Activity

MINUTES IEVMA Business Meeting September 22, 2015

The association regrets to announce the passing of former IEVMA Vice-President and long-term member Dr. Chuck Lohr in August.
Dr. Hunter discussed the evolution of the association to its current focus on continuing education and providing a unified voice to veterinarians in the area.
Dr. Whipps reported a membership total of 165, including approximately 30 honorary members. The association’s finances are in good shape primarily due to the income from the winter meetings. The current treasury stands at $28K including $11K in CDs. He stated that the dues income finances monthly expenses, secretarial expenses, the White Coat Ceremony donations, IEVMA scholarships, and the Mission Free Clinic.
Dr. Watkins thanked Dr. Hunter for his exceptional stewardship of the association over the past 25 years and asked younger veterinarians to play a greater role going forward.
Dr. Tucker announced that she is retiring from the Mission Free Clinic after 18 years. Dr. Denise Pilgeram will be assuming leadership. They are in need of veterinarians, technicians, and skilled assistants to volunteer their time to help the pets of Spokane’s indigent population.
Dr. Mike Burdette discussed the future of the WSVMA Board. His term is expiring this month and his position has been eliminated in the streamlining process. The board will consist of six members without geographical or practice type considerations in selection. He strongly urged IEVMA member veterinarians to become involved in the leadership development committee to run for the WSVMA Board. As the most active association in the state, our members have a lot to offer organized veterinary medicine state-wide.
A thank you letter was received from Dean Slinker for the association’s scholarships this year. Association donations over the years have placed us among the top tiers of donors to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Branford displayed the current version of the new IEVMA website. Ultimately, the website will feature free position wanted, veterinarian wanted, licensed technician wanted, and relief ads for members, as well as free technician position wanted ads for licensed techs. These ads will be viewable by anyone searching the site. In addition, members will be able to pay dues and register for the winter meeting via PayPal there. The heart of the site will be the discussion boards where members can review full CE listings, discuss cases, check for political updates, and interact socially. The site will also be open to host book or journal clubs. Dr. Troyer suggested an “alerts” board to post possible drug-seeking clients and other issues. It was decided to add this. Please contact Dr. Branford with further suggestions.
Dr. Hunter announced that the 2016 Winter Meeting will feature Dr. Nancy Brock on anesthesia and peri-operative analgesia.
Volunteers to train to assume the offices were sought. Dr. Megan McElroy volunteered for the vice-president position. Dr. Chrystal Wachtel asked Dr. McElroy to assume that office at this time. She agreed. Dr. Angela Lehman offered to work with Dr. Branford on the secretarial position and Dr. Meredeth McEntire stepped forward to assist Dr. Whipps with the treasury. This slate was elected.