HSVMA State Representative Toolkit ABOUT HSVMA The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA), founded in 2008, is a membership association of veterinary professionals veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary professional students with a focus on animal welfare. Current HSVMA membership stands at approximately 8,500 worldwide, including membership in all 50 states within the U.S. HSVMA was formed as a home for veterinary professionals who want to engage in direct care programs serving animals in need, advocate for better public policies for animals, advance humane alternatives in veterinary education and educate the public and others in the profession about animal welfare issues. We help animals through our work in Advocacy, Education and Service. Advocacy: A cornerstone of HSVMA's mission is advocating for more humane treatment of animals. This may take the form of sponsoring, supporting, or opposing legislation, working on regulatory reforms, or participating in legal cases involving animal welfare. HSVMA advocates for the health and welfare of all species, including companion animals, equines, large animals, and wildlife, and our work tackles all types of welfare issues including issues pertaining to farmed animals, animals used in research, and animals victimized by cruelty. Methods of advocacy can include submitting letters, conducting face-to-face legislative advocacy, offering expert witness testimony or conducting media interviews in support of local, state, or federal initiatives. Education: HSVMA s education outreach focuses on providing welfare-related CE opportunities to veterinary professionals and veterinary professional students. These take the form of inperson CE events at veterinary and shelter conferences and at HSUS animal care centers. HSVMA also offers a full calendar of RACE-approved online webinar presentations with an 1
innovative humane slant. HSVMA also has representation at many of the USbased veterinary schools with either an HSVMA Student Chapter or HSVMA Student Representative on campus. HSVMA offers veterinary schools a Speakers Bureau lecture series, on-line animal welfare rounds, hands-on skills development laboratories, community outreach opportunities and externships at our affiliated animal care centers. We held our inaugural Animal Welfare Symposium for Veterinary Students at University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 and plan to hold the next one at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Service: HSVMA s direct care program is RAVS (Rural Area Veterinary Services). HSVMA-RAVS conducts annual field clinics offering spay/neuter and preventive healthcare services to companion animals on Native American reservations across the United States. Hundreds of veterinary students participate in these clinics each year, receiving hands-on training in animal care. Participating veterinary professionals are granted RACE-approved CE credit in exchange for their volunteer time. HSVMA also holds a limited number of international field clinics for working equids including horses, donkeys and mules in remote communities in Central and South America. WHO WE ARE Our Mission: To protect and advocate for animals while providing leadership and service opportunities that support a humane veterinary profession. HSVMA Board of Directors: The HSVMA Board of Directors provides oversight on HSVMA goals and activities. The 8-member board includes six veterinarians, one of whom is the President. HSVMA Leadership Council: The HSVMA Leadership Council is an advisory group for HSVMA programs and activities. It currently includes 14 veterinarians. 2
HSVMA Positions and Policy Statements: An organization is best defined and understood by the positions it takes on various issues. HSVMA has adopted positions on a variety of topics or issues that we believe have animal welfare implications. In cases where we have done extensive reviews of or work on a position, we have included a link to our full policy statement that presents the detailed philosophy and rationale for our rules of engagement on that animal welfare issue. HSUS Affiliation: HSVMA is an affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States, the largest and most effective animal protection organization in the nation. We maintain our own separate and distinct Board of Directors and Leadership Council. HSVMA s membership is limited to veterinary professionals, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary professional students; whereas HSUS membership is open to the general public. STAY CURRENT AND INFORMED HSVMA Year in Review: HSVMA began publishing an annual Year in Review in 2010. This publication affords readers the broadest overview of the association s accomplishments in a given year. HSVMA Member Bulletins: A quarterly e-newsletter highlighting HSVMA s work and other news of interest to the veterinary profession. The HSVMA Advocate: A brief summary of key HSVMA advocacy activity, distributed monthly to HSVMA leadership and key advocates, including HSVMA State Representatives. To subscribe to the Advocate, email advocacy@hsvma.org. Animal Sheltering Magazine: A bi-monthly HSUS publication focusing on the shelter and rescue communities as well as other community animal issues. A subscription to this publication is an HSVMA membership benefit. All Animals Magazine: A bi-monthly HSUS publication, sent to all members of that organization. Internet and Social Media Presence: Website: Our website is hsvma.org. Facebook: You can like us at facebook.com/hsvma LinkedIn: You can follow us on LinkedIn at hsvma.org/linkedin HSVMA State Rep Closed Facebook Page: This page is reserved exclusively for HSVMA State Rep communications. To join the group, search for HSVMA State Representatives on Facebook and submit a request to join. A Humane Nation: The daily blog of HSUS President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle. 3
