Dr. Michael Newman
2008-2009 ALVMA President

Dear Colleagues:

            Fundamental to any organization is that it is relevant to membership and that it empowers members to add their input to the organization.  There is legitimate concern that the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association has become too narrow in its leadership and that the general membership is missing the relevance of the organization to their needs.  An apparent disconnect exists between the executive board and the rank and file which has seemed to worsen in recent years.  It is clear when members are asked what the executive board is doing.  The answer is usually…I don’t know.  With whom the blame lays is irrelevant.  Where the blame lies is obvious.  Communication between the board and membership is broken and requires fixing.  There are some significant problems with our present dependence on representatives to carry the messages home to their local associations.  Indeed, some local associations have not sent a representative to an executive board meeting for years and those that do are frequently hampered by the logistics of presenting information when the next meeting of their local association is not scheduled to meet in a timely fashion.

The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association has a very large relevance to each member and to the state of Alabama.  Organized veterinary medicine is especially pertinent considering the state and national influence of welfare groups and the needs of veterinary education.  By virtue of a large and empowered membership, our association can affect not only medical related legislation but also the hearts and minds of the general population.  We are the voice of science based animal health and we are its only authority unless we give it up.  It is vital that we continue to foster this association as the voice for animal health in Alabama.  But we must first communicate. 

An executive board retreat in February made this the number one concern and from that retreat several ideas have been proposed.  Each of you is welcome to input thoughts or concerns about any of the proposals.  Remember none of the proposals will take effect until the executive board says it will. 

The first proposal is to reduce the number of local associations.  That will likely begin with those associations which have consistently refused to participate in executive board meetings.  But there is a lot of consideration to alter representation to districts.  Such planning would necessarily involve combining some of the local associations into larger groups.  Problems of geography and population already stymie the process but if communication is improved, the process may be worth it. 

A complete overhaul of the committees is presently under way.  Some committees have outlived their usefulness and should be sunsetted.  Some have relevance only periodically and those can be shelved until needed.  Most need invigorating.  The work of each committee is critical to the function of the association.  In fact, the association could not exist without committees doing their work and importantly, the committee is where most members can have a large input into the association and its direction. 

Using the new technology to its fullest advantage is a likely course to improve communication.  This missive is an example and adding blast emails from your president will continue throughout the year.  It is possible to email the minutes of each meeting and to directly communicate critical issues to you.

The Alabama Veterinarian is still available but useful only twice yearly and like all hard print, it moves at the speed of the post office and costs money.  Emails have the advantages of moving at the speed of light, are timely, and are free.  The disadvantage is that you must remember and be interested enough to look at them.  Many of you are hopeless, but the internet is now a reality and very convenient.  I urge you to use it.

Finally, we still have telephones.  I also urge you to call me or your representative.  I will assure you that I will call you when necessary.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Mike

Michael Newman DVM MS

President, Alabama Veterinary Medical Association

800-320-7001

avs@bellsouth.net