Some may say that the ADHA slogan “Better Together” is just marketing jargon, but I am in the true-believer camp.
The macro becomes micro when the frustration with government trickles down to the world of nonprofit associations. I am a political junkie and as I watched the unfolding of the Brexit vote on MSNBC, the most telling statistic was the number of times “What is Brexit?” was googled after the vote. Buyers remorse is in full swing and the repercussions of exiting will soon be realized. Britain went from top dog in the European Union to go-it-alone isolationists.
Some may say that the ADHA slogan “Better Together” is just marketing jargon, but I am in the true-believer camp. Transformation of the dental hygiene profession has come about by our ADHA national presence with CODA, the FTC, and research and education strategies for advancement. Partnerships with like-minded health-care professions at the national and state level is an essential component of advocacy. How can any state (California) or country (the United Kingdom) hope to work for the betterment of all when they are only focused on themselves? Together we have clout and together we have a louder voice.
I felt abandoned by the loss of energy that came from my neighbors to the west. It was hard to see their seats empty at the House of Delegates. I had my list of “how-can-we-improve-this” topics for annual session and was ready to have spirited discourse over a glass of wine with my fellow change agents and thought leaders. Alas, isolationists focused on a single state, and therefore themselves, cannot help me with issues in my state . . . but ADHA can.
Do I think we can do it better than we are doing now? You betcha! Am I frustrated by the snails pace of strategic planning that feels like we are moving a tanker with a kayak? Yup! Do I think all leaders at all levels work extremely hard and deserve more praise? Amen! Am I still committed to membership in ADHA and remaining relevant as an organization? Hell yeah! But like the United Kingdom, CDHA will start anew but no longer part of the team.
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I happen to believe that the real problem is money, which comes from membership. Don’t get mad when I say, “It’s just math! More members equal more money!” I also happen to believe that we have tried to volunteer our way forward at the state level and that it’s time to think outside the box and talk about compensation for work done for the organization. Running a state organization takes a special skill set that has value.
Our “woman thinking” is that we should do it for free, but I can assure you that other nonprofits like the AARP and the Red Cross pay leaders who manage their volunteer pool. Not hygienists! We are the caring profession who take on leadership roles out of the goodness of our hearts.
Why is it that at the numerous state stakeholder meetings held on oral health issues, the only people in attendance who are not paid staff are the hygienists from our association? You know my saying, “If you’re not at the table, you are on the menu.” Due to our passion for the profession, we attend meeting after meeting, building coalitions, giving exorbitant amounts of free in-kind services. Why aren’t we talking turkey about compensation just like you would negotiate for a better hourly/daily rate? Why am I supposed to give myself away for free? These are the topics that we all should be discussing at and beyond the annual session.
I would have relished a thoughtful dialogue with my California colleagues about the need for a unified brand message, public relations, a social media toolkit, and improved communication that removes the trustee/president middle man and lets members be involved more directly. I wanted to talk about nonprofit best practices when it comes to governance and new models for structuring our organization before the mega-issues during the business meeting portion of annual session.
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And who in the world decided that Advocacy should meet at 7:00am on the last day of the meeting marathon?! Our missed opportunity was to set up “topic tables” at the back of the trade-show floor facilitated by staff, officers, and council volunteers to capture concerns on work force, education, midlevel providers, and archaic regulations. How about color-coded tables in the same format as the session program so that students, educators, and governmental affairs chairs could meet informally . . . maybe call it speed dating for networking or something more hip. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could earn certifications in geriatrics, lasers, public health, or school-based programs while at Annual Session?
I hope that new leaders in California will step up and work with ADHA to advance the profession as part of the team. I hope my brexiting friends will say hi when I’m in your neck of the woods.
To any of you that are on the fence about membership: You cannot go it alone and who would want to? Join us . . . you belong!
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Susanne Kuehl, RDH, BS, CPHDH, is a health-care advocate and change agent for dental/medical integration focused on the expanded utilization of dental hygienists as primary-care providers. She has over 30 years’ experience in clinical dental hygiene practice and her career portfolio is a hybrid that includes professional relations, product management, dental sales consulting, and work as professional educator, speaker, and author.