Animals and Politics: The blog of the Humane Society Legislative Fund s President, Michael Markarian. HSVMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM History of the State Rep Program: In October 2014, HSVMA piloted a State Representative Program consisting of active volunteer veterinarian liaisons that conduct outreach on behalf of HSVMA to their respective state veterinary medical associations and the broader profession, and serve as resources on animal welfare-related issues for the veterinary community. HSVMA State Reps also help the organization with legislative initiatives, providing expert witness testimony, submitting legislative support letters, writing letters to the editor and conducting other forms of outreach, such as speaking at veterinary schools and to other veterinary professional groups. Our pilot program began with four Reps in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode Island who accomplished a great deal of successful outreach in a short period of time. The HSVMA State Representative program is now in full swing and, by the end of 2016, we have expanded with eight additional Reps in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Georgia for a total of 12 states now included in the program. Quarterly State Rep Teleconferences: HSVMA State Representatives participate in quarterly scheduled teleconferences each year, during which Reps report on outreach activity they have conducted in their respective states. Time is available for Reps to ask questions, share ideas and dialogue about issues pertaining to state-level HSVMA outreach within the veterinary profession. State Rep teleconferences are scheduled on Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 PM PT/5:00-6:30 CT/6:00-7:30 ET. Teleconference information is as follows: Dial in: 1-800-504-8071 Password: 9243712# Security Code: 6505 4
State Rep Biographies/Photos on HSVMA Website: Please provide a brief professional biography and your preferred photograph to be posted on the HSVMA website Closed HSVMA State Rep Facebook Page: Please join the closed HSVMA State Rep Facebook page. Search for HSVMA State Representatives on Facebook and submit a request to join. HSVMA State Rep Business Cards: If you would like business cards for use in your veterinary outreach on behalf of HSVMA, please contact Pam Runquist at prunquist@hsvma.org. Contacts: HSVMA Contacts: Dr. Barbara Hodges, HSVMA veterinary advisor, bhodges@hsvma.org Pam Runquist, Senior Director of Veterinary Outreach, prunquist@hsvma.org HSVMA Advocacy/Membership Office: (530) 759-8106 Intro to HSUS State Director: Please contact the HSUS State Director in your state and introduce yourself as the HSVMA State Representative. HSVMA State Reps work in conjunction with HSUS State Directors on animalrelated legislation supported (or opposed) by both groups. HSVMA can facilitate this introduction. Please contact Dr. Barbara Hodges regarding this request. HSUS State Councils and District Leaders: The HSUS State Director in your state can introduce you to key HSUS State Council members and HSUS District Leaders. HSUS State Councils: HSUS State Councils are composed of key supporters who are highly committed to the mission of The Humane Society of the United States. Members include engaged professionals who are willing and able to give a limited amount of time each month to help advance The HSUS agenda in their state and nationwide. The State Council members serve as a high-level volunteer advisory group, reporting to the HSUS State Director. State Council members have 5
made a philanthropic commitment to the organization and they ve agreed to attend monthly meetings and advocate for animals. HSUS District Leaders: HSUS District Leaders serve as HSUS ambassadors in their congressional districts and advance The HSUS' federal and state legislative animal protection priorities. District Leaders actively participate in ongoing federal and state legislative advocacy and corporate reform campaigns. They establish and maintain strong and effective professional relationships with legislators. District leaders are also charged with building a network of HSUS allies who will take action on behalf of animal protection issues, participate in Humane Lobby Days at their state capitols and when possible, attend the federal Humane Lobby Day in D.C. STATE REPRESENTATIVE ACTIVITIES: State Veterinary Medical Association Outreach Membership in Your State VMA: HSVMA strongly encourages State Representatives to initiate and maintain membership in their respective state veterinary medical associations. Your membership facilitates VMA outreach and provides the opportunity to serve on state VMA committees, further influencing outcomes for animals within your state. Letter of Introduction to Your State VMA: Consider reaching out to your state VMA by email or snail mail to formally introduce yourself as the HSVMA State Representative. If this seems appropriate, we can provide you with a template letter, based on intro letters previously sent by other Reps. The letter should touch on HSVMA s desire to work in conjunction with them on issues of mutual interest relating to animal welfare and veterinary medicine. Contact Dr. Barbara Hodges for the template letter. Join a State VMA Committee(s): Not every state VMA has a committee structure in place. However, if your state VMA does, please consider joining one (or more) of them. A number of other Reps have joined their state s Animal Welfare, Legislative or Governmental Affairs Committees. Sitting on a committee helps amplify your voice, providing input into activities undertaken and positions held by the state VMA. 6
