The greatest part of Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity is our people. On Twitter, this week, on January 24th, @OnlineMktgByron tweeted the following quote that is so incredibly relevant to Alpha Omega, “Institutions are only as good as the people who are committed to them.” There are so many wonderful individuals that are Fraters, that I’ve decided in this blog to dedicate it to some of our “unsung heroes.” This is only a sampling of some of those heroes who I have had the pleasure of being in contact with this week. As I meet others this year, so will you.
If you have the opportunity at any time to come into contact with any of the following people, please take the opportunity to thank them from all of Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity:
Gary Scharoff- A second generation Alpha Omegan, Gary has tirelessly served Alpha Omega for many years, in many positions. Behind the scenes, Gary has maintained our website, overseen the AO Exchange, efficiently transmitted our E-Blasts, and always been available to anyone that has any type of technical question. He has made himself available both day and night, and responds to e-mails as well as requests almost immediately. Sometimes it seems like Gary answers my questions, or gets something done, almost before he’s asked. His attention to detail and dedication to this Fraternity is something that we all take for granted, and I want to recognize Gary for all his efforts and hard work.
Jamie Feldman- Another second generation Alpha Omegan, Jamie seems to always be there whenever he is needed or asked. On the recent cruise convention, Jamie spent many hours taking professional quality pictures, and is hard at work putting together a DVD of the convention. Jamie puts together the AO Now E-Newsletter, and works steadfastly to enhance the Fraternity’s communication abilities. At home in Detroit, Jamie has served for several years as Regent, and works as a liaison between his chapter and International. Everyone who meets Jamie realize his friendliness, sincerity and warmth, and Alpha Omega is so lucky to have him!
Andrea Heckler- Although she very recently gave birth to a baby girl(a future AO President?), Andrea continues as a Co-Chair of the very important Student Activities Committee (SAC), making phone calls and sending e-mails to help coordinate this action-oriented committee which oversees and enhances our student member’s Alpha Omega experience. Andrea demonstrates that dedicated individuals are fabulous multi-taskers, and that dedicated fraters seem to always go “above and beyond.”
Andrew Rutman- For many years, Andrew has held multiple positions within Alpha Omega, both as Treasurer of the Queensboro/ Nassau chapter as well as Regent overseeing the chapters in the New York City/ Long Island area. Although Alpha Omega International Fraternity has not officially had the position of Regent in many years, Andrew has served as Regent of what was formerly known as Regency 3, working diligently to coordinate activities between the various alumni and student chapters in the area. Andrew has also served as a liaison between International and the New York area, and is a stellar example of why I feel it is so essential that Alpha Omega International Fraternity reinstate the position of Regent. Although rarely formerly recognized or acknowledged, I consider it both an honor and a privilege to call Andrew my friend!
Andy Lasky- Another of our unheralded Fraters, Andy works tirelessly for the Alpha Omega Foundation, and for his local chapter. Andy was the first frater to contact me, and tell me that he would volunteer to serve in any job or position that I needed him. Andy has been active Frater for well over 30 years, a regular convention goer, and has always been someone that the Fraternity can count on. Thank you., Andy.
Brian Miller- One of the fabulous unrelated Millers from the Boston area, Brian has been the “go-to guy” for locating great scientific speakers and programs for the Boston chapter’s heralded Brandeis Lecture. Brian goes about being a terrific, dedicated Frater quietly and unassumably, and is always there for Alpha Omega. Brian has been a regular convention goer for years, and is someone that it has been my pleasure to know since my student days. This year’s lecture is being given October 15th, with our Honorary Member and Corporate Member of our Board of Directors Steve Anderson as the speaker. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to Steve Anderson, or go to a Brandeis Lecture, I highly recommend both. This year, the SAC Committee has tentatively scheduled the Student/ Alumni Leadership weekend October 16-17, so that they might be able to piggy-back this event.
