Another School Year Starts

Welcome back from summer vacation everyone! 2010-2011 promises to be a wonderful year for the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association. We now have record numbers of pre-veterinary students registered at FAU who have joined our organization. Not only that, but we now have a new class offering to help support our students' endeavors to gain more experience and knowledge in the veterinary field. Animal Science opened up in August 2010 and filled all 40 slots within one week of being posted! For those who could not get into the course, we will be offering it again regularly. Registration information will be posted as it becomes available.

That's not all we have to be excited about though. We are happy to announce that several of our alumni will be starting their veterinary school careers this month too!





Our little wall of fame includes third year University of Florida student Alissa Demming,








second year University of Florida student Bianca Murphy,










first year Michigan State student Rena Singer,








and first year Mississippi State student Amanda Stiles.




Be sure to visit this site regularly for updates on how they are doing and to get a glimpse of what their vet school experiences are like.

Pre-Veterianry Students Wake Up Call

Bianca writes: I was super sad to see that there is a low amount of participation for the club this year. During my interview at UF, the interview panel asked me tons of questions with two main themes: Teamwork Skills and Community Involvement.

The pre-vet club allowed me to answer many of these questions and made me feel proud! I was part of a family that worked together to make each other more successful which is what vet school is about.

Being an active member in the club allowed me to experience more within the community and helped me develop the skills to shape our team into a functioning and productive unit. Not every thing we did was a success but it's not how much money you raise or how you rank in comparison to other clubs, it's the experience of bringing people together and working towards a group cause that matters. You learn skills that are 100% applicable to being successful in class, clinics, and your profession.

I know that many people may be worried about taking on the responsibility of becoming an officer. It is an an extra responsibility and can be an added pressure when vet schools want to see 4.0 GPAs. Also, I know that applying is also extremely stressful in itself. BUT, in speaking with my classmates and learning everyone's experiences at UF, there are more people here with 3.5 GPAs and interesting and meaningful experiences than those with 4.0 GPAs.

Everyone here was ACTIVELY involved with their respective pre-vet clubs at their schools. Participating as a leader like president, VP, secretary is a BIG deal, and your biggest responsibility is to keep it going and be a support for each other to make everyone successful.

On that note, any questions anyone has about UF, don't ever be afraid to email me! bianca.murphy@ufl.edu. When I was applying, I wish I had had a contact to ask questions! I hope to see everyone at one of our Operation Catnip events soon!

Bianca Murphy
First-Year UF Veterinary Student

Changing It Up

So, over the last several months, it has become more and more difficult to try and maintain the participation of our students in PVMA activities due to busy schedules and a myriad of other issues that life throws our way. Car issues, illnesses, inflexible bosses...they all work to try and throw students off-track and it can be easy to lose focus.

In order to keep everyone focused on the prize, committed to their path, and motivated to go out and participate in activities that will help them get to where they want to go, this page has been changed. It will now be managed by two FAU alumni in order to blog about their experiences as they make their way through the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. These students, Bianca Murphy and Alissa Demming, were FAU students just like you, struggling to make it through undergad, worried about their chances for acceptance, and working hard to try and make it to the next level.

Alissa worked at FAU as a Vertebrate Morphogenesis TA and entered the FAU masters program. She did not get in on her first try but she is now a strong student in her second year of vet school at UF.



Bianca was a member of the PVMA during our first year on campus and worked hard as our Relay For Life Chairperson. She also took advantage of directed independent study programs at Scripps to gain some much-needed experience in avian research.

Both young ladies had very different experiences and backgrounds but reached the same goal. Now, they are willing to help PVMA members learn from those experiences. Their day-to-day messages will help everyone see what skill sets these two young women are having to draw upon to make it. It will show the huge amounts of teamwork required of them to get through their coursework. I think it will also be a great way for our PVMA members to be able to ask questions in order to determine a course of action to follow in their footsteps.

If you have questions or comments, you are free to add them to this blog. Use it as a window to find out what vet school is really like and to determine if this is the right career choice for you. Be patient though. These are active students with full course loads to keep up with so responses to e-mails may be sporadic, however, I think this will be a wonderful tool for everyone to get a better idea of what they are getting themselves into and how to plan their actions accordingly to meet academic and professional goals.

So, follow along and watch the vetamorphosis!

