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Dr. Werner Seibel
National President
Psi
Omega Fraternity
1040 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone:
(843) 556-0573
Fax: (843) 556-6311
Email:
psiomega@bellsouth.net
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Spring 2010
I truly feel privileged to serve as the 70th National President of the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. It is a great honor to be the first PhD dental faculty to hold this office. On behalf of all PhD dental faculty who serve as deputy councilors I want to thank the Alumni for granting us the opportunity to serve this great organization.
I was not involved in any fraternity in college or graduate school and did not understand the impact a dental fraternity could have on students, as well as myself as deputy councilor. I began my Psi Omega journey in 1999 when I was asked to restart the Alpha Chapter, the 1892 found- ing chapter of Psi Omega, which had been inactive for several years. I started by asking a few first year students if they would be interested in restarting the Alpha chapter for social and service purposes. I had hoped to recruit half a dozen members but to my amazement we inducted 24 members in May of the first year. Through these students and those to follow in the next 10 years I learned what it meant to be a member of a dental fraternity. The Chapter was where students could find companionship, group support during the demanding dental program, life-time friend- ships, service project opportunities, and a sense of belonging to the dental community.
As you read the Chapter updates in this Frater, it’s hard not to notice the many service projects that are undertaken by Psi O members. It is amazing how many hours of service our members perform! All our Chapters have outreach as their primary mission. Our student mem- bers realize that they are blessed with many gifts and talents and are devoted in giving back to those less fortunate. As Alumni we should be proud of the students who make service a priority in each Chapter.
The present and future of Psi Omega depends on increasing and maintaining a membership that is dedicated to the fraternal beliefs of helping each other and giving of oneself to others. Prospec- tive members are attracted to those student groups which show pride in their organization. Due to this pride of membership and the numerous Chapter activities, memberships are on an increase. As of December 2009 the total student membership has increased by 209 from 1,228 in 2008 to 1,437. I want to congratulate each of the chapters for their efforts in recruiting new members. It is through your example and enthusiasm that this growth occurs.
I have attended five Conclaves and have witnessed the enthusiasm of the student representatives and the excitement they show about their individual chapter and its activities. I have met members who really believe in the benefits of being a Psi Omega member and who are proud to belong to our organization. After graduation from dental school each member receives a free one year alumni membership. What is disappointing to me is that only about 25 of the 300 graduates decide to become dues-paying alumni members. I am sure that there are many reasons for this and one is the administrative difficulty of maintaining updated addresses.
The vitality and future of Psi Omega depends on these young dental professionals becoming active dues-paying Alumni members. Alumni are needed to keep this organiza- tion viable by supporting Conclaves, Frater publications, Founder’s awards, student loans, senior certificates and National office services for the Chapters. I am asking that all Psi Omega graduates remember what the Chapters gave you during your dental school career and continue this bond by becoming Alumni members. As your dental school career ends, please contact the Psi Omega National Office (psiomega@bellsouth.net) and give them your new home/ email address. I also want to encourage all Alumni reading this Frater to renew your Alumni membership. Remember, if this organization is to continue to flourish and provide the benefits you enjoyed as a student member, Psi Omega must have Alumni behind it 100%.
I am proud to be a Psi Omega member as I know all of you are. Our present and future dental students need to have Psi Omega available to them so they too can become the type of dental professionals that make up this proud and distinguished Fraternity. In this way these stu- dent members can join the Alumni to continue the legacy of this Fraternity and bring the dental profession into the future.
May we all continue to bring honor to the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity.
Fraternally,
Werner Seibel,
Ph.D. Emeritus Associate Professor,
University of Maryland Dental School
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