Our next general meeting will be May 6 with Dr. Huw Thomas speaking on The State of the School and Dr. Jim Broome on The Amalgam Controversy at Hoover Country Club at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Rocky Alling will install our new officers. Call 933-1718 for reservations.

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Our summer golf scramble will be July 18 at Eagle Pt.

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At our December meeting, Dr. Milton E. Essig was named Dentist of the Year 2007.  Dr. Essig, professor and associate chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, has served as liaison to our Executive Council since 2000, rarely missing a meeting. He is also on the Council on Dental Education and licensure for the Alabama Dental Association.  After receiving his dental degree at the University of Alabama  in 1970, Dr. Essig went on to receive his G.PR. from Martin Army Hospital in 1971.  He is a colonel in the National Guard Dental Detachment. He played a key role in the CODA accreditation site visit and his CAD/CAM research resulted in more than 25 articles and abstracts, 100 lectures and CE courses --some for our district and some for ALDA.  He is a former recipient of the UAB President's Award for Excellence in Teaching as well as numerous U.S. Army medals for service in the National Guard.  Dr. Kevin Alexander, president, presented the plaque which saluted Dr. Essig "with gratitude for your leadership in organized dentistry, your excellence in teaching, your impressive research, articles and lectures, and your military service."

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Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Alexander, who received the Access Award from the American Dental  Association at our May meeting.  Dr. Alexander has been screening needy patients in his office  and placing them with members of our Dental Outreach Committee for several years.  He was also instrumental in outfitting the M-Power Dental Clinics in Avondale and treats patients there  on Thursday nights. He also volunteers with Cahaba Valley Health Care. 

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Alexander recognized our members who have helped patients: Drs. Preston Reynolds, Robert Sanderson, James L. Sanderson, Jr., Paul Bargainer, Luther Cale, Martha Wallace Dawson, Barry Goodspeed, Genesis Pittman, Pete Real, John Collier, Stephen Thomas, Richard Morgan and Reginald Rose.  Also on our list: Drs. Cheri Cunningham, Cathi Davis, Hunter Pope, John Bivona, Karen McCaffery, Kent Palcanis, Leigh Kent, Steve Burge, Steve Stricklin, Betty Lee, Paige Reynolds, Diana Wood, Amy Hartsfield and Roy Smith.  Among the M-Power volunteers are Drs. Baker Chambliss, Bill Powell, David Peters, David Winchester, Jared Murrell, Mike Keller, Rocky Alling, Sue Nimer Young and Steve Burge.

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Dr. Kent Palcanis  was named Dentist of the Year for 2006 at our February meeting. Present for this honor were eight new members from the School of Dentistry which Dr. Palcanis had recruited.  A past president of BDDS, Dr. Palcanis  was then serving as president of the Alabama Dental Association. Our former Dentists of the Year include Drs. Charles McCallum, Red Stevens, George Petznick, Bill Lawson, the late Robert Porter and Calvin McCulloh.

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  Those already  signed up include Drs. Kevin Alexander, Dwayne Albritton, Dave Anderson, George Andrews,  John Baggett, Michelle Bajjalieh, John Bivona,  Doug Beckham, Keith Calvert, Harold Ceitlin, Robert Connor, Ben Crunk, Jennifer Davis, Thomas Dunn, Erin Gaither, Lee Ferguson, Jason Garner, Barry Goodspeed, Jo Anne Jackson, Dino Jacovides, Thomas S. Jones, Jason B. Jordan, Leigh Kent, Doug Lewis, Edgar Luna, Michael Maniscalco, Carol Miles, Jennifer Morrissey Patton, James A. Nelson, Ann O'Rear, Genesis Pittman, Hunter Pope, Paige Reynolds,  Preston Reynolds, Guy Rosenstiel, Steve Rouss, James L. Sanderson, Jr., Robert Sanderson,  B. Q. Scruggs, Calvin Starlin, James Stone, Stephen R. Stricklin, Richard Vest, Martha Wallace Dawson, Steve Wallace, David Winchester  and Dan Wright.  If you are signed up, the committee will keep your practice going during an illness or recovery from   an accident.                                                       

E-Mail addresses and FAX Numbers: We are attempting to compile an E-Mail and FAX directory in order to alert you  instantly with breaking news. If you did not give us your address at the May meeting, please call it in to  933-1718. Thanks!