Volunteers are Alpha Omega's Foot Soldiers

In my blog last week, I gave an overview of the important work done by some of our committees, specifically Achievement Medal and the various other awards committees. Any member can nominate an individual for the awards mentioned last week. Like most organizations, Alpha Omega depends on the dedication and hard work of its volunteers, in coordination with our Headquarters staff. Therefore, this week, I want to give an overview of some of our other international committees.
Our Communications Committee oversees written and electronic communications. The committee is chaired by the International Editor, who oversees and monitors communications. Written communication includes the Alpha Omegan, AO Now, and Articulator. Fred Margolis, in his third year as International Editor, has been the Editor of the Alpha Omegan, and has had oversight regarding the other two publications. Recently, our Executive Director Marty Zimmerman, with the oversight of both Fred and International Secretary Marcy Schwartzman, has taken over the production of the AO Now. Shawn Groyeski is editor of Articulator, which is the student publication, and this year Articulator was distributed electronically to our entire membership. In addition, this committee is involved with our website, data base updating, and evaluating and recommending any technologies that might enhance member communication. Gary Scharoff has diligently served as our Webmaster for several years, spending countless hours, communicating with the Administrative Committee and our Headquarters office, to best serve our fraternity’s internet needs. I want to thank our immediate Past Editor and I.P.I.P. Dan Uditsky, as well as PIP Steve Braunstein (International Editor prior to Dan) for all their efforts and stepping up to assist Fred this year.
Our Continuing Education Committee is responsible for assisting chapters’ foster professional excellence. Our Corporate Board Member (and Honorary Member) Steve Anderson has generously donated his time and efforts to provide fantastic sessions in Seattle this past spring, and an upcoming one in Boston on October 15th. In both cases, these were done on the same weekend as our Leadership Seminars. Co-chairmen Michael Szikman and Avi Wurman lead this important committee, whose goals include: encouraging participation in these programs; encouraging chapters to update Headquarters on their continuing ed programs; work with the Convention Committee, as needed, to coordinate CE at the International Convention; work with SAC to obtain information for post-graduate directory. This committee, in conjunction with Headquarters, is responsible for applications and certifications from the ADA, CERP, and the AGD PACE programs.
A new feature on our Website offers fraters seeking associates, as well as individuals seeking to associate, an enhanced method to learn of Associate opportunities. If you are either looking for an Associate, or looking to Associate, please contact Gary Scharoff at: gms@pipeline.com, for details.
No organization can exist without fiscal oversight and stability.
Alpha Omega is very fortunate that our International Treasurer David Schneider is following the excellent example of our previous International Treasurer, International President- Elect Michael Tenenbaum, in his tenaciousness, attention to detail, and fiscal responsibility. The International Treasurer chairs the Finance Committee, which reviews all financial matters, and provides input and recommendation in the creation and implementation of a meaningful budget.
A subcommittee of the Finance Committee, our Convention Subcommittee is co-chaired by International Treasurer David Schneider and Convention Representative Avi Wurman. Under the supervision of the Convention Representative, this committee explores various aspects related to Convention, including future site selection. The Convention Representative and International Treasurer are also intimately involved with present Convention details.
Non-Dues Revenue Subcommittee Chairman Alan Moltz has worked diligently investigating and recommending programs that might benefit both the Fraternity and our members. Currently, on our Website, you will notice Demand Force’s Banner. Look forward to web seminars regarding practice management that Demand Force will be offering to our members in the coming summer months. Another corporate partner who is offering a great member benefit is Chemlog, who will be offering valuable courses free to our members. Look for details to follow and check the web site oftern, AO.org.

