MVMA Presidents Corner

There is a noticeable energy level in the MVMA office in January....our Annual meeting time is quickly approaching. The 113^th edition of our State veterinary medical association will open on Thursday February 4^th in downtown Minneapolis. Once again our Convention is fortunate to be able to partner with our veterinary technician friends as well as our friends at the Minneapolis Hilton. This convention site is conveniently located downtown and is easily accessible from the freeway with plenty of parking located at or near the hotel. All this makes for a great meeting location. If you haven't received your convention information by now please contact the MVMA office or you can go online www.mvma.org to download forms or register online.

At the convention, Dr. Mike McMenomy will take over leadership of the MVMA, our Association is in good hands with Mike and a great group of board members. Having worked very closely with this group over the past year, I know first-hand their level of commitment to the veterinary profession in the State of Minnesota. In my newsletter columns over this past year, I have written frequently about the MVMA's strategic plan. If you want to know where the MVMA is going as an association, take a close look at our plan...it is easily available to all members on our website. If you want to know what the association does for you, take a look at our strategic plan. If you want to find opportunities to become actively involved in the MVMA, take a look at our strategic plan. This plan matures and develops based on input from each one of you as members of our Association. Have you had your input? If you are unhappy with the MVMA, take a look in the mirror. The MVMA is merely a reflection of the veterinarians who have chosen to practice their profession in the State of Minnesota. The effectiveness of organized veterinary medicine is the result of the passion that veterinarians have for our profession. If you are involved, THANK YOU. If you have not taken the opportunity to, in some way become involved in the MVMA, I encourage you to make 2010 the year that you do.

The MVMA is organizing a day at the capital for MVMA members. This is a tremendous opportunity to meet face to face with our State's legislative leaders and provide them with access to the veterinary profession. This opportunity is available to all members of the MVMA, please look for more information about this Capitol Hill Day event in early 2010.

The MVMA has joined the Facebook phenomena. Thanks to help from our student members the MVMA Facebook page was launched in November. Staying connected to our membership is very important to the MVMA and the internet tools are going to help us do just that.

Again I sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity this past year to serve you as President of the MVMA. I look forward to seeing everyone at the 2010 MVMA Convention. 

Cheers,

Paul Rapnicki, DVM, MBA

Email: rapni001@umn.edu