I would like to thank our Board of Directors for their confidence in me as the first official president of our professional membership association. I am proud to serve the Board and the membership over the next two years and will do my best to provide leadership and direction as we strive to position ourselves as the foremost professional membership organization for companion animal behavior counselors in the world. This is nothing less than a challenging task, however, it is one that may be accomplished with the assiduous effort and commitment of our Board and membership to our organization's mission and goals. Some of our objectives over the next two years include working with our Board of Professional Certification (BOPC) in establishing firm guidelines for the Approved Educational Provider (AEP) approval so that we may add additional providers of theoretical and practical educational to our list of those who educate and train our future behavior counselors for professional certification. In addition, we are moving forward with certification requirements for feline, equine, aviary and exotic companion animal behavior credentialing through our work with our existing AEPs and other experts in the intended fields of species specialization. I appeal to all of you to reach out to your colleagues in the field of applied companion animal behavior and training and enlighten them about the benefits of joining our group of applied scientific professionals. I also invite any of you who have the time to assist on committees so that we can move ahead in developing important services for our members and the public as well. As a biologist and a Darwinian I firmly adhere to the principles of evolution where selection and variation are key terms. I am certain that variation is the main input to evolution and I believe that these principles of biology also apply to organisms like our association. I encourage our members to voice their opinions and engage in prosperous discussions-this variation of opinions shall nourish our evolution. We may and we need to disagree on as many issues as there are heads in our pack and yet we all need to agree on one issue-to agree on disagreeing. The best to you all! Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. DHC DF MAPBC President Etologisk Institut Denmark

Editor's Column Welcome members to the first issue of our newsletter, The Behavior Counselor. If you have any articles, links, research studies, companion animal news, relevant legislation, or other items of interest, please submit them to newsletter@animalbehaviorcounselors.org for publication in a future issue. Let us know what you are doing with your business, your experiences, and any particular cases and solutions that may be of interest or helpful to our members. Please be sure to cite all the appropriate sources when submitting information.

Being a member of ACABC and a certified CBC. As a Behavior Counselor and Trainer the weight and respect that our credential carries is key to the success of my business. I am located in a large city right next to the suburbs with major pet store chain and trainer basic obedience classes readily available. Many of my client referrals would like to see more certified behavior counselors in their area as they are disappointed with the kind of trainers that are available to them. My referrals are having behavior problems with their dogs after graduation or they have dropped out after a few lessons. They have stated: "I would never have taken my pet there. You really know the answers to my questions, and are a professional'. I am also receiving calls and Emails from people who are out of my range of travel, so I occasionally give them some hints. I enjoy hearing back from these people that the dog is doing so much better. My veterinarian is very pleased to hear that this program exists. He sees a real need for certified behavior counselors like us. He clearly sees the benefit of my education and certification. He now refers some of the behavior cases to me and has included my brochures in his welcome puppy packets. I am proud to be a part of the ACABC organization and will expand my practice to include felines as well as canines.   Dorrie Wilson, CBC - Editor