Greetings WIDHA Members!
Please join us at Annual Session this year
Louisville, KY June 21st- 23rd.
Registration is OPEN!

SAVE THE DATE
Indigo October 4th and 5th 2019
Kalahari Resort and Convention Center,
WI Dells, WI

Announcements

BOD Meeting
February 16th 8:30AM to 12PM
Link: https://zoom.us/j/2823210184
NTC Wausau– Parking Lot B, Center for Health Sciences

Lobby Day
Scheduled for March 13th in Madison.
This is a great event and opportunity!
Please sign up: https://widha.org/event/lobby-day/
~ see attachments for more details

Special Olympics
Volunteers Needed:
Saturday April 6, 2019 UW Oshkosh
Friday June 7, 2019 UW Stevens Point
Saturday August 3, 2019 Carroll U in Waukesha
Sunday October 20, 2019 Dale’s Weston Lanes near Wausau
https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/inclusive-health

Continuing Education Events:
Webinar: Dementia Friendly Business Training, Hylife, Angie Stone
February 27th 7PM, [email protected]
Custom Dental Solutions 3rd Annual Choose Your Gold Course Crawl
March 15th, 7:30-4:30PM Brookfield, WI Embassy Suites Hotel
Register: https://customdentalsolutions.coursestorm.com/

ADHA Billing Cycle Changes: Please see FAQ:

Q: Will the payment process change at all?
A: No, members will still have the option to pay by check or online.
Q: When can constituents and components change their dues amounts?
A: Constituents and components can now update their dues amounts once a year. Any
changes will be due to ADHA by September 15 each year.
Q: How does this affect the graduate transition process?
A: April – September graduates will receive full-priced invoice each year with winter cycle. October – March graduates will receive a prorated invoice in June each year for 50%
of their annual dues.
Q. What will happen with Quarterly and Automatic Annual Dues?
A: Both will remain payment options.
Q. Will quarterly paying members still need to renew before December?
A. If members are currently on quarterly payments their membership will continue as
normal.
Q: Will the “no fee” incentive for the members to move to the quarterly payment plan be
only for this transition or will it continue?
A: The “no fee” incentive will only be offered to summer cycle members in 2019 and will
last through the end of 2020. Members will save $3 for 6 quarters ($18 total). Proration
Q: Will student dues be prorated?
A: No, student dues will not be prorated.
Q: Will dropped members have their dues prorated?
A: Members who drop their membership will be asked to call ADHA offices to reinstate
their membership through the end of March. They will not be eligible for prorated dues
during this time. Communications
Q: Will ADHA be sending out a formatted letter for the states to let members know that
there is a change?
No. ADHA will be notifying members via a postcard, multiple emails, and a phone call.
Constituents will not be responsible for notifying members but can use these materials to
answer any questions. Also, feel free to forward questions to central office as well.
Q. Will there be messaging provided to state leaders for social media and websites?
A. We do not recommend posting about this change on social media or your website because it only affects a small percentage of our members. We do not want to confuse our
winter cycle members since nothing is changing for them.

WIDHA Student Showcase:

Jennifer Lehto from CVTC– 2nd Year
After 15 years of Dental Assisting, Jennifer went back to school to become a Dental Hygienist. She is a wife, mom, student, friend and family
member. Last year, Jennifer attended ADHA’s Annual Conference in Columbus, OH as a Student Delegate. She said, “Being a Student Delegate
allowed me a behind the scenes look at what it takes to help the future of our profession. It also showed me how important it is to be involved.
Before this I think I was more of a careful observer, now I feel ignited to be involved and to be a voice in ADHA.”
Jennifer attended the 1st General Assembly at INDIGO in October and ran for Delegate again. She is very excited to attend this year’s ADHA Annual Session in Louisville, KY. Jennifer encourages all students to run for student delegate. “Once again it is so hard to put into word the magnitude of my experience as a Student Delegate. It was life-changing, eye
opening, and igniting. I feel a part of a wonderful organization that cares about all facets of the dental hygiene, as professionals and as individuals.
It was the most incredible experience.”
Jennifer has been influenced by her instructors and appreciates all they have done for her. “I really admire my instructors at Chippewa Valley
Technical College. Debbie Schumacher, Pam Entorf, and Katrina Borgen are inspiring and involved role models. They are invested in our success
and each have been wonderful mentors on my journey toward becoming a RDH. This helps us see we are part of a larger community in our profession and helps inspire continued involvement.”
Jennifer want s to continue her education and remain involved with ADHA after graduation. Jennifer has named the delegate role as one of her most inspiring experiences, thus far. “As a dental hygiene student, I have found a passion, drive and desire to succeed. Being selected as a Student Delegate representing District VII was the one that stands out
the most as something that ignited my journey of involvement. It showed me a behind the scenes view of what the ADHA has done and
continues to do for our profession. It was an eye-opening and life changing experience. I would encourage any student to take a chance
and apply.”
As an active student, her family has shown much support. “My husband, Jesse and I have a one-and-a-half-year-old son, Duke. We are expecting another son in May. We live in rural Chetek, near our families. They have been an amazing support system that allow me to succeed and excel in school. With their involvement I have been able to participate in a variety of volunteer opportunities and be actively involved in the WI-DHA and ADHA. I am looking forward to serving as an Alternate Delegate in Louisville at the ADHA Annual Conference.”
WIDHA is proud of Jennifer and all she has accomplished this far. We look forward to watching her grow in leadership and invite students like Jennifer to apply for Student Delegate and reach out to Leadership for Mentoring.
In closing, I would like to leave with Jennifer’s favorite quote:
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” -Christian D. Larson.

WIDHA’s Governmental Affairs Director Linda Jorgenson’s Update:
WI-DHA Lobby Day, 2019 What’s “WI-DHA Lobby Day”?
You might also think of it as “Dental Hygiene Day at the Capitol.”
Have you ever wondered if lawmakers in Madison even know who you are and what you do as a dental hygienist? Now is your chance to fix that!
Dental hygienists are meeting in Madison on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 to help Wisconsin lawmakers know more about us as dental hygienists and also to ask for their support for legislation that would allow dental therapists to practice in our state. We’ll visit every lawmaker’s office at the Capitol to drop off information packets and we’ll also make appointments for fact-to-face visits with a few key legislators and their staff members.
You’re the expert in dental hygiene! If you don’t feel like an expert advocate yet, grab a buddy and make your visits together! We’ll help you coordinate, and I promise, it will be fun.
This is the essence of grassroots advocacy! Lawmakers need to hear from their constituents (that’s you) in order to make good decisions. Our goal is to protect and advance our profession and also to speak up on behalf of public health. Because we know that there are gaps in access to dental care, we are proposing that dental therapists should be allowed to practice in Wisconsin in order to fill some of those gaps.
WI-DHA will supply you with the talking points and instructions for how to be effective as an advocate.
Above all, it will be memorable for you and for the lawmakers we visit.
Save the date and REGISTER TODAY!
Linda Jorgenson, RDH, BS, RF
WI-DHA Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs