challenging to determine due to the current lack of demographic information collected by the association beyond year of graduation and which college a member graduated from. The ability to better evaluate trends and determine contributing factors for declining numbers in specific segments of the membership would allow for specific plans to enhance membership retention and recruitment.
The threat of an introduction of a transboundary disease into North America remains. Throughout the year, activities such as presentations and discussions at the Annual Meeting, meetings with state and federal regulatory agencies, applied research, collaboration with allied industry groups, and the AASV member meeting at World Pork Expo have involved many AASV members. It is these collective efforts that continue to improve preparedness for such an introduction. It is AASV members who are best positioned to continue to identify gaps, advocate for better preparedness, and lead in the development of farm-specific plans.
None of the accomplishments of AASV would happen without the often-overlooked efforts of the AASV staff. Please remember to express your gratitude to them for their work at every opportunity.
As the year comes to a close, hopefully you will have time to slow down, reflect, and spend time with your families and friends. I am looking forward to the continued activity and growth of AASV in 2023.
Mike Senn, DVM, MS
AASV President