................................................................................................................................ Getting down to business

ti Friday August 2 I was privi- leged to chair the first meeting of 0 the restructured AVA Board.

After four weeks overseas it was exciting to have my feet under the table and continue the work of set-ving o u r mcinbers.

Much of thc day was taken LIP with machinery matters - determination of portfolio respoiisiibilities. assigning niect- irig and teleconference dates, allocation of policy councillor contacts, review of advi- sory committee mcmhership and briefing of new Board inembers - details of which appear elsewhere in the AVJ.

Action itenis include election of Tim Mather to the position ofTrrasurer, esrab- lishment of an Internal Audit Committee, inci-ease in I’residents’ allowance 10 effect wishes of AGM, timelinc of Septemher 6 set for preparation of a discussion paper reviewing the current membership fee structure, alternate options for the redevel- opment of AVA House in Hrisbanc sug- gested for consideration by the Queenslatid llivision, draft policy o n Guidelines h r identifj/ing New Graduate Friendly Practices approved for circulation to Policy Councillors for consideration and comment and all relevant StatelTerritoiy Ministers to be provided with advice on current AVA policy in regard to micro-chipping and electro- immobilisation.

My attendance ;it the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the

American Veteritiary Medic;tl hsociation conferences provided an opportunity to get LIP to speed on issues challenging the vet- erinary profession in both these countries.

Addressing thc AVMA House of Delegates, then I’resident-elect (now President), D r Mary Beth Ixininger, reported the top six challenges identified by a series of membership forunis held nation-wick over the past twelve months. In priority order, they are increasing the public profile of the profession so that people titiderstand and value the contri- bution of the veterinary profession to human health and well-being <is well a s to animals, improving communication with tiietiibers involving briefer publications, more ~ O C U S S C ~ messages and Internet access, alleviating the cost of veterinary education a i d its impact on thc lives of students and new graduates, involving young members in the AVMA by imple- menting a 1,eadersliip Mentor program to develop lilttire AVMA leaders, promoting the diversity of career development opportunities and underd ing biennial needs assessment surveys of members to ensure the AVMA provides meaningfill services and programs to members.

A fundainental concern of the profes- sion, shared by all countries, and enunci- ated by the 1995/96 AVMA President, Sherbyn W Ostrich, is the growing per- ception that the economic base of the pro- fession is being eroded. ‘10 address this

concern a two day syniposiuni titled Mmiiging Your Economic Future in I/iztvinuiy Mrdictrrr was held earlier this year and is reported in the July 15 /A VMA.

These issues reflect the challenges iden- tified and reported upon by other interna- tional delegates at the International Prcsidents‘ meetings held at both confer- ences.

I would like to thank the Executive, Staff and Hosts of both the CVMA and the AVMA for the very warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to Trish and me during our visit.

My thanks to Pam Scanlon for helping our CEO, Barbara Horsfield, hold the fort in my absence.

PS. CongratLilatiotis to the AVJ teain on the new-look Journal - we have received many posirivc comments.

Summary

A State by State breakdown of members at July 31, 1996 shows:

30.99% live in NSW 23.93% live in Victoria 19.69% live in Queensland 9.00% live in Western

6.34% live in South

4.19% live overseas 2.57% live in ACT 2.25% live in Tasmania 1.04% live in Northern

Australia

Australia

Territory

Aust Vet J Vol. 74, No. 3, September 1996 195