AVMA dues increase to generate $3.5 million per year

Schaumburg, Ill. — Regular members of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will see a $50 hike in their 2011 dues.

Affiliate members will face a $75 increase, retired members a $25 increase, and educational and recent graduate members a $40 increase.

The dues increase was approved by the AVMA Executive Board, Reference Committee and House Advisory Committee at a Jan. 9 meeting.

"The proposed dues increase would realign the AVMA operating budget with projected costs of doing business," AVMA says in a statement on the resolution's passage.

A $2 million deficit was predicted for 2009, following a $7 million deficit the year before thanks to declining investment earnings and income from various advertisements and programs. AVMA leadership was able to balance the 2010 budget with no dues increases thanks to "belt-tightening" across all program areas, AVMA says. But the last dues increase was a $25 hike in 2004, and the association says another increase is critical to continuing its quality programming and sound financial position.

The dues increase will generate another $3.5 million for the association's roughly $28 million budget.

New dues amounts will be $300 for regular, associate and affiliate members; $150 for retired, educational and recent graduate members and will remain free for honor roll members.

In other news, members voted down a provision that would institute term limits for House of Delegates at the AVMA level. Many states already impose term limits, says Sharon Granskog, AVMA's assistant director of media relations, and the resolution failed because many AVMA leaders and members felt the issue of term limits should be left to the states.

"They felt it was more a state issue rather than something for the House of Delegates to decide," Granskog says.

The amendment was submitted by the Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont veterinary medical associations. It was aimed at bringing more ideas and voices to the House of Delegates, according to AVMA. Existing bylaws allow for four-year terms with no term limit. The amendment would have changed the term length to three years with only one renewal. Delegates could then serve as alternative delegates for a one-time renewable three-year term with total House of Delegates service being capped at 12 years.