July/August 2020 | Page 11

Government Relations appreciated. While we are all living day to day now, we must plan for the future, because it will be here sooner than we can imagine. The best way to predict the future is to create it. This is what PADPAC does. We follow hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s quote, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.” In order to meet the new challenges that the new legislative session will bring we need your gift of self and resources in order to make your agenda manifest. There will be new representatives and new senators but it’s always your agenda that we move forward. PDA and PADPAC have been very busy on your behalf during the pandemic. Due in part to the efforts of our PADPAC contributors, PDA succeeded in persuading the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health to revise the initial dental guidance that made our state a dentistry free zone. PDA’s suggested modifications set the stage for the eventual return to “normal” under the COVID-19 restrictions. PDA’s effectiveness paid huge dividends for all dentists in Pennsylvania because PADPAC has laid the important groundwork for success by creating and building relationships and helping members of the General Assembly and their staffs with any issue we can assist them with – both personal and professional. We attend fundraisers and build relationships with elected and appointed officials. We are a known entity who can be relied on, as a as a trusted partner, to help solve any problem and positively shape Pennsylvania’s health care policy. We know that this is a hard ask and an ever harder sacrifice to make but both must be done. Your decisions and your actions today are creating the future you will live in tomorrow. In order for tomorrow to be brighter you will need to think like Wayne Gretzky and move towards where you want to be. Please contribute to your PAC so your PAC can continue to advocate and win for you and for organized dentistry. JULY/AUGUST 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 9