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January 2015 Newswire

Greetings…and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It is that time of year where most people look back on their year and make “resolutions” to do things differently, or improve upon their previous year.  It’s the 92nd year of the MDHA, and I know we are doing things differently than in 1923.

However, one thing that has not changed is that your professional association is promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice and research; helping to ensure access to quality oral health care; and representing your legislative interests at the local, state and federal levels.

Change is inevitable and we are embracing the opportunity to improve in 2015!  To kick off the new year, there are new legislators in Lansing and we will prepare for our Legislative Blitz, which is a concerted effort by MDHA Officers and Legislative Council members, to build relations with our friends in the House and Senate, providing them with information about Registered Dental Hygienists, our association and how we can work together to improve the oral health in the State of Michigan.  Our lobbyist, Sarah Hubbard, met with our Board of Trustees and reviewed our legislative strategic plan, and we have determined our priorities that will protect and enhance our scope of practice, increase access to dental hygiene services, and increase utilization of Registered Dental Hygienists.  We look forward to working with our peers to make this happen!

Mark your calendars for March 14th when the MDHA will host a continuing education seminar in Traverse City.  Shirley Branham from Dentsply will be offering 6 CEs regarding caries management, so take advantage of this MDHA benefit and come “get smart” with us!  See our Education Council section of this Newswire, or check the events calendar on our website (www.mdhatoday.org) for more details.

Another important event is the annual Spirit of Michigan meeting being held April 22nd-25th.  This event is great for continuing education, networking, and one-on-one opportunities to talk to vendors about the latest products.  This event supports our budget, and is a wonderful way for you to help your professional association, so plan on attending the MDHA-sponsored seminars and have some fun in Lansing!  Be sure to see your Trustee to purchase a $10 ticket for our Weekend Getaway Raffle!  The drawing will be held April 25th.

Though we are focused on the future, there are several things that must be recognized from our past.  First, and most importantly, we ended our 2013-14 fiscal year with a surplus and I credit all Officers, Council Chairs and our Association Administrator, for being responsible with their budgets!  It is imperative that MDHA be fiscally sound, and you should be proud that your Board of Trustees is making your dues dollars count.  When I attended the ADHA Unleashing Your Potential weekend in Chicago, I gained valuable knowledge about corporate governance and fiduciary responsibilities, from which I presented a summarized version to the Board, so that everyone is on the same page and can benefit from the information.  This will definitely be helpful in moving our Association forward and in the right direction. 

We have updated our Bylaws, Policies and Standing Rules, per the House of Delegates, as well as reviewed and updated our Policy & Procedure manual to reflect current needs and situations.

Finally, we heard a presentation from Teri Battaglieri, Director of the Delta Dental Foundation and are expanding our relations with this Foundation to “improve oral and overall health and well-being of Michiganians!”  There is nothing better than working together to enhance our mission and vision than collaborating with others who make oral health a priority!

I hope you will join us to reach our goals and will then celebrate our successes when we look back on 2015 with pride!

In harmony…

KATHY MIELKE, BS, RDH

January 2015 Newswire