Leadership: The Volunteer Leader

and Association Executive

Robert P. Ellis, PhD, CBSPABSA Council and Past President

(2004-2010)CRWAD Executive Director

(1988-????)

Selected Quotes from Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

• If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

• Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Conference of Research Workers in Animal

Diseases• Established in 1920 in Chicago • CRWAD is a not-for-profit

organization• Sole purpose: discuss and

disseminate the most current research in animal diseases

• Annual meeting – early December-Chicago– International participation– Oral and poster presentations– 525 attendance, 325 presentations

CRWAD and Bob Ellis• Grad Student, Presented 1967• Chaired Sessions 1980-81• Asked by Sec-Treas to “take over”

1987 (meeting had very few changes)• Exec Director 1988- present• Dues, deficits, programs and progress• Receives honorarium• Council, Exec Dir, Members suggest

changes • CRWAD has changed significantly

during the past 23 years

CRWAD Council

• President• Vice President• Four Council Members

– New Council member added each year

– Nominated by committee– Replaces President’s sub-discipline

• Executive Director-Assists and Guides

• Each Council has a unique personality

CRWAD Membership

• Members– 440 (85%, 7%, 8%)

• Meeting Attendees• Members (30%) • Students (32)• Guests (38)

• Universities, Industry, Government

CRWAD Meeting• Meeting Format

– Oral Presentations – 15 minutes (203)

– Posters – 2 Sessions (127)– 9 Sections, several simultaneously– Sunday evening, Monday all day,

Tuesday 1/2 day• Business Meeting Tues 11:30-

1:00• Student Awards (>$5000,

Sponsors)

CRWAD since 1988

• Added Poster Sessions early 90’s• Added and deleted Sections• Raised registration/dues• Added many “Satellite”

meetings• Obtained IRS 501 (c) 3 status

1997• Hourly assistance with Program

and Proceedings• 2009, added Administrative

Assistant

CRWAD since 1988

• Obtained IRS 501 (c) 3 status 1997– Not-for-profit with IRS– Tax exempt in Colorado, Missouri– NOT tax exempt in Illinois

• Members, Board elect to meet in Chicago, IL

• Central US location• Direct international flights• Off-season dates, chances of snow!!• State tax adds to overall expenses

CRWAD since 1988

• Added Corporate Sponsors late 1990s– Researchers Reception Sunday

evening– Added coffee breaks– Council approved a Corporate

Sponsor Committee 2007, effective 2008

• Council approved a Table Top committee 2008, effective 2009– Tools for animal disease research

CRWAD since 1988

Animal HealthResearch Reviews

provides an international forum for the publication of reviews and commentaries on all aspects of animal health.

CRWAD since 1988

• First Issue June 2000• Published June,

December• Founding Editor-in-

Chief, Bob Ellis• Editor-in-Chief,

Dr. Carlton Gyles, Former Dean, OntarioVeterinary College

• International Topics

CRWAD since 1988

• 2009, added Administrative Assistant– 70% Time Commitment– All Accounting– Correspondence– Web Pages– Meeting Planning (CRWAD and

Satellites)– Registration and Logistics– Continuing Ed (credits and

certificates)– Membership Database, Dues

Notices

CRWAD since 1988

In the past few years, added– Meeting cancellation insurance

• Off-season dates, chances of snow!!– Executive/officers insurance– Conflict of Interest statement

• Signed annually by Board– Whistle Blower Policy– Accountant advises on keeping

current with IRS regulations and policies

Selected Quotes from Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

• If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

• Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.

Autograph your work with EXCELLENCE

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© Bret Ellis