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New “FairPay” Overtime Rules Will Affect Most Veterinary
Practices
Overtime
law is undergoing important changes that will affect most veterinary
practices. Known as the FairPay rules, these
regulations took effect August 23, 2004.
To offer their members a better understanding of the new FairPay
rules, the Massachusetts VMA asked attorney Todd Newman of Hanify & King P.C., to summarize what veterinarians
and practice owners need to know about the new law. Mr. Newman specializes in
business litigation and labor and employment law. Prior to joining Hanify & King he was an Attorney-Advisor to the Chair
of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and also has served as a Special
Assistant District Attorney in Massachusetts.
Susan Weinstein, JD, executive director of the Massachusetts VMA has offered
to share Mr. Newman’s federal overtime law summary with ERC users. If you
have specific questions, you should consult an accountant or qualified
attorney.
For additional information, see the JAVMA article
highlighting changes in the law by Dr. Raymond Stock, assistant director,
AVMA Governmental Relations division or visit the Department of Labor's FairPay Web site. This information is offered
as an overview only. If you have specific questions, you should consult an
accountant or qualified attorney.
Local Veterinary Clinics Central to National Pet
Wellness Month
Fort Dodge Animal Health and the AVMA
announced on July 24 during the AVMA convention that October will be
designated National Pet Wellness Month and unveiled details of a joint
educational initiative.
National Pet Wellness Month is a two-part program that will focus on the
aging process of pets and the importance of twice-a-year wellness
examinations.
The first part of the program will center on veterinary practices, where pet
owners can receive valuable wellness information tailored to their pet from
their veterinarian. Veterinarians can request a free In-Clinic Education Kit
by e-mailing petwellness@lpm-adv.com.
Remember the
Date Change!
The next
ISVMA Annual Convention will be held November
4-6, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield,
IL. Future conventions will be
held in November to avoid scheduling conflicts (for both participants and
exhibitors) and increase participation.
Brand new for 2005 is
a General Session featuring Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald of Animal Planet's Emergency Vets.
Dr. Fitzgerald has been performing stand-up comedy on an almost-nightly basis
since 1986. His rapid-paced, one-liner style, combined with his ability to
entertain without offending, has made him a highly requested act throughout
the country.
The 2005 ISVMA Annual
Convention will include:
- increased
continuing education opportunities for veterinarians AND technicians;
- a
practice management seminar designed for practice teams;
- an
expanded tradeshow;
- an
improved Job Fair;
- an
expanded social on Saturday evening – modeled after the wildly
successful Heart-to-Heart Social from the 2004 convention; and
- MUCH,
MUCH MORE!
* The Mississippi
Valley VMA helped make our date change possible. They graciously changed the
date of their 2005 meeting from November to March 2-3, 2005. Information on
their meeting is available at http://www.isvma.org/region4.htm.
Have Your
Practice Associates Forgotten to Send in Their Membership Renewal Forms or
New Member Applications?
September 30, 2004 is the last day for
you or your practice partners to renew your membership in ISVMA. After that
date, anyone that has not paid their 2005 annual dues will have their
membership terminated in accordance with the ISVMA Bylaws.
ISVMA has so far
added 258 new members in 2004! All member prospects were mailed application
materials and an invoice last month. Make sure everyone in your practice is
supporting organized veterinary medicine through membership in ISVMA.
Membership is not only important to the profession but it provides so many
tangible benefits for the members! If you are unsure whether you or a doctor
in your practice is a member, you can verify by checking at http://www.isvma.org/findadoctor.htm.
Only ISVMA members are listed in the “Find A Veterinarian” search page.
If you’re a 2004
graduate, your membership in ISVMA is free this year! Please note that your
student membership DOES NOT automatically transfer. You must fill out a new
DVM application. You can become a member online at http://www.isvma.org/application.htm.
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