{ outreach in action } And the Foundations Will Shake S
igns of the impending attack had been build- ing all week, and now the assault was in full
force. Photos fell from the wall. Repetitive pounding rattled me to the core. It was hard to hear above the whirring of gigantic machines. From down the hall, others were in vivid and dismayed agreement. Our foundations were shaking!
Was it WWIII or some alien attack that was disturbing our normally placid work environ- ment? No, it was just the MDA parking lot being rebuilt. After 17 years of heavy use, tough
winters and erosion from run off, it was time to replace the lot. This was more than a repair or a simple cosmetic resurfacing. This was a total overhaul that needed to happen to preserve safety and flourishing for years to come.
Now I’m inspired to ponder a few lessons as I sit with a front row seat that overlooks the work and often shakes me like a giggling child test-driving a massage chair at a Brook- stone store in the mall. What does the MDA have to learn from a parking lot rebuild? Hu- mor me as we explore three principles that will serve us well to remember as we seek to preserve our professional relevance and ensure our flourishing for years to come.
DEMOLITION MAY BE REQUIRED Tearing up the lot is expensive, time consum- ing and disruptive. It requires outside help in the form of big machines and trained experts. Generally people don’t like big, incessant noises. It’s hard to focus on my Focus article. My normal cozy nook was upset like the proverbial apple cart. My parking pattern and routine have been interrupted.
30 focus | NOV/DEC 2017 | ISSUE 6
I don’t expect pity but, yes, the demolition is uncomfortable.
It’s hard to admit when something needs to be demolished organizationally. People cling to certain traditions. To repeat the old is easier than to risk the new. Do we really want to disrupt the members? Do we have time for this, or can we just put on a cosmetic coat of paint and move on? While it would be rash to totally demolish the MDA after 152 years, it is important to take a hard look and make significant changes at times. This is why there won’t be a MDA Winter Session in January for the first time in 15 years or so. It was time to demo that approach and risk the new. The result? Find out for yourself in June 2018 when we launch our first annual Connect4Success conference at the Lake of the Ozarks. We will team up with the suc- cessful New Dentist conference that started in 2013 to bring one action-packed, fun-in- the-sun, gather-the-whole-gang CE event to our membership.
REBUILDING FRAMES IS ESSENTIAL After the rubble was carted away (where does
this stuff end up anyway?), the next step was to set the bound- aries and provide the frame for the new lot. Wholesale changes in design were not required be- cause the lot size and function work pretty well. But if they fail to set good boundaries, how long will the new lot hold up? Unlike a lot of the demo work, this was meticulous and involved measuring and consistency.
This lesson hit home, recently, as the Dental Well Being Foundation needed to rebuild its frame after losing the state contract as a source of revenue.
Could and should we continue? There was no interest in demolishing a program that has literally saved the lives and families of licensed professionals across the state. Nor was there a need to redesign an effective program with an experienced and commit- ted team behind it. But it was important to evaluate and strengthen the frame to limit distractions so we can remain a group of den- tists helping dentists in their biggest battles. With a good frame in place, we can begin to pour a solid surface and continue helping others. One small evidence of the members support was the amazing participation in our trail bike raffle at the House of Delegates. We set a record for DWBF fundraising, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
EVERYTHING TAKES TIME We live in a microwave society and we hate to wait. Can you believe it’s been more than two weeks since the concrete assault began, and I still can’t park my car on a new lot? How rude! Am I ignorant, sheltered or just selfish not to realize that it takes a while to dig up a whole lot, set new boundaries, pour and cure fresh concrete and repaint lines?