Fall Is Off to a Roaring Start!!

Welcome back to school everyone! Summer always seems so short, however, many of you took advantage of the short break and got out there to help the planet and the community.

Treasurer, Rachael Matyisin, joined International Student Volunteers to help support forest restoration projects in Australia and Fiji. After two weeks of hard work and freezing temperatures, she also got a chance to tour "Down Under". For more information on the ISV experience, join us at our Pawsitive Energy workshop on September 22nd in the Admin Building, Room 234 6-7 PM.

FAU alumn, Alissa Deming, joined EnviroVet this summer to learn more about wildlife conservation in Tanzania. We send her our best wishes as she gets set to start her second year in vet school at UF.


Public Relations Coordinator, Alexa Majdalawi, helped local junior high and high schoolers learn how to become leaders in their schools and communities at SFLTC 2009. Alexa's commitment to teaching students how to become good leaders has been well-established tradition for the last three years. So it is with allot of excitement that we welcome her into the PVMA Executive Board as a Sophomore and hope to benefit from her skills and support.

This summer, we also wished a fond farewell to 2008-2009 Relay For Life Chair, Bianca Murphy, who earned a spot at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine this year. We wish Bianca all the best and know she'll make us proud this year at UF. Check up on our blog for updates on her progress as she goes through her VETAMORPHOSIS!!


President, Christie Gonzalez, Vice President Eunike Stenersen and Secretary Analisa Edell helped raise $500 for donation to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to support the opening of a sea turtle hospital this fall. Way to go everyone!

With such a strong start to the year, our entire Executive Board is really looking forward to the events and opportunities planned for our members. It's going to be an exciting, fun-filled year and we hope to see you all at one of our many meetings, workhops or events.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the FAU Welcome Back Bonfire! It was a great way to kick start the 2009-2010 school year and get into the football spirit!

Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming events, including our first annual Slip-n-Slide Relay Competition at WetFest on September 15th, a movie presentation for "The Cove", our first PVMA meeting and workshop on September 22nd and our first ever Puppy Tailgate on September 26th. Join us in the fun and we'll see you soon! Go Owls!

Coming Soon this Fall!!

We have just a few weeks to go before school starts again this fall and we wanted to take the opportunity to invite you to a few upcoming events:

Aug 8th, 5-9 PM Bon Festival at Morikami Museum
Aug 20th, 9-4 PM FAU U-Haul Team
(help students move into On-Campus Housing)
Aug 27th, 8-10 PM FAU Welcome Back Bonfire
Aug 29th, 10-12 PM First Book hosts "Meet Ms. Florida", Stuart Yacht Club

Sept 2nd, 11-3 PM FAU ClubFest Breezeway
Sept 12th, 9-4 PM Leadership Conference
Sept 15th, 4-8 PM FAU WetFest
Sept 19th, 8-11 AM World Coastal Clean-Up

Contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu if you would like to participate in any of these events!

Summer Time

Summer is in full swing and I can tell by everyone's Facebook pages, you're all enjoying the time off. For the PVMA Executive Board, it's still been a busy summer of planning.

We raised approximately $620 during our Jamba Juice Fundraiser on June 3rd. Thanks to everyone who helped raise money for the new Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital opening this fall.

No word yet on how much money was raised through our Coldstone Creamery fundraisers on June 9th, July 1st or July 12th. The money from these events will go to help support Marine Conservation and Education at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.

The turtle walk on June 12th was a bust. The educational talks were wonderful and the Gumbo Limbo staff was thrilled to receive our $500 donation, however, there were no nesting turtles that night or a hatchling release. For those who wish to attend the rain check event to release hatchlings, contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu asap.

Coming up this fall, the Palm Beach Veterinary Society is opening up their meetings to PVMA members. A total of three students per meeting are invited to attend the dinner buffet and hear featured lectures in various fields of veterinary medicine. Meetings are the first Thursday of every month 6 - 8 PM. To sign up for a meeting, contact Alyssa at aepsino8@fau.edu.

Look for our next issue of the Vetward Bound newsletter after July 30th and be sure to visit our website regularly to keep track of upcoming events.

Enjoy your summer everyone!! We'll see you again in September.

Celebrate the Dolphin!!

Bring your family and friends to celebrate the dolphin-the state saltwater mammal of Florida-on Saturday, June 13th! Harbor Branch will host this event featuring a whole day of fins, food, films, and fun!

