When I write these messages, my goal is to inform you about the actions of your board of directors and give you a hint of what is still in the planning stage for future meetings. Additionally, I try to inspire you to address the issues that you face in the performance of your duties as a dental x-ray technician or lab owner.
Upbeat and excited about tomorrow is the tone I try to set. This message is especially hard for me to write. Since our last issue, a lab owner who has been a constant contributor to this organization for more than twenty years has closed their doors. Another lab that has been in existence since the 1970?s is rumored to be closing any day.
The economy appears to me to be much more stable than this time last year but the depth of the job losses continue to effect communities at a deeper level than ever.
The third part of this trilogy was the recent passing of Walt Moore. All of us who started in this field as young trainees have had the joy of working with Walt on projects over the years and visiting with him at the meetings.
It is strange to me to have started at the ripe old age of 19 when Walt was already a pillar of this group. Now many of us that started in those years are considered the senior members. Walt was always willing to share his skills and his energy with us. His outgoing manner should remind us all to reach out to new members and those in technical change that is upon us and give them a hand. That is what Walt would have done.
Enough gloom from your President. You may think that I am locked in a windowless room until I get this written. Often this is true. Not this time. As I write this, I am back in my hotel room overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. I am here attending the Dolphin Meeting and I always wonder if I have learned enough to justify the expense. This meeting was a success to me from that perspective alone and need I say...Vegas is fun.
So here I am, back in the room all wound up with new tips and tricks just itching to get back to my office and apply my new knowledge, my poor staff will get over the changes in a few weeks.
I hope that when you attend our AADMRT meetings you head back home all charged up with new knowledge attained at the meeting. Not just from the speakers but also from your informal conversations with other technicians from all over the country.