This is only a very partial listing and thank you to our Fraternity’s “unsung heroes.” Whenever you might see any of them, thank them for all they’ve done. I personally thank all of them, as well as all Fraters who donate their time and effort in the Fraternity’s behalf.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Inspiring People I've Spoken To This Week
How proud it makes me to be Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity's International President when representing our fraternity I have the opportunity to speak to some fabulous, inspiring individuals. Some of the inspiring people I spoke to this week include:
(1)Dr. Irvin Silverstein of San Diego, California- This Trudi Birger Humanitarian Award Winner is an AMAZING individual. His endless energy in providing humanitarian work is exemplary, as is his program of training pre -dental college students to work in dental clinics, serving the under- served. Through this program, Dr. Silverstein has 150 of his volunteers seriously consider a career in dentistry, and over the years 137 have gone onto dental school. This week Irvin was busily preparing supplies to be sent to Haiti as part of the relief effort. He is a man that not only makes one proud to be a dentist, but especially proud to be a fellow frater.He walks the walk...
(2) Dr. Rachel Davis of Louisville KY- This second generation Alpha Omegan, in practice with her father (who on the recent cruise convention told me how much he loved redheads- NOTE: Rachel, her mother and I have red hair), is a recipient of the Young Alumnus Award. Her energy, enthusiasm, and attention to detail is immediately evident. Active on several committees, including as Co-Chair of the SAC (Student Activities Committee) and the Young Alumni Committee, Rachel has been busy identifying and speaking to enthusiastic, talented young fraters, and getting them involved on her committees. She has also been busy planning my visitation to Louisville in April, where I will be giving leadership training to both the students and the alumni.
(3) Dr. Joel Schaumburg of Detroit MI- This is one PIP who still shows his enthusiasm and excitement for the fraternity, and is very active in his chapter. He has been one of the Co- Coordinators of my weekend visitation to Detroit in April, where a fraternal and learning weekend program is being planned.
(4) Steve Kess- One of our Corporate Board Members, has been actively working to increase and improve the membership benefits for our fraters, and has been very helpful in developing our Corporate Advisory Committee. This committee will be meeting in Chicago during the Mid Winter Meeting. Steve has also been very helpful in coordinating with us Haitian relief efforts, as Henry Schein Corp. has the Henry Schein Care Foundation, which has already been active in raising and committing funds and supplies for Haitian relief. Steve is a terrific partner for Alpha Omega, and we are very fortunate to have him and the Henry Schein Corp. as allies and friends.
(5) Ben Williamowsky- Everyone knows what a wonderful man PIP Ben is, but this week, he and I have been actively discussing a coordinated and dedicated Fraternity/ Foundation appeal for Haitian relief. It is only fitting that an organization with a base of Judaic values be actively involved at this hour of need for Haiti, by providing Tzedakah, and offering Tikun Olam. By now, those of you who receive Alpha Omega International Fraternity's E-BLAST have receive an e-mail regarding the joint effort of the fraternity and foundation. I am very proud of how quickly we worked together!
(6) Every present or past Alpha Omega frater in the San Diego area, that I had the pleasure to speak to this week .I sent them snail mail, an e-mail and a follow up phone call to invite them for a Shabbat dinner with the Admin Committee at the end of the month. We are going to San Diego for our Admin Committee meeting, as well as a site visitation in advance of December's San Diego International Convention at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. I was very pleased that these fraters still cared very deeply for Alpha Omega, and were anxious to get re-involved.
(7) Sunday was spent making new Frater Friends at the AO NYC Alumni/Student Brunch. Many old AO Friends were there as well as the leadership of NYU and Columbia.See my Face book page for pictures.
This is just a brief sampling of some of my inspiring conversations of this past week. My many other telephone calls and e-mails continued to fuel my enthusiasm and love for Alpha Omega.
(1)Dr. Irvin Silverstein of San Diego, California- This Trudi Birger Humanitarian Award Winner is an AMAZING individual. His endless energy in providing humanitarian work is exemplary, as is his program of training pre -dental college students to work in dental clinics, serving the under- served. Through this program, Dr. Silverstein has 150 of his volunteers seriously consider a career in dentistry, and over the years 137 have gone onto dental school. This week Irvin was busily preparing supplies to be sent to Haiti as part of the relief effort. He is a man that not only makes one proud to be a dentist, but especially proud to be a fellow frater.He walks the walk...
(2) Dr. Rachel Davis of Louisville KY- This second generation Alpha Omegan, in practice with her father (who on the recent cruise convention told me how much he loved redheads- NOTE: Rachel, her mother and I have red hair), is a recipient of the Young Alumnus Award. Her energy, enthusiasm, and attention to detail is immediately evident. Active on several committees, including as Co-Chair of the SAC (Student Activities Committee) and the Young Alumni Committee, Rachel has been busy identifying and speaking to enthusiastic, talented young fraters, and getting them involved on her committees. She has also been busy planning my visitation to Louisville in April, where I will be giving leadership training to both the students and the alumni.
