cooperatives, milk handlers, veterinarians, researchers, extension educators and specialists, industry suppliers and manufacturers, sanitarians, regulatory personnel, and students. The first NMC membership drive was initiated in 1963. By 1964, there were 102 individual NMC members; 13 state/local and 17 national/regional members. In his Membership and Finance Committee report at the 1964 NMC annual meeting, Ernest B. Kellogg, Milk Industry Foundation, recommended a “vigorous membership campaign be initiated” and encouraged every member to carry membership brochures to help secure new memberships. In 1984 there were about 1,000 people on the NMC membership list, and in 1994, the number had reached 2,000. NMC membership currently stands at about 1,500. A membership survey conducted in 1984 showed that practicing veterinarians made up the largest segment of NMC membership. The same is true today, with close to one-third of the membership being veterinarians. Individuals from industry (such as milking machine manufacturers, pharmaceutical and animal health companies, teat disinfectant/sanitizer companies, etc.) represent over 20% of the membership, followed by university researchers and extension educators (nearly 15%). Dairy producers make up about 10% of the membership. Although the organization is based in the US, NMC membership is truly global. The NMC newsletter reported 40 international members in 1979; today, the number of NMC members from outside the US is close to 400 (about 25% of total membership). In 1966, 300 people registered for the NMC 5th Annual Meeting. Three countries were represented (US, Canada and Peru). Meeting attendance now averages 400 people. About 20-25% of the attendees come from 15-20 different countries. The NMC leadership also reflects the global membership. The first international member of the board of directors was Marcelo Perez, from Mexico, elected in 1985. Ken Leslie became the first Canadian board member in 1991. Another Canadian, Ann Godkin, was the first NMC president from outside the US, serving in 2000. In 2011 Eric Hillerton, from New Zealand, became the first NMC president from outside North America.
Honored individuals There are far too many individuals to mention who have contributed greatly to the ideals and mission of the NMC. However a few individuals have received NMC awards for their contributions to the organization The first two honorary lifetime members of NMC were named at the 1984 NMC Annual meeting – Jim Smathers, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers (NMC president in 1969) and John Flake, Evaporated Milk Association (NMC secretary/treasurer for 11 years). Both were instrumental in guiding NMC through the early years. Ken Kirby with A&L Laboratories received the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award in 1994. An NMC charter member, Ken Kirby
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was well-known throughout the entire dairy industry. John Adams with NMPF was presented with the Distinguished Service Award in 1994 for the 15 years he served as NMC Secretary/Treasurer. Dale Termunde, Babson Brothers Co., and Ewing Row, Hoard’s Dairyman, were honored with the NMC Distinguished Service Award at the 1999 annual meeting, for their years of contributions towards the ideals and mission of the NMC. The NMC award for excellence in mastitis prevention and control was initiated in 2011. The first recipient, Ken Leslie, University of Guelph, was honored at the 2012 NMC annual meeting.
Concluding remarks The NMC was first First NMC membership pamphlet in organized to stimulate 1963. thinking, compile all that was known about mastitis, and promote effective action to control the disease. Today, the NMC represents a global effort to coordinate all available resources to help the dairy industry control mastitis and improve milk quality through research, exchange of information, and education. Largely as a result of the work of NMC, the incidence of mastitis has been reduced very significantly and milk quality has been improved, increasing the profitability of the global dairy industry. Much of the early vision of the original NMC founders has now been realized. As NMC begins its next 50 years, there will be changes in research, technology, and communication. And has always been the case, the success of NMC depends on its members. As NMC past president Bob Dawson, Babson Brothers Co., said in his presidential address at the 1982 annual meeting, “Membership is the lifeblood of any organization. Members provide all the resources, build interest in the organization and its activities, and are vital in dispersal of information and implementation of its programs.” It is thanks to all members – past and present – that NMC is the current vibrant and successful organization of today.
National Mastitis Council