{ tooth & nail }
All Out of Bubblegum O
ne of my favorite 1980s wres- tlers was “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) who died this year at the age of 61. Roddy
was also the star in the 1988 cult classic, They Live. In this movie, Roddy’s character, “John Nada,” is a drifter construction worker who fate taps to save the world from an alien in- vasion. In a memorable scene, John walks into an alien bank armed to the teeth and says, “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass ... and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
Perhaps that’s just a cool thing to say before you blast a bunch of invader scum, but what does it really mean? Some- times in life, we’re all just chewing bubblegum. It tastes okay, but the flavor fades. Eventually you keep chewing without much thought be- cause that’s just what you do. But sometimes you’ve had all you can chew, and it’s time to wake up and get to work.
Chewing bubblegum is a metaphor for apathy. John Nada, or John Nothing for those Spanish inclined, was a nobody who didn’t even have a home and was ignorant to the invaders around him. Once awakened he saved the world. Why, you ask? Because the world was worth saving. But John could not do it alone. Keith David’s character, “Frank,” first must be shaken out of his self-centered apathy and convinced of Earth’s peril. He does not believe things are as bad as John claims. An intense fight takes place between John and Frank. After some encouragement, the friends save the day together.
The ADA and its components spend an inordinate amount of time focused on membership share of all dentists. I believe
6 focus | NOV/DEC 2015 | ISSUE 6
this may be the wrong thing to pay atten- tion to. Yes, numbers are important, but how involved and passionate a member becomes can be more important. I do not believe corporations, public health or the Ameri- can Academy of Group Dental Practices are hurting the ADA. Apathy is hurting the ADA. Some dentists just don’t seem to care
Alive Films, Larry Franco Productions/Universal Pictures
most of Missouri. The MDHA consistently tries to advance their agenda requiring an often harsh MDA response. Rumor has it only a small percent of the MDHA actually are pushing for their legislative agenda, but it still comes around. Fortunately, their agenda has usually stalled out, but it is still some- thing we have to deal with.
anymore. In the MDA, there seems to be less discussion and fewer resolutions at the House of Delegates. Meetings advertised as town halls or open forums are often lectures or full of crickets. The number of people running in elections is down. It is harder and harder to find members to fill needed roles. All the while more than 60 percent of all Missouri dentists are members of the MDA. While we are a large organization, we are becoming less engaged, less passionate and more apathetic. This is a problem.
Low membership levels do not translate to an ineffective group. In reality, small numbers of dedicated individuals can have huge impacts compared to large numbers of apathetics. Look at the Missouri Dental Hygiene Association (MDHA). Numbers are difficult to find, but they seem to represent less than 20 percent of practicing Missouri hygienists. ADHA dues are $235 a year for
Instead of looking for mass numbers, organized den- tistry should focus on finding impassioned individuals with charisma and energy. Sometimes, you just run out of bubble gum, and it is time to kick some butt. To do that, we have to find the passionate things that drive dentists to action. What stirs their emo- tions and gets them worked into a frenzy? How does the MDA or ADA exclusively ad- dress the issues for mem- bers—the things they feel are
important enough to become engaged? Do not be afraid of conflict and arguments. The more someone argues and fights, the more they care about something. Do not dismiss a dentist because they do not agree with something the MDA seems to supports. If you can get through the fights and come out the other side, everyone is stronger.
Research consistently shows that an in- dividual ADA member reaching out to an individual non-member and asking them to join is extremely effective. Non-members know that a dentist would only take the time to talk to them if they really thought what we did was important. A smaller number of members that are engaged and active can be very energetic, diverse and effective. That energy can be contagious. Then we won’t have to worry about membership numbers. It will just happen. f
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56