I hope you all had a great holiday season. I know for me it is always a time for reflection and rededication. Looking back on the first 6 months of my presidency I feel your board and I have succeeded in creating a good environment. We've tried to motivate and inspire UPCDA members creating a warm, welcoming feeling. We've gotten a lot of good feedback on our programs and have tried to bring back older members and welcome younger ones. The Holiday party was a great success. People seemed to like the more intimate surroundings of the smaller room at Eastlake Woodlands. This is the first time in 3 years that we didn't have the Black Honkeys perform. Although they are a great band I think DJ Manoli (thanks Tim Doerner and George Kostakis for recommending him) did a great job (the 75% less cost made our treasurer, Kristin Allen very happy too). There was plenty of dancing and lots of visiting. We even had enough money to get a photo booth. Make sure you go to our Facebook page to see pictures.

     Lots of good things are coming up. The West Coast meeting is January 16th. The main speaker, Dr. Henry Gremillion is one of the most knowledgeable people anywhere about TMJ anatomy, the problems and the treatments.   The Legislative meeting will be sponsored by the Upper Pinellas and Pinellas Country Dental Associations on January 29th at Belleair Country Club. This is where the local and state politicians get to meet with many of the politically active dentists in Pinellas County. If you are interested in the politics and policies of our state government and how it relates to our profession please contact Lissette at [email protected] or call (727) 449-1232. Thank you to Dr. Bill Layman for helping organize this event and for being our point person.

     Our own, Dr. Jay Pitts who retired from dentistry several years ago (and is still very active in helping at several dental clinics for the poor in our county), will be discussing financial fitness for dentists. He wants to make sure that all of us are able to enjoy life's journey and then be able to retire someday too!

     Speaking of dental clinics, Gulf Coast Dental Outreach has a new home. It's just inside of Hillsborough County, near Memorial and Hillsborough Ave. It's a large (10 chairs) modern facility that should draw patients and doctors from all over the Tampa Bay area. Please remember to volunteer for GCDO, CDC and HEP. We continue to lead the state in access to care. Everybody needs to be involved. The public and politicians need to view us as proactive in helping the needy.

     We are lucky and blessed to live in a great area surrounded by a lot of wonderful and giving people. I want to close this month with a quote from Vincent Van Gogh, "Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck, your profession is what you are put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling".

     The board and I want to wish you and your families a very happy, healthy and wonderful new year. We also want to thank each and every one of you for your support.

 Many regards,

Larry

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