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September 17th, 2011
The 66th Annual Session of the RIDHA took place on September 17th, 2011. It was a great success! The newly installed officers are: Jessica Bessette - President, Maryellen Simas- Immediate Past President, Nicole Campopiano - Vice President, Marie Jones-Bridges - Executive Director, Kathleen MacLeod - Treasurer, Nicole Rainville - Secretary, Karla Masiello, Lisa McLaughlin and Bonnie Wolfe as Trustees.
The CE programs from Sonicare and the Autism Project provided attendees with some new and pertinent information directly relating to patient care.
The Awards ceremony was lovely, the RDH of the Year Award was given to Sylvia Rosenthal ( Sylvia was unable to attend Annual Session so her gift was mailed to her). We hope she will be able to attend the November brunch meeting to accept accolades from the RIDHA in person! The Presidents Award was given to Marie Jones-Bridges, for all of her work for the association and her keen attention to detail during the By-Laws revision.
Delegate at the 88th Annual Session in Nashville TN
Maryellen Simas, Marie Jones- Bridges ( alternate)
Officers and Committee Chairpersons
Maryellen Simas - President
Position open due to 2nd presidential term- Immediate Past President
Jessica Bessette - Vice President
Karla Masiello – Secretary (Position was never filled permanently)
Ana Ambrose – Treasurer (resigned June 2011)
Karla Masiello – Trustee
Melissa Sullivan – Trustee (One year Term- fulfilling remainder of R. Williams term)
Julie Galleshaw – Trustee (One year interim term to fulfill vacancy)
Continuing Education Chair – Mary Anne Barry
Karla Masiello – Membership Chair, Oral Health Committee Chair
Kathy Gazzola – State Education Network Liaison to ADHA
Kathy Duffy-Thorpe – Student Advisor / Liaison CCRI
Kristine Bishop-Chapman – Student Liaison BCC
Trisha Cloutier – Student Advisor BCC
Diane Peterson – District 1 Trustee
The Rhode Island Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Executive Board has met monthly to discuss the inner workings of our association. In my terms(s) as president of RIDHA, we have made some new strides for the RIDHA. In a cost saving measure – a laptop computer, projector, and copy machine were purchased. This is a huge cost savings when holding meetings, and printing costs for said meetings. A “Central Office” location has been secured at 1079 Main Street
West Warwick, RI 02893, so now packages and/or samples can be sent to a physical address. We have members representing us on many groups and coalitions within RI, therefore strengthening our presence as a strong force within RI.
Membership
Currently we maintain a roster of 132 members. This represents a slight increase in membership from last year at this time, and we regained a Delegate. Our recruitment efforts are ongoing focusing on student conversion and member retention
We have an e-mail list with over 900 Registered Dental Hygienists. We utilize this list to post job offerings, promote our continuing education courses, and any legislation that may impact the RDH’s of our state. We hope that drawing non-members to courses, and letting them know that RIDHA is here to help that they may also see the Value of ADHA membership. Due to the state of the National and local economy, it continues to be a challenge to increase and /or retain members.
Legislative
Volunteer Dental/Dental Hygiene Permit: summary of new permit within general rules and regulations.
The Board may issue a volunteer dental/dental hygiene permit that allows out-of state dentists/dental hygienists to provide dental or dental hygiene services in Rhode Island without obtaining a Rhode Island license. The limitation of this permit is that it is for a free clinic or similar charitable medical event providing free health care services, which will attract a large number of out-of-state participants. Application must be submitted 60 days prior to event with copy of current valid license, letter from sponsoring organization and a notarized statement from applicant and representative from the event.
Dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide sedation are currently under consideration. The first hearing involving interested parties met with no objections, but wanted to make sure that this procedure would be under dentist direct supervision, the next step will be an open public hearing. Currently no date has been set.
A liaison meeting with RI Dental Association took place in February to retain our collaboration and good standing with the Dental Association.
Lobby Day was March 17th 2011 members, non-members, RIDA, RIDAA, and members of the Oral Health Commission were all invited to join us.
