LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Dear Les, This letter is to the VDA Membership. On Feb. 26, Terry and I traveled to Gar den City, Kansas to help organize and to participate in their first MOM project. Kansas became the third state to em brace MOM (Texas was the second). We should all be proud that an idea born in Virginia is expanding to otherstates, To date, their have been nine MOM projects (six in Virginia, two in Texas and now one in Kansas) and there will be five more this year.
This is one of them, and the VDA-DMAS "TakeFive" program has been fashioned to meet the critical need for access that many Medicaid patients lack. If every dentists sees five new Medicaid pa tients, no office will be over-burdened, and Virginia dentistry will have met an obligation to our Commonwealth and the special gift that has been entrusted to us.
There is no doubt that the members of the VDA will meet this challenge. We have shown our humanity in ever so many ways. Our Mission of Mercy project, MOM, has been recognized across the country. The VDA has re ceived an American Dental Association GOLDEN APPLE award for this innova tive program. We have been honored by seeing other states copy and follow We have been given the gift of healing our lead. This recognition is well de served and welcome. However, the and as I told the Dental School Gradua tion Class two years ago, with this greatest recognition lies in the hearts comes responsibility to help those who of the participants, both those who gave are less fortunate, disadvantaged or in and those who received. The ''TakeFive" • need. For those of you that aren't, get program will provide the same kind of involved with MOM, don't live ina vacuum satisfaction and recognition. Dentistry and by getting involved you demonstrate is different, and we do serve. your willingness to become part of the
Way to go VDA. solution and not part of the problem.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Cooke
Be Well All, Dr. Manny Michaels ~
Dear Les,
To Members of the Virginia Dental As sociation:
I have always been proud to be a mem
ber of the Virginia Dental Association, I would like to extend my thanks and but never more than now. The VDA is a deep appreciation to members of the living and moving expression of one of Virginia Dental Association and the Al the "Sayings of the Fathers; from those liance of the Virginia Dental Associa to whom much has been given, much tion for their encouragement and out is to be expected."
standing support. The VDA and AVDA sponsored a wonderful reception in my honor in New Orleans after my installa tion as President of the Alliance of the American Dental Association, the den tal spouse organization. It was well at tended by dental leaders and members of the dental community from across the country. In my travels, I continue to re ceive positive comments on this out standing event. I would like give special thanks to Dr. Terry Dickinson, longtime friend Sandy Parks and AVDA president Barbara Yandle for their generosity of spirit, time and talents in arranging the event and making it all possible. Letters of con gratulations were presented from Presi dent George Bush, Senators John Warner and George Allen, Congress men Eric Cantor and Virgil Goode, Gov ernor Mark Warner, Lt. Governor Tim Kaine, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, as well as letters from other state legis lators. State Senator Walter Stosch sponsored a Commendation from the Senate of Virginia and Delegate Bill Ja nus sponsored a Commendation from the Virginia House of Delegates. These accolades have been accepted with joy and pleasure, but most cher ished is the thoughtfulness and gener ous support of friends from the VDA, and especially my husband Jim with out whom I would not be involved at all. It is with great pride that I represent Vir ginia as president of the Alliance of the American Dental Association. Jocelyn Lance Honorary Member Virginia Dental Association
We dentists have all been charitable in
our own way. Organized giving was al
ways an option, overseas service was
not uncommon, and we all saw patients
at reduced or no fee as the occasion
called for it. No one will ever know how
much free care we have given in the pri
vacy of our own offices, and this is our
business alone. The charitable gift of
the highest merit is the anonymous gift.
There are times when an association is
the only way in which to accomplish a
specific goal or meet a specific need.
Dr. James Bramson, ADA Executive Director; Dr. John Roussalis, ADA 2nd VP; Jocelyn' Lance, AADA President; Jerilyn Bird, AADA President-Elect; and Dr. T. Howard Jones, ADA President pose for a photo at the ADA building in Chicago.
Virginia Dental Journal
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