Notes from the President

Dusty Oedekoven, DVM, DACVPM

“Are we there yet?” Anyone who has driven some distance with kids will be familiar with this classic question that usually comes from the backseat within a half hour of departure and is often repeated throughout the trip. My high school ag teacher frequently encountered this question enroute to FFA events and had a signature response. No matter the distance remaining, he would always answer: “we’re about half way!"

I have felt the same sentiment while working through any number of preparedness or response incidents. Whether supply chain disruptions due to a global pandemic, avian influenza outbreak, bovine tuberculosis response (or revising those TB regs!), monkeypox, preparing for the introduction of a transboundary disease like FMD or ASF, or trying to get the USAHA meeting back on-track to its pre-pandemic format, the question may be asked: "Are we there yet?" Surely, we must be halfway!

Remember that 2019 annual meeting in Providence? Halcyon days! While the meeting format has been modified the past two years, I am really looking forward to bringing back most of the "normal" footprint of our annual meeting this year in Minneapolis, with some notable fun twists that I encourage you to read about in the annual meeting section below. As we prepare to meet again soon, I would like to extend my thanks to all the committee leaders. The work of USAHA is committee driven, and the effectiveness of a committee comes down to leadership and active participation. Thanks for all you do!

I had hoped to visit all four district meetings this year, but competing schedules kept my attendance to just two: the Northeast and my own Northcentral districts. I enjoyed catching up with friends and hearing various updates important to all the work that you do. USAHA members are involved in a wide variety of issues affecting diverse stakeholders. There really is something for everyone, and the work of our organization is better when all are involved. Enhancing membership engagement is one of the objectives in our strategic plan. I encourage everyone to join a committee or working group – your contributions are highly valued!

2022 Keynote Speaker: meet Peter Zeihan

Don’t miss out on a new approach this year with our Keynote Speaker, to take place Sunday evening, October 9 as part of the President’s Dinner. We are pleased to feature renowned geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking evening, with a global slant and agricultural flavor.

Peter Zeihan is is an expert in geopolitics: the study of how place impacts financial, economic, cultural, political and military developments. Peter is a critically acclaimed author and highly-sought public speaker. With a keen eye toward what will drive tomorrow’s headlines, his irreverent approach transforms topics that are normally dense and heavy into accessible, relevant takeaways for audiences of all types. 

Student Travel Scholarships Available!

The Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine will award up to 11 travel awards of $500-599 each will be awarded to students interested in veterinary public practice, and up to 6 awards of $599 will be granted to students interested in diagnostic laboratory medicine, to offset travel expenses to the annual joint USAHA

& AAVLD Meeting on October 6-12, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Registration fees for veterinary students are waived. Attendance for the entire conference is not mandatory

Learn more and apply HERE 

Deadline is Sept. 16.

Congratulations to…

Dr. Manoel Tamassia, now former State Veterinarian of New Jersey and second vice president of USAHA, has assumed a new role with the World Organization for Animal Health (formerly OIE) in Paris, France. Unfortunately, he is also resigning his position as an officer of USAHA representing the Northeast district. We wish you all the best in your new endeavors, Dr. Tamassia!

Upon Dr. Tamassia’s resignation, the Northeast USAHA District has nominated Dr. Stephen Crawford, New Hampshire State Veterinarian, to fill the vacancy for the Northeast position on the Executive Committee as first vice-president. The Executive Committee has reviewed and approved this appointment, and be slated for election as President-Elect this fall. Welcome Dr. Crawford back to the leadership of USAHA!

Welcome New Individual and Student Members – 2022

New! Resolution Review

Resolutions are a key output of the USAHA committee process. USAHA resolutions are not policy setting but instead make specific requests, often of federal or state agencies, to take a specific action or respond with information. 

Increasing the effectiveness of resolutions is one of the goals of the 2021-25 strategic plan. A dashboard was previously developed and is available on the USAHA website so that members and stakeholders can track the progress of resolutions. During the 2021 annual meeting, the Board of Directors approved a process to review resolutions every three years. This process will begin at this year's annual meeting with a review of resolutions passed at the 2019 Annual Meeting. In addition to current resolution work, each committee will review resolutions that originated from that committee in 2019.

When reviewing 2019 resolutions, committees should consider:

·        Has the desired outcome of the resolution been met? For example, did the agency respond with the information or action requested by the resolution? If so, the resolution can be moved to “inactive status”.

·        Has the subject of a resolution expired? For example, did the resolution pertain to a time-specific request that has now passed? If so, it should be moved to inactive status.

If a past resolution is still relevant, timely, and necessary, but the desired outcome has not yet been achieved, committees should consider how the language of the resolution might be modified to bring about the desired outcome.

·        Right target?

·        Narrow scope?

·        Restricted time frame?

Through this process resolutions that have not been effective in meeting desired outcomes will be reconsidered through the committee’s deliberative business meeting and passed or defeated in the same manner as current resolutions are handled. The goal is to keep resolutions current and maximize the effectiveness of our organization. Best wishes to all as we undertake this new process!