HBOI-FAU researchers will share their latest findings about dolphins and the environment. We'll also have hands-on educational activities and crafts for the kids, photos with "Flipper" and much more! Admission is FREE!!!!

Enjoy an ECO Boat Tour of the Indian River Lagoon and get an up-close view of bottlenose dolphins, manatees, birds and more! Only 10$ per person. Boats depart hourly starting at 10:30am (first come first serve).

This event is sponsored by HBOI's PROTECT THE WILD DOLPHINS License Plate, helping support dolphin rescue, rehabilitation, education and research throughout Florida since 1999! This environmental speciality plate is available at your tax collector's office or online at:

www.protectwilddolphins.org
http://www.fau.edu/hboi/LicensePlates/index.php

For more information please call 772-465-2400 ext. 293

Going on a Turtle Walk

On Friday, June 13th, 20 PVMA members will join Gumbo Limbo staff and City of Boca raton officials to release turtle hatchlings into the ocean and watch for nesting Loggerhead turtles on Red Reef Beach! We will be walking with several City of Boca Raton officials, FAU administrators and local entrepreneurs to learn how we can all do our part to protect Florida's sea turtles. This will be a wonderful PR event for the club and FAU students to strengthen their relationship with he community and with non-profits such as Gumbo Limbo Nature Park.

Tickets for this event will cost $9 per person. The money will go directly to Gumbo Limbo to support turtle conservation. THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED TO ALL BUT THOSE WHO SIGNED-UP ON MAY 20TH.

Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early in front of the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, wear comfortable clothing and footwear that can get wet, bring a sweater if you get cold and bring water to stay hydrated. Please no flashlights, flash photography or cell phone use during this event as these items can spook the turtles.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact Christie Gonzalez at CGonza48@fau.edu.

Lecture: A Decade of Dolphin/Whale Conservation

This lecture is part of the Ocean Science Lecture Series hosted by FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Insttitution in Ft. Pierce, FL. Stephen McCulloch will host this topic on Wednesday evening, June 10th to discuss the history of the dolphin/whale research and conservation programs at Harbor Branch and how they plan to continue the legacy of research, rescue and rehabilitation for the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Center at HBOI.

The lecture starts at 7 PM and will last for one hour. It is open to the public and will include a meet-n-greet afterwards, featuring snacks and a cash bar in the main lobby of the Johnson Education Center.

To get to Harbor Branch, take I-95 North to Ft. Pierce (70 miles north of Boca Raton) and the Indrio Road exit. Merge right heading east on Indrio and drive 5 miles, past US 1, until you reach the end of the road. Turn left and proceed approximately 1 mileto the first light. Turn right, go over the railroad tracks and turn right. Follow the road to the first open parking lot and you're there! Call Christie for directions if you get lost, 772-812-1252. Hope to see you there!

Fundraisers Next Week

You are invited to join the PVMA in two different fundraisers next week to help us raise money for the Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility opening this fall.

Join us at Jamba Juice on Wednesday,June 3rd from 11 AM to 4 PM. For every item you purchase that day, Jamba Juice will donate 20% of the proceeds to the Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Rehab Project.

Join us at Cold Stone Creamery on Tuesday, June 9th from 4 PM to 8 PM. Bring in one of our event flyers and Cold Stone will also donate 20% of your purchase to the Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Rehab Project.

Just another way that local businesses and community members can help contribute to a wonderful cause - how great is that! Help the PVMA save South Florida's sea turtles!

Our new executive board for the 2009-2010 academic year is as follows:

President, Christie Gonzalez
Vice President, Eunike Stenersen
Secretary, Analisa Edell
Treasurer, Rachael Matyisin
Academic Coordinator, Alyssa Espinoza
Public Relations Coordinator, Alexa Majdalawi

Although it is summer term, we are still hard at work getting ready for the fall term. For those who wish to stay involved over the summer, we have an action-packed calendar:

May 22nd - Start Your Pre-Professional Files!!!
May 22nd thru June 10th - Donate to our Gumbo Limbo Fund
June 2nd - VMCAS Applications Open Up
June 5th - Pre-Health Professions Graduate Student Panel
June 10th - Harbor Branch Lecture "Dolphin and Whale Conservation" 7-8 PM
June 12th - Gumbo Limbo Turtle Walk 9-11 PM. THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.
June 13th - Harbor Branch Dolphin Festival 10:30 AM - 3 PM
June 25th - Slip-n-Slide Relay Competition, Jupiter Campus 11-3
July 1st - Deadline for Fall Shadowing Program Sign-Ups, 5 PM
July 11th thru June 16th - Ms. United States Pageant in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Juli Goldstein won Ms. Florida!! Come out and support her bid for Ms. United States.

