We are now well into a new administration of the ACVPM under the able presidency of Dr. Peggy Carter. She very much would like to encourage our members to sponsor and support potential candidates among your various staffs and acquaintances. These new candidates need continuing support and we have requested 2008 diplomates serve as mentors to applicants for the 2009 examination. This simple and logical measure promises to sustain a higher pass rate for future exams.

Our newsletter editor mantle has fallen on the shoulders of Dr. Deidre Qual who is chair of the Communications Committee. All of us are exposed to particularly relevant news items and noteworthy published accounts of developments in our field and request these be forwarded to Dr. Qual for review by her committee. Submissions may include accounts of newsworthy events by individual members who have attended a conference or been close to some event or issue that may be apropos for our readership. So in the functional year ahead, please support the Communications Committee.

Under the purview of the Communications Committee for the past year, is our website and I am pleased to offer kudos for a total reconstruction of this important function by our webmaster, Joe Adam. He has done a terrific job with the graphics and functionality of the site that you can ‘test drive’ at www.acvpm.org. Look it over and know that we now have the capacity for subgroups to conduct dialogue as needed. Also check on your own member listing and update address, phone and background information. Many of our younger members move frequently and it really helps if members maintain correct updates of their listings.

Switching topics, officers have been discussing ideas for fund raising as a means to enhance financial health of ACVPM, independent of dues. Publications and special training events are under consideration. However I would like to challenge college diplomates to do a little brain storming themselves on ideas for a service or sponsorship or publication that we could provide that may tap into our collective expertise. If you have a suggestion or offering of some type, please forward any ideas to President Peggy Carter at PeggyCarterDVM@aol.com.

Also it’s ‘rush week’ for the EVP position and I encourage everyone to promote this opportunity to potential applicants who may be interested. Dr Mo Salman chairs the EVP search committee and can be contacted at M.D.Salman@ColoState.edu.

Russ Currier, 4 Sept 2008