Great Leaders do not wait for things to happen...

Your Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity Administrative Committee met from Thursday, January 28th through Saturday, January 30th, for marathon sessions of Alpha Omega meetings and events, and a site review for the our Convention hotel, at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego, California. Meeting with our AO International leadership who are so dedicated to the success of Alpha Omega makes me even more enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of our fraternity.
Our Thursday and Friday meetings were spent with the International Line Officers: President- Elect Michael Tenenbaum, Editor Fred Margoles, Secretary Marcy Schwartzman, Treasurer David Schneider, and IPIP Dan Uditsky; as well as PIP Advisory Member Michael Kampel, and representatives of our new management group, Third Eye Group; joining me in in-depth discussions of past, present and future planning for Alpha Omega. These meetings were true working meetings, where we continued working through breakfast and lunch, and attempted to address strengths and challenges that we face, and how to make the organization stronger. I emphasized my goal for 2010 to dedicate the year as the “Year for our Member.” Michael Tenenbaum demonstrated his incredible commitment to AO and his wise counsel, as well as discussing the year’s Leadership programs, and his goals. Fred Margoles continues to impress me with his attention to detail, and commitment to make the communications end of AO more accessible and valuable to our members. Fred reviewed numerous options for our communication vehicles. Marcy Schwartzman has worked diligently to enable our management team transition to be as smooth and seamless as possible, and has been tireless in her pursuit. David Schneider has stepped in at full speed to fill the difficult-to-fill shoes of Michael Tenenbaum, and is the first International Treasurer to also be serving as Treasurer for the Convention. David’s attention to detail and excellent evaluative skills should prove invaluable for AO. Dan Uditsky continues to give us valuable input and perspective. The PIP’s selection of Michael Kampel as their representative has proven to be a very wise one, and Mike gave us both historic perspective, his wisdom, and is someone who has a practical, pragmatic eye on getting things done. Three representatives from Third Eye Group joined our meetings- their owner Nicole, Office Coordinator Yolanda, and our new Executive Director Marty Zimmerman demonstrated keen insight and gave us valuable input. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with The Third Eye Group.
Thursday evening we met with our Trudi Birger Humanitarian Award winner Irvin Silverstein and the Dean of Detroit Mercy Dental School, followed by having the opportunity to visit with over 100 of the students that are involved in the UCSD Pre-Dental Organization. This group of college students devote numerous hours working with Irvin and volunteer dentists to run three free dental clinics for the under-served. What an awesome experience. I had the pleasure of speaking to them and we showed the Centennial CD. The idea of fighting discrimination resonated with this diverse group of students.
After a full day of meetings on Friday, we had Shabbat dinner at a local restaurant with about a dozen fraters from the San Diego area. All of these individuals have warm feelings for Alpha Omega, although there has not been a formal chapter in San Diego in some time. I learned that making personal calls is the most effective way to invite people, and not to rely on electronic communication, as I had called them, snail mailed and e-mailed them the weeks before our visit. Many of these fraters expressed an interest in getting involved with and attending our International Convention in San Diego in December.
Our meetings on Saturday were devoted to overall discussions about Conventions, and especially the upcoming San Diego convention and next year’s Ft. Lauderdale convention. Marshal Bob Simon and Spouse’s Marshal Larry Vinegar have molded an action packed schedule that will certainly make this one of the best conventions in history. We did a thorough site visitation to make the Convention even better! Special events have been planned including: a Dinner and Cocktail Reception and Tour on the historic USS Midway; a Spouses event on the Hornblower Cruises, enjoying a fabulous Champagne Brunch Tour of San Diego harbor; great functions at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay including a terrific Welcome Buffet, fabulous Honors night, Shabbat dinner and New Year’s Eve party; and a GOHI project on Dec 25 to “give back” to the community, as well as a great CE program. Our AO Foundation has arranged a great evening at the historic Abbey. The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay is offering us deeply discounted rooms at only $149 per night (approximately $100 below the regular rates). I urge you to go to our website, www.ao.org, and click on the 2010 San Diego convention, and look at the great fun- filled flow sheet, and want you to make your plans by registering to come to this year’s convention. Once you come to one convention, you’ll feel how the three sides of AO’s triangle really come into place. It is great to spend the time with your AO Family.
Getting home on Sunday was more challenging for some of us due to the snow storms along the east coast, but it was worth the effort to be a part of this motivated group. I personally got my H1N1 vaccine while waiting for my plane from San Diego, as the true multi-tasker that I am.
My first month as International President has been quite active, and I feel we are on our way to evolving our beloved fraternity and positioning it to be even more relevant for the next 100 years. Together, Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity will grow and fulfill its important purposes and missions.