As we near the end of our fiscal year (December 31), it is apparent that ARPAS continues to be on a very sound financial foundation. Our expenses for the year are well below that which had been budgeted, and most revenue categories are about on pace with budgeted amounts. The Professional Animal Scientist continues to be a popular means of publishing research findings, and the journal’s revenues and expenses are very well balanced. It appears that we will end the year with revenues exceeding expenses.

Currently ARPAS is receiving membership renewals, so this is an important time to draw your attention to the importance of membership revenue. Revenue from membership services accounts for about 56% of our total budget, so membership renewals, as well as attracting new members, are very important to our continued financial viability. For 2010 it appears that we will be about $6,600 short of our expected membership services revenue; this includes regular membership dues plus student and emeritus memberships and corporate sponsorships. Please take the time to renew your membership, and encourage other ARPAS members to do likewise!

The first two topics are, unfortunately, repeated in almost every ARPAS newsletter. When a year, decade, century, or millennium passes in which every member is current on dues or CEUs, I will not include a pep talk on these subjects in the newsletter. I will come up with some real news!

Although there have been several articles in previous ARPAS Newsletters about the establishment of an ARPAS Foundation, many of you are still not well informed on its presence or purpose. In the recent ARPAS survey, we had two questions related to the ARPAS Foundation.

The 26th volume of the Professional Animal Scientist (PAS) was completed recently with 671 pages. This issue was smaller than the 684, 742, and 815 pages in the previous three issues. Review papers included “Effects of Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Nutrient Cycling on Stocking Strategies for Cow-Calf and Stocker Programs,” “Utilization of Stockpiled Tall Fescue in Winter Grazing Systems for Beef Cattle,” “Economic Evaluation of Cost-Cutting Forage Strategies for Cow-Calf Operations on Improved Pastures,” “Urea Feeding to Dairy Cattle: A Historical Perspective and Review,” and “Preweaning, Postweaning, and Carcass Trait Comparisons for Progeny Sired by Subtropically Adapted Beef Sire Breeds at Various US Locations.” In addition, there were 62 research articles and 13 case studies that were printed during 2010. The average time required was 43 days to the first decision and 83 days from submission to the final decision (acceptance or rejection) of a manuscript. There were 38 articles concerning the beef industry, 14 articles related to swine, 12 about dairy cattle topics, 5 that applied to horses, and 11 articles that were about general topics or forages. It should be noted that there was continued interest from equine researchers this year.

ARPAS Professional Relations Committee Report

Now most of you may be thinking, "I don’t need to read this committee report," but read on because you may just find that you and your company can both benefit from a Corporate Sponsorship and get free membership in ARPAS.