• Where does the money I pay for dues go?

  • Each year, local dues ($12) are taken out of the initial sum you paid for our chapter to operate, host speakers, pay for lunches, and for other things we do, like student appreciation. The rest pays for your national dues each year ($23), but we handle this so that you don’t have to worry about paying them each year/being late/forgetting national dues. We know $140 all at once is a lot of money, but broken down that is only $35/year, and being a SAVMA member can save you up to $2,300.

 

• Why do I have to get active points and attend meetings to be “in good standing” to get my benefits?

  • As a veterinarian, you will be looked at as a leader in your community. It comes with the job title, whether you like it or not. By requiring you to volunteer, we are not only encouraging you to participate within the CVM and local community. We are also giving you the opportunity to gain experience being a leader within the community prior to graduation. All we ask is for you to give back to the community twice and to attend 2 of our talks in a year (for 1st and 2nd years). We know you are incredibly busy, but there has to be some incentive to participate in events, otherwise only a handful of students would. In return, you get all of the benefits of being a SAVMA member. We don’t mean for the point system to be a pain! We’re just want you to participate within the college and to help you prepare to be a veterinarian in "the real world". 

 

• None of the active point opportunities align with my schedule, so I can’t attend. What do I do?

  • We understand that many students have a life outside of veterinary school that can be just as time consuming. Check out The Point System page and D2L to find a list of pre-approved active point opportunities, many of which you can do on your own time, especially over winter or summer break! If absolutely NONE of these opportunities work for you and you have an idea of something you do that you think should count for a point, fill out the form for approval of a new active point opportunity!

 

• My club needs volunteers for an event we are hosting. How can we get approval for students to get a SAVMA active point for volunteering?

  • Ask us!! At least 2 weeks prior to the event, fill out the form for approval of a new Active Point found on The Point System page. For active point approval, the opportunity to volunteer must be available to all DVM students, benefit the CVM and/or local community, and be at least 3 hours long. If the event is reoccurring (Ex. volunteering at a shelter, foal team, fish tank team, etc.), students must volunteer for 6 hours to receive an active point. Students are not allowed to receive compensation for their volunteerism over $5 because then it is no longer community service, but “employment.” Students may not earn class credit or “points” for another club at the same time (no double dipping for points – they have to choose one or the other) and selling merchandise for a club other than SAVMA cannot count as an active point because, again, that is not community service. Serving a “thank you meal” is now acceptable. If you think your club's opportunity fits within these guidelines, fill out the form and the membership chair will bring it to the board for approval!

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