Alabama Vet Tech Event Listing

3/5/10- 3/7/10 - Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Winter Meeting will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham, AL. For more information visit www.alvma.com

3/24/10- 3/28/10 - Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine Annual Symposium will be held at Tuskegee University, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Tuskegee,AL

4/8/10 - 4/11/10 - Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine 103rd Annual Conference will be held at Auburn University, Dixon Hotel & Conference Center, Auburn, AL. For more information you may visit www.vetmed.auburn.edu

6/10/10 - 6/13/10 - Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention will be held at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Sandestin, Florida. For more information you may visit www.alvma.com

8/12/10 - 8/15/10 - The Southern Veterinary Conference will be held at the Wynfrey Hotel located in Galleria Mall. Birmingham, AL. For more information you may visit www.thesvconline.com

Mark your calendar!!! The next annual AVTA Fall CE Program will be November 6^th, 2010. Location, topics and speakers to be announced. If you have a suggestion for a topic and speaker, please eMail AVTA

3/6/10 – Several AVTA Executive Committee members will be assisting with the upcoming Alabama Animal Hall of Fame Banquet. This event recognizes several special animals which have displayed exceptional abilities in their relationship with humans. For more information about this event and some animals which have been recognized in the past visit www.alvma.com

A 2009 end of the year donation was made to the Christian Veterinary Mission. This charitable gift will be equally divided between Auburn University and Tuskegee University for veterinary student missions.

AVTA t-shirts are available in the following sizes: small, medium, large, x-large, xxx-large. The shirts are grey with a lime and blue logo on the front and back. The cost is $15.00 each which includes shipping. For more information about these shirts or to order please eMail AVTA.

The 2009 AVTA Fall CE Program was a success with a record number of 118 attendees! AVTA appreciates all participants which helped to make this program such an educational, beneficial and enjoyable experience. Please remember to be supportive of our CE sponsors: Merial, Wellness Pharmacy, Emergency & Specialty Animal Medical Center, Webster, Jefferson State Community College, Bayer, and Novartis.

During the annual Fall CE Program AVTA held a raffle drawing to benefit Dr. Keith Lee and his family. Dr. Lee was severely injured in a car accident and faces a long recovery period. Suzzie Guthrie (AVTA North AL Representative) is very creative and put together two lovely gifts baskets for the raffle. The theme for the baskets was Auburn vs Alabama. Auburn won with more tickets being purchased for that basket. The amount of funds raised was commendable considering the raffle tickets were only $1 each. Of course the more money pitched in, the more tickets you could receive. Many of the CE attendees know or have worked with Dr. Lee and are quite fond of him. AVTA encourages others to be supportive of Dr. Lee and his family during this difficult time. For updates or information on Dr. Lee you may AVTA-eMail.

The AVTA 2009 Awards were presented during the Annual Fall CE Program.

Congratulations to the following recipients:
Technician of the Year: Amy Tillman Sharpton
Technician of the Year Nominees: Sandra Foster, Debbie Whitten, Jennifer Crawford, JoAnna Lochamy
1^st Year Veterinary Technology Student of the Year: Muriel Tarver
2^nd Year Veterinary Technology Student of the Year: Melinda Daniels
Dr. Glenn F. Sexton Visionary Award: Suzzie Guthrie
Member of the Year: Becki Vance

Congrats!! We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Crawford (AVTA Central Alabama Representative) has become the first Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Dentistry in the State of Alabama. To achieve this certification she did 2 years of training and over 50 hours on CE in all aspects of veterinary dentistry. To obtain this title she passed a written, bench and practical exam. She became one of 28 technicians in the nation to be known as VTS in Dentistry. Jennifer is employed at Indian Springs Animal Clinic Veterinary Dental Referrals in Pelham, AL with Bert Gaddis, DVM, DAVDC. She plan to help teach other technicians to learn this growing field of veterinary dentistry. The Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians is one of 5 specialty groups under the supervision of NAVTA. For more information go the www.AVDT.us or www.NAVTA.net

NAVTA Leadership Conference – This national conference was held 8/29/09 – 8/31/09 in conjunction with the 200i9 Central Veterinary Conference in Kansas City, Missouri and sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The purpose of the NAVTA Leadership Conference was for vet tech association state officers/representatives to network and learn ideas on how to promote their organizations. The officers which attended representing AVTA were Sandra Foster, Mikky Campbell and Becki Vance.

AVTA now offers Pet Emergency Rescue Course (PERC) to first responders who will come in contact with animals in distress during emergency and post trauma situations. PERC covers basic support, handling, restraint, first aid, and CPR of domestic pet animals during emergency situations. There is a growing demand for this type program which is beneficial to Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officials and other first responders so they will be trained on how to care for these pet until reaching the care of a Veterinarian.

The first AVTA/ PERC took place June 6, 2009 at the Arab Fire Department in Arab, AL. Pet First Aid supplies and training completion certificates were presented upon conclusion of the program. This educational course was a success which inspired AVTA members to expand the training to other areas of the state.

AVTA is currently seeking grant funding for continuation of this state wide program. Funds are needed for educational materials, pet first aid supplies, and travel expenses.

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Alabama Spay Neuter Car License Plates are now available

AVTA members have been instrumental in helping to stop overpopulation of unwanted pets by promoting the Alabama Veterinary Medical Foundation car tags. For information on how to obtain your spay/neuter car tag visit www.alvma.com