Welcome to Phoenix with big skies and perpetual sunshine for the ADHA 2012 Center for Life Long Learning at the 89th Annual Session. I think here is as good a place as any to announce and congratulate Jaclyn Gleber on her election as the new District II Trustee. We are looking forward to working with her on a different level. This year the delegation focused on business and the ADHA workshops. The Pennsylvania delegation arrived at different times on Friday, June 15, and started to acclimate ourselves to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Convention Center which was directly across the street.
The Community Service Day (June 13) was held at the South Mountain Senior Center in Phoenix. ADHA and the Institute for Oral Health, with co-sponsorship from DentalEZ, used IdentFi – a new oral cancer screening device by DentalEZ . With Products donated by Colgate, Crosstex, Glaxco Smith Kline, Hu-Friedy, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly Clark, HealthCare, Premier, Proctor & Gamble, Sunstar & Wrigley, the seniors were given a toothbrush prophylaxis, fluoride varnish and oral health education.
The Plenary Sessions were awesome and very entertaining. ADHA finds the most outstanding, energetic presenters that give you the fire in your belly to move upward and go for whatever your heart desires. Thursday kicked off CLL with Dr. Uche Odiatu’s “Keep Your Edge at Any Age: Inspire Your Team and Your Patients.” The Saturday Plenary Session and Awards Presentation started off with a dance story presented by the American Indian Tribe from the Phoenix area. We then had the featured Keynote Speaker, J R Martinez, Season 13 winner of “Dancing with the Stars”. Injured during a military tour in Iraq, JR chose to embrace his accident and travel all over to spread his message that you can overcome any obstacle life throws at you. Alberta and I had him sign our name tags and it was so exciting to talk to him in person.
The Center for Life Long Learning had three days filled with hands-on-learning as well as continuing education sessions that introduced state-of-the-art products and information that will keep the dental professional on the cutting edge. For the second year in a row AHDA had the open viewing of the Student RDH & Graduate Poster and Table Clinics. This gave all in attendance an opportunity to earn 2 CE credits for their participation.
Our District II Student Delegate, Janet Hockday, was from New York. Janet was like a sponge, trying to absorb as much as her mind and heart would allow. It was exciting to see how much passion she has for her profession.
The Topic for Mega Issues Forum was “Work Settings”. You will find it is attached with this report – Questions and Outcome of the Forum.
The Corporate Exhibits were outstanding again this year – presenting the newest products for the dental hygienist – new tools and techniques to improve our dental hygiene skills.
Friday evening was exciting with the Phillips/RDH Mentor of the Year Reception. This award went to Phebe Blitz, RDH, BS, MS.
From the reception we continue our celebration at the Institute Benefit/President’s Reception which was themed “Tango in the Desert,” a fun filled night auction to raise money for the institute. The one item I had my eye on and my money on was the Queen Ann operator saddle chair. I’m not sure who won the bid, I liked the chair so much that I bought one at the exhibit hall.
We did manage to have some social time and take some tours to Sedona, and the Botanical Gardens and a professional baseball game, the Arizona Diamond Backs. We had a great time, Just Sayin’!!
After the District II dinner at 1130, we took the elevator in Hyatt up to the revolving restaurant to have wine and dessert.
Last year I reported that District II won the HYPAC Challenge, raising the most money for the ADHA HYPAC. WE DID IT AGAIN!
Dinner will be in Boston June 2013.
Next is the business and I am proud to announce one of our delegates form PA was asked to serve on a reference committee. Daiphin Bober was on Reference Committee A. She told me it was an honor to serve ADHA in this capacity. She said it was very enlightening to network with other committee members from around the country. It was interesting to learn ADHA Policy and Procedure methods. We finished with balloting.
We continued the second day of business with Mega Issues and the Second House Of Delegates.
Day three had a Legislative Workshop with Ann Lynch, Director of Governmental Affairs. The topic was Working in Coalition to Advance Your Mission and Policy Goals. The type of panel and group discussion helps to know what other Constituents are doing and how it can be accomplished.
The Mega Issues results, the Association Update and the PRs / PBYs changes are updated in the ADHA Policy Manual and Bylaws. They can be accessed online at www.ADHA.org under Member Resources. You can also access them in the Sept/ Oct Access publication under Special Feature.
Serving as Delegate at ADHA is very enlightening, educating and inspiring. I encourage our members to consider being involved and I hope to see more colleagues in Boston when ADHA will celebrate 100 years of Dental Hygiene.
ADHA – Support, Empower, and Develop YOU!
Respectfully Submitted
Elaine Anderson Kump, RDH
Delegation Chair for PDHA 2012