AO Leadership is our most Important Asset

In order for our organization to continue to evolve and succeed, and maintaining AO’s mission statement and purpose, we must emphasize developing strong and effective leadership, on the local, regional, national and international levels. We, your present leaders have a plan: Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity will be holding its Leadership Seminar, in Boston, October 16-17. President- Elect Michael Tenenbaum is coordinating an important program. We want you to attend this valuable program. This program is being coordinated in conjunction with the same weekend that Steve Anderson will be running a great practice management and development seminar for our Boston Alumni Chapter on Friday Oct 15.Watch for an E-Blast coming to you soon announcing these details. All are invited to attend both events. While there is a small fee for the Steve Anderson program run by the Boston Alumni chapter, there is no charge for the Leadership Seminar, but you must register separately for each event... Go to the website at: www.ao.org for details, or e-mail Mike Tenenbaum at: tenedent@aol.com.
While you are visiting the website at: www.ao.org, be sure to click-thru to the information about a new free Member Benefit, called the Absolute Card. This is a great discount card being made available for FREE to Alpha Omega members, with superb discounts and savings available at numerous locations. (I have been informed that the usual price for this card is approximately $199). An added value to AO Membership your leadership is proud to offer you.
Those of you who are directly billed by our International Headquarters Office have recently received your dues statement for 2010- 2011. Once again, we have held our dues stable, with no increase again this year. In this envelope, there were two flyers enclosed: (1) Benefits of membership; (2) International Convention in San Diego from December 25- January 1. With our added emphasis on you, our members, as well as serving our mission statement and combining our sides of our triangle (Professionalism and Fraternalism) with our base of Judaism (Judaic values and the Voice of the Jew in Dentistry), I feel that all of you are even more committed fraters and even prouder of your membership and affiliation. I encourage you to visit our Convention website at: www.aosunnydays2010.ao.org to get all the great convention details, including the incredibly low hotel room rate, our great value added program, event-driven program, our community service activity, great CE credit, as well as the fun, family, and fraternalism that makes our Alpha Omega International Convention so unique and worthwhile.
I urge you to also be on the lookout for information about our new Demand Force Webinars, coming up in October, after the Jewish holidays. There will be two dates planned, one is Oct.14. With summer coming to an unofficial end, and my kids getting ready for back to school, and the fast-approaching High Holidays (I am always the cook and host), I hope you will soon have the time to refocus on the significance of Alpha Omega, and how it stands for the “best” in all of us. Please check the AO website on a regular basis, keep reading my blog, and read the AO Now and E-Blasts that are sent to you with timely and relevant information. I know that the most important aspect of Alpha Omega is our Fraters!
With two-thirds of my tenure as International: President now over, I hope that I have helped to motivate many of you and have made Alpha Omega have even more significance to you than before. I wish you all, “L’Shanah Tovah,” and hope that this will be the best, “sweetest,” happiest, and personally most satisfying year for all of you!


PLEASE VISIT: www.AmericasToothfairy.org for TOMORROW's SMILE UPDATES & OPPORTUNITIES

It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of August (although in New York today it was still in the 90’s), and I am nearly two-thirds through my tenure as your Alpha Omega International President. Lots of important and great things are going on, as well as planned for the rest of this year.
For any organization to be successful and to continue to evolve and succeed, it must utilize a well organized leadership development and training program. This program needs to available on several levels: (1) elementary or beginning, to get newer fraters more involved; (2) intermediate, to properly develop chapter leaders and the energetic up and coming leaders (3) advanced, to qualify, interest and develop leaders such as Board Members, etc; (4) elite, to help upper level leadership to be better prepared for the challenges of leadership and line officers. Last Spring, we held the first of our two Leadership Seminars in Seattle, and October 16th, we will be holding our second leadership program of 2010 in Boston. We will be using a similar format as we did in Seattle, with the Boston chapter having our Corporate Board Member Steve Anderson give one of his fabulous seminars on Friday Oct.15, followed by our Leadership Seminar on Saturday. International President- Elect Michael Tenenbaum is once again coordinating the leadership program, and it will be a motivating, enriching and educational event. Additional information is available from our website at www.ao.org, or for specific information, contact Mike Tenenbaum at: tenedent@aol.com. The Hotel Lenox is in downtown Boston and students and alumni are encouraged to attend.Don't be left out of this leadership loop.
We are actively trying to enhance our presence on social media, and I urge you to all sign up as Facebook Fans of Alpha Omega. If you have any questions about how to do this, e-mail Mike Tenenbaum at: tenedent@aol.com.or the headquarter office.Join us on twitter ,too.
What could be better than coming to the International Convention from December 25th to January 1st at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, in San Diego, California. Of course, a contest! Register for the Convention by Rosh Hashanah and when you pay only the low convention room rate of $149, you will be entered into a drawing to be upgraded free to a one bedroom suite. One lucky frater will be upgraded to a suite at the low room rate of $149! Now, not only can you go away to a great hotel in a great location for a value- packed, event- driven, CE loaded week of fun, fraternalism, and professionalism, but you might also be upgraded to a suite! Don’t miss this great week that Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have arranged for all of us! Special highlights include: Fun Welcome Event; Fabulous Dinner, Open Bar and Museum Tour of the historic USS Midway; incredible spouses Champagne Brunch Harbor Cruise on Hornblower Cruises; Formal Honors Gala and Cocktail Reception honoring both AO’s Officers and Achievement Medal Award Recipient, Schein CEO Stan Bergman; Delicious Shabbat dinner; fun, musical New Years Eve bash; nightly hospitality; optional touring available at below public rates with pickup at hotel; even a couple of breakfasts; and great CE credit included. Not only that, but the Alpha Omega Foundation is offering a special evening at the Historic Abbey, a great event not to be missed! If you’re a regular at AO Convention attendee, I truly hope you attend this year’s historic and great one. If you haven’t been to an AO Convention, come on back and rekindle old friendships and make some new ones, and see what you’ve been missing!Also urge one of your chapter leaders to attend because we'll have leadership training at the Convention,too. If you’ve never been to an AO Convention, there has never been as great an opportunity between the program, events, value, hotel rate, location, as there is this year. I look forward to AO having a terrific “family gathering” in December24-Jan 1 in San Diego. Visit the convention website at: aosunnydays2010.ao.org.an sign up by Sept 8,to be eligible for the suite upgrade! See you there!