Summer projects also include preparing an "Animls in Art" exhibit for fall and setting up the PBVS Shadowing Program. If you would like more information on an event or if you would like to help with a summer projects, please contact Christie Gonzalez at CGonza48@fau.edu.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support, service and participation. We hope to see you at one of our many PVMA events next term!

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Pennies For Puppies a Success

On May 1, 2009, the PVMA hosted their first Pennies For Puppies Drive at Boca Elementary School. The day consisted of presentations in 10 classrooms to educate the children on humane treatment of animals, the importance of proper vet care and hygiene and the rewards associated with adopting a pet from a local shelter. The presentations were each followed by a visit from two of Florida Humane Society's newest arrivals, Beatle and Dixie.

The event was a great success. The kids really enjoyed their visit with the FHS puppies and we all learned so much! Thanks to our Pennies For Puppies founder, Liz Hodge for preparing a wonderful event program. Special thanks also go out to all of our volunteers who earned DOUBLE the service points for their participation: Allyson, Bianca Murphy, Christie Gonzalez and Alexa Majdalawi.

Pennies For Puppies at Boca Elementary

Come out and help us kick off our Pennies for Puppies penny drive at Boca Elementary on Friday, May 1st 8-3 PM. We will be addressing the children at three different age levels - kindergartners, 1st through 3rd and 4th through 5th. We will be educating them on the rewards and responsibilities associated with caring for a pet, the importance of proper nutrition and hygiene, and humane treatment. We will be hosting the penny drive at four other elementary schools throughout the month of May was well. If you are interested in helping with this or any of the other penny drives, please contact Liz at ehodge@fau.edu.

April Meeting Minutes

On April 15th, the PVMA had its last meeting for the 2008-2009 academic year. Here are the meeting minutes:



**New Executive Board Elected**
Our new executive board for the 2009-2010 academic year is as follows:

President, Christie Gonzalez
Vice President, Eunike Stenersen
Secretary, Analisa Edell
Treasurer, Rachael Matyisin
Academic Coordinator, Alyssa Espinoza
Public Relations Coordinator, Alexa Majdalawi

Congratulations to all of our new officers!! Their terms will start on May 15th.

**Pennies for Puppies, Friday, May 1st **At Boca Elementary from 8-3 PM. Please be sure to stop by Boca Elementary to fill out a background check at least one week before the event. For more details contact Liz at ehodge@fau.edu ASAP!!

**FHS Adopt-A-Thon May 2nd and 3rd in Coral Springs**
Florida Humane Society will be hosting adoptions at the Coral Springs PetSmart on May 2nd AND 3rd 10:30 - 4 PM. We need at least 4 volunteers. Please contact Alexa to sign up for a shift at amajdala@fau.edu.

**PVMA Awards Banquet, Wednesday, May 13th**
The PVMA will be hosting an awards ceremony in the Majestic Palm Room. Dress code is business casual and members may bring a date. All members are encouraged to attend to show our appreciation to club sponsors. RSVP on the Facebook event page no later than April 30th. E-mail Christie for details at cgonza48@fau.edu.

**Turtle Lecture "Sex on the Beach" Wednesday, May 20th**Dr. Jeanette Wyneken will be hosting a lecture at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, FL 7-8 PM highlighting turtle sex ratios and global warming in South Florida. The lecture will be held in the Johnson Education Center with a reception following. Snacks and cash bar provided. E-mail Christie for more details at cgonza48@fau.edu.

**Big Cat Rescue Field Trip June 5th**
Interested in a summer field trip to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Animal Kingdom in Orlando and the Ocean Conservancy in Naples? We plan to visit all three facilities June 4th thru the 7th. Anyone wishing to attend contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

**Ft. Lauderdale Bus Loop June 19th**
Ride the bus to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cost to ride the bus is $15 and includes one drink and snack at each of five stops in Ft. Lauderdale. The event runs from 5:30 - 10 PM with an after party at one of the stops. Advance registration is required. You must be 21 to ride. Contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu for more details.

