Dr. Dan Griffiths of Lomira - 2006

Dr. Dan Griffiths of Lomira - WVMA President 2006

 

Dan Griffiths, DVM

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Dan Griffiths

WVMA involvement

        The first exposure I had to the WVMA was a cold January 1981 at the annual meeting held at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. I had come there for some CE, but most importantly to seek an interview or two. I had good exposure to the WVMA from two practices I did internships with that year. I had spent six weeks with the Dodgeville group and six weeks with the Monroe group. These two practices had instilled in me the value of organized veterinary medicine and put it into practice by having multiple WVMA presidents in the making.

       I followed the WVMA activities as I progressed in the practice world of veterinary medicine. I learned how to be a dairy cattle veterinarian, husband, and father. I always tried to make the WVMA meeting an annual event with my wife, Marty Greer DVM and then with our kids.

I started my involvement with the WVMA with a call from Stan Oxenrider then WVMA President asking me to serve on the Legislative Committee. I have to thank Stan for the great opportunity that would launch my experience.

      I served on the Legislative Committee for nine years having the privilege of chairing it for six years. I served under some great presidents, and had great adventures in the State Capitol with Marty Schrieber and Executive Director Lesile Grendahl.

      I then decided to further my involvement in the WVMA and was elected to the executive board to represent District 3 for a four year term in 1996. I enjoyed the planning of the WVMA activities and the inner workings of decision making. The first few years I was also chair of the Legislative Committee.

During the final year of my executive board appointment I was elected vice chair of the board and learned more of what the president does and the responsibilities that are involved. This experience convinced me that someday I would like to be president of the WVMA.

       When my appointment to the executive board was over in 2000, I had both children in high school and busy in all kinds of activities. Marty and I were both busy in our practices, so I decided that a run for the WVMA presidency would have to wait. I had mentioned to a Nominating Committee member that at some point after the kids were out of high school I would like to run for president.

During my presidency

        Karl, our son, graduated from high school in June 2004 and it was less than a month later when I got a call from the Nominating Committee asking to run for the president-elect position. I accepted and was elected to the position.

        I enjoyed all the aspects of the positions I held in the WVMA and the opportunities it let me have in attending AVMA meetings and regional leadership workshops

        The most memorable week of my presidency has to be the annual convention week in 2006. The convention committee did a wonderful job with planning. The speakers were great, attendance was great, Monona Terrace was great, and everything went well. The personal highlights for me were Marty and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary that week; my mother Marilyn Griffiths gave the prayer before the annual meeting, and our children Katy and Karl were in attendance.