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!
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