PLEASE VISIT: www.AmericasToothfairy.org for TOMORROW's SMILE UPDATES & OPPORTUNITIES

AO Need Dues paying Members !

In the next few days, headquarters’ billed chapters will be receiving your dues statement from our International Headquarters. All others will receive their bills directly from your chapter. However you get your statement, you will be receiving the 2010- 2011 dues statement soon. As International President for 2010, I greatly believe in my commitment to all of our fraters. For that reason, my central theme for 2010 has been to commit this year as “The Year for our Members,” for without the continued support and encouragement of our members, an organization cannot function properly. Thank you for paying your dues promptly.
So, why do I believe it is so important to belong to Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity? As members, we often speak of our triangle, with Professionalism and Fraternalism as the sides, and Judaism as the base, but what does it really mean? Most of us can participate in professionalism in a variety of different ways including various dental organizations and dental societies, as well as participating in Continuing Education offered from many sources. There are also other organizations, societies, and even fraternities, where one can share friendships and enjoy camaraderie. Of course, Judaism and Judaic principles are also addressed via a variety of different vehicles, including Judaic organizations, synagogues, etc. In view of this, then, why is your membership in AO so important?
Only Alpha Omega addresses all three of these important principles, and embraces them. While you might be able to get certain aspects elsewhere, only AO offers all three! It is quite rare to find one organization that can address one’s professional needs, while emphasizing truly getting to know and understand one’s fellow members (other fraters). While we rarely think of anti-Semitism today, every day somewhere it rears its ugly head! AO must remain vigilant and continue to be the “voice of the Jew in dentistry,” as well as opposing bigotry, prejudice, and bias, in any form, against any individual or ethnic group. Only Alpha Omega permits its members to relate to his professional peers on a basis of building a relationship - - a feeling of family!
One of the reasons that I encourage fraters to attend the International Convention is to get that special “AO feeling” of fraternalism, family and friendship. Regular convention attendees keep coming back because of the friendships and relationships they have developed over the years. Our 2010 International Convention will be held this year at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay from December 25th, 2010 through January 1st, 2011. Our Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have prepared an amazing convention filled with a combination of things including: great events; great functions; great spouse’s event; fabulous Continuing Education; galas and parties; hospitalities; and that “special AO feeling.” Go to: http://aosunnydays2010.ao.org for detailed information including program, flow sheet and registration information. A great special discounted hotel room rate of only $149 per night has been arranged for Alpha Omega, and is even available from three days prior to the convention. We are running a contest for all members who sign up prior to Sept 8th, if you win, you will get an upgrade to a suite for the price of a regular room. I urge you to consider attending, and discovering the “AO secret!”
Alpha Omega continues to evolve to better meet the needs of our members, while still maintaining our mission. The AO NOW was just published and sent via e-mail, please read it and enjoy. The AO NOW will come out every 6 weeks, check your in box. Note that we have many member benefits and partnerships our members should take advantage of and be part of the AO family. We need happy and contented members, and are striving to meet your needs and wishes. I challenge you in the coming months and years to recommit to AO, get more involved, and work to make AO even better. I urge you to contact me to discuss how we can all do “just a little more” to make AO even more vital!
PLEASE VISIT: www.AmericasToothfairy.org for TOMORROW's SMILE UPDATES & OPPORTUNITIES

