SSOMS

Gayle Davies

Letter from Robert C. Pfeffle, DMD President, SSOMS

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Dear SSOMS members:

I hope you are all faring well with the personal and professional adjustments we are all going through due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is already having a profound impact on our lives. Hopefully, we will see some resolution of this terrible problem in the near future.

The Board of the SSOMS met via conference call on Monday, March 15 to discuss the 2020 annual meeting scheduled for April 22-26 in Key West. In light of the growing pandemic, it is obviously not possible for us to proceed with this meeting as planned. Hank has been working diligently on our behalf and was able to provide a good option for us to consider related to the meeting.

The Key West meeting will remain at the Casa Marina resort but will be moved to August 19-23, 2020. Fortunately, the entire schedule for the meeting in April will be seamlessly transferred to the new dates in August. Also, our speakers, Drs. Eric Carlson and David Powers are available as well.

While this date was necessary due to other scheduling conflicts, there are actually a number of benefits to having the meeting at this time:

  • This will be coming out of the busy season, so hotel rates and airfare will be lower (airlines are allowing current tickets impacted by the pandemic to be changed without any fees).
  • The weather in August is more predictable and generally calmer allowing fishing, watersports, and other tours to be scheduled more easily.
  • The crowds in Key West will be smaller, allowing more flexibility with dinner reservations and sightseeing
  • And those wonderful breezes for which Key West is famous will mitigate the slightly higher temperatures!

Hank will be sending you the details regarding procedures for transferring registrations to the August dates in a separate email shortly. Please respond promptly as we have some important deadlines to meet to protect our position in this matter.

Hopefully by August, the current crisis will be resolving, we will be winding up a busy summer, and we all will be ready for some relief in the Conch Republic!

Sincerely

Robert C. Pfeffle, DMD
President

IMPORTANT: Procedures for Moving SSOMS Annual Meeting Registrations to August

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We are moving our annual meeting to August 19-23, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be a seamless transition in that all hotel registrations will be moved to the new dates and will retain the same confirmation numbers. Also, all conference registrations will be moved without change as the meeting and tour schedule will remain the same. You only need to change your airline reservation; it is our understanding that change fees will be waived on all airlines.

We promise to retain the outstanding quality, our tradition unlike any other and the unparalleled charm of our annual meeting over the new dates. While the average temperature will be slightly higher (81 in April vs 89 in August) the afternoon storms will abate providing for better weather for fishing and touring. And don’t forget the famous Key West breezes. Plus, the room rates dropped from $389 to $279 for the basic room, from $439 to $$329 for the Ocean View, no Balcony and from $499 to $369 for the Ocean View with Balcony rooms, representing a saving of almost $450 for most reservations.

If you are concerned about travel restrictions continuing into August, we have updated the Force Majeure (impossibility) section of our contract to include the following language:

Neither party shall be responsible for failure to perform this Agreement if unanticipated circumstances beyond their control including, but not limited to: acts of God; government regulation, including, but not limited to, government regulations prohibiting travel to the city in which the Hotel is located over the Event dates and/or the issuance of a “Level 3 Travel Warning” by the Centers for Disease Control that specifically advises travelers to avoid all non-essential travel to the city in which the Hotel is located and which travel advisory is in effect over the Event dates; terrorist attacks in the city in which Hotel is located; or declared war in the United States make it illegal or impossible for Hotel to hold the Event. The affected party may terminate this Agreement without liability upon providing written notice to the other party within ten (10) days of the occurrence.

Therefore, all hotel reservations will be cancelled and conference registration fees refunded if we cannot travel safely.

However, if you prefer to cancel your reservation for whatever reason, please notify Melissa Connor at mconnor@pami.org or by phone (770.271.0453) by April 15. After that date, our revised block is set and we will have less flexibility to avoid losses. Please do not cancel your reservation directly with the hotel.

If you did not register for the April meeting and now want to register for the meeting in August, please go to https://www.123signup.com/register?id=rdhjt.

Stay well…….and see you in Key West!

Hank Holderfield
Executive Director

Pancreatic Cancer takes Two SSOMS Members

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Dr. Greg Grantham

Sharon Hunt

Dr. Greg Grantham, SSOMS member from Panama City and Past President of FSOMS, and Sharon Hunt, former SSOMS Executive Director and Honorary Member, both died on February 16 from the same diagnosis, pancreatic cancer.

Greg was one of the nicest men you will ever meet. A consummate gentleman in every respect. He was a loyal servant of the specialty, his community and his church.

Click here to see his published Obituary.

Please send condolences to: Greg Grantham family, 2856 Tupelo Drive, Panama City, FL 32405

Sharon served SSOMS as Executive Director for 11 years as Vice President of Hank Holderfield’s company Professional Association Management, Inc. Sharon left PAMI in 1995 to take the position of Executive Director of the Southern Society of Orthodontists.

PRE-CONFERENCE Ireland – Dublin, Doonbeg

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Explore Dublin before Killarney.

Click for More Information: Post  Conference K Club in Straffan, Ireland

This trip includes the spectacular highlights like Georgian Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Dingle Whiskey Bar, The Shelbourne, Kilmainham Jail, Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College Library, Golf Links at Doonbeg, White Horse Spa, Doonbeg Village & Beaches, the Cliffs of Moher and Burren National Park.

Click here for complete Itinerary:

Download registration form:

This package includes the following:

• 2 nights at The Shelbourne in 10 Deluxe Rooms
• 1 night at Lodge at Doonbeg in 10 Ocean View Suites (mix of 1-Bedroom Suite and 2-Bedroom Suites)
• VAT on all hotels
• Breakfast each morning
• Professional Walking Guide for a 3-hour group walk through Georgian Dublin
• Driver & Separate Guide in Dublin to include Kilmainham Jail, Trinity College (Book of Kells) and Guinness Storehouse – entrances are included to all 3.
• Driver & Separate Guide in Ireland for 2 days
• Dingle Whiskey Experience

This package excludes the following:

  • Entrance fees, activities, distillery tours – unless noted above
  • Gratuity
  • Meals or refreshments (unless otherwise noted)
  • No arrival transfers included

The rate for this 3-night package is $1,600.00 per person sharing strictly based on 10 Rooms – all double occupancy.

A deposit of 20% of the tour price is required at time of booking and to confirm the hotels, transfers, and touring. The remainder of the cost of the tour is due 90 days before travel commences at which time we reserve the right to make an adjustment based upon fluctuations in the exchange rate.  If you wish to lock in the current package price you may do so by paying the full amount at the time of booking. Cancellations received 90 days or more prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation fee of 20% of the total price; cancellations 89 to 30 days, 40%; cancellations 29 to 15 days, 75%; cancellations 14 days or less, 100%.  Once the initial payment has been taken, there will be a $75 revision fee per change.