The annual meeting was a great success according to our President, I was only able to be there on the 3rd day so missed a major part of the program. Dr. Geraci has written the following summary for your information:
This year, our annual meeting was held on the University of Guelph campus. The initial response to speaking invitations was so favourable, that what originally had been scheduled as a two day event, emerged into a very successful 3 day conference with over 100 participants representing Australia, Canada, Great Britain, West Germany, New Zealand and the United States. The busy activities included formal presentations, discussion groups and workshops, with equal emphasis on fish and marine mammal diseases. Throughout the sessions, especially in the workshops, the need for a more integrated approach to the study of marine organisms became evident, as did the need for veterinarians to study diseases of animals other than those to which they (we) are traditionally bound. This call to veterinarians was particularly emphasized by the meetings keynote speaker, Dr. Carl Sindermann.
Dr. M.C. Keyes, our President-elect, has submitted the following news items:
I arranged for a meeting room for the IAAAM and since we originally asked for our scientific program to be Monday the 19th from 8 to 12, I reserved a room for Monday afternoon from 2 to 4. Our program ended up on Wednesday morning so I have requested that our meeting room reservations be changed to Wednesday afternoon, Cobo Hall. If it can be changed, the change will appear in the convention program; otherwise, the schedule as printed in the convention issue of the Journal will stand.
The second item is a copy of a piece of Washington State legislation which may have profound effects on the future supply of killer whales. This killer whale legislation is in the form of an amendment to House Bill 106 relating to "endangered species of fish and wildlife." The amendment previously died in committee as H.B. 123 along with Senate Bill 641.
S.B. 641 was a comprehensive marine mammal management bill with mostly my input but also input from our laboratory staff, including the only federal whale biologists in the U.S. and endorsed by the Regional Director for NMFS, Pacific Northwest Region. The bill also had input from Ted Griffin who wanted the State Dept. of Fisheries to administer the program. State Fisheries acted like they didn't want the responsibility and gave realistic cost estimates of a comprehensive program. State Game and their backers lobbied hard to get their bill through and literally promised to do the job for next to nothing. So now we are saddled with H.B. 123 as an amendment which, as you can see, gives the Game Dept. blanket authority with no guidelines, no provisions for real management, and no protection for the marine mammals from wanton shooting by target shooters, fishermen and adventurers. It only provides the Game Dept., an agency with no money and no credentials of experience with mammals, with the authority to prohibit capture and possibly to prohibit sale for profit.
The program for the joint AVMA-CVMA-IAAAM meeting in Detroit has been completed and briefly is as follows:
8:00 - Techniques for Obtaining Clinical Specimens from Marine Mammals. W. Medway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8:20 - A Leptospirosis Outbreak in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)
Richard C. Hubbard, Marine Mammal Study Center, Freemont, Calif.
8:50 - P.M. Technique in Fish. George W. Klontz, College Station, Texas
9:15 - Hatchery Management and Fish Disease. George W. Klontz, College Station, Texas
9:45 - Break
10:00 - Embryo Dormancy in the Pinnipeds. Joseph C. Daniel, Jr., Boulder, Colorado
10:30 - The Sucking Lice and the Northern Fur Seal; An Ecosystem. Ke Chung Kim, University Park, Pennsylvania
11:00 - Freeze Branding Marine Mammals for Identification. Mark C. Keyes, Seattle, Washington; R. Keith Farrell, Pullman, Washington
11:15 - Physiological Responses of the Northern Fur Seal to Hypoxia and Submersion. Merrill P. Spencer, Seattle, Washington
11:40 - Seal Slaughter. Mark C. Keyes, Seattle, Washington
12:00 - Adjournment
The "Fact Sheet--September, 1970" is enclosed at the request of Dr. G. Migaki for your information. I hope that you will read it and make use of the service offered as well as cooperate with them as much as possible in supplying interesting specimens.
Pursuant to second news item from Dr, M. Keyes, the following bills have been submitted to the Senate or the House of Representatives. If you would like further details please write to either or both of your Senators or Representatives. I think that you should write to them anyway expressing your support for any legislation dealing with protection and humane treatment of all types of wildlife whether on the endangered list or not.
S. 1315 - To protect ocean mammals from being pursued, harassed or killed: and for other purposes.
H.R. 4733 - To amend the Fur Seal Act of 1966 by prohibiting the clubbing of seals after July 1, 1972, the taking of seal pups and the taking of female seals on the Pribilof Islands or on any other land and water under the jurisdiction of the United States.
H.R. 6804 - To require the Secretary of the Interior to make a comprehensive study of the polar bear, seal, walrus and cetaceans for the purpose of developing adequate conservation measures.
H.R. 7240 - To amend the Act of December 5, 1969 (Public Law 91-135)
H.R. 7217 - To protect ocean mammals from being pursued, harassed or killed; and for other purposes.
H.R. 7463 - To protect seals from being pursued, harassed or killed; and for other purposes.
Minutes of the 2nd Annual IAAAM Business Meeting
The second meeting of the members of the IAAAM convened on April 30, 1971 at 2 P.M. at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. President S.H. Ridgway presided. Full members present were Dr.s Medway, Geraci, Taylor, Brown, Migaki, Hammond, Allen, Cornell, Ridgway, Keyes, Henderson, Hyman, White and Palumbo. Associate members present were Messr.'s Montreuil and Sweeney.
The minutes of the 1st annual meeting were approved as read by Secretary Medway.
