Supreme Chapter         Volume XXXIX         October 2004

      First of all, thank you for electing me to be your organizational leader over the next year.  It’s a great honor and pleasure to accept this position, and I look forward to this opportunity to serve you.

     I hope that all of you will feel welcome to contact me if you have questions or concerns about our organization.  As I suspect you know, the derivation of the letters O.K.U. and the design of our key is based upon the Greek words for conservation, teeth, and health.  The dental faculty of Northwestern University adopted these letters and the symbolic key for O.K.U. in 1915. 

     Today, the tradition of academic excellence denoted by O.K.U. is unparalleled in dental education.  My personal goal for this year is to build upon that tradition of excellence at the national level.  I ask each of to do the same, both at the national and local chapter levels.  Together, we can strengthen our organization.

     Speaking of strengthening the organization, I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Indru Punwani for his year of outstanding leadership, which was more like two years since he took on significant leadership responsibilities while President Judith Buchanan was called upon to serve our country in the military.  Dr. Punwani has been a strong and committed leader, and has led us with passion for his responsibilities.  Dr. Punwani, would you please come forward, so that I can present you with a token of recognition for your outstanding leadership.