Hello again from your Section Chair.

It’s a busy time of year preparing for the Annual Meeting, reviewing proposed policies, promoting our recently passed new policies, and, of course, health care reform. There is much going on at the national and state levels in public health, and I encourage you to stay active in APHA and the Oral Health Section. Be sure to keep your e-mail up-to-date in your membership file; you can edit this information by logging on to the APHA website as a member.

Annual Meeting: I hope you are planning to attend our next Annual Meeting in Denver, Nov. 6-10, 2010. David Cappelli is once again heading up the Program Planning Committee, with help from Kathy Lituri. The program (see below) is shaping up to be quite interesting and informative. Thanks to all the Committee members who have helped David pull the scientific program together. Registration online at the APHA website opened June 1; you should have received an e-mail on June 1 announcing the opening. If you did not receive it, you may want to check your membership record to assure that it has your current e-mail address.

The Oral Health Section sessions will be in the Hyatt Regency Denver Hotel, across the street from the Convention Center. Be sure to visit our Section booth. APHA is investing in a large booth area for all the Sections/SPIGs that will be very professional and located adjacent to APHA’s main exhibit area. Make plans now to join us in Denver!

Elections: 2010 Section elections are quickly approaching. The elections begin on June 18, 2010 and end on July 23. On June 18, you will be sent an e-mail notification letting you know that the election is open for online voting. The e-mail subject line will read "APHA Voting Information Enclosed". Please do not delete this e-mail as it contains your voting instructions.

We have a wonderful slate of candidates this year. Our Chair-Elect candidate is Amos Deinard. For two Section Council seats our candidates are: Arlene Lester, Gary Podschun, Peggy Timothé, and Scott Tomar. For one Governing Council seat our candidates are: Helene Bednarsh and Lynn Bethel. I want to express my thanks to Howard Pollick, our Nominations Committee Chair, for assembling such a strong slate of candidates, and to the candidates for volunteering to serve the Section. Please review their statements online and make your voice heard by voting.

Health Reform: After all the ugliness and machinations of the political process, I was speechless as I watched President Obama sign the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, March 23. The law will bring much needed reforms to the health care system, with substantial enhancements of the public health system and for oral health.

When the major changes take effect in 2014, I believe we will have a health care system that is more fair and just. The provisions impacting oral health are broad and could be a major step forward in our efforts to improve the oral health of the public. I want to thank all of you who answered my call to contact your Congressional representatives to support the reforms. Our challenge now will be to see that the oral health and public health provisions receive appropriations in this difficult budgetary environment.

Policy development: The Section leadership has been active in reviewing the new policies proposed for consideration at the 2010 Annual Meeting. The Oral Health Section has submitted a proposed policy on fluoride varnish, and we are optimistic that we can gain Governing Council approval.  Amos Deinard has been the lead on this policy. We have also reviewed the existing policies that were up for review this year to decide if they should be retained, updated or archived. Thanks to the Section Executive Committee and others who volunteered to participate in these efforts. 

Welcome to those of you new to the Oral Health Section! Whether new to APHA or joining us as a second or third Section, we look forward to your participation as we strive to advance the public’s oral health.

I again ask that all Section members consider recruiting a new member from your sphere of colleagues and students. Existing APHA members who belong to other Sections can join Oral Health as a second or third Section for $30/year. There is also a joint membership pilot program to join both the state public health association and APHA for a reduced fee that is ongoing in Northern California, Kansas, Massachusetts and Ohio. Please let Membership Committee Chair Sandie Beebe know if you’ve successfully recruited a new member!

We encourage your involvement in Section activities, whether on a committee or by running for an office. And for those who have already served in a leadership capacity, it’s time to give some thought to getting involved again. We need you on our Committees, such as the Membership, Program Planning, Awards, and Policy; to help staff the Section booth at the Annual Meeting; and to contribute to the newsletter and the Annual Meeting program.

We depend on Section volunteers to carry on the bulk of the Section’s business. Feel free to contact me or any member of the Section leadership. Any suggestions on how we can improve the Section’s efforts and increase the value of membership are welcome.

Hope to see you in Denver.

Scott Presson, Chair