~NODHA Presidential Message~
To all members and potential-members of the New Orleans Dental Hygienists’ Association,
As I enter my third and final year as President, I am reflective of the past and delighted for the future of NODHA. I am continually striving to best serve you, my dental hygiene community, in the best way possible. Having served on this board since 2005, initially as Secretary, I hope I have done you proud I know we have come a long way as an organization! Our website has been fully updated as well as we now have a Facebook page.
Earlier this past March 2012, NODHA hosted LDHA’s annual session. My co-chair, Jennifer Lamkin, did a fabulous job. She and I would like to thank all who attended and participated. It was a great success.
With the guidance of our Past-President, Michie Bissell, NODHA recently partook in a community project with St. Jude Community Center in the Treme neighborhood. Michie Bissell, Jeanne St. Germain, Leslie LaGrange, Katherine Henriques, and I helped provide dental screenings, distributed dental hygiene aids and gave oral hygiene instructions to a severely underserved area. To these women: you are my heroes!
Through my years on the NODHA board, I am always overwhelmed by my fellow colleagues who always step up to the plate. They always go above and beyond the call of duty. You all should be proud of the women who work hard to represent you.
Especially, I would like to thank all of our officers who have worked so hard this past year and let you know how excited I am about the year ahead. I am passing the torch on next year to Leslie LaGrange. She is your current President-Elect. She has done an outstanding job at Vice President for the past two year. I know she is the best candidate to continue to move NODHA onward and upward!
Jill Peres, our secretary, is always seeking to expand our database of contacts so that we may reach more hygienists in the GNO area. If we do not have your email address, please send it to her. We truly want this organization to work for you and be a great way to network. There is definitely strength in numbers.
I am thrilled to be welcoming a new board member as well. Laura Douglas, our new vice president and membership chair, will be in contact with ADHA membership division to facilitate the process of signing up new members. We are hoping to expand our membership numbers. In addition, we will be raffling an ADHA membership away this year at the September CE course. Your name goes “in the pot” each time you attend a CE. Please remember: when you support the ADHA/NODHA, you help protect and advance your profession. This is what keeps dental hygiene an ever-expanding, rewarding, and highly desirable career.
Jennifer Hew, our social chair/student liaison, hosts two SADHA/NODHA socials for the second year LSU dental hygiene students each year. One of which is in the fall to welcome them and another is in the spring before graduation. We feel it is very important to maintain contact with the students in order to build the membership, and the students really enjoy and appreciate the socials.
One very important person to the organization is Shauntelle Sliman, our treasurer. She keeps the checks and balances. Each component of the state is assessed a monetary amount each year to pay expenses such as our lobbyist Jane Burgin. This money is also used for the executive secretary, Debbi Mitchell, who is responsible for all correspondence throughout the state. Your dues are working hard and Shauntelle is keeping up with them.
Lynn Scarengos, a past president and our current CE coordinator continues to do an outstanding job of scheduling all of the CE’s, all of which are listed on this website. Generally they are held the second Thursday of the month. We strive to have a variety of speakers, and rotate restaurants. We welcome ideas and suggestions for topics, information, and locations. We will work to handle the menu choices, and are open to new ideas. At each meeting a suggestion sheet is available. Attending NODHA CE courses is the best way to support YOUR organization and assemble with your colleagues.
Also, the board will continue to offer postings of job opportunities via email blast. You can email me carrie_daigle@yahoo.com.
In closing, I’d like to welcome everyone to the 2012-2013 year, especially our new members and graduates. This is your organization so let us hear from you! Thank you for supporting YOUR organization!
Respectively summitted, Carrie E. Daigle, R.D.H., B.S.
