Your ARPAS meter requires 16 CEUs each year to stay in the black. If it is not fed, the numbers become red and you get a ticket. Every year in January, the ARPAS traffic cops send out a notice to the negligent few who have not fed the meter. This notice is in the form of a letter or e-mail saying, “Earn and report your CEUs or you will be suspended from ARPAS membership.” Earning CEUs each year is an obligation you incurred when you became an ARPAS member. This is clearly explained in our bylaws (which you may review on our web site).

The ARPAS Foundation’s assets now total $62,477.75. As you may remember, the ARPAS Foundation was established about three years ago to recognize and fund worthy educational efforts of ARPAS and its members, or to promote the activities of ARPAS. We are off to a great start and soon will be deciding upon the educational activities to fund.

The ARPAS Distinguished Professional Animal Scientist award is bestowed annually on one or more emeritus members of ARPAS that have made significant contributions to the animal sciences during their active career and have served in a leadership position within ARPAS.

The American College Animal Sciences (ACAS) has had an active year this past year. From the annual meeting in July through our monthly conference calls, the emphasis of the leadership team has been to increase discipline activity, enhance membership enrollment, and generate increased overall involvement. Recruiting efforts at the annual meeting were very successful in bringing ARPAS-ACAS to the attention of many individuals, and many new members applied. In addition, a letter specifically targeting ARPAS members who qualified through the new Highly Qualified Membership route has garnered many applications for membership. In addition, the leadership team targeted specific current members of ACAS, encouraging them to step up into leadership roles to populate the discipline committees. At present, all discipline committees are now populated, and these groups are actively identifying means to recruit additional members.

The founders of ARPAS recognized the need for local member representation within the organization and provided for the establishment of ARPAS Chapters. An article to address the establishment and governance of Chapters was included in the original ARPAS bylaws (Article XIV. Chapters). Our national ARPAS organization is highly dependent on the local chapters for support and to provide the future leaders of ARPAS. Exposure and service by members as a Chapter officer and as a representative to the ARPAS Governing Council are the ideal training for ARPAS officers. Many of the issues discussed at the national level originated within a local chapter, and many of the newly recruited members of ARPAS join because of exposure through their local chapter.