�Contact me at mark @ tuxedosK9 . com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Despite a challenging year , APDT continued to take on important initiatives , work with alliances on licensing
This year has been a busy and challenging year for many in the pet industry , it has been no exception for APDT . Early this year the board decided to cancel our in-person conference that was slated to take place in Riverside , California . With that decision the board and staff kicked into full gear preparing for the Virtual Conference which was a huge success this past September .
The board took on some important initiatives this year with creating the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force , Implementing the LIMA Assertion at the time of renewal of membership and the Alliance between APDT , CAPDT and CCPDT . We implemented an Ethics Committee to review trainers conduct and to create standards for our social media platforms . The board recently revisited and is in the process of revising our Strategic Plan and Book of Knowledge for 2022 .
The year has brought challenges for many of us through the pandemic with staffing , increased business , overcrowding in our rescues and shelters and health concerns . Several news and publication outlets reached out to our marketing staff to discuss the increase that trainers were seeing from the pandemic as well as the challenges that trainers , shelters and rescues have experienced over the past year .
As my term ends as the Chair , I encourage our membership to become involved in a committee by volunteering and to be the voice to the Board of Directors on behalf of our members . Our volunteers are critical to the success of the organization . Our volunteers bring ideas to the committees and assist the board with an understanding of what our membership needs and the direction the organization takes on initiatives . During the past year we have sent out to our members surveys on topics including LIMA , Licensing , Diversity and Inclusion . The surveys allow our members to share their voice and provide the board with direction . In 2022 , please complete the surveys and share your voice and concerns on the direction that your organization is taking .
I look forward to seeing you in Daytona Beach , Florida , for our live conference in 2022 . Stay safe and may 2022 bring you growth and new opportunities .
Mark Forrest Patrick , CDT , VA , CMT Chair
As we worked through the year , I am hopeful that members saw an increase in business and were able to maintain a work-home balance . I know I personally struggled to maintain it myself and found that networking with fellow trainers in our region was helpful . During the year several of our members posted on the social media platforms new challenges and behaviors they have not experienced in the past and I am happy to say that our members came forward and provided ideas and suggestions to fellow trainers .
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Winter 2021 7