A year in review ...

As my term as ADAA president comes to an end, I must tell you it has been a phenomenal experience. The people I have met and friendships I have made are priceless. I would like to share some of my adventures with you now. My first official appearance took place at the end of July when I attended the opening session of the National Dental Association's annual meeting in Century City, CA. I then traveled to Chicago in August for a Dental Assisting National Board meeting and dinner, taking advantage of my time in Chicago to work at the ADAA central office.

September began with a trip to Norfolk, VA, to attend the VDAA annual meeting. While in the area, I drove to Baltimore, accepting an invitation to tour the National Museum of Dentistry. The following week was Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for the Canadian Dental Assistants Association meeting, and I finished the month by attending the ADA meeting in Orlando. While in Florida I was invited to attend the installation ceremony of the American Association of Women Dentists.

In October I was in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the annual meeting of the Hispanic Dental Association, of which lain a member. The following week found me in Pennsylvania for a PDAA state meeting in Lancaster, then Harrisburg with PA member Colette Jesikiewicz for an important meeting of the Pennsylvania State Dental Board. I also met with members of a new local, the Northeast PA Dental Assistants Society in Wilkes-Barre, for a brunch before flying home.

November was very busy beginning with a Recruitment Summit in Marshalltown, IA, initiated by members of the Iowa Dental Assistants Association. A few days later I was representing the ADAA in Washington, DC, at the Oral Health America Periodontal Symposium. From DC I flew to Chicago for the fall ADAA Board of Trustees meeting. Within a week I was a guest of the Greater New York Dental Meeting in New York City. On December 1st I flew home and spent the holidays with my family and friends.

There was no more travel until the end of January when I attended a Board of Directors meeting of the California Dental Assistants Association in San Jose. In February I flew to Chicago for the day to meet with the ADAA auditor, executive director Larry Sepin, and Council on Finance chair Kay Mosley. Nine days later I left for Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on a dental mission with the U.S. Army. That has definitely been my most memorable excursion to date.

In March the Arizona Dental Assistants Association invited me to attend the annual AzDA meeting in Phoenix. There was a luncheon where I was able to meet several of the AzDAA members. One week later it was Washington, DC, again for a planning session with the AGD regarding our upcoming Annual Conference. I assure you it will be very memorable.

In April, the Oregon Dental Assistants Association invited me to attend the ODA meeting in Portland and to speak to members at a breakfast meeting. The Spring Board of Trustees meeting took place in Las Vegas, NV, the following week. At the conclusion of our meeting we hosted a reception for members of the newly revitalized Nevada Dental Assistants Association. They are very excited about their new local in the Las Vegas area. At the end of the month I traveled to Myrtle Beach, SC, to attend the SCDAA annual meeting and the same weekend I flew to Fresno, CA, to attend the CDAA Annual Session, where I was the installing officer.

As I write this article I have a few more engagements pending. In May I will be attending the Michigan Dental Assistants Association meeting in Grand Rapids. It will be complete with a Murder Mystery play. I will then be a guest of the North Carolina Dental Assistants Association when they meet in Myrtle Beach, SC, for their annual meeting May 19-21.

I have been invited to attend another Periodontal Symposium meeting sponsored by Oral Health America in the middle of June in New York City. From that meeting I will fly to Minnesota for a transitional planning session with Larry Sepin and ADAA president-elect, Deb Von Alman. On June 25th I will be a guest of the American Dental Hygiene Association in Las Vegas and will bring greetings to their annual meeting. My year will then culminate at our Annual Conference in Washington, DC, where we will meet with the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Association of Women Dentists.

By the time I end my term in July, I will have been on the road for 91 days. Where does the time go? I have been very fortunate to have the full support of my employers as I travel across the country on behalf of the ADAA. My patients have been great as well, always asking me where I have been and what official duties I have been performing. My family has been a great support system too. Without everyone's help, I could never have accomplished all that I have over the last year. I want to thank the members of the ADAA for allowing me to serve as president of this awesome association. It has truly been my honor.

Kristy S. Borquez, CDA, RDAEF, FADAA 

ADAA President 2004-2005