AVMA convention wraps up with microchip standardization, foie gras support

Minneapolis, Minn. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in correlation with the World Veterinary Congress (WVC) brought 4,070 practitioners to Minneapolis.

According to David Little, AVMA director of Convention and Meeting Planning Division, 113 practice staff, 480 veterinary students, 476 veterinary technicians and technician students attended the conference before refunds and cancellations.

Nearly 600 international veterinarians attended, falling short of the association's expectation of 1,000.The AVMA's Minneapolis show ranked third highest in attendance, Little says. Denver's 2003 convention attracted the most DVMs while last year's convention in Philadelphia came in second.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush was the conference's keynote speaker, packing attendees in the Minneapolis Convention Center auditorium. Bush opened her talk citing, "Veterinarians are my kind of people," immediately securing the attention of the crowd.

Action taken by the AVMA House of Delegates during the convention includes:

- A vote to actively lobby for a national microchip standard in Congress.

- A veto of two resolutions attempting to ban foie gras production practices.

- Refusal to cease promotion of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) despite criticism by California delegates who shed light on the charity's controversial expense-to-income ratio.

- Revamping AVMA's communications strategies, an alteration predicted to cost the association more than $500,000.

- Selection of Dr. Roger Mahr, of Geneva, Ill., as AVMA president-elect and re-election of Dr. Rene Carlson, of Chetek, Wis., as vice president.