YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN!

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN!
This past week was another exciting, active, and revealing week. I worked in my office on Thursday until early in the afternoon, and then drove up to Newton, Mass., to enjoy the company of some of the fabulous Boston fraters, at a lovely dinner with alumni chapter officers, and some student officers. One of my great AO memories is always enjoying watching the three “Boston Millers” do their near-vaudevillian routine at every Convention, of “Dr. Miller,” “Dr. Miller,” “Dr. Miller.” Many of you know Murray for all he’s done for AO both locally and internationally. Brian is a regular Convention “goer,” and has been the driving force behind the great scientific programs that the Boston alumni chapter is known for. The third Dr. Miller is my dear friend Lenny, who was a regular convention attendee for years, and was involved in numerous AO activities for many years, now living in York, Maine.
The Boston alumni chapter should be commended for the relationships that they build with the students in their area. The alumni work very closely with the students, teach them about AO, and create the fraternal feeling that stays with someone for a lifetime. Since many of these students relocate outside the Boston area after graduation, it is really important for the alumni where these young fraters eventually settle, to reach out to them, and get them involved. As witnessed by the fact that both of this year’s ISR’s are from schools in Boston, and Stephanie was the ISR the previous two years, the students from the Boston chapters become really involved and get involved in leadership positions.
Early Friday morning, I drove over to Murray Miller’s home, and our Meritorious Service Award winner acted as my guide, compatriot and chauffer for the day. I have known Murray since I was a student at Tufts, and he is “one of a kind.” His warmth, sincerity, energy and love of everything about Alpha Omega are something we should all strive to emulate! We first proceeded to Boston University Dental School, where Senior AO Dental students gave me a tour of the facilities. I had the opportunity to meet with one of my role models, Alpha Omega’s own Sydell Shaw, who is an active member of the Admission Committee. I have known Sydell since I was a youngster, and I can honestly say that the example she set was one of the factors in my becoming a dentist. On behalf of the Boston Alumni chapter, I presented Sydell with a check for the Dean’s Discretionary Fund. I, also, had the honor to present another check from the Boston alumni chapter to Shawn Groyeski (Chapter President and editor of the AO Articulator) as a recipient of the Chapter Efficiency Award. The Boston chapter is supportive of the students with fraternalism, as well as providing financial support and incentives. ISR Matt Rossen and I then met with several students for a Lunch & Learn about AO International and student involvement.
Next, Murray and I went over to Tufts, and incoming Gamma chapter President John Keating gave us a tour of the new top five stories of the dental school. When we met with Tufts Dean Dr. Lonny Norris, I kidded that the view, 15 floors above Boston, is certainly better than I remembered from my dental school days. We had a wonderful meeting where we discussed Alpha Omega, upcoming events with AO and the Dean, AO leadership at Tufts, etc. Once again, the Boston alumni chapter had a check for me to present for the Tufts Dean’s Discretionary Account.
Our last stop on the Dental School express was to Harvard Dental School, where Dr. Bruce Donoff is Dean. Dr. Donoff is not only extremely supportive of the student chapter, but is an active member of the Boston Alumni chapter. We discussed a number of matters, including the outstanding student leadership at the school, as well as the Harvard Public service programs, that Harvard students participate in. We had a very interesting conversation about the similarities and analogies between the Harvard program and Alpha Omega’s GOHI projects. Dr. Donoff and I even enjoyed playing a little “Jewish geography,” because he is a member of Temple Emanuel in Newton, where Richard and I were married, and my grandfather was the Founder. When I mentioned that, Dr. Donoff even commented that he even knew that my uncle was the first Bar Mitzvah boy at that Temple. He also mentioned seeing my uncle the week before! Many of us know about Harvard’s incredible student leadership in Stephanie and Whitney, but I had the opportunity to witness first-hand how the excellent leadership at this chapter continues, with the energetic and enthusiastic incoming Co-Presidents Rebecca Grammer (who gave us the tour alongside Whitney) and Sabiella Spodek.
The Boston area’s fraternalism continued into Friday evening, when Steve Spitz hosted a Shabbat dinner at his home. Over 40 fraters, families and students enjoyed Fraternalism and Judaism at its finest! I was pleased to see the Hadassah School of Dental Medicine Founded by Alpha Omega Fraternity’s Dean Adam Stabholz, who joined us for Shabbat dinner. Adam was in Boston for the week for a Senior Dental Leadership Conference at Harvard, hosted by Dean Donoff. Amongst the presenters at the Conference was AO’s own Alan Finkelstein. The keynote speaker was our 2010 Achievement Medal Award recipient and CEO of Henry Schein, Stan Bergman. Adam was very thrilled to let me know that Alpha Omega had been mentioned on several occasions, and compliments were given to AO about our generous contribution to the Pan American Health Organization for their Oral Health of Haiti program, our GOHI initiatives, and our being leaders in the initiative for a Public/ private partnership toward improving dental health worldwide.
Despite a record- setting rain (at least it wasn’t snow!) and gale winds, approximately 60 people attended a Sunday brunch. Here, student leadership was installed and new fraters were initiated. When I began my drive back to New York, I thought about how the Boston area’s fraters - - both alumni and students- - work so well together to learn and grow as friends, fraters and leaders. When a student comes to your area from the Boston Alumni chapter’s guidance, you have a worker and a future leader.
Sunday had one more AO activity for me - - the Initiation at Columbia. Under the dynamic, enthusiastic, and fabulous leadership of Columbia chapter president Bobby Geiman, and his fellow officers, they have successfully revived this chapter. Twelve individuals were initiated, and each new member was also given a T-shirt by the Eta chapter. Through the financial support of the New York alumni chapter’s NYACAO (which helps funds the student chapters), a sumptuous Kosher Chinese Buffet was provided. I especially want to thank Sam Unger, Gail Schupak, and Andrew Rutman for their invaluable help for this initiation. What a great culmination to the weekend!
Monday night, Michael Tenenbaum and I had a very constructive conference call with the enthusiastic and active chairpersons, Andrea Heckler, Richard Halpern, and Rachael Davis, and our ISRs, of the SAC (Student Activities Committee). We had a thorough discussion about how alumni and students can work more effectively together, and how the transition from being a student member to an alumni member can be made smoother and more seamless. We created the beginning stages of an action plan to have this committee even be more productive. This committee is extremely hard- working, and very eager.
Tuesday evening was our much anticipated Student Webinar, a first effort into using this type of communication to enhance and improve direct communication with the students. Approximately 60 individuals attended this webinar for Student Leadership, and there appeared to be a high level of enthusiasm. The feedback that we have received is very favorable! Henry Schein is seeking the participation of young leaders as part of an Advisory Board for the Next DDS program. Further information is available at: www.thenextdentist.com.
I am very excited about the upcoming Alumni Webinar this Tuesday, March 23rd, ‘” WE Can Do It”. This is a communication method in its start-up form, and I am hopeful that this will help with our efforts to enhance the Alpha Omega membership experience.
This was a busy week for me and AO.






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