AO- As Relevant As Ever!

As we approach the High Holidays, it is important for all of us to appreciate how relevant Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity remains, even after more than 100 years. This past week I received information from a concerned California frater. The California Dental Association (CDA) had scheduled their semi-annual meeting in San Francisco, from September 9th- 11th. The CDA, and on its own website, had an apology posted. They stated that it was done because there was no other scheduling option. As we are all aware, there is always another option, and the Admin Committee felt that Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity should go “on the record” objecting to this insensitivity, with the hope to avoid similar insensitivities in the future. These types of insensitivities have occurred elsewhere through the years, and I am very proud of the fact that Alpha Omega has always “stood up” and objected. The following is the content of the letter sent to the President and President-Elect of the CDA:
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Thomas H. Stewart, DDS, President & Andrew Soderstrom, DDS, President-Elect
CDA
1201 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Doctors Stewart and Soderstrom:
It has brought to my attention that you are holding your semi-annual meeting in San Francisco on September 9-11. As you are undoubtedly aware, these dates are in direct conflict with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, one of the holiest of the Jewish High Holidays. Based on your posting on your website, you apologize for this, but claim that there was basically no option because of such items as scheduling, etc. While scheduling often causes obstacles, more sensitivity would require that you make far more of an effort not to hold meetings on Jewish High Holidays. Since there are over one million Jews residing in California, representing approximately 3.5% of the state’s population, and the percentage of Jewish dentists in the state is a higher percentage than that, it is certainly inappropriate to hold meetings that conflict with these dates. With the second largest Jewish population in the United States, I hope you realize how this can be viewed as insensitive, at the very least. How would others feel if your program conflicted with other important holidays? You certainly would not consider holding this type of event in conflict with those holidays. We run numerous meetings, and holiday calendars are available years in advance. There are always alternative dates when a meeting can be held with a little more effort. Since I have been informed that this meeting is largely subsidized by members’ dues to CDA, you have effectively precluded a significant part of your membership from being able to take advantage of attending this meeting, and taking CE courses and receiving credits that others can!
Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity was founded over one hundred years ago, in 1907, to combat rampant anti-Semitism within dental education. We have over 6,000 members worldwide, have founded and funded two dental schools, and our Alpha Omega Foundation has provided millions of dollars in supported for scientific and healthcare programs worldwide. We hold our International Convention every year in December, and this year we are convening in San Diego. We have numerous members and chapters throughout California, and this insensitivity is certainly an affront to them. While I trust that your intent was innocent, and was simply a scheduling error, I request that in the future, you seriously consider consulting a calendar to assure that there are no more of these scheduling conflicts. I believe that it would be a considerate and caring thing for you to issue some sort of apology to your Jewish members to show you are sensitive to their needs. As you know, some of the most renowned dental practitioners, educators, etc., in California are Jewish, and I am sure you would like to let them know that you care about them and their needs. In the future, please feel free to contact Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity and request a holiday calendar, so as to avoid even the perception of insensitivity. In these times, with so many conflicts and disagreements between people, I am sure you agree with me that we must all work together to be much more attuned to each other’s sensitivities.
I look forward to hearing from you so that I can be assured that you recognize why we are so sensitive about this issue.
Yours truly,

Charlene S. Berkman, D.M.D.
Alpha Omega International President for 2010
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Another important aspect of our fraternity is the “family” aspect, where we share life cycle events, both good and sad. This past week, PIP Barry Chapnick informed us of the passing of one of our Buffalo fraters. One of the events at every International Convention is our Memorial Service, where we honor the memories of our fraters who departed since the previous convention and the memory of the six million. Under the Chairmanship of Sam Unger, we will be holding our Memorial Service once again, this year at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego. Our Conventions are all about sharing - - sharing friendships, sharing knowledge, sharing joy and sharing the losses of loved ones. Marshal Bob Simon and his committee have organized a truly memorable week, and I highly recommend experiencing the unique AO experience by attending this year’s Convention.
The Alpha Omega Foundation also sells Tribute Cards, contact Gail Shupak (schupakdmd@aol.com) so that a charitable donation can be given in honor of the memory of a departed frater, or any other loved or cherished one. We all know the song, “We are family,” and indeed Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity is truly our international family!


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