Enrich Your Professional Development with an ACVP Affinity Group

Value: Affinity groups are created to support, promote, and foster a sense of community and belonging within ACVP, and to enhance and improve the professional environment. Participation is voluntary and may include attending meetings, social events and other activities that allow members to connect, network and learn from one another.

Organization: AGs are organized and led by volunteers within ACVP. To be recognized as an ACVP AG, an application must be submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) that includes the name and contact information of the group coordinator and mission statement. 

• Once approved, AGs must submit a renewal application every 3 years to maintain their status as an active AG. As part of the 3-year renewal process, an executive summary report must be submitted to the BOD highlighting significant events or activities over the previous three years.
• The AG organizational structure should include, at minimum, a coordinator (a member in good standing) who will serve as the primary ACVP contact. AGs may develop individualized standard operating procedure (SOP) as the group’s needs develop.
• AGs are expected to accept all interested ACVP members and to abide by the ACVP Bylaws and Code of Conduct. The ACVP retains the right and has the discretion to dissolve the AG in the event of actions inconsistent with ACVP values and/or has the potential to negatively impact the ACVP’s reputation.

Role Within the ACVP:

• AGs are not ACVP Standing Committees and are not assigned a BOD liaison but will communicate with the ACVP Executive Director and/or ACVP Chief Operations Officer (COO) for consideration of any needs or concerns.
• ACVP will provide a webpage to host group information (i.e. mission statement) and coordinator contact information. ACVP does not provide administrative support and will not recruit or retain membership information for the group. AGs are responsible for membership recruitment and correspondence related to their group.
• AGs are not allotted financial support from the ACVP budget.
• AGs may request to assemble at the ACVP Annual Meetings. Should AGs want space to assemble at the ACVP meeting and/or have an interest in providing educational activities (e.g., forum, platform, presentation, etc.). During the Annual Meeting, a proposal must be submitted in coordination with the applicable ACVP Standing Committees (e.g., Annual Meeting Committee). All proposals must follow the submission guidance and timelines set forth by the ACVP Standing Committee to ensure proposals are reviewed in a timely manner. 
• AGs are not Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) or ACVP Standing Committees. AGs do no receive charges from the BOD relating to the group’s mission and ACVP Strategic Plan.
• AGs are not required to submit Annual Reports or updated Standard Operating Procedures. However, an executive summary report must be submitted as part of the 3-year-renewal process. 
• AGs are not permitted to independently fundraise. If AG members have potential fundraising leads or contacts, these activities should be coordinated with the ACVP COO and Executive Director to promote streamlined but prevent duplicated efforts.

ACVP members are welcome to start an Affinity Group. Please complete an interest form by logging into your account.