(3) Dr. Joel Schaumburg of Detroit MI- This is one PIP who still shows his enthusiasm and excitement for the fraternity, and is very active in his chapter. He has been one of the Co- Coordinators of my weekend visitation to Detroit in April, where a fraternal and learning weekend program is being planned.
(4) Steve Kess- One of our Corporate Board Members, has been actively working to increase and improve the membership benefits for our fraters, and has been very helpful in developing our Corporate Advisory Committee. This committee will be meeting in Chicago during the Mid Winter Meeting. Steve has also been very helpful in coordinating with us Haitian relief efforts, as Henry Schein Corp. has the Henry Schein Care Foundation, which has already been active in raising and committing funds and supplies for Haitian relief. Steve is a terrific partner for Alpha Omega, and we are very fortunate to have him and the Henry Schein Corp. as allies and friends.
(5) Ben Williamowsky- Everyone knows what a wonderful man PIP Ben is, but this week, he and I have been actively discussing a coordinated and dedicated Fraternity/ Foundation appeal for Haitian relief. It is only fitting that an organization with a base of Judaic values be actively involved at this hour of need for Haiti, by providing Tzedakah, and offering Tikun Olam. By now, those of you who receive Alpha Omega International Fraternity's E-BLAST have receive an e-mail regarding the joint effort of the fraternity and foundation. I am very proud of how quickly we worked together!
(6) Every present or past Alpha Omega frater in the San Diego area, that I had the pleasure to speak to this week .I sent them snail mail, an e-mail and a follow up phone call to invite them for a Shabbat dinner with the Admin Committee at the end of the month. We are going to San Diego for our Admin Committee meeting, as well as a site visitation in advance of December's San Diego International Convention at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. I was very pleased that these fraters still cared very deeply for Alpha Omega, and were anxious to get re-involved.
(7) Sunday was spent making new Frater Friends at the AO NYC Alumni/Student Brunch. Many old AO Friends were there as well as the leadership of NYU and Columbia.See my Face book page for pictures.
This is just a brief sampling of some of my inspiring conversations of this past week. My many other telephone calls and e-mails continued to fuel my enthusiasm and love for Alpha Omega.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Cruise Convention Reflections
January 15, 2010
It’s unbelievable that it’s been almost two weeks since I returned from the fabulous Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity convention. I’ve spent lots of time since the convention organizing things so I can achieve my mission for the year. I am dedicating 2010 as the “Year for Our Members.” We have made great progress toward providing more and better service and benefits to our members, and I urge you to “stay tuned” for some exciting news and information about the benefits of belonging. We are discussing ways that the International Officers Administrative Committee and the Board of Directors can more effectively work with local leaders to make Alpha Omega more relevant, and more of a priority to our fraters. I truly believe that my many nightly e-mails and telephone calls, as well as several conference calls, have been extremely productive for Alpha Omega. I pledge to use conference calls, webinars, e-meetings, etc., to further outreach to Alpha Omega’s leaders. Under the energetic leadership of Michael Teitelbaum of New York, we are actively getting more fraters involved with our AO Exchange, so that Fraters from around the world can interact in an informal, fraternal manner. We are going to enhance our use of various social media, to broaden our reach and visibility to the generations that use social media communication extensively. This year is going to be an important, growing year for Alpha Omega!
The first ever Alpha Omega convention on a cruise was a great success. We all had lots of fun. Our Admin Committee met on December 24th, and accomplished a lot, by thoroughly discussing all issues, ideas, and challenges we foresaw facing the Fraternity. On a personal note, my family and I spent that evening celebrating my husband, Richard Brody’s birthday, an event he has celebrated at more than 35 Alpha Omega International Conventions. Your Board of Directors held important discussions at their meeting on December 25th, and the Alpha Omega Foundation held its Foundation meeting on December 26th. Despite the challenging economy, I am thrilled to report that the AO Foundation once again gave out grants exceeding $100,000. When my mother, sister and brother-in-law, as well as friends of 35 years, Andy and Pam Ponichtera (an AO dentist in West Hartford, CT) joined us on December 26th, I felt truly honored to be joined by both my actual family, as well as my AO family.
