Handing off the Baton

I had three primary goals when I stepped in for my year as president. I wanted to change our dinner meetings to Thursday evenings, evaluate the current venue, and implement strong leadership with common core values. Those were just a few of the issues that would come to pass.

The dinner meetings are the opportunity for our dental community to come together, celebrate, share ideas, gain knowledge, and build friendships. I wanted to do everything possible to make it easy for the membership to attend and also worthwhile. Significant energy and planning has gone into recent meeting and the switch from Tuesday to Thursday evenings has significantly improved attendance. The feedback from the themed meeting as well as the raffles and door prizes has been positive.

We also wanted to increase value to our sponsors and exhibitors. To show our appreciation for their continued support, we moved them from the perimeter of the room to center stage. We felt they didn’t get enough foot traffic and one on one time with our members, so the room was set up around them. We also wanted to give them a chance to introduce themselves and announce any current programs or specials. Each table is given a few minutes of microphone time at the beginning of each meeting.

The SNDS has held the majority of their events at the Gold Coast for as long as I can remember. In an effort to attract our largest group of non- members, new dentists (dentists who have been out of school ten years or less), and to give the society an updated aura, a search for a new venue ensued. It was important to keep a central location that was easily accessible both by vehicle and didn’t require a long walk once inside. Quotes were received from several options, but the Palms was willing to work with us and gives us the best opportunity. We held two events, Community Night and our first CE Premiere Series at the Palms. When the SNDS is fiscally secure, a permanent move to the Palms is likely.

I am also proud to announce Mr. Anthony Ferreri as our interim Executive Director. Many of you know Anthony as he has been the Executive Assistant for the Nevada Dental Association. The Executive Board and Mr. Ferreri have set out to restore the integrity of the society and rebuild interactions with our community. Noteworthy effort has been made to increase working relationships with the NDA, Northern Nevada Dental Society, UNLV School of Dental Medicine, Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners and the ADA.

The SNDS has taken action that has led to an advisory opinion from the NSBDE that allows dentists in the state of Nevada to administer Botox and dermal fillers. The SNDS has partnered with UNLV School of Dental Medicine Continuing Education Department to develop curriculum and put together a three- part course for dentists wanting to implement injectables into their practice.

As I hand the baton off to Dr. Tina Brandon-Abbatangelo, I am proud of what the SNDS has been able to accomplish in my tenure. I’d like to thank the officers who I’ve had the privilege to work alongside as well as the many dedicated Delegates. I have confidence in the leadership that will follow, and I’m looking forward to assisting in your efforts. ■