I have previously discussed how Alpha Omega is, in many ways, like one big family, or like the 6 Degrees of Separation game. This week I received a pleasant phone call from Montreal Frater, Dr. Edward Slopcoff, to let me know how excited he was that Alpha Omega International finally has a female International President. Dr. Slopcoff reminisced about his and others efforts in the 1960’s to encourage AO to accept female fraters. Previously, Jamie Feldman had told me about his similar memories regarding this issue. The incredible thing is that Dr. Slopcoff stated that he was particularly excited because his past student, Murray Miller, was this year’s Meritorious Service Award recipient. Since I first met Murray when I was a student at Tufts, and we have been close ever since, this 6 degrees of separation actually turned out to be only one degree of separation.
We must all remember that one of the things that make AO unique is our “extended family,” or fraternal aspect. One of the reasons that I feel so strongly about encouraging fraters to go to Convention is to feel “first hand” what the AO experience is really all about. We can talk about it as much as we want, but the only way for someone to understand what it means, is to witness it firsthand. Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have arranged for a memorable, value- packed, event- driven, CE loaded, fun convention at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego from December 25, 2010 to January 1, 2011. Everything is all set - - all we need is you to attend and encourage other to also. Go to the Convention Website at: www.aosunnydays2010.ao.org to get details and to register.
As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, I wish all of you a safe, wonderful, meaningful and relaxing long weekend. I will be at my local parade to support the troops, how about you?

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Award Winning Alpha Omega

One of the phenomenal things about the Alpha Omega experience is our wonderful tradition. Part of that tradition includes certain honors and awards that we give to worthy recipients.
Alpha Omega’s most prestigious award is our Achievement Medal. The recipient of this award is someone who has made outstanding contributions to dentistry or its allied sciences. Past recipients include such notable individuals as Albert Einstein, Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin, Herbert Schilder, Murray Massler, Isaac Schour, Abram Sachar, Robert Shira, D. Walter Cohen, Morton Amsterdam, Ronald Goldstein, Gordon Christianson, John Ingle, Hans Selye, and many other “giants” of our profession. This year’s recipient, to be awarded at our Annual Convention in San Diego, is Stanley Bergman, CEO of Henry Schein. Those serving on the Achievement Medal Committee serve for two consecutive years, the first year to select the recipient, and the second year to arrange and oversee the actual granting of the Award. Traditionally, the Chair of this committee is a Past International President, and is selected by the International President-Elect to provide over his/her Presidential year’s event. Our Achievement Medal Committee 2010 (Select 2009/ Award 2010) is Past International President Michael Kampel, and the Chair of the 2011 Committee (Select 2010/ Award 2011) is Past International President Cliff Litvak. The committee is composed of the Chair (a Past Intl Pres), another Past International President, and traditionally three to five additional fraters.
There are several other Award Committees. Each of these is chaired by a Past International President, and with the exception of the Special Awards and Presentations Committee, have five additional members.
The most prestigious award given to a frater is the Meritorious Service Award. This award is granted to a frater who has not been an International President, and has demonstrated exemplary service to Alpha Omega over a ten year period. For example, in the past two years, the award was given to two exemplary individuals, Sam Unger and Murray Miller. The Meritorious Service Award Subcommittee is chaired by the Immediate Past International President, who this year is Dan Uditsky.
The “charge” of the Certificate of Merit Subcommittee is to identify a candidate who has shown special service to the fraternity, either on a local chapter or International level. It is chaired this year by Past International President Steve Braunstein.
The Honorary Membership subcommittee this year is chaired by Past International President Joel Schaumburg. This committee’s goal is to bring forth a candidate who is not an Alpha Omega member, who has made an outstanding contribution to dentistry or the allied health professions, or has otherwise made an outstanding contribution to Alpha Omega.
Steve Spitz chairs our Special Awards and Presentations Subcommittee. This committee evaluates possible candidates for: Chapter Efficiency Awards (evaluating student and alumni chapters); The Young Alumni Leadership Award (given to a frater who has been a chapter member for at least five years, showing both exemplary service, as well as demonstrating potential as a future leader); Certificate of Academic Achievement (recognizing a student member with the highest academic average through three years); Alpha Omega Scholarship Award (recognizing the student who graduates with the highest academic average from participating schools); and the Trudi Berger Community Service Award (recognizing the individual, group or chapter, which has performed exemplary service to the community).
Organizations such as Alpha Omega depend on the service and efforts of volunteers. In our case, our volunteers are our fraters. It is, therefore, only fitting that we maintain our tradition of honoring and recognizing worthy individuals for their efforts. I encourage everyone to help Alpha Omega, serve on some of our committees or contribute in a manner that “works for you.” In this, our “Year For Our Members,” it is as essential as always to officially say, “Thank you,” to those individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to Alpha Omega’s goals and missions.
I hope all of you had a wonderful Shavuot. Since Shavuot is our celebration of our Torah, I feel it is an opportune time to talk about “hands on” devotion to certain of the Torah’s themes—specifically Tzedaka and Tikun Olam. As you can see from the description of our main awards, we recognize those that have done more for mankind, and served our Fraternity and society in a demonstrable way.
We would love to have as many people serve on committees as are interested. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please contact either me or International President- Elect Michael Tenenbaum.


