Message From Your Trustee
Jane Moreno, RDH

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: A fun time was had by all, especially at the Saturday night party. The theme was "60's" in celebration of Nancy Alleman's, President WSDHA, term of office and there was food, music, dancing and socializing. Sunday morning's mega activity was a chance for all attending to give opinions and get perspective on what is to come with the legislative changes that are happening (see Legislative Day).

It was a long trip to Spokane and we want to THANK ALL DELEGATES who volunteered; Deloris Banfield, Hayley Deane, Patty Doyle, Andrea Higgins, Katie Lamb, Norma Wells and myself. A full delegation would have been 13 delegates. The students had a full Delegation consisting of Jess West, and Jarilyn Tomlinson from Seattle Central Community College and Autumn Roth, Jennifer Cooper and Leah Gillam from Shoreline Community College. Also attending from Shoreline was Lizzet Byrd. All students from Eastern attended and most students from Columbia Basin College attended. It was great to see such a high level of student participation. Congratulations to Clydene Evans-Wenzel who was reelected as Treasurer of WSDHA. We hope you will join us for next years' HOD just across the water in Bremerton.

MEMBERSHIP: Hayley Deane is the newest member of the GSDHS Board and is serving as Membership Chair. Her priority is to work with the graduating students encouraging them to see how important it is to work together for their profession. She is planning personal contacts for all new or transitioned members. We are ending this quarter with 143 members and working toward a 5% increase in members. Hayley is also making an effort to thank the many members who annually renew and support our profession. Anyone who would like to work with her making personal contacts can email her at tropigal8@hotmail.com.

EVERY MEMBER COUNTS CAMPAIGN by LYNN STEDMAN, PRESIDENT WSDHA: She has given us a component membership challenge to agree to enroll 1 new or returning Member into ADHA/WSDHA by October 2012. What's in it for you? 1) A great looking pin, 2) Getting to know new hygienists 3) Meetings that are even more fun.

MENTORS SOUGHT: A SMALL WAY TO VOLUNTEER. We are fortunate to have two schools in our Component; Shoreline Community College and Seattle Central Community College. AT HOD 2010 the delegation wanted a mentor program established for graduating students. The goals of this program are basically to befriend a 2nd year student in their winter quarter before graduation and be a support through the first 6 months after graduation. Invite them to GSDHS meetings. Follow through as they transition into full membership in ADHA/WSDHA (free for first 6 months). We will need approximately 44 students mentored by members of our association. Professionalism is a part of what employers seek in a hygienist. You can sign up for more than one student. Names will be assigned in January, unless there are requests.

ANNUAL SEALANT DAY 2012: MARCH 10th. We will again have our volunteer project at Shoreline Community College. Get us on your calendar. It's a fun way to reconnect with friends and serve the community. Please email Clydene Evans-Wenzel with the best hours for you to work. mcevan@comcast.net

LOBBY/LEGISLATIVE DAY: January 24th. Melissa Johnson, our lobbyist, will make appointments with your legislators and give you a "script" to discuss the latest legislative issues. Please reserve the date. We can arrange carpools.

JANUARY 10,2012 CONTINUING EDUCATION: It is always great to see people out to meetings. It is an opportunity to network and reconnect. Our meeting takes place at the Good Shepherd Community Center, room 202, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N in Wallingford. The business meeting takes place from 7-7:30pm.

Course Description: "Myofunctional Therapy and the Dental Hygienist" Presented by Sarah K Hornsby, RDH, Orofacial Myologist. 7:30- 8:30 PM. The class is designed to give an overview to hygienists of the field of Orofacial Myology, or Myofunctional Therapy. It will explain what is involved to learn and practice myofunctional therapy. Sarah believes that Myofunctional Therapy is an emerging field in dentistry that will change the future of the hygiene profession in very positive ways.

Sarah developed a growing business named FACEOLOGY. She has completed several courses with two highly acclaimed and prominent figures in the field. Sarah has studied under Sandra R. Holtzman MS CCC/SLP COM, a speech therapist whose life work and study has made an incredible impact on the advancement of the field of Orofacial Myology. Sarah sees patients as a full time Orofacial Myologist. She collaborates with orthodontists, speech therapists, and other professionals to provide optimal care for her patients. She is an active member of the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA/WSDHA), and also belongs to the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). Sarah's current goal is to teach and inspire other professionals to see the benefits of incorporating Orofacial Myology into their practices, and how it can help benefit patients in new and incredible ways.

If you would like more in depth information she is presenting at Bellevue Community College on January 14th with an orthodontist for a two hour CE. For costs and details contact her directly at sarah22rdh@hotmail.com.

For more information about any of the above contact: Jane Moreno at Moreno.jane@gmail.com or 206.954.3573.