Then, on December 27th, the actual Convention began aboard the Carnival Valor. For the first time ever, Alpha Omega held its convention on a cruise , and thanks to the hard work of many, notably Lisa and Bruce Braverman, and Michelle and Roger Spott, the convention was a smashing success. In addition to the great many activities always offered on a cruise, Alpha Omega convention attendees attended two private Cocktail parties, received welcome treats in their cabins, had our own Dining Room, and many other great perks. I had the pleasure of meeting many first time convention goers and we had a substantial representation of Fraters from “across the pond”. They actually came from across both ponds, from South Africa, Australia, France, England,and New Zealand. Continuing Education was available via a dedicated channel on each stateroom’s television, 24 hours a day and a live program of “Dental Pearls” was held shipboard. Last week, I blogged my Installation speech that I presented to those on the cruise (on January 2nd ). It was truly an honor and an emotional highlight for me to be installed as Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity’s International President for 2010.
It is impossible to describe the uniqueness of an Alpha Omega Convention, unless you’ve actually attended one. Those who attend invariably return, and often become more involved and committed fraters. Attending a Convention gives one the opportunity to see and understand the Alpha Omega “bigger picture.” I urge you to attend our next International Convention, scheduled December 25th, 2010 to January 1st, 2011, at the lovely Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego California. This Convention promises to be great, with many exciting activities planned, including a fabulous Spouses Champagne Brunch Cruise in San Diego Harbor, an evening dinner reception and event aboard the USS Midway, a great Continuing Education program, fun New Year’s Eve celebration, a GOHI service project, our formal Honor’s Night (honoring both our Officers, and giving our prestigious Achievement Medal Award to Stan Bergman (Henry Schein Corp.)), several Leadership training activities, important Business Meetings, and nightly themed hospitalities in the Presidential Suite and cocktail parties. Our Marshal Bob Simon and Spouses Marshal Larry Vinegar have been hard at work preparing a great time for all. Go to our www.ao.org website, and click-on 2010 Convention for more details. (By the way, Alpha Omega has secured an unbelievable nightly hotel rate of only $149 for our Fraters- about half the hotel’s listed rate). How could there be a better way to enjoy the holidays, receive CE credits, and go to a great locale, than to join The Alpha Omega Family at the 2010 San Diego Convention?
It’s unbelievable that it’s been almost two weeks since I returned from the fabulous Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity convention. I’ve spent lots of time since the convention organizing things so I can achieve my mission for the year. I am dedicating 2010 as the “Year for Our Members.” We have made great progress toward providing more and better service and benefits to our members, and I urge you to “stay tuned” for some exciting news and information about the benefits of belonging. We are discussing ways that the International Officers Administrative Committee and the Board of Directors can more effectively work with local leaders to make Alpha Omega more relevant, and more of a priority to our fraters. I truly believe that my many nightly e-mails and telephone calls, as well as several conference calls, have been extremely productive for Alpha Omega. I pledge to use conference calls, webinars, e-meetings, etc., to further outreach to Alpha Omega’s leaders. Under the energetic leadership of Michael Teitelbaum of New York, we are actively getting more fraters involved with our AO Exchange, so that Fraters from around the world can interact in an informal, fraternal manner. We are going to enhance our use of various social media, to broaden our reach and visibility to the generations that use social media communication extensively. This year is going to be an important, growing year for Alpha Omega!
The first ever Alpha Omega convention on a cruise was a great success. We all had lots of fun. Our Admin Committee met on December 24th, and accomplished a lot, by thoroughly discussing all issues, ideas, and challenges we foresaw facing the Fraternity. On a personal note, my family and I spent that evening celebrating my husband, Richard Brody’s birthday, an event he has celebrated at more than 35 Alpha Omega International Conventions. Your Board of Directors held important discussions at their meeting on December 25th, and the Alpha Omega Foundation held its Foundation meeting on December 26th. Despite the challenging economy, I am thrilled to report that the AO Foundation once again gave out grants exceeding $100,000. When my mother, sister and brother-in-law, as well as friends of 35 years, Andy and Pam Ponichtera (an AO dentist in West Hartford, CT) joined us on December 26th, I felt truly honored to be joined by both my actual family, as well as my AO family.
