SUMMER VACATION

July/August 2000

For many, summer vacation is a time to catch up with family and friends, spend time with children, or an occasion to just get away. Of course, many have other ideas as to what vacations are for. As for me this summer is neither of the above. This will afford me the time away from national responsibilities so that I can get my personal life in order. Among my personal responsibilities, I need to complete 80 hours of homework and over a hundred hours class room instruction combined with a currently heavy dental practice workload. At any rate, the board has passed a vote to designate the months of July and August to be the American Denturist Advocacy Council's official vacation period. However, we will convene in September with a refreshed, refined, and focused outlook for the next upcoming 10 months of concentrated activity. I would like to take this time to report on a few items.

The ADAC has been established for almost 3 years. Since then we have accomplished many things. We have gained a following of just shy of 500 interested denturists and technicians throughout the US who are either members or taking steps to become members. Approximately forty leaders and fathers of the profession have aligned themselves with us over the past three years. Many of them are in the process of cultivating state associations. We have built and continued to maintain a denturist information and public information web site, www.denturist.cc <http://www.denturist.cc> and www.usdenturist.com <http://www.usdenturist.com>. We are involved in a couple of major lawsuits regarding the denturist profession. These will pave the road for not only legalization of the profession, but they will also teach state dental boards that there are severe penalties for tampering with the due process of the denturist profession where it is legally practiced. Because of legalities we are not at liberty to mention specifics, however, many of you know what states I am referring to. We owe these accomplishments to all who have gotten involved, dues paying members and others who were willing to sacrifice to greater capacities, all of who are invaluable resources.

NEW ADAC POLICY

Since we all at times need a break, the executive board made a decision to designate the months of July and August to be the official vacation months of ADAC.

Three members were added to the ADAC executive staff. Jody Cox and Shawn Brittan have recently been appointed board members. Roynda Storey, the wife of Robert Storey has been appointed secretary of the ADAC.

Also, ADAC dues structure has been modified. The dues are now $200 per year to be paid in two semi-annual installments of $100. The ADAC will establish reciprocal agreements with state associations that are agreed to charge the same amount for dues to their members; both the state organization and the ADAC are to share half of all membership revenue according to which state that each member resides. So whether collected by the state association or by the ADAC, it will be shared 50/50. That means denturists and technicians can become a member of both the state and national association for only $200 a year. This does not affect the status of members who paid for lifetime ADAC memberships. Now consumers can become lifetime associate members for a onetime fee of $25. This will include both the state and national associations.

ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE!!!

Did you know that there are enough denture patients in the U.S. to allow 20,000 denturists the opportunity make an extremely good living. What is 34,000,000 denture patients divided by 20,000? If only 10,000 technicians and denturists joined the American Denturist Advocacy Council at $200 a year, the total annual revenue would amount to $2,000,000 a year. We are establishing a union between the consumers and the denturists in order to gain the freedom to practice and patronize the profession of denturitry. We invite each one of you to join our power in numbers. Of course, all ADAC dues will be divided and half of the dues brought in will be sent to the state association in which the members reside. That would give ADAC 1 million dollars in which to fund national operations. The ADAC is an organization that respects the opinions of all state denturist associations and is primarily focused on legalizing the forty-four remaining states. We also offer a lifetime associate membership for consumers who support the denturist profession, which is also to be split 50/50 with the state associations.

There are a couple of colleges that provide denturist education to prepare technicians in the United States to become denturists. However, at this time, both are behind schedule to handle the number of technicians who are interested in enrolling. Due to this reason, I made the decision to resign from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs position that I formally held with one of the colleges. The education will be here when we need it; there will be a provision in the state denturist practice acts to allow denturists to practice while receiving their education. What we need right now is for all technicians and denturists to unite and take an application by clicking this link as the first step in becoming an ADAC state member. Our trusted Treasurer, Cecile Schneider, with a 25 year plus track record, will take good care of all revenue received and make sure that half gets to your state association. Please note that if your state does not have an association, that is all the more reason to join now because we will use the money to build an association in your state. We plan to have an association in all states by April 30, 2001 and we need your dues to aid us in building them.

The ADAC is going to have its annual conference in Deer Field Beach, Florida on October 20, 21, 22 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The theme of this 2000 conference will be Leadership and Development of State Organizations. All are welcome: denturists, friends, and consumers. Leaders, board members, and coordinators are strongly encouraged to attend (our Canadian friends included). Deerfield Beach is prime beach and the season is prime. The conference will get new members acquainted with the profession and help them to help all through the State Association Builder Program to become part of their local organization. This meeting will be packed with knowledge, association, fun, and adventure. Denturistinsight.com will place an RSVP on the announcement link. The deadline for RSVP will be on August 30, 2000. Please note there is no charge for members. Hotel fees are about $235 per night with a complete breakfast buffet and drinks and finger foods every evening from 5-7. If you cannot afford the expense, it is more important that you become a supportive dues paying member. We appreciate the support of our members and honor individual circumstances that may not permit ones to attend. For those that can afford the trip, you will be blessed. Don't forget to RSVP, make your reservations, and mark your calendar.

Have a great summer!!!