I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and happy new year.
As the President of ACAS, I believe there are 3 major challenges for the coming year: 1) increase our membership, 2) revise and develop exams for applicants, and 3) increase the benefits and impact of ACAS to its members and to the fields of animal science.
As to membership, many of our newest members have applied through the “Highly Qualified Individual” designation. I am sure we all know highly qualified ARPAS members who would qualify for ACAS membership as a “Highly Qualified Individual.” Please take the time to urge them to apply through this route and to provide them with a letter of nomination. Applicants simply complete and submit the Notice of Interest for ACSA on the ARPAS web site (www.arpas.org). They will then be asked to complete an application, provide copies of their transcripts and publications, the application fee ($200), and 2 letters of nomination. Many of you will also know recent graduates who could qualify for membership through the exam route. Please urge them to apply as well. If you have any questions, just check out the ACAS section on the ARPAS website.
As for exams, a number of our exams need to be updated. If you would like to help with these duties, or if you have ideas or questions for discipline exams or practicums, please contact the appropriate Discipline Director (www.arpas.org/acas_officers.asp).
Third, as to impact and benefits, please demonstrate the importance of ARPAS and ACAS membership by displaying them prominently on your business cards and correspondence.
As a reminder, the 2017 ACAS business meeting will be held next July in Baltimore in during the ASAS–CSAS and ARPAS annual meetings. The ARPAS members who are not members of ASAS or CSAS will be allowed to pay the member registration fee. Hope to see a good crowd in Baltimore next July.