From the Executive
Director
 Don't look like you are
doing nothing!
One of our long-time accountants, Mr Fred Kouri, was in our office
recently. He was telling me about his very first
audit many years ago. As it was his first audit,
he was a bit nervous about the client's perception of his job performance. His boss
gave him this sage bit of advice: "Don't look like you are doing nothing!" This
statement really struck home with me, as an
association executive.
Like all associations, the AASV wants to be perceived as responsive to our
members' needs. We can't be seen as doing nothing. If we are to be successful, then we need
to respond to the suggestions, concerns, ideas, criticism, and input of our members.
As an association, the AASV measures its effectiveness by our impact, not our
membership numbers. The AASV has never been known for grand
pronouncements, elaborate position statements, or
taking unneeded action just for the sake of looking like we are doing something. I
believe that we adhere to the admonition that activity does not always equate with action.
The recent annual meeting held in Kansas City is an example of our response
to members' needs. Prior to the meeting, several members from the United States
and Canada had expressed concern over the growing incidence and severity of
porcine circovirus type 2- (PCV2-) associated disease. Representatives of the AASV and
the National Pork Board met with researchers in late 2005. Conference calls with
practitioners and diagnosticians were held in early 2006. Arising from all of this
communication was a clear message to AASV leadership to take action. It was clear
that more needed to be done.
The AASV Board of Directors met on the morning of Saturday, March 4. On
their agenda was PCV2-associated disease. After a general discussion, the board
recognized that a distinct plan of action was
needed. In this case as in many others, the
board's desire is to apply and leverage AASV resources to fully address the many
issues surrounding this disease in an effective
and timely fashion. The board passed a resolution creating a new ad hoc committee
to specifically lay out a plan of action to be undertaken by the AASV in regard
to PCV2-associated diseases. Appointments to this committee will be made
immediately so that its first interactions can take place
in the very near future.
The AASV, however, did not wait until the board meeting to act on the issues
arising over PCV2-associated disease. First and foremost was a need for more
information to be disseminated to our members
about the disease. As a result, a seminar was scheduled as part of the annual meeting
on Sunday morning, March 5, entitled "PCV2/PMWS - Understanding
factors that impact disease expression and
control." More than 200 attendees listened
to presentations by nine knowledgeable speakers. The seminar proceedings sold
out in a matter of hours and a reprint order has been placed.
Given the extremely high rate of pre-registration for the PCV2 seminar, the
AASV leadership decided that members needed another opportunity not only to gain
more information on PCV2-associated disease, but also to provide input to the AASV
on what actions are needed. This opportunity was given to members on Tuesday
afternoon, March 7, in a special "listening
session." Once again, more than 200 members
were in attendance at this session and heard presentations by three speakers on the
disease in Canada, United States, and Europe. A great deal of discussion followed the
presentations. This input will assist the ad hoc committee and the AASV leadership
in organizing our efforts against this disease.
The AASV will also continue to work with a number of other organizations such
as NPB, USDA, numerous universities, researchers, biologics manufacturers,
and others in seeking answers and solutions. It will require cooperation and
collaboration across the industry if we are to be successful.
I have received a few comments that can be summarized as "I hope we don't make
the same mistakes with PCV2 that we made with PRRS virus." If we wish to
avoid making the same mistakes, then we need to clearly identify them. As of yet, however,
I have had no one step up and clearly define what mistakes we made in the early years
of dealing with PRRS virus. Therefore, I lift up the challenge to those who can still
remember those days to think about what mistakes can be avoided this time
around. The nagging questions remain: Are we doing enough? Is what we are doing action
or merely activity? Are we doing the right things?
Let's not look like we are doing nothing!
-- Tom Burkgren
|