The Treasurer's report was presented by W. Medway and was accepted. Our bank balance as of March 1, 1971 was $395.78 with no debts outstanding. Dues for 1971 are now payable and will be solicited.
Dr. J. White stated that the cost of the printing of programs for the first annual meeting was absorbed by the Miami Seaquarium and that the Florida State Veterinary Association absorbed the mailing costs. Ha also stated that since no manuscripts were received there would be no publications arising from that meeting. It was agreed that Dr. White did a commendable job with the local arrangements. Dr. White then thanked the members at the meeting for a mug that he received as a token of our appreciation for his efforts.
Dr. M. Keyes reported that considerable progress his been made in a survey of marine mammals in captivity in the U.S. As soon as the survey is complete he will submit it to the secretary for distribution.
Dr. J. White reported that many suggestions were received on his document on legislation for transport and handling of captive marine mammals. The revisions will soon be completed and the corrected document will be circulated among the membership for their approval.
The following applications for membership were approved: Full membership Dr.'s J. Budd, Guelph, Ontario; J.L. Mattsson, San Diego, California; K.H. Johnson, St. Paul, Minnesota. Associate membership Dr.'s E.A. Zullo, Natick, Mass.; C.F.G.W. v.d. Hurk, Rotterdam, Holland; R.K. Farrell, Pullman, Wash.; D.G. Goodman, Baltimore, Md.; J.J. Bernstein, Venice, Calif.; D.E. Lindo, Markham, Ontario; W.J. Boever, St. Louis, Mo.; K.E. Wolf, Kearneysville, W. Va.; W.H. Dudok de Van Heel, Harderwijk, Holland and Messr.'s R.A. Morris, Ithaca, N.Y.; W.G. Gilmartin, La Mesa, Calif. and E. Schwartzman, Upper Darby, Pa.
Other items of interest which were discussed: Dr. J.R. Geraci felt that the 1971 annual meeting would not be in the red. Dr. Keyes said that that cosponsored meeting (Detroit) with the AVMA would be on a Wednesday with Dr. Farrell presiding. He also mentioned that any veterinarian wishing to make a presentation cannot do so unless a member of the AVMA or CVMA. Dr. Keyes also arranged for a conference room during this time so that IAAAM members present could hold a meeting if they so desired. Dr. J.R. Geraci expressed his dismay about not being able to present a paper it the joint AVMA-CVMA-IAAAM meeting because he is not a member of the AVMA or CVMA. He also hoped that our association would not require a union card for participation at any time by nonmembers.
Under new business, Dr. Ridgway discussed the history and formation of the IAAAM and the writing of the present constitution and then discussed the broadening of our membership requirements, i.e., letting qualified Ph.D.'s or other scientists become full members. He then asked all members present to express their views. Needless to say there ware very many varied opinions. Dr. J.R. Geraci then moved (2nd Cornell) and approved by vote of members present that the membership of the IAAAM be polled to consider the following amendment to the constitution:
Section 2 Qualification for Membership
(a) Membership shall be open to scientists who devote a significant portion of thair professional activities to the teaching, research or practice of aquatic animal medicine and whom the Executive Board of the International association for Aquatic Animal Medicine considers eligible as members.
Dr. J. White moved (2nd Dr. Geraci) that we amend our constitution Article III Section I to provide a patron membership category for individuals or institutions with the same rights as an associate member as outlined in Article III, Section 2 (b) with a minimum contribution of $50.00 per year. This was carried.
Dr. Geraci then discussed joint and/or simultaneous meetings with other associations and the utilization of their publications as an outlet for our publications and proceedings of our meetings.
The site of next year's meeting was discussed. It was moved by Dr. M. Keyes (2nd Dr. Hyman) that the 1972 IAAAM meeting be held in Hawaii in April. This was carried.
Election of Officers
The following nominations ware made for Pres.-elect:
Dr. M. Keyes (Dr.'s Geraci, Taylor)
Dr. J. White (Dr's Keyes, Allen)
Dr. M. Keyes was elected. Dr. Geraci moved (2nd Dr. Hyman) that Dr. Medway be retained as Secretary-Treasurer. This was carried.
Dr. S.H. Ridgway then presented a mug to Dr. Medway for outstanding service to the IAAAM for 2 years. He then handed the president's gavel to incoming president Dr. Geraci. Dr. Ridgway will remain as immediate past-president on the executive committee. Move to adjourn the meeting was made by Dr. Geraci (2nd Dr. Allen). The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
As of the writing of this newsletter the IAAAM has 44 members, 22 associate members and 1 honorary associate member. The 44 members were polled by mail concerning the proposed amendment to the constitution. To comply with our constitution. we need votes from 2/3 of our voting membership, this means at least 29 replies. To date I have received 30 leaving 14 outstanding. I will wait for a while yet before officially tallying them. I can unofficially state that the amendment to Article III Section I was almost unanimously accepted (For associate members see minutes of meeting above).
The Executive Cormmittee for 1971 is as follows: Dr. J.R. Geraci, President; Dr. M.C. Keyes, President-elect; Dr. W. Medway, Secretary-Treasurer; Dr. S.H, Ridgway, Past-president and Dr's J.R. White, D.C. Taylor and J.G. Simpson.
Please let me know if you have any news so that I will have something for the next newsletter otherwise (?)
Also, your dues for 1971 are now being accepted.
Thank you.
W. Medway