Time to Shine

On Thursday, April 17, outgoing president Wm. Greg Lawton hosted members and guests at the Golden Valley Golf and Country Club for the District’s 2008 Annual Meeting/Installation of Officers. Teresa Fong and Michael Cellitti, both MDDS past presidents, installed the 2008 officers. Our new officers are James D. Nickman, president; Alejandro M. Aguirre, president-elect; Mark R. Omlie, vice-president; and Gary A. Bolmgren, secretary/treasurer.

Following dinner, the 2008 Guest of Honor Award was presented to Bashar Bakdash. Michael Till was the emcee of a very special presentation highlighting Dr. Bakdash’s lustrous dental career as well as his life growing up in Damascus, Syria, his challenges coming to America, all the way through to his current position at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

As many of you know, at the present time Dr. Bakdash is continuing to provide leading roles at the University of Minnesota including serving as chair of the Academic Health Center Promotion and Tenure Committee, member of the Committee for Comprehensive Review of Deans, as well as membership on the Public Relations Committee of the Minnesota Dental Association and the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Dental Association Foundation. Dr. Bakdash also continues to serve on the editorial review boards of a number of national and international dental journals.

Dr. Bakdash considers himself fortunate to have been mentored by and to have worked with a number of individuals associated with dentistry, public health, academic health centers, universities, professional organizations, government, and private industry. These interactions and mentorship opportunities have prepared him to be able to incorporate innovative ideas including photography, mass media, marketing research, public relations, and information technology into all facets of his profession. He loves the idea of being a life-long learner and being able to provide faculty, staff, and students with the opportunities and support to do the same.

Finally, Dr. Bakdash attributes the professional success that he has enjoyed to the support of his immediate and extended families, colleagues, students, and patients who over the years have affirmed his beliefs to “Be a good citizen of your institution, keep everything in the right perspectives, do not forget the big picture, and be a visionary rather a follower.”

It was an unbelievable evening for everyone in attendance and very special for Bashar and all his special guests. Bashar, thank you for sharing your life with us…we truly enjoyed the presentation. Congratulations from us all!

Hit Us With Your Best Shots

Dust off those golf clubs! Back this summer is the Minneapolis District Dental Society Golf Event. Scheduled for Monday, August 11, we will be playing at a new location this year: Golden Valley Golf and Country Club in, where else, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The event will kick off with a delicious lunch before a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. As always, there will be lots of prizes and special events held throughout the day for all participants. Golf chair Nancy Norling and her committee are hard at work planning a wonderful day for everyone! All MDA members are welcome to join in the fun. Get the date on your calendar and join us for what is promised to be a great day at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club! Everyone is welcome to attend!

The annual Trapshoot Tournament will be returning to the Metro Gun Club in Blaine and is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20. There are several shooting events offered at this location. Of course, there will be trap, skeet, sporting clays, and the duck tower as always. Also this year will be both wobble trap and wobble skeet ranges. Additionally, Metro Gun Club has a pistol range for those who would like to try this event as well. The day will culminate with the annual wild game dinner and prizes. Our door is open for this one too, and everyone is welcome to attend!

The final summer event is the Greater Twin Cities Tennis Mixer, scheduled for Wednesday, September 3. There is a new location this year that is sure to be a hit with all tennis players. We are very pleased to announce that the 2008 Tennis Mixer will be held at the Bearpath Golf and Country Club in Eden Prairie! This event will include members from both the Minneapolis and Saint Paul District Dental Societies as well as the entire MDA membership – open invitation and plenty of everything to go around. Again this year you have the opportunity to bring a guest for $50.00! Where else can you have a full afternoon of fun with lunch and dinner included for only $75.00? So for all you tennis players, grab a friend and come on out and have a fun-filled afternoon of tennis at Bearpath Golf and Country Club. Don’t forget there are always lots of prizes and surprises as well.

All MDA members are welcome to the above events! Registration forms for all summer events are included within the June Brush-Up newsletter or can be found on the MDDS website. If you are outside the Minneapolis District and you would like to attend one of the events, or if you have any questions or need a registration form, please do not hesitate to contact the District Office at (651) 631-9845.

Welcome, New Members

Congratulations to the following new members of the District. Please pick up the phone and welcome them to the Minneapolis District, extend the invitation to join you at an upcoming District meeting, or take a new member to lunch. It works wonders on both sides of the equation.

Prasad A. Bastodkar, D.D.S.

Christopher A. Lebo, D.D.S.

Rachel T. Meyer, D.D.S.

Sonja Munozlatorre, D.D.S.

Anitha Peddireddy, D.D.S.

Laura Sellinger, D.D.S.

Upcoming Programs and Events

Monday, August 11, 2008

Minneapolis District Golf Event

All MDA members welcome

Golden Valley Golf and Country Club

Golden Valley, Minnesota

 

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

MDDS Caucus Meeting

All MDDS members welcome

Golden Valley Golf and Country Club

Golden Valley, Minnesota

 

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Annual Trapshoot Event

Metro Gun Club

Blaine, Minnesota

 

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Greater Twin Cities Tennis Mixer

All MDA members welcome

Bearpath Golf and Country Club

Eden Prairie, Minnesota

 

Friday, September 19 and

Saturday, September 20, 2008

MDA House of Delegates

Minneapolis Airport Marriott Hotel

Bloomington, Minnesota

 

Election Results

The ballots are in and counted. Congratulations to the following delegates and alternate delegates who will represent the Minneapolis District Dental Society in the MDA House of Delegates September 19 and 20 in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Delegates

Three-Year Term

James D. Nickman,   president

Alejandro M. Aguirre,    president-elect

Mark R. Omlie,  vice-president

Gary A. Bolmgren, secretary/treasurer

Bashar Bakdash

Douglas L. Lambert

Jo Ann Omlie

Richard T. Philstrom

Cale A. Strait

David C. Streif

Two-Year Term

Bruce L. Betterman

Douglas A. Carter

Robert E. Derr

Wendy S. Gulden

Donna M. Hecker

Lee Ann M. Herbert

Kenton Johnson

Robert L. Kochenderfer

Charles W. Puffer

Tasha T. Strait

One-Year Term

Kimberly G. Bohlig

Laurie A. Goldenberg

Stephen R.Gulbrandsen

Jonathan C. Moren

Steven R. Nelson 

Nancy A. Norling

Michael J. Perpich

Karen J. Reese

Richard C. Render

Alternate Delegates

Michelle M. Bebeau

Susan Block

Scott R. Bowlby

Mohamed E. El Deeb

John E. Gulon

Sandy J. Houck

Badri Jureidini

Woojin Kwon

Kim M. Murphy

Clayton R. Shepard

Christopher E. Steele

Jesse N. Veil