Welcome to the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association online.

"Evening Call" by John Green depicts a veterinarian at the end of a long day examining a patient as shadows grow longer. The farmer assists while his wife watches from the porch ready to beckon the doctor in for supper before he heads back to town.  It is one of a series of paintings used in fund raising for the Foundation.

Mission Statement

The SDVMA Scholarship Foundation Inc. is a charitable organization established to solicit, invest, and administer a perpetual endowment and to distribute the earnings to further the positive progression of veterinary medicine through the use of scholarships or loans to students of veterinary medicine in their pursuit of veterinary medical education goals for the benefit of future generations.

Foundation History

Inspiration for the formation of a Veterinary Medical Education Foundation arose from a group of veterinarians discussing the future of the the veterinary profession. The 1996 discussion laid the groundwork for the financial assistance to students involved with the study of veterinary medicine. A committee was formed to develop ideas and activities to generate a perpetual fund to enhance the future of the veterinary medical profession.
On September 17, 1997 the State of South Dakota approved the articles of incorporation and the Foundation was officially recognized as a non-profit corporation. On September 17, 1998 a request was sent to the IRS to be recognized as a tax free charitable foundation. Affirmation was received in 1999.

Foundation Organization

Membership in the corporation is open to anyone sharing the goals of the Foundation. The corporation is managed by a seven person board of directors composed of two offices of the SDVMA, one representative of the SDVMA Alliance, the Executive Director of the SDVMA, and three directors. The annual meeting of the Foundation will be scheduled to coincide with the annual meeting of the SDVMA. The board of directors will meet as needed throughout the year to conduct the business of the corporation.
The corporation has three standing committees: Finance, Publicity and Awards. The board encourages non-director members to be involved with the corporation by working with one or more of these committees.

Fund Development

The corporation commissioned artist John Green of Madison, SD to paint  canvasses depicting historic veterinary medicine in South Dakota. As a new painting is unveiled, prints will be available for purchase.  The original painting will be awarded to the winner of a raffle. The net proceeds from the paintings and prints will be invested such that the earnings can be used for scholarships. Future fund development will include memorials, bequests, donations, and projects developed by the Foundation committees.

Another fund raiser of note is the book "The Prairie Practitioners -- 20th Century South Dakota Veterinarians."  This book is available for $15 per book (plus $3 shipping and handling for the first book, $1 for each additional book).  Make the check payable to SDVMA Scholarship Foundation and mail it to: SDVMA, Box 2175, SDSU, Brookings, SD  57707.

Dr. Ralph Palmer has a book "Country Horse Doctor" which also benefits the Foundation.  It, too, is $15.  Contact Dr. Palmer at Box V, Parkston, SD  57366 or (605) 928-3150 for information and copies.

 
Approval of the tax exempt status allows many forms of gifts and donations to be tax deductible for the donor. Foundation status also enables donors to contribute appreciated property (stocks, land, insurance policies) and to utilize estate planning techniques that are mutually beneficial to the individual and to the Foundation. A variety of donor gifts can be accepted.

SDVMA Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

North Campus Drive
SDSU, Box 2175
Brookings, SD 57007

Ph: (605) 688-6649
Fax: (605) 688-6003

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