I spent part of this past weekend trying to reorganize my files and sift through years of forgotten paperwork from many semesters at the School of Dentistry. So many wonderful dentists have come through our school, and |I remember most of them like it were yesterday. "Where have many of them gone?" I stop to think. "Why do I not see some of them at our Missouri AGD activities?" Perhaps they are not members. Perhaps they are members and are not engaged in our organization. Whatever the reason, it makes me sad.

As a 30-year member of the Academy of General Dentistry, I tell each of my students and each of you that there has never been a more important time to join the AGD and be active in the organization that represents us as general dentists. In the current climate of our country, with the healthcare policies changing before us, the AGD represents your right to practice general dentistry in the autonomous fashion that we all hold dear. The Academy has truly been our voice in so many arenas over the past year that it is staggering. Our white paper on increasing access to and on utilization of oral healtheare services is a definite read and is just one example of our powerful advocacy.

How many of you have visited the AGD's website in the past year? Did you know that you can link into a practice management section of the website to download wonderful patient documents and to set up a free webpage? Also, through AGD Patient Alerts you can get appointment reminders, online forms, and patient e-newsletters and surveys. All of this is free with your AGD membership. Dentists ill practice pay thousands of dollars for this same service. It more than pays for the cost of membership. Despite all of that, I joined the AGD right after dental school because I loved their philosophy of lifelong learning and enjoyed the challenge of seeking their prestigious Fellowship and Mastership awards. You are going to take the continuing education anyway, so why not track your hours and elevate your level of accomplishment at the same time? None of us knows what tomorrow may bring or what opportunity might be waiting around the next comer. As I often advise my own children, spend each day making yourself better than the last, and you will never look back and wish you had given more.

The Academy stands as my voice for general dentistry, contributes to my growth as a general dentist and health professional!, and provides wonderful tools of success through their website. But I still love the Academy for the friendships I have made. I am and continue to be connected to colleagues all over the U.S. and Canada. This to me is the real value. How is it that some of my friends, colleagues, and former students are not members? Perhaps I have not told them with enough fervor why I love it. Have you told someone why you are a member?

Your Missouri AGD needs you! We are working harder than ever to serve you, our members. We would love to hear from you and see you at meetings. Most importantly, tell your colleagues why the AGD is important to you; spread the word. After all these years, let's get reacquainted and enrich each other's lives through our beloved Academy of General Dentistry.

Sincerely,

Connie L. White, President MoAGD