**Turtle Hatchling Release and Turtle Walk, July**
Come to Gumbo Limbo and release rescued turtle hatchlings at the Boca beach. Release is followed by a beach walk to look for nesting turtles. Exact date TBA. Contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu for more details.

**Notes/Test Bank Available Summer Term**
Limited subjects available for Summer term will include Biochem I, Physics I and II, Organic Chem II and lab. If you have a specific subject request for summer term, please notify Dana before April 30th at dmulvan@fau.edu.

**Summer Volunteers**
Any members interested in volunteering over the summer for Horses and the Handicapped, Pennies For Puppies or Florida Humane Society can contact our new Public Relations Coordinator, Alexa, to put themselves on the e-mail list for volunteer updates. Alexa's e-mail is amajdala@fau.edu.

**Start your Pre-Professional File**
Pick up a form at the Pre-Professional office in SE 234. Completed forms should be turned in by the first week of Fall term in order to receive a Committee Review. For more details, contact Alyssa at aespino8@fau.edu.

**The Vet Application Handbook available!!**
Rachael has prepared a comprehensive veterinary college handbook to assist members in preparing for vet school applications this summer. For access to the handbook, contact Rachael at rmatyisi@fau.edu.

**Orangutan Outreach**
Over the summer, we will be assembling teams of members to approach several local fire departments to collect used fire hoses for Orangutan facilities throughout the US. If you would like to become a member of the acquisition team, contact Eunike at esteners@fau.edu.

**Future Fundraisers**
We will be planning a Slip-n-Slide Relay Competition for both the Boca and Jupiter campuses over the summer to raise money for Folke Peterson Wildlife Center. To help plan the event or to work as an event volunteer, please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

Other fundraisers this summer will include an "Animals in Art" exhibition at the Ritter Art Gallery and an ink/toner recycling program through local businesses. For more information on the art exhibit, contact Stephanie at scanada2@fau.edu. For more information on the ink/toner recycling program, contact Bianca at bmurphy@fau.edu.

**Symposium 2010**
Next year's Symposium will be hosted at Purdue University in Indiana. This year's members enjoyed a variety of wet labs and lectures from veterinary staff throughout the 26 stateside schools. More details will be provided for next year's event asap.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support, service and participation. We hope to see you at one of our many PVMA events next term!

March Meeting Madness

From the sound of it, its been a rough couple of weeks for everyone. Rain, power outages, traffic, wall-to-wall exams and health issues have been just a few of the nasty culprits affecting everyone lately. The term is almost over now with just 28 days to go. We hope everyone has a better time of it in the next few weeks left!! Here are the announcements and minutes from the last meeting on March 31st:


**Walk for Wildlife**
This is a charity event at Quiet Waters Park Saturday, April 18th to benefit the Ft. Lauderdale Wildlife Care Center. Enter to walk from 8 - 10 AM and then browse the vendor booths until 2 PM. Anyone interested in starting a team to walk, contact Christie by April 10th at CGonza48@fau.edu.

**SDA Awards Banquet**
Student Development is hosting a banquet for all on-campus organizations Tuesday, April 21st 7-8 PM in the Majestic Palm Room. Dessert and drinks will be provided. Award nominations will be accepted until Friday, April 10th in UN 203. This your chance to nominate persons or clubs deserving notice for the many great things they do to support the FAU community. Nomination packets are available in UN 203. Awards will be presented for New Club of the Year, Club of the Year, Service Award, Spirit Award, Fundraising Award, Advisor of the Year, President of the Year and several awards for Member of the Year. Don't forget to nominate your favorite member, advisor or president today!! For more information, please contact cgonza48@fau.edu.

**Orangutan Outreach**
This program will be collecting fire hoses for zoos and sanctuaries across the US and for the Orangutan Outreach program in Borneo. For more information on how you can help, contact Eunike at esteners@fau.edu.

**Notes Bank**
The notes/test bank for the PVMA will be up and running starting Summer A. Subjects include Organic Chemistry I and II, Biochemistry I and II, Comparative Vertebrate Morphogenesis and many more. For details on how to gain access to notes and study guides for these courses or to seek peer advising for registration, contact Dana at dmulvan@fau.edu.

