Page 13 - Autumn 17

President’s letter
by Chris Day
October 2017
At the time of writing, I am back to work after an incredibly empowering and energising BAHVS conference in Leeds. Thanks to the organising team, under the guidance of Sue Armstrong, the conference went from strength to strength, with only a few grumbles about the food planning, which was quite beyond the organisers’ control. Those grumbles were nothing, com- pared to the overwhelmingly positive vibes that everyone present appeared to pick up over those three memorable days. The venue was very well- appointed, hospitable and comfortable. Well done team!
I would also like, again, to express our collective gratitude to our stalwart sponsors, who have become great friends of the Association over the years and never fail to support us. I do hope that the delegates gave them enough encouragement to repeat the exercise in the future.
‘Everyone was there for positive reasons and the atmosphere was overwhelmingly one-for-all and all-for- one.’
There seems to be nothing like the opportunity and time/space that the conference provides to chat to col- leagues, enabling a recharging of bat- teries that cannot be achieved in any other way. Everyone was there for pos- itive reasons and the atmosphere was overwhelmingly one-for-all and all-for- one. I have known the BAHVS for about 35 years, now, and the spirit of camaraderie, mutual support and sharing knows no bounds.
All this is very much appropriate for the current needs of our community. Members are feeling embattled by the well-co-ordinated, aggressive and vig- orous campaign that currently opposes us and our work, in a clear attempt to wipe veterinary homeopathy off the map. This will not and cannot happen
while there are energetic, vibrant, effective and steadfast members out there and strutting their stuff.
The animal community needs us as
‘...so many previous incumbents of the office have put in so much work and energy on our behalf...’
never before, as do the families and businesses that care for animals. The holistic healing message and gift of homeopathy is unique and vital to the health and well-being of animals and we owe it to them to carry on doing what we know best.
Truth is our shield and truth is our sword. Truth has a way of surviving and triumphing over trumped up and spuri- ous negative influences, lined up against us with ulterior motives and for self-serving purposes.
I am proud and grateful that I have been elected President. This is a high honour, particularly in view of the fact that so many previous incumbents of the office have put in so much work and energy on our behalf and transformed the role. I am deeply grateful for the trust bestowed upon me and I shall endeavour to make good. I have been ‘waiting in the wings’, for a number of years, having had numerous personal and professional challenges with which to cope. I intend now to take on the mantle and run with it in a suitably energetic and effective fashion (mixed metaphor notwithstanding).
Some early initiatives about which I can inform you are more regular commit- tee ‘meetings’, some decisive actions to counter the negative forces against us and a ‘round-Britain’ series of local meetings (President attending), to allow for sharing, chat, learning and mutual support. The first of these, pos- sibly to take place before Christmas, will be in Shropshire. Please contact Barbara Jones for details. If you want to
have one of these meetings in your area or are willing to organise or host such a meeting, please be in touch. I plan for four meetings per year. They can take place in a home, in a village hall, in a practice or wherever else seems appro- priate. There will be no formal format. They are most likely to be planned for a weekend day, possibly from about 10:00 – 15:30. Any reasonable expenses incurred will be covered by the Treasurer.
A number of members have banded together to create a positive force against the negative rubbish that has been thrown at us over the last few years. While those folk are members of the Association, they are operating outside the Association and do not answer to the Committee or Officers of the BAHVS. In that way, the BAHVS is able to continue its work of promoting veterinary homeopathy unshackled by other considerations. Rest assured, however, that the best interests of the membership and of the future of vet- erinary homeopathy are guiding beacons for the endeavours of that group and its main purpose is to inform the animal-owning public of basic facts and science behind veterinary practice, whether mainstream or ‘alternative’.
Your editor has suggested that I might give an account of the health problems and other challenges I have faced over the last few years. I did include them in my presentation to the conference so I wonder whether it is too repetitive for many. However, if there is call for this, I can put something together for my next piece for the mag. Apart from some very close family bereavements and health issues, I had my own serious health challenge in 2015 and I have been the subject of no fewer than 6 threats of disciplinary action by the RCVS since then, most of which have faded now with one large one still pending.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas time and a joyful, fulfilling and reward- ing 2018. May it be the year when homeopathy shrugs off its recent black cloud and emerges renewed and invig- orated. There is absolutely no reason why not.
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