Dear Fellow Midwest Society of Periodontics Members, Hopefully you’ve marked your calendar for attending the upcoming Winter Meeting (Feb. 24-26th, 2012). Be sure to include bringing staff, as hygienists and assistants will enjoy Saturday’s program “Lotions, Potions, Pastes and More” presented by Dr. Seb Ciancio. Sunday’s program, “What Every Periodontist Needs to Know About Asset Protection” by Mr. Larry Oxenham is focused at financial planning and is promised to have numerous pearls of information. Friday’s program “Periodontal and Implant Surgery in the Esthetic Zone” by Dr. Kirk Pasquinelli should be excellent (there is an additional fee and attendance is limited)! Take in a Lunch & Learn and the Graduate Forum and you’ll have 2 ½ fully packed CE days. In preparing this final message, it continues to impress me how much things have changed. This August I attended Marquette Dental Schools “White Coat” ceremony, where incoming freshman were welcomed into the dental profession, presented their ‘white coats’ and introduced as doctors. The level of prestige and respect for the profession starts the day they enter school and the personal respect has been elevated. I ponder as to what our specialty has done—and the recent efforts of the AAP Foundation come to mind. The impact of the Foundations’ awards has acknowledged “bright” enthusiastic graduates that are contributing to the educational and research efforts in periodontics. These awards have been made possible by generous donations, which are still greatly appreciated by the Foundation. The Foundations next initiative is in assisting the AAP in educating the general public as to what a Periodontist is. If you have not as of yet made a donation, please consider one. Change is constant, and this has never been more true’ than in Wisconsin. Our state has been closely watched recently as our Governor, Scott Walker and politician’s have stripped state employee’s benefits, specifically bargaining rights of the state employee’s. It continues to impress me that it is the political arena where policy is made and it is at the ADA that we need to be represented. Our specialty has had a rich history of leadership in organized dentistry and congratulations goes out to the new ADA President Elect Dr. Robert Faiella (periodontist from Mass.). Within the academy I sense the present leadership to be strong, yet I sense a “void” of the younger membership’s involvement. Not that the academy has not been encouraging young visionary and enthusiastic members to become involved, their seems to be an indifference to their future. Thus, I challenge you, the younger members to step up to the plate, get involved at your local and/or state level in dentistry or within our specialty. Get to know your trustee’s and make your views know—make some noise! This will be your society before you know it. In closing, I am humbled by the unselfish volunteer time and wonderful talent that the Midwest Society has produced. I would like to thank all the board members for all of there work this year, with a special ‘Thanks’ to Dr. Ken Krebs for his tireless efforts in managing our society. Lastly, it has been an honor to serve as your President. Dr. George Jumes, President