Then, on December 27th, the actual Convention began aboard the Carnival Valor. For the first time ever, Alpha Omega held its convention on a cruise , and thanks to the hard work of many, notably Lisa and Bruce Braverman, and Michelle and Roger Spott, the convention was a smashing success. In addition to the great many activities always offered on a cruise, Alpha Omega convention attendees attended two private Cocktail parties, received welcome treats in their cabins, had our own Dining Room, and many other great perks. I had the pleasure of meeting many first time convention goers and we had a substantial representation of Fraters from “across the pond”. They actually came from across both ponds, from South Africa, Australia, France, England,and New Zealand. Continuing Education was available via a dedicated channel on each stateroom’s television, 24 hours a day and a live program of “Dental Pearls” was held shipboard. Last week, I blogged my Installation speech that I presented to those on the cruise (on January 2nd ). It was truly an honor and an emotional highlight for me to be installed as Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity’s International President for 2010.
It is impossible to describe the uniqueness of an Alpha Omega Convention, unless you’ve actually attended one. Those who attend invariably return, and often become more involved and committed fraters. Attending a Convention gives one the opportunity to see and understand the Alpha Omega “bigger picture.” I urge you to attend our next International Convention, scheduled December 25th, 2010 to January 1st, 2011, at the lovely Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego California. This Convention promises to be great, with many exciting activities planned, including a fabulous Spouses Champagne Brunch Cruise in San Diego Harbor, an evening dinner reception and event aboard the USS Midway, a great Continuing Education program, fun New Year’s Eve celebration, a GOHI service project, our formal Honor’s Night (honoring both our Officers, and giving our prestigious Achievement Medal Award to Stan Bergman (Henry Schein Corp.)), several Leadership training activities, important Business Meetings, and nightly themed hospitalities in the Presidential Suite and cocktail parties. Our Marshal Bob Simon and Spouses Marshal Larry Vinegar have been hard at work preparing a great time for all. Go to our www.ao.org website, and click-on 2010 Convention for more details. (By the way, Alpha Omega has secured an unbelievable nightly hotel rate of only $149 for our Fraters- about half the hotel’s listed rate). How could there be a better way to enjoy the holidays, receive CE credits, and go to a great locale, than to join The Alpha Omega Family at the 2010 San Diego Convention?
Friday, January 8, 2010
My Installation speech
Since all of you could not be on the cruise and hear my speech,I felt by reprinting it here it would inspire and inform more of the membership. I hope you enjoy and be stimulated to action.CSB
Before I begin my remarks, I would feel remiss if I did not thank a number of people for all they have done. I thank our past AO leadership, especially those who have mentored me and helped me get here today. Thank you to all the New Englanders who helped influence me in my early dental school days, and to all the New Yorkers who were so essential to my development since 1978. Thank you to all my Alpha Omega mentors that I have these last 33 years for everything! I truly miss the emotional, passionate discussions that many of our former convention regulars expressed - - - it never mattered if you agreed; you knew these Fraters cared and loved Alpha Omega.
AO’s Strength is, and, and always has been, its members. I would like to thank all those who have served AO in 2009,
Thank you to my mother, sister-and-brother in law, who are with me today, for all their life’s support. And thank you to my sons, Brad, Marshall, and, of course, Billy, and my husband of 31 years, Richard, who bleeds AO. Thank you, I love you all.
One of the things that makes Alpha Omega BOTH wonderful and unique is that every frater’s relationship, history and memories of AO have both similarities and certain things special to him or her. My AO history actually begins before I became a member. Thirty- five years ago this week, during the San Diego convention in 1974, my father-in-law, Eli Brody, was installed as the first Frater to be officially referred to as International President. Isn’t it amazing that when we meet for our next convention in 2010, during my Presidential year, that we will gather in San Diego once again? Thirty-three years ago, I attended my first AO convention, and shared a room with another female dental student. That student, Lynn Gitlin went on to become the first female International Trustee. She then influenced another student, Rochelle Shaw to attend and become active in AO. And that convention was held in Vancouver, where our present International Secretary Marcy Schwartzman resides! So, you see, we in AO have our “6 Degrees of Separation” game, too!
