• Scott Weber, VMD, West Sacramento, CA

• Ted Eudy, DVM, Sante FE, NM

• Lyn T. Garson, CVT , Technician Representative, Enfield, CT

• Nick Depompa (Auburn 2011), Student Representative, Auburn, AL

• Ken Gorczyca, DVM , Executive Secretary, San Francisco, CA

• Past-President - Michael D. McElvaine, DVM, Washington, DC

Please feel free to contact any of our officials directly, or if you have general questions, e-mail at: info@lgvma.org

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Membership

Membership in the LGVMA is open to anyone regardless of occupation, education, sex or sexual orientation. For the full voting rights and privileges assigned to various types of members, see our By-laws.

LGVMA Annual Dues:

• Veterinarian - $35
  
• Animal Health Technician - $30
  
• Friend - $30
  
• Retired Persons - $30
  
• Organization Sponsor - $100
  
• Veterinary and AHT Students - $5
  (Non-veterinary students can join at the Friend level)

LGVMA membership is for 1 year from the date of payment of dues.

Apply Now!

Benefits:

Your membership dues support our many programs for GLBT veterinarians, technicians, veterinary practices and students. Among other things, membership entitles you to:

• Access to the Members Only section of this website
  
  
• Inclusion in our online Membership Directory, which is confidential and available ONLY to members in good standing
  
  
• "LGVMA's Good News!" Newsletter
  
  
• All new members joining in 2008 will receive a complimentary copy of the LGVMA-sponsored lecture at July 2007 AVMA Conference in Washington DC, Sexual Diversity in the Animal Kingdom by Dr. Joan Roughgarden
  
  
• Placement of free ad in newsletter and/or website
  
  
• Access to LGVMA's List-servs for communication between members

Some of the LGVMA Programs supported by your Membership Dues and Donations include:

• Annual Board and Membership Meetings
• Annual Scholarships for veterinary students and veterinary technician students
• Educational and Social meetings at national veterinary conferences
• Members only website and list-serv
• Support of GLBT issues related to veterinary medicine
• Support of GLBT Student activities and student externships

To request more information (including a complimentary copy of our latest newsletter) e-mail us at: info@lgvma.org

Our History

In the mid-l970s, a courageous gay veterinarian placed an ad in The Advocate announcing a gathering of AGvets (American Gay Vets) at a Las Vegas veterinary conference. Soon after, he got a phone call from an angry board member from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), asking him if he was the degenerate who placed the immoral ad in that magazine?!!

The next 15 years found a scattered, informal network of gay & lesbian veterinarians meeting through mutual contacts, word-of-mouth and chance.

In 1991, two San Francisco-based veterinarians, Diana Phillips and Ken Gorczyca, started organizing under the acronym I'M GLAD (International Membership of Gay and Lesbian Animal Doctors). Almost single-handedly, Diana and Ken started putting together an informational newsletter and building a mailing list of interested individuals world-wide.

I'M GLAD received a shot-in-the-arm in 1994, when the AVMA Annual Meeting was held in San Francisco. Naturally, this location brought a large lesbian & gay turn-out and generated what became the First Annual Meeting of what would eventually evolve into the Lesbian & Gay Veterinary Medical Association.

Since then, the LGVMA has grown by leaps and bounds. We currently have over 150 members in the United States and Canada, as well as Europe and Australia. We have accomplished many of our objectives and have ambitious plans for the future.

If you would like to be involved, we would love to have your input. Please contact us at:

LGVMA
584 Castro St. #492
San Francisco, CA 94114-2500
FAX: 503-213-8749
E-mail: info@lgvma.org

Constitution and By-laws

Section 1: In case of a dissolution, the assets of the Association shall be distributed to the AVMA for scholarships or grant-in-aid to gay and lesbian students engaged in a course of study leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or comparable degree.

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By-Laws

Article 1: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1: A nomination committee composed of at least (2) members in good standing and at least two (2) officers shall be appointed each election year by the President. The President shall designate a Nomination Committee Chair from among the members.

Section 2: The slate of candidates shall be presented to members in good standing not later than May 1.

Section 3: Ballots shall be sent to members in good standing by separate first class mail. Members in good standing shall have thirty (30) days from the mailing (postmark) to return the ballot.

Section 4: No member shall be nominated for national office unless that member has been a member in good standing for at least one year preceding the nomination. Nominations for student director are exempt from this requirement.

Section 5: New officers shall be installed as officers at the conclusion of LGVMA's annual meeting immediately following the election.

Section 6: Officers shall be elected for a two year period. Elections will occur in even numbered years.

Section 7: At the discretion of the Board of Directors, an Executive Secretary may be appointed. The term of appointment is one year and may be reappointed.

Section 8: The President-Elect shall automatically become the President at the conclusion of his/her term as President-Elect.

Article 2: DUTIES OF OFFICES

Section 1: Officers and Executive Secretary are expected to attend the Annual Meetings of the Board of Directors and the Membership, and to submit written reports for these meetings as requested by the President. Officers and other members are also requested to attend the Winter Board meeting, if held.

Section 2: Duties of the President:

a) Be the highest executive office of LGVMA having general oversight of its business, and performing such other duties as pertain to this office;

b) Appoint the Newsletter Editor subject to ratification by the Board of Directors;

c) Appoint Chairs for the organizations' committees subject to ratification of the Board of Directors;

d) Preside at the Annual board of Directors and Membership Meetings as well as Executive board meetings that may be called between Annual Meetings. The president shall keep the Board of Directors informed, as far as expedient, of administrative matters, as they arise;

e) Authorize withdrawal of funds from the treasurer for payment of obligations incurred by the Board of Directors of the paid membership at the Annual Meeting;

f) Appoint a member to fill the unexpired term of any officer who is unable to continue or resigns from office subject to ratification by the Board of Directors;

g) Serve as liaison to AVMA;

h) Appoint Executive Secretary subject to ratification by the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Duties of President-Elect:

a) Assist the President in any and all duties requested;

b) Preside at the Annual Board of Directors and Membership meetings or any interim Executive meetings in absence of the President;

c) Chair the Program committee.

