The sky cleared just in time for the AASV Foundation golf outing at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Dike, Iowa. The club is owned by AASV member Dr Steve Menke.
Photo courtesy of Fox Ridge Golf Club

The AASV Foundation hosted another successful golf outing fundraiser on August 21, with 48 golfers on 12 teams participating in the modified best-ball tournament. Several teams encountered heavy rains as they traveled to the course in the morning, wondering if the event would be cancelled upon their arrival. But shortly before the noon tee-off, the clouds parted and the rain stopped, allowing the sun to shine on a fine afternoon for golf at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Dike, Iowa.

In addition to the good weather, participants enjoyed the hospitality of generous event sponsors. Aivlosin provided a box lunch for each golfer, and beverage sponsor Harrisvaccines kept the golfers hydrated with a variety of liquid refreshments. Golf-hole sponsors Alltech, Insight Wealth Group, Pivot Wealth Strategies, Topigs Norsvin USA, and Zoetis spiced up the course with additional games, giveaways, and team photos. At the conclusion of the golfing, Uniferon sponsored the awards dinner to recognize the individual and team winners.

Regardless of the golf scores, the real winner of the day was the AASV Foundation. The event raised $8500, which will help fund swine research, travel stipends for veterinary students to attend the AASV Annual Meeting, swine externship grants, scholarships, and more. The foundation is grateful to the companies who provided sponsorship support and hosted teams for the outing. In addition, the foundation expresses sincere thanks to Dr Steve Menke and his son Mike for making it possible to hold the outing at Fox Ridge Golf Club, and especially to Dr Ron White, who is stepping down after coordinating the foundation’s golf fundraisers for the past 7 years – thank you, Ron!

“Following your passion” key to success

Are you wondering what to donate for the AASV Foundation fundraising auction this year? “Follow your passion!” says auction committee chairman Dr Daryl Olsen, setting the theme for the 2015 fundraising activity. He points to the Swine Vet Center’s donation of their clients’ pork products last year as just one example of this precept in action. The Swine Vet Center’s passion for their clients and the pork they produce was evident in this very popular contribution to the auction. Similarly, other auction contributions reflected members’ passions for photography, quilting, knitting, hunting, fishing, sporting events, local artisans, antiques, and – of course – pigs.

So what is YOUR passion? Whatever it is, let it guide and inspire you to make a contribution to the AASV Foundation Auction this year! Dr Olsen and his committee are confident this will be the key to a successful fundraising activity in 2015.

Donate your auction item(s) by December 1

Download the donation form at https://www.aasv.org/foundation and submit a description of your item(s) by December 1. Your contribution will be recognized in the printed auction catalog as well as on the auction Web site, and your name will appear in the JSHAP full-page spread recognizing all of our auction item donors. If that’s not enough, there’s a good chance Dr Harry Snelson will say something witty about your donation in the AASV e-Letter, too!

The AASV Foundation is passionate about ensuring the future of the swine veterinary profession. Proceeds from the auction enable funding for AASV Foundation programs, including

• Administering endowments for the Howard Dunne and Alex Hogg Memorial Lectures,

• Administering the Hogg Scholarship for a swine veterinarian pursuing an MS or PhD,

• Administering funding for Veterinary Student Scholarships,

• Co-sponsoring travel stipends for veterinary students attending the AASV Annual Meeting,

• Providing swine externship grants to veterinary students,

• Funding swine research with direct application to the profession,

• Administering funding for the National Pork Industry Foundation Internship Stipends,

• Providing support for Heritage Videos, and

• Funding AASV student interns.

AASV Foundation issues call for research proposals: $60,000 available

As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation seeks research proposals for funding in 2015. Proposals are due January 30, 2015, and may request a maximum of $30,000 (US$) per project. A maximum of $60,000 will be awarded across two or more projects. The announcement of projects selected for funding will take place at the AASV Foundation Luncheon in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, March 1, 2015 (awardees may be notified in advance).

Proposed research should fit one of the five action areas stated in the AASV Foundation mission statement (see sidebar).

The instructions for submitting proposals are available on the AASV Foundation Web site at https://www.aasv.org/ foundation/2015/research.php. Proposals may be submitted by mail or e-mail (preferred).

A panel of AASV members will evaluate and select proposals for funding, based on the following scoring system:

• Potential benefit to swine veterinarians/swine industry (40 points)

• Probability of success within timeline (35 points)

• Scientific/investigative quality (15 points)

• Budget justification (5 points)

• Originality (5 points)

For more information, or to submit a proposal:

AASV Foundation, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220-2328; Tel: 515-465-5255; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.