Greetings and happy spring to all. What a wild winter we had, and the weather was something else, too.

I want to start by saying congratulations to all recent dental hygiene graduates. Best wishes to you all. Secondly, a huge thank you to all involved in our association for their valuable volunteer time and efforts. There are many ongoing tasks to be accomplished to keep this association running.

I send a special thank you out to our members for all their work in bringing the ADHP/OHP to the table, and for advancing it through the legislature. Quite an accomplishment!! Governor Pawlenty signed S.F. 2942 on May 12, a Higher Education Policy bill that contained language for the creation of an Oral Health Practitioner into law and for a workgroup. Briefly, this workgroup will begin after August 2008, and will develop recommendations and future legislation for the educational program. A compromise on original language was presented and stakeholders eventually reached an agreement. This has been a historical, albeit a challenging and difficult process. But important for so many, and there is a lot of work yet to be done. It's great to see the USA finally recognizing the value of such a practitioner, one who has successfully treated others for decades in other countries.

We certainly could not have gotten this done on our own. Please recognize the efforts expended by members of the Safety Net Coalition under Michael Scandrett, and Metropolitan State University of MnSCU (especially Tom Cook, Kerry Fine, Marilyn Loen, and Colleen Brickle for the model creation), Senator Ann Lynch-chief author, Senator Sandra Pappas, Senator Lawrence Pogemiller and staff, Representative Cy Thao, Representative Jim Abeler, and our lobbyist Randy Morris.

A link for you to read the language is for S.F. 2942 Sections 26 and 29 is https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=ccrsf2942.html&session=ls85

I knew I had the newsletter deadline looming, so I was pondering some of the events of the past several months while after finishing up my league round of golf. I enjoy golf, and some days I enjoy it more than others. This was a good day; a relaxing day, a sunny day, and the ball flew well.

Events in my life over the past few years have given me opportunity to view things a bit differently than I had before.  Many people know that life and golf are actually quite similar. Golf is basically an easy game. You hit a non-moving ball, unopposed, as best as you possibly can toward your goal--the hole. There is time to practice, and countless resources of information on how to do so properly. So, why is it so difficult? Well, it's one thing to know how and why and really want to do it, but another actually doing it. Something goes wrong in the actual execution. There is a flaw in our approach, our swing and we don't see it or we don't want to see it. We continue bad habits, don't follow through, or we encounter resistance from obstacles in our path.

 Maybe we keep making the same mistakes again and again. Many people even practice the wrong way at the driving range, day after day. You've all seen it there, someone doing it all wrong and not hitting the ball anywhere near the target. The mind-boggling thing is the lack of concept to even try to do it differently. It never occurs to some that this method simply isn't working, and maybe they should try something different.  Maybe just some simple changes will allow for some improvement in the game.

Success comes from pushing yourself beyond your current capabilities. Engage. Strive to improve yourself. Stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone to improve your results. Golf is like life.

In golf one has to maintain a focus and complete the task at hand. Maintain confidence in your abilities, and improve your skills. Have a positive, not a negative outlook, no matter what. Forget that last shot; simply learn from it, there is always the next one. And don't forget to take in the beauty that surrounds you. Something to remember is to relax and enjoy the fact that you can be there at all. Enjoy the day, your company, and the joy of just being.

Mistakes are made in life and golf on a most regular basis, remember "we're just human after all". It's also always easier to see someone else's missteps.  No one is immune to mistakes, we can all just learn from them, make those adjustments and improve from there. Play the game passionately, but don't take yourself too seriously. And keep tee-ing it up.

As Ben Hogan said, "As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round." Thanks for listening.

Mary Beth Kensek, RDH, RF, BS

President, MNDHA

Updated January 25, 2008

Greetings my dental hygiene colleagues. Congratulations on being a member of your chosen profession’s association. Membership is an important step to help promote and protect the dental hygiene profession.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting, and I invite each of you to recognize yourself as a "diamond". We certainly are "multifaceted" for one thing. As you know, a diamond is evaluated by the "C"s. Many "C"s come to mind when I think about us.

Be proud and confident that you are a registered, licensed dental professional. You have already shown a commitment to higher education and excellence. You contribute to the health and well being of other persons. You display compassion for others. By being a member of your dental hygiene association, you are connected to other hygienists. Your career is obviously important to you. And possibly you are in, or are considering a collaborative practice setting. I certainly feel privileged to be in a leadership role for so many gifted, visionary individuals. What is your potential?

As president, I have had a wonderful time in the recent months visiting the dental hygiene schools and meeting the students and their SADHA advisors. I have more visits scheduled, and I am certainly looking forward to them. What a great group of people to have as future dental hygienists. Wow.