** VMCAS Workshop**
The PVMA Veterinary College Guidebook is now available for members planning to apply to veterinary school this summer. Also, we will be scheduling a second presentation of the VMCAS Prep Workshop for those who were unable to attend on Tuesday, March 31st. Please contact Rachael at rmatyisi@fau.edu to notify us of your availability. A new date will be announced for this repeat presentation next week.

** Marine Mammal Necropsy at Harbor Branch**
Thursday, April 16th, 20 members of the PVMA will be attending a Marine Mammal Necropsy at Harbor Branch hosted by Dr. Juli Goldstein and Dr. Gregory Bossart. All spots have been filled for this event, however, if you would like to be placed on a waiting list for any last-minute vacancies, contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

**Constitution Revisions**
The following revisions to the PVMA Constitution will be made: removal of COSO Rep and Historian offices from the Executive Board; consolidation of the Academic Coordinator and Admissions Officer positions; establishment of a new office titled Public Relations Coordinator to take on the duties of both the Fundraising Chair and Volunteer Chair.

**2009-2010 PVMA Elections**
Elections for next year's officers will be hosted in the Admin Building, Room 246 on Wednesday, April 15th 5-6 PM. Each candidate must have a minimum 2.8 GPA, be in good academic standing at FAU and hold 6 credit hours per term (not including summer term). If you are interested in running for an office, please e-mail a biography no more than 2 pages long explaining why you feel you would make a good candidate to Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu. Bios are due no later than 5 PM April 13th.

**PVMA Shadowing Program**
Dr. Nichols has established a preliminary agreement with the Palm Beach Veterinary Society to start a shadowing program in Fall 2009. Shadowing rotations will last one month each in a variety of different practices. If you are interested in participating in the shadowing program, please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu. You will be required to go through an entrance and exit interview as part of your participation. Assignments will be granted based on seniority and club participation.

**Pennies for Puppies at Boca Elementary**
We still need more volunteers to help us present our Pennies for Puppies program at local elementary schools. You will receive 2 volunteer hours for every hour you devote to this wonderful program. Our first presentation is scheduled at Boca Elementary 8-2 PM Friday, April 10th. For more information on how to participate, contact Liz at ehodge@fau.edu as soon as possible!!

**Ink/Toner Recycling Program**
Recycling ink and toner is an easy, cost-effective way to raise money for our club. Recycling keeps these items out of our landfills and allows businesses to help out local non-profit agencies without having to give a monetary donation which is wonderful news in these economic times. So far, we have arranged to collect ink/toner cartridges from the FAU Copy Center, First Florida Mortgage and several other local businesses. If you know of a business that would like to become a part of our recycling program, please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

**2010 Health Professions Graduate Fair**
The PVMA has joined forces with the other Pre-Professional clubs on campus to help host the 2010 Health Professions Graduate Fair. Each club will be responsible for hosting a day-long event to promote their career track. President Christie Gonzalez will act as the representative for the PVMA. A meeting will be scheduled for anyone interested in being a part of this wonderful opportunity to show FAU what the Pre-Veterinary track is all about.

**Weeks of Welcome**
Each year, FAU hosts a Weeks of Welcome event for incoming freshmen and returning FAU students to get into the swing of things for the new academic year. Next year, the PVMA would like to host a football tailgate party but this involves some careful planning and lost of fun!! If you are interested in helping plan this event, please contact Christie at CGonza48@fau.edu

**Help Save Folk Peterson Wildlife Center**
Folk Peterson is a non-profit center that rehabilitates orphaned or injured local wildlife. Due to dwindling grants and donations, the center may have to close its door soon, leaving many local wildlife to suffer without the Center's support. The PVMA will be planning several fundraising events to occur in May to help raise money for the center. These events will include an FAU Day at Rapids Waterpark, a bowling competition and a skate night at Atlantic Skateway. If you would like to help plan these events, please contact Christie for more information at cgonza48@fau.edu as soon as possible.

Don't forget to turn in your volunteer hours before April 23rd!! Contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu for a log of your volunteer hours for the Spring term.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support, service and participation. We hope to see you at one of our many PVMA events this term!