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"Lucky " Lady AO President communicates in Conn.

There are many reasons that I have decided to visit certain areas or certain chapters. Sometimes my Presidential visitation has been because the local chapter leaders want Alpha Omega’s International President to preside over some event, feeling that appearance might help the local chapter. At other times, visitations are made for specific purposes, such as having conversations with Deans, meeting with corporate sponsors, attending a specific meeting or event, meeting with local fraters and hopefully imparting an International “flavor” to them, meeting and greeting fraters to open up additional avenues of communication, etc.
Our Hartford Alumni Chapter has suffered from some of the same challenges that several other alumni chapters have also faced. At one time a chapter with over 100 fraters, the chapter today still exists, but has very little activity. For many years, Bill Sherman has been the “face’ of the chapter, having served in many capacities including Regent. Bill and his wife, Sam, have been regulars at International Conventions, and consistent supporters of the AO Foundation. Fortunately, Paula Stern has been acting as Chapter Treasurer for several years. Robin Santiago is further proof of the fact that Alpha Omega is “family,” as Robin’s father; Howard Mark is a former Regent, and long-time Alpha Omegan. All of us who know Robin are very proud of the fact that she will become President of the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) on October 16, my birthday. Robin has been coordinating Continuing Education for the CSDA. I wanted to try to “jump-start” the Hartford chapter, and personally sent out by e-mail and “snail mail” invitations to an Appetizers and Cocktails get-together late in the afternoon on Thursday of the CSDA Annual Meeting, held at the Mohegan Sun, in Uncasville, CT. Since the chapter had nearly no activity in some time, and I was not at all sure how many would attend, I made the get-together casual, and held it at Margaritaville at the Mohegan Sun. The approximately twenty people that attended still had strong feelings for Alpha Omega, and we had great conversations about what was happening today with Alpha Omega. Several indicated interest in the Steve Anderson seminar in Boston on October 15th. We also discussed the International Convention in San Diego in December. We spoke about how we would all try to help the members of this chapter get more information about Boston Alumni chapter activities, as well as International events and happenings, and all that attended thought it would be great to have another get-together at the CSDA 2011 meeting.
It was great to see a young couple who originally lived in Detroit stop by the get-together. David Fenton is presently an Oral Surgery Resident while his wife Jodi Levy is in General Practice in Manchester CT. The two of them spoke glowingly of their wonderful remembrances with the Detroit Alumni Chapter fraters while they were there. David was pleasantly surprised to see one of his professors, Dr. Judd Fink and his wife Becky already at the Get- Together when he arrived. Our dear friend, Andy Ponichtera, who was once in charge of Graduate Prosthodontics at U.Conn, and his wife Pam, was glad to rekindle some of his long-time relationships with several of the attendees. Andy and Pam enjoyed attending the Cruise Convention this past year so much, that they are considering attending again this coming year. Norman Katzoff stopped by, and was glad to see Alpha Omega doing something at the CSDA meeting. Even one of our fraters from Virginia, Frederick Krochmal, who was attending the CSDA meeting and saw one of our signs, stopped by and made new “friends” from Connecticut. All important things begin with my first personal step, and I am hopeful that this get- together was an important step toward some sort of revitalization in the Hartford area.
Our active Boston alumni chapter member and Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Bruce Donoff, and his wife, Madelyn, former Chair of the Boston chapter of Hadassah, will be the honorees at the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Jerusalem Dental Center for Children, on June 13th at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline MA. This clinic has been providing much needed dental care at significantly reduced fees for a population which otherwise would not be served.
The Board of Directors of Alpha Omega International Fraternity held their monthly conference call on Monday evening. Your Board has been working diligently to enhance communication and improve member benefits. Many topics were discussed including GOHI and the proposed GOHI Grants Program; the Leadership Seminar in Boston in October 15-16; and the International Convention in San Diego from December 25th to January 1st.
As always, please feel free to contact me at any time with any ideas, concepts, feedback, or concerns.