Fundraising
We continue to sell t-shirts and have made window clings this year to raise funds. We also have been utilizing our vendors, who sign a sponsorship contract with varying levels of support for meetings of their choice. These sponsors help defray the cost of meetings and keep CE costs low.
Student Interaction
Last spring Vice President Jessica Bessette visited both the freshman senior class at the Community College of RI, bringing info and greetings from their local association, as well as giving pertinent and beneficial advice on ADHA membership.
Jessica and myself were present at CCRI graduation to bring best wishes to the new students, and a small gift on behalf of the RIDHA to welcome them into their profession.
The mentor program is ongoing, as is the panel discussion, which has become a yearly event, so the students can see the many aspects of the dental hygiene profession available to them.
Public Relations / Collaborative Efforts
One or more members represent RIDHA on each of the following organizations:
-Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting Advisory Committee
-RI Board of Dental Examiners (for “open meeting”)
-RI Oral Health Commission
-I am currently serving a 3-year term on the steering committee)
-We hope (through my subcommittee work on the Oral health Commission) to open more interactive relations with other societies (i.e. RN’s, RNP’s, LPN’s MD’s, DO’s) this year.
-Providence Plantations Dental Hygiene Study Club
-RI Mission of Mercy
-Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
-RI Kids Count
-RI Department of Health
-RI Freemason’s CHIP Program
-Unleashing Your Potential Leadership Weekend at ADHA central office
-SmileTrain
Public Relations Activities
-The Mirror
-RIDHA Web –Updates, Job Postings, etc.
-Children’s Dental Health – Providence Children’s Museum
-Lobby Day –RI Statehouse
Strategic Plan
RIDHA’s Strategic Plan will be revised in 2011. The Strategic Plan does not drive the budget in its entirety but influences the framework of our association.
Bylaws
A special RIDHA meeting was held in the fall of 2010 to revise current bylaws to be in compliance with that of ADHA, and to update and revise our bylaws to reflect the most current and up to date information.
BYLAW changes (to be voted on at 66th annual session)
Proposed Bylaw 1
Article III: Membership Section 2 #4- Members with Disabilities
Active members who are unable to work due to a verified disability may apply for Disabled status. All such applications must be verified by such member’s Constituent and/or Component the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and must be accompanied by proof of eligibility each year.
To read: Members with Disabilities: Active members who are unable to work due to a verified disability may apply for Disabled status. All applications must be verified by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and must be accompanied by proof of eligibility each year.
Justification: Membership category Bylaw must be in compliance to ADHA’s, which was changed and approved by the 2011 HOD in Nashville, TN.
Proposed Bylaw 2
Article V-Elected officers Section 1 # 1.2.5 Trustee: The trustees shall serve for a term of three years and until their successors are elected. No trustee shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.
To read: Trustees will be on staggered terms with one Trustee serving 3yrs, one to serve 2yrs and one to serve 1yr, with a maximum term limit of 6 years.
Justification: We are currently having difficulty fulfilling 3 trustee positions with each serving 3 years. By staggering the terms members may be more willing to serve shorter terms with the option of additional years if they so choose.
Continuing Education
The RIDHA 2010-2011 calendar year consisted of 8 formal CE courses a total of 28 potential credits.
Course Title Number of CEU’s
Annual Business Meeting 1
"Do I Look Consistently for the Silent Killer?
Oral Cancer Examination Update" 5
“The Role of the Dental Hygienist in the 21st Century” 2
Hot Topics in Perio" 3
Children’s Dental Health –PCM 3
"Dual Topic Continuing Education Course:
OSHA and Malpractice" 3
CPR and First Aid 2
Spring Continuing Education Extravaganza:
Morning Program: "Aiming for Success:
Radiographic Techniques from Analog to Digital"
Afternoon Program: "Dental Pulp Stem Cells and
What They Mean to You and Your Family" 7
"A Wealth About Women's Health" 2
It was a very difficult year- having only a handful of board members to hold things together. I am very proud of what was accomplished this year with so few board members.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maryellen Cronan Simas RDH, BS
Maryellen Cronan Simas RDH, BS
President
Rhode Island Dental Hygienists’ Association
www.RIDHA.org
Post Office Box 41018-Providence, Rhode Island 02940
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