Pulse - June 2024 - 18

CHAPTER PROFILES
It's Tough to Find Chapter Speakers
and Sponsors in Pandemic's Wake
D
r. Inez Del Pino has a long history
as president of the San Fernando
Chapter of SCVMA, but her job has been
much more challenging in the wake of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
" It's harder to find speakers, " she said. " We try to schedule
meetings 11 months out of the year. And each year there's
been one of those months when I haven't been able to find
a speaker. Essentially for us, it's no sponsor, no meeting. If I
found a speaker we could do a meeting virtually but we really
need a sponsor to meet in person. "
All the chapters rely on speakers and sponsors, Dr. Del
Pino said. " We're very grateful for their generosity and time.
That provides a lot of value. " Sometimes, she said, a speaker
comes with a sponsor - a hospital or company where he or
she works. In the current environment, however, " A lot of the
companies are just pulled in so many directions and they have
limited budgets so it's a lot harder to get that commitment. "
She said that she has one sponsor that will take three meetings
a year, which has been very helpful.
The San Fernando chapter has been meeting for a couple
of years in a Woodland Hills restaurant, she said. The turnout
since the pandemic has been about 20 people, sometimes
down to about 15. Eighty percent of attendees are doctors,
including some who are retired. A few RVTs and a practice
manager come regularly.
" Pre-pandemic, we would sometimes have up to 40, " Dr.
Del Pino said. " We had Zoom meetings for a while but we've
been meeting in person now for about two and a half years. "
The typical meeting includes a speaker who lectures for an
hour or sometimes an hour and a half and a dinner, for which
the sponsor pays. Sponsors generally are pharmaceutical or
food companies, she said. " They are very generous and I think
they want to stay involved with the veterinary profession. They
want us to be aware of their products and the services they offer.
" I always want to have a good turnout for our sponsors and
our speakers so they feel valued and that their time is being
spent well. "
Dr. Del Pino added, " With our small group, the speakers
are usually very open to questions and they like an interactive
group. There are pros and cons to being a small group but
one of the benefits is that people feel comfortable talking and
asking questions. "
Unlike some SCVMA chapters, the San Fernando group
is run by one person: Dr. Del Pino. " My chapter's only officer
is me, " she said - with nobody else to find speakers or send
out invitations. " I ran the chapter for many years and then I
took a break when I was on the SCVMA Board of Trustees
for six years. I couldn't be on the board and run the chapter
at the same time. Once I was off the board I went back to
running the chapter. "
She finds the work satisfying, she said. " But also, if I didn't
do it, the chapter might not exist. We've had other SCVMA
chapters over the years that have failed for a time because they
didn't have officers and I wouldn't want that to happen to us. "
When Dr. Del Pino first attending chapter meetings as
a recent graduate, she said, " It was to get to know some of
my colleagues in other areas. Then I got involved in actually
running a chapter. The meetings allow people from different
communities to get together, have a nice meal and get some
continuing education. We have some attendees who come to
the meetings early so they can sit and talk.
" I think the chapters are really valuable and that's why I
continue to organize the meetings. Unless someone does that,
unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to have meetings. "
She noted that SCVMA members can attend any chapter
meeting. " We do have some members of our chapter who go
to other meetings. I haven't been able to do that for a long
time because of my schedule. Part of the challenge for us is
that we're in the San Fernando Valley and it's hard to get out
of the Valley and drive somewhere else because of the traffic. "
Dr. Del Pino said that her chapter recently hosted a veterinarian
from another state. " It was the first time that had ever
happened. She saw our post on the SCVMA calendar and
wanted to attend. "
For those who have never been to a chapter meeting, " I
would say, just go - even if it's your first time. All the chapters
are very welcoming and we always encourage people to
attend. " P
- Jim Bell
18
JUNE 2024
PULSE
Pulse - June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse - June 2024