Section 4: Duties of the Directors At-Large:

a) Assist the President in any and all duties requested;

b) The Director nearest the region in which the annual Meeting is held shall act as President in the event that the president and President-Elect are both unable to attend;

c) Establish communication with gay and lesbian veterinarians in their region and report quarterly to the Editor and President.

Section 5: Duties of the Secretary:

a) Oversee maintenance of a registry of members, minutes of Executive Board, Board of Directors and membership meetings and other non-financial records of LGVMA, and perform other duties as usually pertain to this office;

b) Act as the public relations contact person;

c) Have charge of the correspondence of the LGVMA;

d) Oversee distribution of a confidential annual membership directory to members for their personal use in the Fall of each year;

e) Provide all incoming officers with a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws prior to the Annual Meeting at which they assume office.

Section 6: Duties of the Treasurer:

a) Be custodian of all funds belonging to the Association and submit a financial statement at each Annual Meeting as well as quarterly financial statement to the President and Newsletter Editor;

b) Mail dues notices to all members annually;

c) The Treasurer's Books shall be audited by a professional accountant preceding the Annual Meeting;

d) Pay all bills and expenses as authorized by the Board of Directors or the President.

Section 7: Duties of Executive Secretary will be determined by the President and Board of Directors.

Section 8: Duties of Newsletter Editor:

a) Produce Newsletter at least two times and up to four times per year. If a Newsletter is not produced during a quarter, then an event and job listing sheet will be mailed out to membership;

b) Oversee printing and mailing of Newsletter.

Article 3: CHAIRS OF SUCCESSION

Section 1: If the President resigns or is unable to serve, the order of succession shall be 1) President-Elect, 2) Secretary, 3) Treasurer, 4) Immediate Past President, and 5) Directors At-Large first in their order of seniority by term of office and second, if necessary, by order of seniority in LGVMA membership.

Section 2: If the president-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, or Director At-Large resigns or is unable to serve, the President shall appoint an individual to assume the position of the individual who resigned or was unable to serve.

Article 4: NEWSLETTER

Section 1: The LGVMA shall publish a newsletter in November and April and more frequently if resources permit.

Section 2: A copy of LGVMA's Good News! is sent to full, student, associate and retired member in good standing.

Section 3: Copies of LGVMA's Good News! shall be provided to Deans of Veterinary Colleges in the United States and Canada, veterinary libraries and the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Association, if sufficient financial resources are available.

Section 4: Copies of LGVMA's Good News! can be used by the Secretary for public relations mailings.

Section 5: The yearly subscription rate and advertising rates for LGVMA's Good News! shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

Article 5: FINANCE

Section 1: The annual dues paid by all categories of members shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Veterinary students may apply yearly for a free membership, but must fill out annual renewal form.

Section 3: The fiscal and membership year shall begin January 1 and end December 31.

Section 4: A member whose dues are not postmarked by March 1 shall be considered not in good standing and, therefore, forfeit the right to vote and will not be in good standing and, therefore, forfeit the right to vote and will not be included in the year's directory.

Article 6: COMMITTEES

Section 1: Standing Committees shall be Award Committee, Student Liaison Committee and Program Committee; appointments for Standing Committee Chairs are made by the President and are usually two years in length. Committee Chairs may select committee members for the President's approval.

Section 2: The President may appoint ad hoc committees, as the need arises. The length of appointment for ad hoc committees can vary depending on the committee assignment.

Section 3: A written report is required from all committee chairs prior to Board of directory Annual Meeting.

Article 7: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Proposed amendments to these By-Laws shall be first submitted in writing to the Board of Directors. If approved by two-thirds of the Board of Directors, proposed amendments shall be submitted to members in good standing for vote.

Section 2: Ballots on proposed amendments to these By-Laws shall be submitted in writing to members in good standing for a separate vote, and shall be sent by first class mail. Members in good standing shall have thirty (30) days from the mailing date (postmark) to return the ballot. Amendments approved by two thirds of the membership voting shall become effective immediately unless otherwise specified.

Article 8: DISSOLUTION

Section 1: Impeachment proceedings may be brought against any Board Member for failing to execute the duties of their office, misappropriation of LGVMA assets, resources or properties, or professional misconduct as defined by the AVMA.

Section 2: Impeachment proceedings can be initiated upon a written petition by ten (10) members in good standing to the Board of directors; the Board of Directors shall act on an impeachment petition within sixty (60) days. If the Board of Directors finds the petition has merit and established cause for impeachment, then ballot for impeachment shall be submitted to members in good standing by separate first class mail ballot. Impeachment requires approval by two-thirds of the membership voting and shall become effective thirty (30) days after receipt of the ballots.

Article 9: ARCHIVES DEPOSITORY

Section 1: The archives depository for the LGVMA shall be the Health Sciences Library at the University of California, Davis, California.

Article 10: CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Section 1: Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the Parliamentary manual.

Article 11: ANNUAL AWARDS

Section 1: Achievement Awards for individuals and organization will be given out at the Annual Meeting. Nominees should evidence commitment to improving the quality of veterinary services to animals belonging to gay, lesbian or HIV-infected persons; for bettering the professional environment for lesbian, gay or HIV-infected animal health professionals; for enhancing the academic learning environment for gay and lesbian veterinary students; and/or for contributing to the advancement of equality of lesbians and gays over the past year. Awards are given without regard to recipients' sexual orientation.