Boca Raton Elementary Pennies for Puppies

Come out and help us push our Pennies for Puppies penny drive at Boca Raton Elementary on Friday, April 3rd 10 AM to 2 PM!!

We need 6-8 people to help host presentations for kindergarteners, 1st grade through 3rd graders, and 4th through 5th graders. The presentations will focus on fun facts and activities to promote education on humane treatment of animals, responsibilities involved in owning a pet and the importance of proper nutrition, vet care and hygiene when owning a pet. Florida Humane Society will be joining us at each school with a "mascot" puppy or kitten for the kids to play with.

After our presentations are done, we will leave a donation box behind at the school for the week-long penny drive. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the Florida Humane Society to help support their efforts to provide medical care for their shelter pets.

We will be presenting at a total of 6 schools throughout the month of May so, if you are interested in volunteering, please register at the school(s) you would like to volunteer at. You can do this by stopping by Addison Mizner, Boca Raton Elementary, Hammock Point, Del Prado, or S.D. Spady and filling out a background check in their offices. Make sure to register at least three weeks before the presentation dates because it takes time to get approved. This is necessary so the schools can ensure the safety of the children.

For questions on the project, duties involved or presentations at this or other event dates, please contact Liz Hodge at ehodge@fau.edu.

FHS Dog Wash March 1st

Come out and help the Florida Humane Society raise money to support their shelter animals! The dog wash will be held at Dan Witt Park in Lighthouse Point just north of Sample and east of Federal Highway. You are welcome to bring your own dogs to be washed as well. Cost is $10 per dog. Have fun, help FHS and earn volunteer hours on your transcripts too! To join the dog wash team, contact Christie at cgona48@fau.edu or by phone 772-812-1252.

February 18th Meeting Minutes

Thanks to everyone who attended our last meeting on February 18th. For those who didn't get a chance to attend, here's what we covered:

Announcements: Green Day Environmental Expo, Saturday, February 28th 9-4 PM in Deerfield Beach. This is a wonderful event that will highlight the "living green" mission. Sea Turtle Day at Gumbo Limbo is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th 9-4 PM featuring a variety of hands-on and educational tours and programs highlighting our endangered sea turtles in South Florida.

Treasurer's Report: Student Government has put a freeze on all school funds for travel outside a 50-mile radius of the FAU campus. They have ALSO placed these same restrictions on our own fundraised dollars that are deposited into our club account. We are researching other alternatives to be able to continue to control our own club funds.

Orangutan Outreach Project: This project stalled due to lack of a storage facility for the fire hoses we wished to collect for the Orangutan's in Borneo. UPDATE - Jungle Island in Miami, FL has agreed to provide storage for the fire hoses we collect from local fire departments. Until we can arrange for shipments to Borneo, we will start a project to distribute the hoses to zoos and sanctuaries across the U.S. that could use them immediately for their orangutan exhibits. For more information on how you can become involved in this project, contact Eunike Stenersen at esteners@fau.edu

2009-2010 COSO Budget: The PVMA was awarded $3000 for the 2009-2010 academic year for on-going projects and events. They postponed decisions on monies for "Bark in the Park" (a large pet expo) and the "Just Cause Ball" until we can provide more details on locations and participation from other clubs and local businesses.

Dr. Nichol's Report: He will be meeting with IACUC on March 1st to see if we can change regulations to allow large events such as adoption fairs or expos involving multiple animals on school property. He will also be meeting with the Palm Beach Veterinary Society Committee on February 28th to discuss what they have developed for a pre-vet scholarship, sponsorship of a student to attend Symposium each year, course offerings in animal medicine and a shadowing program for pre-vet students.

Achievements: The PVMA is slowly closing in on the volunteer hours award through Student Development and Affairs. All members are encouraged to continue to volunteer to help us earn hours toward our goal to win that award in our first year on campus!! Recognition for service, leadership, academic improvement and MVP will occur at our own PVMA Awards Dinner in April so get out there and study, work hard, volunteer or support your fellow PVMA members!

Field Trip: The April lecture in our educational series will be hosted by Dr. Juli Goldstein at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, FL. This field trip will occur on Thursday, April 16th from 9 AM to 4 PM and will feature a tour of the HBOI facility and a marine mammal necropsy hosted by Dr. Greg Bossart, Dr. Juli Goldstein and Stephen McCulloch. Class waivers will be provided if you need an excused absence from a class in order to participate. Please contact Christie Gonzalez at cgonza48@fau.edu for more information.