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ALPHA OMEGA INTERNATIONAL DENTAL FRATERNITY- Across the Pond + Back Again!

ALPHA OMEGA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY- Across the Pond + Back Again!

After spending the whole day in my office last Wednesday, I boarded my flight from JFK International Airport to go “across the pond” to spend some time with our London fraters. For weeks, I was unsure if Trans-Atlantic flights would be traveling, because of the volcanic ash covering much of the Continent. However, as a sign that “it was meant to be,” the skies cleared and European flights resumed a few days before my departure. Arriving early Thursday morning (yet still later than scheduled), the “one and only” PIP John Wolfe picked me up at London’s Heathrow, and drove me to my hotel to settle in. I have known John and Linda for many years, and was fortunate to have been the Chair of the Board of Trustees when John served as a Trustee (prior to serving as the first International President from Europe). After settling in, John and I “caught up” and visited some nearby Roman ruins. I enjoyed having lunch with Linda and John at an old watermill restaurant.
Thursday night, I was hosted for dinner at the home of Adrian Mullish, his wife Cheryl and their children. For a dessert, Adrian, who serves as the London Chapter Council Chairperson, hosted a meeting with the London Chapter Council and the London Charitable Trust (Note: the London Charitable Trust is the London Chapter’s philanthropic arm). London Charitable Trust’s Chair, Professor Dr. Andrew Eder, should be extremely proud of the many accomplishments of the London Charitable Trust, including supporting an Israeli clinic, funding a chair at the Tree Top Dental Clinic (for special needs children), donating an ambulance in Israel, support of both Israeli Dental schools, etc. We had a very good and productive meeting, and I was asked to discuss what other chapters do in terms of Professionalism, Fraternalism and Judaism. The emphasis of the London Chapter has generally been professionalism and Judaic values (particularly Tzedaka and Tikun Olam), and we had an interesting discussion on perhaps adding a little more social (fraternal/ family) activities.
The London chapter started in 1969, and in 1970, the US Ambassador to England, Mr. Annenberg had discomfort from a periodontal problem. He visited an Alpha Omegan periodontist, Dr. John Zamit, who alleviated Mr. Annenberg’s dental problem, and after a discussion, Dr. Zamit convinced Mr. Annenberg to provide “seed money” to create an annual lecture, where an American lecturer would be brought over to do a scientific seminar (remember, that was a very big deal in 1970!). The first two speakers were Morty Amsterdam and D. Walter Cohen. The initial seed money ran out after ten years, and the London chapter continued to hold the annual full day lecture, as the culmination of their full year scientific programs (the other programs take place in the evening).
A trade show is held in conjunction with the Annenberg meeting, and Trade Show Chair Veronica Morris works very hard organizing the details of the trade show. Aron Marcus, their treasurer, was watching the finances while his associate Sarah Cohen, just back from maternity leave ,enjoyed the program and our AO chat. The funds that are made as a result of the lecture fees and the exhibitor support help support the worthwhile endeavors of the London Charitable Trust.
Many felt getting to the Annenberg Lecture was of paramount importance. Dr Michael Zybutz, a periodontist and active AO was a sponsor displaying his New Perio Software, Panda. He said he had to be there to support AO. Luke Barnett, Director of Luke Dental Lab had to brave the volcanic ash and escape the North Pole in Norway by van and ferry just to get to the Annenberg day .Being with his AO friends was that important. I expressed my appreciation to all the sponsors for their support of AO events.
