President William Spruill ’ s Address to the House of Delegates
Dr . Spruill entertaining with Dr . Robert Runzo on piano at the Pitt Alumni Reception . and tapped out when it comes to the ADA Annual Session ? Is the additional 5 days required at the ADA Annual Session asking too much ? And are the relatively few contacts from their council members , who may or may not be ADA delegates , even meaningful at the ADA House ? And what has been the performance of our own delegates and alternates who are elected at-large by the PDA House of Delegates ?
This is an example of a classic leadership debate , balancing possibility-thinking with effectiveness and reality constraints . Like your BOT , I hope the HOD will not change the make-up or funding for at least another year or two so that your Board can evaluate the delegation ’ s effectiveness which will be enhanced by the changes that Secretary Sameroff and the BOT have instituted . I look forward to an information-driven decision when we have a few more years of experience to adequately evaluate the changes you prescribed in 2010 .
II . The 2010 HOD also changed the dues statement . Unfortunately in this dues cycle , 2011 contributions to the Pennsylvania Dental Foundation and the PAC are lower than ever . So much for the “ above the line ,
below the line ” debate . But please , let ’ s not change it for 3 years . Maybe it will get better as our members become more familiar with it or maybe it ’ s the economy . In the meantime please contribute to the PAC and the Foundation yourselves – leadership by example is a powerful statement . Then , as PDA leaders , please encourage all our members at every gathering to do so as well . With regard to the dues statement itself , my view is that the HOD should be determining the strategic directions and philosophy of the association , not operational issues . I hope you will return the responsibility for the statement format to the Membership Committee and our membership staff . Allow them to determine the most effective format for the dues statement based on their years of experience ; what works well and avoids problems with our most eclectic members at renewal time .
“ Every leader in the Pennsylvania Dental Association , in fact every member of our profession , is a legacy in our organization ,
among our colleagues , in our communities , and most importantly , within your own family . ”
July / August 2011 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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