GVMA Annual Business Meeting Recap:
Celebrating Leadership, Milestones, and Excellence
Held on October 20, 2024, at VetSouth in Alpharetta, and broadcast via Zoom, the meeting brought members together to celebrate new leadership, embrace positive changes, and recognize the incredible work of our members and colleagues.
Passing the Gavel to New Leadership
Dr. Jonathan Bentley officially handed the President’s gavel to Dr. Jaclyn Luckstone. Stepping into their new roles alongside her are Dr. Tyson Strickland as President-Elect and Dr. Justin Toth as Vice Treasurer. We were also honored to have Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, AVMA President-Elect, lead the official installation for Dr. Luckstone and Dr. Strickland. While Dr. Toth couldn’t attend in person as he’s currently out of the country, he’ll officially be installed in January.
Big Changes: Bylaw Updates Passed
With membership support, the proposed bylaw changes were approved. These changes bring some key updates to our membership structure, such as removing the “Qualified” category and organizing all member types under “Individual Membership.” We’ve also introduced a new “Affiliated” category that welcomes Practice Managers, Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and Certified Veterinary Assistants as non-voting members. These adjustments better reflect our growing and diverse community.
Celebrating the Best in Our Profession
The meeting was also an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of members who’ve gone above and beyond to serve our association and the veterinary profession.
Distinguished Service Award: This year, Dr. Richard Noel was honored for his unwavering dedication and leadership. Dr. Noel has made a lasting impact on the GVMA through his commitment to service, mentorship, and advancing veterinary medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Noel, on this well-deserved recognition!
Legacy President’s Award: We were thrilled to present Dr. Mike Zager with this award in appreciation of his visionary leadership during his term as President and his continued contributions to the profession. Dr. Zager’s commitment to our association and the veterinary community is truly an inspiration to all of us.
Legislative Advocacy Award: Representative Clay Pirkle was recognized for his vital role in supporting veterinary-related legislation. His efforts have positively impacted public health, animal welfare, agricultural policies, and the veterinary profession as a whole. Thank you, Representative Pirkle, for being an advocate for our profession.
Looking Ahead
As we close out another successful year at VetSouth, we’re excited to welcome our new leaders and are energized by the achievements of our award recipients. Thank you to everyone who participated in person or virtually: your involvement and support make everything we do possible. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to work together to advance veterinary medicine and support our incredible community in our great state of Georgia.