Participate in a State VMA Conference: Consider participating in your state s VMA conferences. You could offer to be a speaker on a welfare-related CE topic, table on behalf of HSVMA, and/or promote the conferences to HSVMA member colleagues in your state. Propose Joint HSVMA/State VMA projects: Consider proposing initiatives that could be undertaken jointly with HSVMA. Examples include suggesting that (1) a portion of the veterinarian CE requirement in your state be focused on animal welfare/ethics, etc. (effort in California right now), (2) legislation be proposed, allowing the repurposing of expired medications for use by non-profit animal organizations within your state, or (3) legislation be proposed that limits the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals. For more legislative ideas, contact Dr. Barbara Hodges. Legislative Outreach HSVMA Legislative Advocacy in Your State: HSVMA Advocacy, in conjunction with your HSUS State Director, can provide you with background on any recent or currently pending legislative efforts made by HSVMA or made jointly by HSVMA and HSUS in your state. Also, a good website to research animal welfare legislation is www.animallaw.info. Get to Know Your Own Legislators: As an HSVMA State Rep, we encourage you to cultivate relationships with the elected and appointed individuals who represent you in your state. It is particularly important that your own legislators know you as a constituent, a veterinarian and the HSVMA State Representative, and that they know they can call on HSVMA as a resource for our perspective on animal-related issues, initiatives or legislation. Building relationships early on is critical so that you ll be in a stronger position when you ask for their support for or opposition to a specific piece of legislation later on. Making the effort to initiate and maintain contact with your legislators and key aides will yield benefits in the long run. You can find contact information for your elected officials here. Congressional and State Humane Scorecards: Humane Scorecard of Congress: The Humane Society Legislative Fund publishes an annual 7
Humane Scorecard of Congress to give you a snapshot of every federal legislator's record on animal protection issues for the past legislative year. Check it out and see how your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives performed during the past year on these issues. State Humane Scorecards: Humane Scorecards have been developed for selected states. These include California, Maryland, New Mexico and Texas. An archive of past Congressional and State Humane Scorecards is available. Participate in HSUS Humane Lobby Day in Your State: Humane Lobby Day in your state is a critically important and powerful daylong event, organized by your HSUS State Director and HSUS staff. HLD is held annually at the State Capitol in most states, usually in the first quarter of the year. Its purpose is to provide animal protection advocates with the opportunity to speak directly with their state lawmakers and their aides on animal issues that are current and relevant in their state. As the HSVMA State Rep, you can consider reaching out to HSVMA members and other veterinary professionals across the state in order to form a veterinary lobbying team for the day. event. A federal Humane Lobby Day is held annually in Washington, DC, typically in the fall. If you are planning to be in the nation s capital during that period, HSUS/HSVMA would welcome your attendance at that Outreach to Members Letter of Introduction to State HSVMA Members: HSVMA will send a letter introducing you to our members in your state. We have template text that you can customize and use. Dr. Barbara Hodges will be in touch to coordinate this letter with you after you have accepted the position. 8
Recruiting New HSVMA Members: We encourage you to recruit new HSVMA members from among your colleagues. You can use the discount member code HSVMASTATE16 to offer them a one-time complimentary first-year membership in the organization. Benefits of HSVMA Membership: HSVMA offers veterinary professional members a growing array of member benefits including free RACE-approved CE opportunities in the form of webinars, access to competitively priced professional liability and disability insurance, discounts on publications, CVC conferences and other resources, etc. Outreach to Veterinary Students 9 HSVMA Student Memberships: HSVMA Veterinary School Student Chapters and Student Representatives: You can help grow the HSVMA membership by reaching out to veterinary students and veterinary technician students in your state. Membership for veterinary medical students and veterinary technician students is offered free of charge for the duration of their educational program and for their first year in practice. If there is a veterinary medical school in your state, HSVMA can introduce you to our HSVMA Student Chapter officers and their advisor or the HSVMA Student Representative on campus (if we have a chapter or a rep at that school). HSVMA student chapters provide a forum for veterinary students to get involved in animal protection issues, promote humane veterinary education, and participate in service opportunities. HSVMA Student Representatives partner with us to build awareness about animal welfare issues on their campus. HSVMA Speakers Bureau: HSVMA offers students at US veterinary schools the opportunity to hear visiting veterinary professionals speak about animal welfare topics, such as veterinary
involvement in reporting animal cruelty, feral cat overpopulation, early-age sterilization and puppy mills. HSVMA State Reps are welcome to conduct student outreach by presenting these talks at veterinary schools in their state or region. The HSVMA staff can assist in providing templates for presentations that you can customize. HSVMA SAVMA Conference Participation: HSVMA conducts outreach by tabling at the annual Student AVMA Conference. If SAVMA is being held at your state s veterinary school, please plan on representing HSVMA in the exhibit hall Appendix: HSVMA Volunteer State Representative Job Description HSVMA Overview Presentation (in pdf format, please email Pam Runquist for the latest powerpoint version if you are going to do a presentation.) 10