First Quarter 2007

• CEO Message
• "Successful Trade Show Strategies"
• Mini-Dental School
• Dental Education Is Our Legacy And Our Future

CEO Message
We are in the midst of planning for the large number of important activities that will take place in Chicago during the Mid-winter meeting. Our World Dental Trade Conference (right) will provide a useful overview of the changing demographics of our customers. If you haven't registered, there are still a few places left. Do it today!

The DTA Preview Show is a sell out again. Invitations have gone out to over 1000 dealer representatives from around the world. Our venue this year is the Hyatt Regency McCormick Hotel.

The Board of Directors will meet that week, as will seven of our committees. If you know of companies that are not members of the DTA, please let us know. We'll invite them to our prospect breakfast on Saturday morning. Our membership committee has worked hard over the past year - 21 new members in 2006. This breakfast session provides the opportunity to provide information and have our members share their reasons for belonging to DTA.

We are in a transition with our staff in Arlington. Long time employee, Lois Moyer, will be leaving DTA at the end of March, however, she will be working with us as a consultant from April through July to provide coordination for the DTA Annual Meeting. She has been the bedrock of the staff for a very long time. She will be missed.

Mary Dolan joined our staff in January as our Manager of Administrative and Member Services. Many of you will have the opportunity to meet Mary in Chicago and welcome her to the staff. She joins Fred Freedman, Denise Bundy, Laura Ahern and me in the headquarters office.

Like you, we have been fighting the disgusting time-wasting spam problem with our email services. We recently implemented a very aggressive spam-blocking product that has been very effective. But, we are learning that it is blocking some email from our friends. Please - if you send us an email and don't hear from us, pick up the phone. We're aware that some of you have had a problem already. Hopefully, we'll balance this in the end so we can effectively use this communication tool.

Note that registration is open for three of our educational sessions. Our World Dental Trade Conference, our spring seminar at the Anaheim meeting on "Successful Trade Show Strategies," and our Mini-Dental School will be very popular. Register early for these events.

Best wishes for finalizing your plan of attack for the mid-winter meeting. I'm sure we'll see you at the show.

"Successful Trade Show Strategies"
Speaking of trade shows, DTA will hold a skills training session prior to the Anaheim show this year. This is a timely conference focusing on helping you to maximize your trade show investment. Topics for the session include reducing costs and waste, developing measurable benchmarks for success, lowering shipping and drayage costs and improving lead generation. The workshop will take place on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel, adjacent to the Convention Center.
Learn more...

Mini-Dental School
The next session of our popular Mini-Dental School will be held May 9-10 at the Dental School at the University of Colorado in Denver. Our sessions are limited to 20 participants and the classes fill quickly. Please register as soon as possible so you won't be disappointed.

Dental Education Is Our Legacy And Our Future
As members of Dental Trade Alliance, you understand the importance of creating a community in order to improve the service we provide to the dental industry. Our business thrives on, and would not exist without, the expertise of professional dentists and the entire dental industry. Now more than ever, the community we serve needs our continued support. The American Dental Association Foundation, partnered with dental schools, specialty organizations and other dental organizations including the Dental Trade Alliance, have launched a new program designed to save the dental education and the future of the profession.

Dental Education: Our Legacy - Our Future is a major national awareness initiative designed to educate the dental community about the severe challenges the dental education system faces today. Our Legacy - Our Future is a league of 75 partners, who are collaborating on this important venture to collectively raise more than $1 billion by 2029. To learn more how your business can support one or more of the fundraising efforts of the Our Legacy - Our Future partners, please contact Barkley Payne at 312-587-4716. Be watching your mail for more details.

Visit www.ourlegacyourfuture.org.