Dear Fellow ODA Members,
I have been involved with ODA governance for many years. During that time, I have raised concerns about processes and member connectivity, but these concerns have often been stymied by ODA staff rhetoric.
1. Councillor Networking and Communication
ODA general councillors should have access to an email list of all fellow councillors, enabling colleagues to freely network and discuss issues of concern. Currently, the ODA staff maintain that such a list cannot be generated due to privacy concerns. However, if councillors have the option to opt in or out of such a list, why is this a problem? It appears that ODA staff are deliberately keeping us in silos, maintaining exclusive control over communication. This is unacceptable. The ODA is an association of dentists, for dentists—not for staff to control, but to facilitate the needs and wants of the membership.
2. Component Society Presidents’ Communication
ODA component society presidents should have access to the email addresses of all other component society presidents, allowing collaboration, sharing of CE information, and discussion of their respective society’s concerns. A meeting of all component society presidents—at least virtually—should also be considered, held at least once a year. This would be a cost-effective way to brainstorm ideas and foster collegiality.
Currently, ODA staff only allow component society leadership to meet under a prescriptive agenda at the Leadership Summit, while still controlling contact information. Component societies remain isolated, with staff controlling the narrative.
3. Member Email Lists for Component Societies
ODA component society presidents should be given a comprehensive email list of all their members. Presently, this only happens if a component society charges an additional fee for membership. Many smaller societies are not charging this fee, as they already struggle with engagement. This creates inequity, while ODA staff maintain control of communications.
4. Volunteer Appreciation Night
The Volunteer Appreciation Night further highlights this inequity. While it is feasible for Toronto-based dentists to attend this event on a Wednesday evening, out-of-town members face an additional $400+ bill for a hotel room.
Suggestions to move this event to a Thursday or Friday evening have consistently been rejected by the staff. Rewarding volunteers in more meaningful ways, such as complimentary tickets to access the ASM VIP lounge for lunches or free registration for a new ODA Cat 1 course, would make far more sense.
Conclusion
We need to reclaim control of our association. ODA staff should be paid to facilitate communication between members—not stifle or control it.
4 Responses
The ODA should be by dentsits for dentists it is sadly NOT
The ODA is run by the CEO and staff for their own benefit and not for dentists. The current President and the last two Presidents are part of the problem.I have sat on numerous ODA committees and the majority of volunteers would like to have the VAR on Thursday or Friday night but the CEO and senior staff always reject that proposal.Historically the VAR was held on the Thursday night.
Why is the ODA Board under the direction of its overpaid CEO now trying to control the election of councillors at the component societies? It is because they are afraid that newly elected councillors will run for the board, and overthrow the rubber stamp board with the old board members such asn Sarah Worth, Ed B, Homa J, Christine Moore, and the newly elected useless psychophants Janet Leigh and Jonathon Mayer. Our over paid and ineffective CEO manipulates the board to vote and get rid of anyone who questions their expenditures. Why hasn’t Marcus Stavis been fired for a totally useless and ineffectiven million dollar CDCP ad campaign?
The ODA is run by Non Dentists who control a weak President and board.Time to change the entire board