I am thrilled and honored that I have been chosen to serve as International President for 2010. In my 34th year of AO membership, I have been privileged to serve in many capacities, including Gamma Chapter President, Queensboro Chapter President, Regent of Regency 3, International Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Co- Registration Chair at 3 NY conventions, co-creator of “The Choice” program, and as a member of many committees.
Many of you probably remember my outspokenness at conventions during budget discussions and certain other issues. I have always tried to express my opinions clearly and concisely, and hopefully articulated my reasoning well enough to have at least some other people pay some attention. So, I come before you today to try to articulate my vision for Alpha Omega - - - short term, intermediate and long term. Long term is easy to explain - - - I believe that if we all work together, AO has the potential to be a leader, not only in dentistry, but also in the health professions, as well as in philanthropic endeavors. I believe that we can explain that in this evolving society, AO represents our best and highest aspirations - - -for a revitalization of the 3 sides of our triangle and how it makes us unique - - - that is, a combination of Professionalism, Fraternalism, and Judaic Principles. Other organizations or societies address one, or even two of these principles, but Alpha Omega is the ONLY organization that fills all three of those niches!
In the intermediate term, we have to explain to former members, as well as potential members, why belonging to AO is important! NOW! and RELEVANT NOW! And in the short term, we NEED to expand our membership to firm up our base, increase our clout, and create an economy of scale! We must all think back to WHY we originally joined Alpha Omega, and why we remain active members today, while others have not! In many cases, perhaps it is because ALL OF US have stopped effectively articulated our feelings for AO to others, and now we should start letting them both know why we still belong, and why they should, too!
So, I have decided that the theme for my 2010 Presidential Year will be “The Year For Our Members.” We who love AO need to become better prepared to answer the question, “Why Alpha Omega?” in an easy to remember, easy to say “sound-byte.” We must be able to motivate others to re-join us, as we re-double our efforts to evolve AO for this 21st Century, and we MUST have the ability to demonstrate why and how AO is relevant today! We must know how to concisely how to explain and answer questions and confusions! We must market ourselves better, and thanks to the efforts of Wendy Spektor and our corporate sponsors, new and better Membership brochures and materials have been created. A state-of-the-art PowerPoint presentation has been created, and NOW we must all learn how best to effectively use these and other materials and training. As I travel to our worldwide membership, I am planning on emphasizing membership and belonging, and AO’s relevancy, while working with local leaders to try to better articulate our message. When we all work together, we will accomplish these short term goals, which will better prepare us to address our intermediate and long term goals!
We need to reach out to those former fraters who have felt disenfranchised for whatever reason, and show them why it is more important today than ever for them to get back involved and support the mission of AO! Nearly one in20 US travelers are willing to take a trip to help the less fortunate or support a humanitarian cause. Volunteerism has grown in popularity since Sept.11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina. It is trendy and AO,GOHI, DVI and Tomorrow’s Smiles are all at the forefront of a worldwide trend. There is much more interest in reaching out and helping people in poverty. AO has numerous opportunities to offer its members to satisfy this need. A well organized project such as the ones AO has can be listed on our Face book pages, our web site and the AO Exchange. Our happy volunteers need to be featured and their stories told to others, getting the AO message out to all. Please join me in re-dedicating yourself to Alpha Omega’s future. Our leadership seminar in Cleveland this past October was dedicated to methods and techniques to better communicate to them why it is important that they also belong. The stronger our membership, the stronger our message, and the stronger our message, the better we can make our little part of the world.
Recently, I have started to track Alpha Omega’s visibility on the Internet. Using the Google Alert, and the term “Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity”, as a key search, I have been pleased with nearly daily references to Alpha Omega. I will be requesting our headquarters office to track and compile this for distribution in the future. I have also created an online blog so that interested members can follow what their International President is doing and my thoughts, ideas and reflections, throughout the Presidential year. This blog can be found directly at: http://tinyurl.com/aopres2010, or via a link from the AO.org web site. We will also have a strong Face book and LINKED-IN presence. We will ask each of you to join the AO exchange and be a part of this group. This will give a global contact point for all age categories of members.
