The Royal Counties Veterinary Association is a territorial division of the Briish Veterinary Association, encompassing (in strict alphabetical order), the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
In addition to 30 territorial divisons, there are also 21 specialist divisions of the BVA. The BSAVA is the largest of these, but BEVA, BCVA, SVS and PVS are all major species divisions. The specialist divisions include not only the species specialities, but also groups of vets with similar interests, such as the
Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS), the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS), the association of Veterinarians in Industry (AVI), the Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers (AVTRW) and the British Veterinary Hospitals Association (AVHA). More details of all of the BVA divisions can be found on the BVA web site at www.bva.co.uk
Each territorial division of the BVA is permitted to send one representative to BVA council meetings, and the RCVA representative is Joe Sprinz, from Sprinz and Nash in Thame (joevet911@gmail.com). Joe circulates reports of BVA council meetings to the RCVA membership 4 times a year and is happy to raise any issues that you may have.
In spite of the fact that RCVA is a territorial division of the BVA, it is not necessary to be a member of the BVA to belong to the Royal Counties Veterinary Association. Membership of RCVA may be in any of the following categories:
(1) Full Members. A person eligible for Full Membership of the Association must be a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and a member of the British Veterinary Association.
(2) Associate Members. A person otherwise eligible under (i) above, but who is not a member of the British Veterinary Association, may become an Associate member.
(3) Affiliate Members. A person who is not a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but who has an interest in veterinary matters, may become an Affiliate member.
(4) Student Members. Veterinary and veterinary nursing students may be elected to student membership, without payment of fees or subscription. Student members become eligible for Full, Associate or Affiliate membership on 1st January following qualification.
Members and Associate members shall be entitled to attend all meetings. Affiliate members and Student members shall normally be entitled to all attend meetings, but council reserves the right to exclude Student or Affiliate members from specific meetings under exceptional circumstances.
Your views for council please!
Following the recent re-organisation at BVA our member Joe Sprinz was elected regional representative for the South East. Joe would love to know your views on current/future matters affecting the profession.
The next council meeting is on Wednesday 7 December. The papers for the meeting are available on-line on the BVA website and Joe has posted synopses of these papers on the BVA Community website. He would appreciate your observations. You can contact him directly or via the RCVA secretary. Joe's direct e-mail address is joevet911@gmail.com.
BVA Congress
BVA congress is in London this year on 23-24 September, with a good mix of BSAVA CPD on Cat medicine, Gastroenterology and surgery, and Cardiorespiratory medicine, along with many contentious issues meetings.
Joe Sprinz, our representative, will be attending the BVA council meeting at the same event to represent your views. He hopes to see some of you at Congress - please introduce yourself if you see him!
