EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT 
ANNUAL GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
July 2013

ARPAS, as an organization, has completed another successful year. We no longer just confine our activities to certification of members, evaluation of programs for continuing education, tracking of continuing education credits and monitoring adherence to our code of ethics. We continue to add those initiatives identified in our strategic plan to better serve our members and the animal science community. 

Your Executive Committee consisting of President Bill Sanchez, Past-President John Wagner, President-Elect Mike Galyean, Secretary Ellen Jordan, Treasurer Carl Hunt, Editor Wayne Kellogg and Steve Schmidt has met (by phone) several time in the past year. All have all done a marvelous job in their respective roles to plan and direct the activities covered in this report. We are usually joined by our regional directors Joanne Knapp (Midwest), Paul Beck (Southeast), Joe Harrison (West) and Pete Erickson (Northeast). Minutes of these meeting are recorded by our able secretary Dr. Jordan and assisted by Jeremy Holzner, our FASS administrative assistant and available to our membership via our website.

Our viable college system, the American College of Animal Sciences (ACAS) with six discipline areas is growing. We again have almost 200 diplomates. Dr. Randy Shaver is currently serving as ACAS President and Dr. Marit Arana is President-Elect. 

ARPAS has entered its second decade in supporting the Professional Animal Auditors Organization (PAACO). As one of the founders, we are represented on the PAACO board by ARPAS members Drs. Terry Mader, Frank Owsley and Ted Friend.

Our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) designates ARPAS to train and certify our members to become service providers for the Feed Management Component of Nutrient Management Plans. Several of our members (Drs. Joe Harrison, Randy Shaver and others) have devoted time and talents to this program and a number of ARPAS members are now certified.

Our MOU with the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science assisted them in the establishment of an ARPAS-type organization in that country. We will be hosting a delegation from that country during this meeting.
Five years ago, ARPAS established the ARPAS Foundation which now has a substantial asset base and a board of directors chaired by past-president Dr. Bill Braman. Its purpose is to grow the assets and provide the earnings for education activities of members and prospective members. We welcome your contributions and input for this foundation.

The annual ARPAS symposium, an integral part of the joint meeting program, has grown in attendance and features world renowned speakers delivering relevant information for our members and guests. Leadership for organizing this annual event is the responsibility of the President-Elect. Dr. Mike Galyean has put together a great ARPAS symposium “Applied nutrition of ruminants: Current status and future directions.” The symposium is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10 at 9:30am. 

We are entering out sixth year of recognizing “Distinguished Professional Animal Scientist”. This year’s recipients are Dr. Wayne Kellogg and Dr. Bill Price. Both previously served ARPAS in several leadership positions. They continue to actively working for ARPAS as our editor and historian. We have now accorded this honor to 17 of our past members in recognition of their service to ARPAS and to the profession of Animal Science

Chapters have been vital parts of ARPAS for over 20 years, some with more activities and members than others. We now have three chapters with greater than 50 members and another almost reaching that level. Chapters are essential to providing local representation and activities for all ARPAS members.

Membership-related issues dominate the activities of the ARPAS staff. Jeremy Holzner, our Membership Services Coordinator, has completed his first year on our behalf. He does an outstanding job of managing our membership database, website, examination and CEU tracking and reporting systems. We had minimal membership issues in past year which would indicate that we have great personnel and well-tuned systems. Other FASS staff members provide valuable editorial, accounting and financial reporting, website and database management assistance of which we are grateful. Dr. Joe Harrison heads up our membership committee and works closely with Jeremy on membership tracking. Dr. Pete Erickson and his communications committee are responsible for the ARPAS newsletter to keep our membership informed. Jeremy is indispensable in putting the finishing touches on this product.

My activities involve communicating with members and prospective members (including international), orchestrating and participating in conference calls, reviewing the website, writing newsletter articles, updating brochures, preparing for meetings, administering exams and evaluating conference and meeting agendas for CEU’s. 

Frequent communication with members of the Executive Committee and the leadership of ACAS is necessary to insure that our organization is headed in the intended direction and accomplishing its goals. Other key staff members work diligently on your behalf. I work closely with Dr. Wayne Kellogg, Editor of PAS and Dr. Steve Schmidt, our Examination Coordinator and try to keep them informed of ARPAS activities that may impact their respective areas of responsibility. 

The Treasurer’s report by Treasurer Dr. Carl Hunt, will verify that ARPAS continues to be in a sound financial condition with a reserve of almost 100% of annual expenditures. Along with Carl, I monitor the ARPAS budget and review ARPAS expenditures and investments. A vital part of our funding is our Sponsor program. Dr. Paul Beck and his Sponsorship committee have raised the level of contact with our sponsors. As a result, we are seeing consistent revenue, of which we are very appreciative.

Ethics is one of the critical three legs in the ARPAS stool. The ethics committee is chaired by Dr. Joanne Knapp. Her committee is currently reassessing the wording and scope of our code of ethics. 

Meetings that I attended on behalf of ARPAS in 2012-13 were Mid-Atlantic Nutrition, Tri-State Dairy Nutrition and Cornell Nutrition Conferences and the Joint ADSA/ASAS Meeting. ARPAS exams were given at these meetings and sponsors were cultivated. 

Thanks to all ARPAS and ACAS members who give of their time to work on behalf of this organization. Thank you for allowing me to work with Dr. Sanchez and the officers and GC members of ARPAS and to be your representative for ARPAS to the world-at-large. 

Kenneth R. Cummings, PAS, Dipl. ACAN
Exec. VP, ARPAS