I had the pleasure of seeing a number of people I know, and getting to know many that we now considers friends. My friends Morris Fine (next year’s Chair) and Joe Rich (a Past Chair) have been to International Conventions. Ed Scher, Joe Laps and Mike Sulton are seriously considering attending this year’s Convention, as well as Joe Rich (from Manchester, a past President of the BDA) Since Michael Sultan just ran and finished the London Marathon, he said if we have a Marathon, he’ll definitely be there! Arnie Kosiner, who sat next to me at the lecture, kindly, explained all the “ins and outs” of AO London, and dentistry in the U.K. Matt Zizmor from the Boston chapter attended the Annenberg again this year, as he had attended European regency meeting in Baden Baden. Matt enjoys combining travel with professional enrichment, and fraternalism!
Linda and John hosted me for Shabbat dinner as only the Wolfe’s can. Their genuine warmth and kindness comes through in everything they do! In addition to me, the Wolfe’s also hosted Matthew Zizmor and Elizabeth, as well as Simon Stern, a nice AO dentist, who is a Resident at a local hospital in Oral Surgery. Simon is very enthusiastic, and seemed to get the bigger picture about Alpha Omega as a result of our conversations.
There were many other wonderful and kind London Fraters, who treated me warmly and made me feel welcome. The day before I left, I went to downtown London, and visited the National Gallery and the show Enron. Sunday, Adrian Mullish picked me up and brought me back to Heathrow for my flight back to New York.
Many exciting things were occurring on this side of the Pond at the same time. On Friday, in Seattle, Steve Anderson gave a great full day seminar, and on Saturday Mike Tenenbaum coordinated the Leadership Seminar, led by our Executive Director Marty Zimmerman. Feedback on both parts of the weekend have been superb, and if you were unable to make it to Seattle, a similar weekend of Steve Anderson giving a seminar Friday, followed by a Leadership Seminar on Saturday, will be held on the East Coast, in Boston, on October 15th- 17th. If you are interested in leadership, going to a Leadership Seminar is an important step for both alumni and students!
This week, I received an e-mail from PIP Bud Krasne, informing me of the South Florida chapter’s sponsorship of two awards to graduating students from their dental school. Buddy thinks it would be a great idea for other chapters to something like this in their local area, and I know, for example, that Boston alumni chapter has been doing this with the three dental schools in Boston area, and Detroit does this with their two dental schools. I am sure that several other chapters do this as well, and I think Buddy’s idea of publicizing this involvement is an excellent one! This would be a great local project! In addition, one of the new member benefit programs we are contemplating would help to begin the funding a Student Scholarship. Louisville has one for their students in need.
Everywhere I have been, I have been discussing many aspects of Alpha Omega, and encouraging fraters to attend the next AO International Convention in San Diego from December 25th to January 1st. If you are a regular Convention attendee, I look forward to seeing you again this year. If you have ever gone to Convention, please consider coming back this year, and if you have never attended an AO Convention, you don’t fully understand the scope of Alpha Omega, until you come to a Convention. Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have been working diligently to arrange a memorable, value-packed, event-driven, Fraternal, Professional and Tzedaka- related program. Plan to arrive Dec 24 so you can participate in our group GOHI project on Dec 25. Information is available at: aosunnydays2010.ao.org.
I’m off this week to the Connecticut Dental Association (CDA) meeting, where I hope to create some additional excitement and awareness in the area. If you will be there, come to Margaritaville on Thursday for some appetizers and a cocktail, between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM.
If we all speak to one person who becomes involved again in AO, just imagine what Alpha Omega can accomplish!



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