May 2005 | Vol. 23, No. 5

Membership Update

David Parlato, BA, RVT

Chair, Membership Committee

I reported in February that the SVU enjoyed a record membership year in 2004 with 680 new members, and our sincere hope is to continue that trend into this year and beyond. You may have noticed we have added an “interactive” new member progress chart to the home page of the SVU website (www.svunet.org ) so the membership can track our new member additions to the Society. I say “interactive” because this graph will only change with your direct efforts in helping us recruit enthusiastic new members like yourselves. I applaud those of you who have heard our “Each One Reach One” campaign and already found one or more non-member professionals to join SVU. Thank you, and keep it up!

To the rest of you (you know who you are) we really need every one of you to help us reach our goal of more than doubling our 2004 new member total to 1400 new members this year. Please contact India Gordon igordon@svunet.org if you need SVU membership brochures and applications for any of your own upcoming training or chapter events. These are excellent opportunities to get out the message about the benefits of SVU membership, and to generate interest in becoming a new SVU member.

Our student membership also is really taking off, and those involved with education have a unique opportunity to garner new and lasting SVU membership in real numbers. Remember, the Society is only as strong as its membership! To maintain such a strong advocacy for our profession, we must show a united front of professionals who care enough about our field and our Society to join SVU. Please keep checking the www.svunet.org website homepage to watch our new member progress in 2005.