My goal is that during my Presidential visitations, I will meet with the past, present and future leaders in the local area. My plan is to conduct informational and technique-driven, hands on training sessions. We will have conference calls with student chapter leaders, chapter presidents, PIP’s and other interested leaders. We must re-learn that Alpha Omega will only have meaning to our members if it is personal, and that requires personal conversations, not simply e-mail. We must work on reinvigorating our former leaders, encourage our present leaders and most importantly, work diligently to constantly develop new and future leaders. My #1 priority this year will be our Fraters and developing a strong, viable membership push.
If all of us here simply got one former member to rejoin our ranks, one potential member to join with us, and one existing member who needs encouragement to get a little more excited about Alpha Omega.Ao will grow and will be better suited and positioned for our future.
Alpha Omega must evolve without losing our identity. My challenge to All of us is to keep finding reasons and motivations to do this, rather than finding excuses and exclamations for why we can’t, or it can’t be done! IF WE THINK WE CAN, WE CAN! If we really want to make AO even more relevant to both existing members and others, we must go little outside our COMFORT ZONE. If we do that, we can and will re-invigorate our Fraternity. Together, WE CAN DO IT!
I am here to serve Alpha Omega and am honored to have the opportunity. Let’s work together to make 2010 the year Alpha Omega GROWS, and is re-invigorated. In the beginning of our 2nd century as an organization, we must use evolving techniques to improve upon what is, build upon our strengths, and better communicate our message. Working together, I am confident we will meet and exceed these goals.
Before I begin my remarks, I would feel remiss if I did not thank a number of people for all they have done. I thank our past AO leadership, especially those who have mentored me and helped me get here today. Thank you to all the New Englanders who helped influence me in my early dental school days, and to all the New Yorkers who were so essential to my development since 1978. Thank you to all my Alpha Omega mentors that I have these last 33 years for everything! I truly miss the emotional, passionate discussions that many of our former convention regulars expressed - - - it never mattered if you agreed; you knew these Fraters cared and loved Alpha Omega.
AO’s Strength is, and, and always has been, its members. I would like to thank all those who have served AO in 2009,
Thank you to my mother, sister-and-brother in law, who are with me today, for all their life’s support. And thank you to my sons, Brad, Marshall, and, of course, Billy, and my husband of 31 years, Richard, who bleeds AO. Thank you, I love you all.
One of the things that makes Alpha Omega BOTH wonderful and unique is that every frater’s relationship, history and memories of AO have both similarities and certain things special to him or her. My AO history actually begins before I became a member. Thirty- five years ago this week, during the San Diego convention in 1974, my father-in-law, Eli Brody, was installed as the first Frater to be officially referred to as International President. Isn’t it amazing that when we meet for our next convention in 2010, during my Presidential year, that we will gather in San Diego once again? Thirty-three years ago, I attended my first AO convention, and shared a room with another female dental student. That student, Lynn Gitlin went on to become the first female International Trustee. She then influenced another student, Rochelle Shaw to attend and become active in AO. And that convention was held in Vancouver, where our present International Secretary Marcy Schwartzman resides! So, you see, we in AO have our “6 Degrees of Separation” game, too!
I am thrilled and honored that I have been chosen to serve as International President for 2010. In my 34th year of AO membership, I have been privileged to serve in many capacities, including Gamma Chapter President, Queensboro Chapter President, Regent of Regency 3, International Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Co- Registration Chair at 3 NY conventions, co-creator of “The Choice” program, and as a member of many committees.
Many of you probably remember my outspokenness at conventions during budget discussions and certain other issues. I have always tried to express my opinions clearly and concisely, and hopefully articulated my reasoning well enough to have at least some other people pay some attention. So, I come before you today to try to articulate my vision for Alpha Omega - - - short term, intermediate and long term. Long term is easy to explain - - - I believe that if we all work together, AO has the potential to be a leader, not only in dentistry, but also in the health professions, as well as in philanthropic endeavors. I believe that we can explain that in this evolving society, AO represents our best and highest aspirations - - -for a revitalization of the 3 sides of our triangle and how it makes us unique - - - that is, a combination of Professionalism, Fraternalism, and Judaic Principles. Other organizations or societies address one, or even two of these principles, but Alpha Omega is the ONLY organization that fills all three of those niches!
