June 2008 | Vol. 84, No. 6
Monica Hebl, DDS
WDA President

Local components are the lifeblood of our successful member-driven organization. Strong and healthy components provide leadership development and a valuable pool of experienced volunteers for statewide Wisconsin Dental Association programs. They also provide much-needed feedback to ensure WDA programs best meet members’ needs.

Competition for the time and talents of busy members is intense. Therefore, the WDA has been busy working to streamline our committee structure and establish clear term limits and job descriptions while engaging volunteers for meaningful work.

Similar to our “committee revitalization” efforts, the WDA has established a component revitalization task force to determine how to invigorate some of our less active societies. With feedback from current component leaders, the WDA seeks to enhance component activities and facilitate greater two-way communication.

Like other presidents before me, I have had the pleasure of traveling around the state to attend component meetings. I’ve enjoyed meeting dentists on their “home turf” and getting to know the different personalities of each component. Without exception, every component has been inclusive to all present and very welcoming to me as an outsider. It was readily apparent that those in attendance have formed bonds of friendship and were actively engaged in discussions about upholding the quality and standards of dental care in this state.

Think about attending your next local dental society meeting, especially if you haven’t in a while. There are great advantages to participating.

Having our local components effectively assist dentists who wish to work with other local individuals or groups that care about dental access and oral health care will affect our future as a profession far more than any centralized WDA activity. Components will be excellent resources for continuing education to help member dentists fulfill the new 30-hour requirement per licensure period.

Statistics reveal 60-70 percent of all dentists are still in solo private practice, so the camaraderie of meeting and networking with other dentists remains beneficial. It prevents us from practicing in “silos” without having the chance to debate the more global concerns of our profession.

The WDA wants to help facilitate the organization and development of component activities, but we need to hear from you on how we can best help. We welcome your input on how to keep the lifeblood of our organization strong and healthy.

Through my visits, I’ve learned each component is unique. What works for one might not necessarily work for another. If component revitalization is to be successful, it must be crafted by those in the trenches who know the strengths and weaknesses of their own component structure.

I urge all component leaders and interested members to stay tuned to the WDA Journal and Executive Director’s Update for the task force recommendations. Please also share your own thoughts on our efforts with WDA Executive Director Mark Paget at mpaget@wda.org or Component Revitalization Task Force Chair Dr. Lyndsay Knoell (Racine) at knoelldds@hotmail.com. Or, let your regional trustee know your thoughts.