The Mission Statement of the Ameri-can Dental Assistants Association is: To advance the careers of dental assistants and to promote the dental assisting profession in matters of education, legislation, credentialing and professional activities which enhance the delivery of quality dental health care to the public. That is truly what the ADAA is all about.
While attending the Oral Health America program recently I spoke with the president of the American Dental Association, Dr. Eugene Sekiguchi. He asked me what exactly I want to accomplish during my term as ADAA president. I said I would like to continue promoting the goals of our mission statement. When I returned home, I pondered his question further and wondered what else I could do to help promote our goal of delivering quality dental health care to the public.
One possibility would be to promote the concept of volunteerism among our membership. There are numerous community programs currently in place across the country that provide quality dental care to those less fortunate. They are always seeking volunteer services of all members of the dental team. There are also projects that involve traveling to other countries for a week to help provide dental services to the needy. Several of our members have already participated in this type of venture and have found it to be quite a fulfilling experience.
I was approached by the People to People Ambassadors program a few months ago to lead a delegation to Russia in February 2005 on a goodwill mission. I look forward to this trip with great enthusiasm.
Over the next year, I would like to showcase the ADAA members involved in these types of programs in The Dental Assistant magazine. Though volunteerism may not fit into everyone's life style, we can provide the necessary resources for those members who are interested.
If you aren't already a member of the ADAA, we urge you to join now and support the nation's oldest, largest organization working to better the lives and careers of dental assistants. Take advantage of our educational, personal and organizational benefits like liability insurance, accidental death insurance, reduced rate and free continuing education and the opportunity to network with your peers. Included here is a special reduced rate membership application giving you a year of ADAA membership for only $100 including state and local dues. Take a step in your own self interest and join us today.
Introducing ADAA’s 2004-2005 Officers and Board of Trustees
President: Kristy S. Borquez, CDA, RDAEF, FADAA, Granada Hills, CA (pictured above)
President-Elect Debra L. Von Alman, CDA, RDA Minneapolis, MN
Immediate Past President Kay Mosley, CDA Oklahoma City, OK
Secretary Lori D. Barnhart, CDA, RDA Lennon, MI
Vice President Kimberly G. Bland, CDA, EFDA, EFOA Bradenton, FL
First District Trustee: Sue-Ellen M. Casey, CDA, Center Harbor, NH
Second District Trustee: Sarah L. Gresko, CDA, RDA, Lincoln Park, NJ
Third District Trustee: Barbara A. Hickey, COA Munroe Falls, OH
Fourth District Trustee: Bettie S. Rogers, CDA, Hodges, SC
Fifth District Trustee: Susan Rexroat, CDA, Winter Haven, FL
Sixth District Trustee: Angela M. Swatts, CDA, EFDA, Indianapolis, IN
Seventh District Trustee: Natalie Kaweckyj, MADAA, FADAA, CDA, RDA, CDPMA, COA, COMSA, Minneapolis, MN
Eighth District Trustee: Shelley B. Douglas, Prairie Village, KS
Ninth District Trustee: Marthann Dafft, Dallas, TX
Tenth District Trustee: Bonnie Marshall, FADAA, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, Battle Ground, WA
Eleventh District Trustee: Sheryl N. Stuewe, CDA, Farmington, UT
Twelfth District Trustee: Claudia Pohl, CDA, RDA, Alta Loma, CA
Elected July 2004