The Veterinary Debt Initiative (VDI) is committed to raising awareness and providing access to resources that enable pre-veterinary students, veterinary students and veterinarians to make highly informed financial decisions. Check out how VDI is leading efforts in the student debt crisis at these upcoming VDI-sponsored speaker events: AVMA Convention 8/2/19: The Market for Veterinary Education and How It Affects You! 8/3/19: Decisions, Decisions: Repayment Strategies for New Veterinarians 8/3/19: Contract Negotiations: Beyond Bargaining Games and Tactics AVMA Annual Economic Summit 10/22/19: Veterinary Debt Initiative Update at Summit Dinner Wellbeing Summit 11/19/19: The...

Nearly one in three VMAE members were on the June 20 VMAE | Live! inaugural webinar that featured Doug Raven, Angela Roberts, and Dr. Kevin Dajka sharing their insights on Effectively Messaging to Member Segments.  If you weren’t able to participate in the live session, a recorded version is available here in the VMAE webinar archive. VMAE | Live! is all about connecting our special network for input, insight and inspiration while exploring association management and professional issue topics.  VMAE | Live! will convene on the third Thursday of each month, starting at...

VMAE | ThinkWORKS 2019 held recently in San Francisco received rave reviews from participants whose comments ranged from “Home run!” to “The focus on education is critical to the missions of all our associations – the program was relevant, entertaining and useful.” If you weren’t able to attend (or did attend and want a refresher) VMAE is pleased to provide a sampling of observations from Elliott Masie, along with this link to an unedited, home-spun, embarrassingly authentic recording of the one-hour wrap-up session with Elliott. Here’s a compilation of Elliott’s Saturday...

Based on feedback from learning professionals, Elliott Masie – who was the keynote speaker and facilitator of VMAE’s recent ThinkWORKS conference in San Francisco – has introduced a new podcast series. The first episode runs 11 minutes and is filled with useful commentary and perspective from Elliott about why he decided to utilize the podcast format for this series and about how on-the-job learning is the most impactful method for many learners (including veterinary professionals in my view). You can click here to listen to the podcast....

Is VMAE included in your Facebook feed?  If not, why not sign on to enjoy the friendly banter, candid photos, and network updates that flows through this VMAE digital channel? It’s easy – just search for VMAE and then request to be approved for this members-only group or use this link to access the page....

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has named the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) as the recipient of a Gold award in the 2019 The Power of A Awards. Winners were selected from 114 entries as part of The Power of A campaign, which brings attention to the association community’s valuable contributions to society at the local, national and global levels. TVMA received the award for its Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) training and certification program. Judging committee chair Sharon Swan commented that “Harnessing the power of members to create...

VMAE Affiliate member Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA, president and founder of Germinder + Associates, Inc. has been named the first recipient of the Makovsky Excellence in Mentoring Award. Germinder was presented with the award June 24 from Ken Makovsky, president of Makovsky + Company at the PRSA-NY Big Apple Gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York. In accepting the award, Germinder said “I am humbled to accept for doing something I love to do. The call at the Big Apple Gala for more diversity and inclusion in our profession...

Jim Cramer shuffles his ‘Humanization of Pets ETF’ — ‘It’s paid off in 2019’ CNBC’s Jim Cramer, who hosts Mad Money, says “The humanization of pets has been a fabulous secular growth story – one that’s really paid off in 2019.”  He recently rebalanced his “Humanization of Pets ETF” (ETF = Exchange Traded Funds) and says “I bet it can keep going higher.”  Check out this brief video – you’re already familiar with many of his picks.  Source: Dr. Jane Brunt (thanks, Jane!).   ASAE Asks: What’s Next in Association Learning? In a special...

On May 29, the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and VIN Foundation hosted “2019 Veterinary New Graduate Student Loan Playbook,” a live webinar for new veterinary graduates, which presented the benefits of repaying student loans as soon as possible. Student Debt Expert Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA, reviewed step-by-step processes for the most effective ways to handle veterinary school loans upon graduation (HINT: it is not through refinancing). Check out the webinar and its accompanying blog to get the scoop on loan consolidation, repayment options and how a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan can...

Ms. Danielle Johnson, senior director of development at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges’ (AAVMC) inaugural 2019 Award for Fundraising Excellence in Student Scholarships. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s scholarship fundraising program was recognized by judges for its strategic, comprehensive and sustainable nature, as well as programmatic success. “Educational debt is one of the most challenging issues facing academic veterinary medicine and the profession,” said AAVMC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe. “We’re honored...