President's Message
from President Carol Reitz
Let's Take a Lesson from Water
Great minds talk of changing environment! How does the changing environment impact, influence, and shape the message and goals for the future of the Alliance of the American Dental Association? How will the changing environment shape the practice and profession of dentistry and how the Alliance supports the dental profession? No one knows the answers to these questions, but we have to be prepared for our future and continue to change as needed, or our organization will become Stagnant!
Let's take a lesson from water . . . water reaches its goal by always flowing onward. What can we learn from the 'flowing onward' process?
- When water comes upon a rock or an obstacle, it flows over or around it.
- When it comes to a precipice, it does not stop. It goes right over the cliff without hesitation.
- What happens when it comes to a hole? The water fills the hole up and flows!
Water also has the ability to re-identify itself. When it is cold, it can freeze. Water can become a vapor or steam! In the summer, we have rain and in the winter, we have snow, the water always changing to fit the current environment.
On the other hand, what occurs when water does not move on? It becomes stagnant! This is true of organizations. If the Alliance does not continue to change with what is happening in our environment, we will become stagnant! The Alliance needs to be moving on, staying fluid and flexible! We need to try new innovative ideas and to think of the POSSIBILITIES! Then, turn those POSSIBILITIES into REALITIES!
This year, because of YOU, the Alliance flowed on like water and many POSSIBILITIES became REALITIES!
- The Alliance has a new mission statement.
- The Alliance web site has been redesigned and the content is continually being updated with news. There are plans for further development of the web site, special links and videos!
- The ADA Board of Trustees supported the request of the Alliance and approved the Alliance to have access to the ADA database for home addresses. We now have 49,472 home addresses of dental spouses.
- The ADA granted permission to distribute to the delegates in the ADA House of Delegates our new postcard encouraging membership in the AADA.
- ADA has asked the Alliance to serve on a committee and to participate in the ADA Leadership Day during Annual Session in Orlando. This will be the first year of a three year program.
- The "ADA News" covered the unveiling of the new AADA logo at our Conference in Tempe, AZ.
- Alliance members distributed over 730 "Ready, Set, Brush!" books to public and school libraries and story times throughout the United States in honor of the 150th anniversary of the ADA.
- AADA has created and completed many Dental Health Education programs: Dipper Dan, Meth Mouth Mary, packing oral care kits for the under served, teaching brushing and flossing, Smile contests, Give Kids a Smile (GKAS), Senior Smiles, mouth guards and many more programs giving back to our communities.
- At the request of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), as the AADA President, I attended the ASDA Annual Session in Baltimore to promote partnership in dentistry between ASDA and AADA members.
- AADA members participated in the ADA Washington Leadership Conference.
- AADA answered legislative alerts and signed onto H.R. 3856, Bone Health Promotion and Research and supported S. 1147, The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act). The Alliance also sent a letter urging the House Committee on Education and Labor to support efforts to improve the oral health of children in the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
- Up and running is a mentor program for AADA Board members.
- As AADA President, I conducted two conference calls with Constituent Presidents to share concerns, projects and successes within their Alliances.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead our esteemed organization this year! Thanks to YOU and YOUR work, the Alliance is flowing onward and making inroads with our ADA partners. We are making a difference in our communities and for our dental families!
Thank You for all you do for the Alliance and dentistry!
Hope to see you in Orlando.
Carol Reitz
AADA President 2009/2010
ARCHIVES
|
|
