VN June 2023

Vetnuus | June 2023 4 To put it mildly, preparing for this edition of Vetnews had been a struggle. Every door I knocked either did not respond or did not respond positively. Getting enough material to fill the pages is always a little stressful, but this month just took the wind out of my sails. Then I came across the article (see in the magazine) on The Mid-year slump. When speaking to a doctor who works with volunteers and Community Service Doctors, I realised there is a lot of truth in it. She said that the volunteers and CSS doctors struggle to keep motivated and focused this time of year. This is the time of the year when individuals and teams need a little extra motivation. Dr Tod Collins wrote a little piece directed at the decision-makers in practices. Working with the fall-out of the veterinarians' mental well-being on a daily basis, I think he may have a point. One of the points in the Slump article is that mid-year is a great time to do some stock take of the direction one is following. Also, what influence do you have on the people around you? They may be picking up on things you may not realise you portray. A SAVA and SAVetCon personnel delegation attended the World Veterinary Associations Congress in Taiwan amidst threats from China to isolate the country. Great opportunities were harvested to good effect. A really big thank you to Dr Lily Marie van der Merwe for the main article this month. The hour you sent it is noted. Our MD, Mr Gert Steyn dwindled a little with ChatGp and prompted the following: " Create Shakespearean sonnet on veterinary practice " This is what the AI engine spit out:. I hope that you find great motivation in this edition of Vetnews. May we beat the mid-year slump and tackle the year's second half with renewed vigour? v Andriette From the Editor Editor’s notes / Redakteurs notas Andriette van der Merwe