In the intermediate term, we have to explain to former members, as well as potential members, why belonging to AO is important! NOW! and RELEVANT NOW! And in the short term, we NEED to expand our membership to firm up our base, increase our clout, and create an economy of scale! We must all think back to WHY we originally joined Alpha Omega, and why we remain active members today, while others have not! In many cases, perhaps it is because ALL OF US have stopped effectively articulated our feelings for AO to others, and now we should start letting them both know why we still belong, and why they should, too!
So, I have decided that the theme for my 2010 Presidential Year will be “The Year For Our Members.” We who love AO need to become better prepared to answer the question, “Why Alpha Omega?” in an easy to remember, easy to say “sound-byte.” We must be able to motivate others to re-join us, as we re-double our efforts to evolve AO for this 21st Century, and we MUST have the ability to demonstrate why and how AO is relevant today! We must know how to concisely how to explain and answer questions and confusions! We must market ourselves better, and thanks to the efforts of Wendy Spektor and our corporate sponsors, new and better Membership brochures and materials have been created. A state-of-the-art PowerPoint presentation has been created, and NOW we must all learn how best to effectively use these and other materials and training. As I travel to our worldwide membership, I am planning on emphasizing membership and belonging, and AO’s relevancy, while working with local leaders to try to better articulate our message. When we all work together, we will accomplish these short term goals, which will better prepare us to address our intermediate and long term goals!
We need to reach out to those former fraters who have felt disenfranchised for whatever reason, and show them why it is more important today than ever for them to get back involved and support the mission of AO! Nearly one in20 US travelers are willing to take a trip to help the less fortunate or support a humanitarian cause. Volunteerism has grown in popularity since Sept.11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina. It is trendy and AO,GOHI, DVI and Tomorrow’s Smiles are all at the forefront of a worldwide trend. There is much more interest in reaching out and helping people in poverty. AO has numerous opportunities to offer its members to satisfy this need. A well organized project such as the ones AO has can be listed on our Face book pages, our web site and the AO Exchange. Our happy volunteers need to be featured and their stories told to others, getting the AO message out to all. Please join me in re-dedicating yourself to Alpha Omega’s future. Our leadership seminar in Cleveland this past October was dedicated to methods and techniques to better communicate to them why it is important that they also belong. The stronger our membership, the stronger our message, and the stronger our message, the better we can make our little part of the world.
Recently, I have started to track Alpha Omega’s visibility on the Internet. Using the Google Alert, and the term “Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity”, as a key search, I have been pleased with nearly daily references to Alpha Omega. I will be requesting our headquarters office to track and compile this for distribution in the future. I have also created an online blog so that interested members can follow what their International President is doing and my thoughts, ideas and reflections, throughout the Presidential year. This blog can be found directly at: http://tinyurl.com/aopres2010, or via a link from the AO.org web site. We will also have a strong Face book and LINKED-IN presence. We will ask each of you to join the AO exchange and be a part of this group. This will give a global contact point for all age categories of members.
My goal is that during my Presidential visitations, I will meet with the past, present and future leaders in the local area. My plan is to conduct informational and technique-driven, hands on training sessions. We will have conference calls with student chapter leaders, chapter presidents, PIP’s and other interested leaders. We must re-learn that Alpha Omega will only have meaning to our members if it is personal, and that requires personal conversations, not simply e-mail. We must work on reinvigorating our former leaders, encourage our present leaders and most importantly, work diligently to constantly develop new and future leaders. My #1 priority this year will be our Fraters and developing a strong, viable membership push.
If all of us here simply got one former member to rejoin our ranks, one potential member to join with us, and one existing member who needs encouragement to get a little more excited about Alpha Omega.Ao will grow and will be better suited and positioned for our future.
Alpha Omega must evolve without losing our identity. My challenge to All of us is to keep finding reasons and motivations to do this, rather than finding excuses and exclamations for why we can’t, or it can’t be done! IF WE THINK WE CAN, WE CAN! If we really want to make AO even more relevant to both existing members and others, we must go little outside our COMFORT ZONE. If we do that, we can and will re-invigorate our Fraternity. Together, WE CAN DO IT!
I am here to serve Alpha Omega and am honored to have the opportunity. Let’s work together to make 2010 the year Alpha Omega GROWS, and is re-invigorated. In the beginning of our 2nd century as an organization, we must use evolving techniques to improve upon what is, build upon our strengths, and better communicate our message. Working together, I am confident we will meet and exceed these goals.
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