The next scheduled meeting of the Component will be May 19-21 at Pipestem State Resort Park in Pipestem, WV. There will be a variety of speakers including Randy Moore, a lobbyist from the ADA who will speak about health care reform and legislative activity on both the state and federal levels. Secondly, Dr. French Moore Jr. will speak more about the relationship between practicing dentists and the State Board of Dentistry. Finally, Dr. Ron Tankersley will further explore dental insurance alter native practice arrangements, contracts, managed care and dental care programs. At the November 1994 meet ing Dr. French Moore, Jr., presented a checklist of require ments that the State Board of Dentistry uses in checking dental office compliance with various regulations. Additional copies of this checklist may be obtained from Dr. Moore or by sending a self-addressed enve lope to: Or. Paul Umstott 300 Valley St. Abingdon, VA 24210 The August 11 meeting will be held at Abingdon during the Highland Crafts Festival, as always. The speaker will be Dr. Jerry Bouquot, Oral Pathologist from West Virginia University. This VDA-sponsored meeting will count toward the 15 CEU credits which are now required annually for all licensed den
tists. Attendance at all quarterly component meetings will meet or exceed the annual CEU requirement. Another good reason to join the VDA! The Peer Review Committee has been expanded and now includes Jack Coleman (Chair man), Tom Haller, Vic Cam den, Tom Sprouse and Peter Francisco. The purpose of the committee is to mediate dis putes between patients and practitioners and to prevent escalation into legal action. Dr. Carole Pratt was honored by VCU as a 1994 Alumni Star at Founder's Day ceremonies recently. She was recognized for her service to the Dental School and to the Common wealth. Carole is not only our past component president, but also has served as chair of both the State Board of Health and the VDA Dental Education and Continuing Education Commit tee. Weare proud of her contri butions to dentistry. The Southwest Component is proud to have hired an execu tive secretary, Ms. Sonya Farris, to help cope with the increasing paperwork that we face. Ms. Farris can be reached at (703)628-9507, at Dr. Ron Brown's office. Ms. Farris will be recording members' CEU credits, among other tasks.
Swanson as chairperson for the purpose of increasing the percentage of dentists who are members of the ADA and VDA. Also on the committee are Drs. Ron Brown and Paul Umstott. This is indeed a turbulent time for dentistry with many changes visible to all on the horizon. There are, how ever, other factors changing which are "over the horizon" and known to a relative few who are deeply involved in the "politics" of dentistry. In short, there is no more important reason for ADA and VDA membership to keep abreast of changes, new laws and regula tions, and to help influence the course of dentistry in the future. If you know of someone who is not a member, invite them to a meeting to show them what they are missing. The Component editor would like to remind Association members that their contribu tions of original research, clinical tips, etc., are welcome no matter how unassuming you might think them to be. Addi tionally, this Component editor would like to remind all mem bers to keep me informed of retirements, life memberships, honors awards, appointments and elections, whether personal or professional, so that appro priate recognition can be granted.
A Membership Committee has been formed with Dr. Kim 27