"Thank you for giving me an opportunity to experience this great event from the comfort of my home instead of traveling hundreds of miles. As a hygienist in a rural area, it is very difficult for me to take time out of my busy schedule to attend such events.
Thank you, Marge K.
by Kristine Hodsdon, RDH
Director, RDH eVillage
Judging by some of the e-mails I received during and after the RDH Event virtual trade show, personal hygiene was not hot on the list of to-do's before logging in. Not that I am recommending recklessly abandoning social mores or the common courtesy of jumping in the shower when it comes to RDH Under One Roof 2008. But when you're in the privacy of your own home, no makeup is required, nor heels or nylons or anything else that's not comfortable.
October 19-20 marked the historic launch of the premier on-line tradeshow and conference sponsored by RDH magazine, RDH eVillage and platinum sponsor Philips Sonicare. This innovative online conference and exhibition brought educators, companies, dental hygiene decision makers and clinicians all together at the ease and convenience of our personal computers. It was a huge success.
There were more than 800 unique registrants for the tradeshow. Unique registrants, you ask. What's that? Since many attendees logged in and out more than once, we only counted them once – i.e., unique. With this issue of RDH eVillage, there's a short video that Mark Hartley, editor of RDH magazine, filmed with Lyle Holt, a senior vice president at PennWell. They recap some of the excitement of the two-day event.
After entering the virtual tradeshow, you were able to take continuing education programs, chat with other hygienists and exhibitors in the lounge, win prizes, travel the length tradeshow floor with just one finger on the keyboard, and receive samples. In fact, the keynote program and five conference sessions will be available for CE credits for the next three months. This way, if you were not able to take the courses last weekend, you still have time. Go to www.rdhevent.com.
Thanks to Amy's List, I was able to get in touch with two of the prizewinners. Dawn Cannatelli won the Dream Vacation package valued at $3,500, and Ellen Slattery won the $500 gift certificate.
Dawn lives and practices in Wallingford, Conn. She received her bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., in 1987. As a member of ADHA, she has served as secretary of her local component. Dawn is the single mom of an eight-year-old boy, and she is passionate about dental hygiene. She considers a great day, "When even just one patient is extremely grateful for the care and knowledge I provide. I am motivated as much by my patients as they are by me."
Ellen is a 1986 graduate of IPFW. She has worked for Hughes Dental Group for 19 years, is a member of IKDHA, and is currently working on expanding her career beyond clinical dental hygiene. Like many of us, Ellen wears a variety of hats. She is the mother of two boys, an active member of Leo UMC, and teaches a kindergarten Sunday school class.
Congratulations to Dawn and Ellen and all of the RDH eVent prizewinners. (See list below)
For those who choose to abandon the scrubs every now and then, yet still want to speak with colleagues, friends and vendors and take continuing education courses, the success of the RDH Event will occur again. In the meantime, whether you spent last weekend cleansed or uncleansed, the first RDH Event will linger for a while.
Thanks for reading!
Kristine A. Hodsdon, RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage
Here are the RDH Event prizewinners:
Dream Vacation Package valued at $3,500 — Dawn Cannatelli
$100 Super Certificate from GiftCertificates.com — Jennifer Hatfield
$500 Super Certificate from GiftCertificates.com — Ellen Slattery
42" Philips television — Penny Brown; Sponsored by Philips Sonicare and Platinum Sponsor of the RDH eVent
Dell Inspiron 1500 — Joyce Kwiatkowski-Spieler
$200 Tiffany 1837™ Sterling Silver flip pendant — Katie Yeager