Alpha Omega 's GOHI Chapter Challenge

One of the outstanding characteristics about Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity is our diversity of interests and activities, and how different chapters around the world operate differently to “merge” our International mission with the interests of their local chapter and members. As we aim to make our Global Oral Health Initiative (GOHI) something that can combine our international mission with local areas of concern, we are introducing our GOHI Chapter Challenge. The purpose of this program is to expand the involvement of chapters and members, to serve the needs of a community in need, locally, nationally or internationally. This challenge is aimed at encouraging more members to volunteer and get into the “GOHI spirit.” Using this challenge, the GOHI Corporate taskforce seeks unique programs that are reproducible by all interested local chapters. Best GOHI practices from each chapter in North America (alumni or student) will compete for monies to be applied toward the proposed program. We are able to offer these monetary awards through the loyal support of our corporate sponsors: Henry Schein; SS White; Kuraray; Captek; and Heraeus (commencing in 2011). In the very near future, chapter presidents and chapter treasurers will be receiving the complete details, as well as the Grant Request Form (for applying). Dr. Phillipe Levy recently e-mailed me that the French chapters have been having a competition for best French chapter, and every year at the ADF they decide. Phillipe proudly let me know that last year his Strasbourg chapter got first prize, and Lyon got second prize. Our International Director Andre Amiach has often reported about the many fine activities that the European chapters undergo. The French chapters have been extremely charitable and generous, particularly with their contributions to Tel Aviv University, DVI, Hebrew University, and many other charitable endeavors. The European Regencies are also offering their European convention, which is a biennial event. The European Convention will be held in Marseille from June 16 to June 19, 2011, and I encourage all fraters to consider attending this convention, and indicating our solidarity and support for our European fraters. Contact Dr. Marc Nataf for additional details at: nataf2@orange.fr
There are so many wonderful activities that so many of our fraters are conducting throughout the world. Our London fraters through the efforts of their London Charitable Trust; as just stated, our French fraters; our North American fraters; our Israeli fraters through the Israeli foundation, and their tradition of volunteerism; etc. We can and should all appreciate what all our chapters and all our members are doing, and hopefully learning from their “best efforts.” I encourage all to look for the GOHI Chapter Challenge as an opportunity to have your chapter shine in then AO world.
We often speak of our Judaic base or our Fraternal side, but we sometimes forget to discuss the other side of our triangle - - our Professionalism. Many of the finest clinicians are fraters, and Fred Margolis, Mike Stern, and Gary Scharoff have been formulating a best method of creating an AO Speakers Bureau , where paid up AO members will be able to post their short bio and topics they lecture on (as well as a link to their own website, if they have one). Stay tuned for further developments.
We are now in August, and our International Convention is only four-and-a-half months away. I sincerely urge any of you who have not yet made your reservations, to make the decision to attend this year’s Convention in San Diego. The special convention rate of only $149 per night at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay is unheard of, and Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have planned a value-packed, event-driven, CE loaded, fun, fraternal, professional convention, with our core values of “tzedaka” honored through our Community Service special program (organized by President-Elect Michael Tenenbaum). Our special evening aboard the historic USS Midway, our amazing Spouses Event, our creative programming and the students poster presentation, and that special feeling that you only feel at an AO Convention, makes this something you should attend. I urge you to preview the Convention through the Convention’s website, where you can see the flow sheet, hotel information, and register. Go to: aosunnydays2010.ao.org. Watch for a special contest we are planning for convention attendees!
My dear elder statesman and friend, and unofficial AO historian PIP Bill Kampel provides us with some interesting and fun AO trivia: (1) Since the first AO Convention was held in 1912 (although the organization began 5 years prior), this year’s Convention will actually be our 98th (although celebrating our 103rd year). (2) Since AO’s first non-US chapter (or International chapter) was created when the Pi chapter in Toronto was created in 1921, so this year’s convention would be our 89th International Convention. (3) As an aside, the first AO convention held outside the US was held in Toronto in 1925. So do we call this year’s Convention our 103rd (since this is how we have been counting for years), or our 98th, or our 88th International Convention? While it probably doesn’t matter, I just thought it was some pretty “great” trivia that I thought many of you might enjoy!
In closing, I want you all to think about how there are so many great fraters around the world, doing so many wonderful things. I urge all of us to enhance and improve our communication skills, and learn from each other, and help each other fulfill our common goals and missions. Let me know what you are doing in your chapter, by taking on The GOHI Chapter Challenge!
PLEASE VISIT: www.AmericasToothfairy.org for TOMORROW's SMILE UPDATES & OPPORTUNITIES