President’s Message
by Gustavo M. Coutin, D.D.S. – NODA President
Dear NODA members,
As we approach the end of summer and beginning of fall 2017, it is with profound sadness that I must report to you the passing of a true pillar of our organization. Mrs. Normalee Ward died on August 15, 2017. As Executive Secretary of the New Orleans Dental Conference, she was truly “the straw that stirred the drink”. Acquiring exhibitors, securing speakers, scheduling conference venues or finding support entities in order to stage and successfully run the New Orleans Dental Conference for over 30 years, she was in large part responsible for the outstanding reputation our conference has earned nationally. She was very well known and highly regarded among the leadership of Chicago Dental Society and the Chicago Mid-Winter Conference, as well as the American Dental Association. She was also extremely active in the New Orleans Dental Association providing Executive Director, Andrew Hale with support and assistance in a variety of ways. She leaves us a wonderful and outstanding legacy of loyalty and service to the New Orleans Dental Conference and to the New Orleans Dental Association. Her example gives us a model on how to serve our profession in an exemplary way.
The ADA has launched a Find-a-Dentist Tool to help new patients find you. Please go online and update your member profile so that you can be readily found by geography, specialty, benefit/payment plans. The benefit we can potentially derive from this source could easily cover and exceed our dues. In addition, NODA is expanding this benefit to our members this fall. Please support and promote NODA. There are a number of committees that are looking for additional members to contribute and improve our ability to serve you. There is strength and vitality in numbers. We are anxiously awaiting final approval of the health insurance benefits LDA is developing. This benefit will provide our members with very attractive premium rates which make our dues very cost effective.
The LDA Annual Fishing Rodeo took place on July 14-15, 2017 at the Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. Great fun was had by all and of course many charitable institutions like our Mission of Mercy greatly benefited from its proceeds.
Please remember on September 20, 2017 our General Membership Meeting will be held at Southport Hall. Kerr Dental is sponsoring Dr. Bruce LeBlanc who will speak on ““Maximized Adhesive Bonding - Using All the Tools in the Box for Optimal Bonding.”In addition to our CE, Dr.Henry Gremillion, LSUSD Dean will be giving NODA an update on the current status of the dental school.
Thank you!