Look below for a list of upcoming events:

***SDA Training "How to Motivate Student Members"***
Student Development will host a seminar on how to motivate club members. The event will be hosted in the Queen Palm Room, Student Union Thursday, February 19th 12-1 PM. Anyone considering a leadership position for next year's PVMA Executive Board is encouraged to attend. Contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu for more info.

***AKC Dog Show***
The Boca Dog Club is hosting an AKC dog show with proceeds to benefit South Florida Guide Dogs, Inc. The show will be hosted at Canine Cove South Regional Park in Boca Raton 8-4 PM on Saturday, February 21st. Volunteers will help with admissions, running messages for judges or supervising loading docks. Please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu to volunteer.

***Horses and the Handicapped Orientation***
Come out and learn how to become involved in Tradewinds Stables Horses and the Handicapped program Wednesday, February 25th 5-6:30 PM. Service hours are flexible and duties include a variety of tasks geared to meet your experience level. This is a great way to give back to the community, earn service hours and learn how to handle a horse. Involvement in the program costs $25 for a t-shirt, name tag and hands-on training. For more information, contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

***Florida Humane Society Dog Wash***
Come out and help FHS earn money to support their shelter animals! The dog wash is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st 11-3 PM in Lighthouse Point. Contact Bianca Murphy for details at bmurph14@fau.edu.

***PVMA Dog Wash at Snyder Park***
Come out and help the Pre-Vet Medical Association raise funds for club educational programs such as GRE Prep, field trips and hands-on workshops. This event is scheduled 11-4 PM in Snyder Park (lake and Dog Park in Ft. Lauderdale). We need help handing out flyers for the event, setting up cleaning stations and washing dogs. Please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu or Tracy Moran at tmoran@fau.edu if you would like to help plan or volunteer for this event.

***St. Patty's Day Bake Sale***
Help us sell baked goods and raffle off prizes in the Breezeway 11-3 PM to raise money for Relay for Life!! For more information on how to help, please contact Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu or Bianca at bmurph14@fau.edu.

***APVMA Symposium***
Symposium is scheduled to occur March 20th through March 22nd in Urbana, IL at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Participate in a variety of labs and lectures addressing a variety of current issues in veterinary medicine. An exhibition will also be hosted on-site with representatives from a majority of AVMA-accredited colleges to answer questions about programs and admissions requirements. The cost for the whole weekend is $417 including airfare, meals and transportation. For more information, contact Christie no later than March 1st at cgonza48@fau.edu

***Relay for Life**
Come join our Pre Veterinary team to help raise money for The American Cancer Society. This is an overnight event at FAU Henderson Field beginning at 5 PM Friday, March 27th and ending at 10 AM Saturday, March 28th. For more information on how you can participate or donate to the cause, contact Bianca at bmurph14@fau.edu.

***VMCAS Workshop***
Come to our informational workshop Tuesday, March 31st 5-7 PM and learn how to apply for veterinary school this summer. Applying can be a difficult process so let our veterans help you figure out when to apply, how to get letters of recommendation, and how to meet important deadlines. For more information, contact Rachael Matyisin at rmatyisi@fau.edu or Christie at cgonza48@fau.edu.

***Next General Meeting***
Our next general meeting will be on Tuesday, March 31st in the Administration Building, Room 246 4-5 PM. We will be discussing progress on the scholarships and shadowing programs developed by the Palm Beach Veterinary Society and new partnerships with local businesses to support upcoming PVMA projects.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support, service and participation. We hope to see you at one of our many PVMA events this term!

February General Meeting

Our next general meeting will be on Wednesday February 18th 5-6 pm in the Administration Building Room 246. We will be discussing new volunteer opportunities, announce the next few lectures and workshops, and discuss fundraising projects for Symposium and Relay for Life. Following the meeting, we will be hosting the third lecture in our Educational Series titled "Tackling the GRE" presented by Kaplan representative Elisa Kuchvalek. Kaplan has approached us to establish a partnership that gives us the opportunity to take sample classes, learn about admissions assistance and get major discounts on classes offered to prepare for the GRE. Please be sure to RSVP for each event at CGonza48@fau.edu. Hope to see you all there!