This is a notice to all OAVT members that both Laura Sutton and Ron Southwell have been re-appointed by the Board of Directors as President and Vice President respectively for another term.
We would like to thank them for all their hard work over the past year and for their continued efforts in enhancing the association's advocacy and membership services on behalf of the OAVT members. We look forward to having them on our team again.
Introducing Your President, Laura Sutton, RVT
Laura Sutton was first elected President in 2010. She has served on the Board of Directors since 2008. Laura has acquired a broad perspective of training in the animal health care profession having worked in a variety of areas - regular practices, referral hospitals, emergency clinics as well as hospital management. She currently works in the Intensive Care Unit at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic - South Toronto.
Laura is proud of her many volunteer activities. She has been a member of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) since 2009, having taken part in wellness clinics in Baker Lake, Nunavut in 2009, 2010 and again in 2011. More recently this year, Laura took part in a CAAT clinic in Mulege, Mexico, and is looking forward to more trips in the future. She has also been involved in Habitat for Humanity local and international projects including one in South Africa. In her spare time, she has offered her services as a presenter for the "Be a Tree" Dog Bite Prevention program. She enjoys these opportunities as vehicles for spreading the word about the growing importance of the role that a veterinary technician plays in animal health care.
Laura is very open to others' points of view and appreciates the diversity of our OAVT membership. She is very committed to the welfare of animals. She is also committed to the effort involved by the Board in enhancing the profession, by helping to ensure a standardization of education and training for RVTs that is essential to maintaining an optimum level of care.
Laura adds personally, "I am very excited to be continuing in my role as President of our association. I am flattered by the faith that the Board of Directors and the membership as a whole seem to have in me, and I will continue to strive to deserve it. I believe that the role of the President is to find innovative ways to ensure that the OAVT continues to support and advocate for our members, our communities, and the animals that we care for. This is a changing time in our profession, and I truly believe that we, Registered Veterinary Technicians, are an essential part of the veterinary healthcare team.
Introducing Your Vice President, Ron Southwell, BSc, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia)
Ron Southwell was first elected Vice President in 2011. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2010. He has worked in the small animal field in general practice clinics, and since 2002 he has worked with a specialty referral surgical service operated out of the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Clinic of Toronto. Ron has worked hard to improve his professional skills. In 2006, he acquired his certification for the Veterinary Technician Specialty in Anesthesia, becoming only the second veterinary technician to do so in Canada.
Ron attends numerous veterinary conferences in Canada and the U.S.A. to keep abreast of the latest techniques and standards of practice in veterinary medicine. He has been involved in some key committee work for the OAVT during his tenure on the Board of Directors. He has a very strong work ethic and a passion for helping to enhance not only his personal development as a veterinary technician, but the development and advancement of the profession as a whole.
Ron would like to personally add "I am very excited to have been re-elected to the OAVT Board of Directors and happy to again serve as Vice President. This is an exciting time for our profession and I am looking forward to being part of the team working to advance our organization's goals"
Both Laura and Ron have been a part of some significant accomplishments achieved by the OAVT Board of Directors, management and staff during their 2011 tenure. They are as follows:
- Introduction of electronic voting
- Enhancement of the website and e-communications
- New CE Policy document
- Re-structuring of OAVT finances and reporting period
- Improved relationships with major stakeholders including CAAHTT
- Expansion of our member services and benefits
- Enhancement of the Parental Sick Leave Policy
- Expanding opportunities for RVTs by launching the "Large Animal and Livestock Biosecurity" student exchange program.
Through these collaborative efforts, Laura and Ron have witnessed the strongest financial year in OAVT's history, as well as a significant growth in our membership numbers, both indicative of a promising future for RVTs.
Both Laura and Ron are looking forward to continuing to work with the OAVT Board, management and staff in their commitment to finding new and innovative ways of advocating on the members' behalf, and to continuing to push this past year's momentum of change forward.
Sincerely,