There have many meetings working on, coordinating the new annual session schedule, continuing education program and HOD meetings now scheduled for September 25-27, 2008. There have also been countless hours spent by the governmental affairs and subcommittees. My sincere thanks to those who have devoted their time to these efforts. Also thanks to all BOT, chair and committee members that keep us functioning.

I encourage you to stay abreast of the issues in our state. The proposed master’s degreed ADHP is a new advanced level, if you personally choose to pursue it. Please go to www.adha.org/adhp for the accurate information on the ADHP. Continue to carefully evaluate the Allied Membership possibly being offered by your employers. Remember that ADHA/MNDHA will best represent, advance and protect the profession of dental hygiene. It is the only association where, as a member, you do have an actual vote and voice in pertinent dental hygiene matters.

Feel free to contact me or anyone in leadership at any time. This is your association. I encourage you to ask questions, and go to the websites www.adha.org and www.mndha.com . If you have never taken advantage of ADHA’s website valuable membership information, take the time to do it today. It’s cold outside anyway, so cozy up to your computer and see what you can learn from the myriad pages available.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Beth Kensek, President, MNDHA

( From President Kensek’s Address to MDHA House April 2007)

President Green, Board of Trustee Members, Delegates, Welcomed guests, Colleagues, Family and Friends.

It is certainly my honor and privilege to stand before you tonight as President of the Minnesota Dental Hygienists’ Association. What an exciting opportunity to serve, and to be a part of such a motivated and visionary group of professionals. I am proud to represent you and I thank you.

Thank you especially for giving up valuable family time to be here so long this weekend. You are much appreciated.

I still recall how exciting it was to attend meetings when I first was a member out of dental hygiene school. I was as thrilled then as I am now to be a part of such an incredible group of professionals. I was working in a very small office, so MDHA provided me with the opportunity to interact with fellow hygienists.

I have had the opportunity to serve in various capacities along the way, and have enjoyed the fun and challenges of those positions. What a wonderful number of memories I have. My thanks to all those who are serving with me and to those that have served before me. Quite the shoes to fill, even with these big old Treffert feet. I am grateful to the wonderful mentors I have had along the way.

The newer members and students members I have met in recent years have certainly re-energized me, so thank you as well.

Destiny…a word I have heard a lot of this past year. I don’t know about that, but this sure feels right. I am glad to be here now, just as much as I have the past 16 years. This past year has been incredible, and I think has gone by fast, although Patti may not agree…???

I am very excited -- with so many challenges, yet so many opportunities before us. It is a time and it is time to continue to protect our profession, as well as advance it. I know it will take all of to do this, but it can be done. We, the dental hygienists of Minnesota, have achieved before, after long struggles. Certainly, I would not be here without the very special people who have been the “wind beneath my wings” through the years, this past year, and especially today. My utmost respect, gratitude, and love go out to them. Always.

Speaking of wings--As Colleen stated, my theme for this year is “SOAR”.

It was an easy choice, a sign, as I have seen many bald eagles recently, in the air and as symbols on items around me. An unbelievable number of them.

SOAR:

To have the vision, the might, the ability, the pride, the respect. I challenge each one of you to strive to rise above whatever it is that keeps you/us down.

We are all volunteers in an organization that means so much to so many. We can work toward improving the access to care, and oral health for individuals. What a tremendous opportunity lies before us!

There are challenges and possibilities for greatness right before us today. ADHA utilized a “Branding” campaign recently, and recreated the strategic plan to improve the organization for all dental hygienists. Simple things, but important things.

Identify who we are. Improve our image; tell all who we are and what we can do.

Create better partnerships, work together to advance oral health. Keep that dialogue open even when there are disagreements or misunderstandings, with whoever they may be. And let’s remember to have fun, generate enthusiasm as we work together.

Robert Kennedy was often heard saying: “If not us who? If not now when?” Our time is now; I am so excited about what we have accomplished and now what is just ahead. And very proud indeed.

Just as the easily recognizable eagle soars and truly captures our attention, this we should strive to be.

Together we will grow with the courage and vision it takes to soar above it all. Let’s not let the little obscure the big picture. We need to work together now as much as ever to withstand and to grow.

We need to strive to do our best, to encourage and inspire other dental hygienists, and to educate, educate, educate—ourselves, colleagues and those around us.

Hang up your diploma in your office. Volunteer. Clarify any misinformation. Talk with your legislators. It takes all of us. We are all valuable and have something to offer.

So “SOAR”: Being former military, I am quite used to acronyms: SOAR-Possibly the acronym for SPIRIT-OPPORTUNITY-ACCESS-REACH 

In closing, I would like to use the words wisely spoken as an Indian blessing:

“May you have the strength of eagles wings, the faith and courage to fly to new heights, and the wisdom of the universe to carry you there.”

1. The most significant event for dental hygienists this year was the inclusion by the Board of Dentistry of language to change the supervision level for administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide under collaborative agreement only