I read with great interest everyones posts and I feel I would like to chime in a few words, relevant or not.
Having attended my first ALD meeting last year in New Orleans I need to relate my experience so when Dr Parker goes to the board, you can relate my feelings which I think are felt by many.
I was asked  by a few people at the meeting, why this was my first ALD meeting, since I have been using Lasers back from 1989 while in Dental school.
I feel my answer is important and critical to the perception felt by many about the ALD.
My answer was I was always told it was a good ole boys club so I never went.  But in 2005 I said to myself why not go check it out, and see what happens.  I was honored to be selected to present my clinical case of treating Pemphigoid with the YSGG wavelength, and a few days in New Orleans would be fun.
I will say that from the start Estrella was very accomodating, and welcoming in everything that I needed. I  took the standard proficiency as well and will relate my experience about that in a second.
I presented my work and my feeling was that it was well received.  Don,( Stu Coleton), Arun, and one or two others, acknoledged my work to me personally, something even for me who has been around for a while, someone who lectures all over the place, felt “Good”.  After this point it was all downhill for the me and the ALD.  Obviously attendees have friends from past meeting but if you were a newer memeber or attendee you never really felt at home, this being a place where the ALD fails tremendously, and a place where this group has excelled.  
Many of us, here have become good friends from learning, bantering, exchanging from each other, regardless of wavelegnth, company affiliation etc….We have realized this  is a forum for learning and friendships have spouted from it.  The ALD needs to do that in my opinion to succeed and survive.
As far as the Standard proficiency course I must say it was a BIG WASTE OF TIME….Questions predominantly based on CO and argon wavelengths, with little to no questions on newer technology such as erbium yag, YSGG and diodes( not so new in my opinion).  The exam and course should be based on those as well the ND yag with liitle to  nothing on the other wavelengths as they are only relevant to us in a minor capacity in dentistry.    I can only asume that the other wavelengths were not taught much because the instructors have little to no clue what is relevant today in dentistry.  Dr Rashkoff( I know i am not spelling it right) bascially told me himself he hasnt used the YSGG much yet he is teaching a standard proficiency course…Come on…that is ridiculous…THE  SP COURSE NEEDS TO CHANGE OTHERWISE IT IS A WASTE OF TIME AND AN EMBARRASSMENT TO CLINICAL LASER DENTISTRY.
Finaly, In my opinion, the meeting itself will not ever be well attended without more reference to clinical dentistry both in presentations and abstracts.  Most of us practice while fewer of us are in a  university setting.  I for one will not attend any more ALD meeting because  it has no relevance to me unless things change.
I am sorry for the ramble and I hope this makes a difference since all of us here  are passionate and believe in clinical laser dentistry.
Respectfully,
Ron

(Edited by whitertth at 10:44 am on Oct. 11, 2005)

(Edited by whitertth at 10:49 am on Oct. 11, 2005)

(Edited by whitertth at 10:52 am on Oct. 11, 2005)

Dear Steven,
Thank you for understanding of the ALD newbie’s plight…I was excited to come to that meeting but left somewhat dissapointed…I am not dropping my support of the academy as I belive in laser educatiion and hope to see the changes the academy needs to progress in the field of laser dentistry. Please share my comments and thought and if anyone would like to contact me personally I would be happy to speak to them…Again thank you for listening.
Warmest regards,
Ron

David,
I have only done a few LANAPs so far since my september bootcamp.When we were at bootcamp and tough questions like this came up we heard ” These are the kind of questions for Day 4 and Day 5″. Since you have already completed those, Bob and Del may have to have a Day 6.

I would love to here from someone( like Bob) who has used the LANAP to successfully resurrect dead implants. For that matter I would love to hear from anyone in this forum (too quiet in here- it’s spookey). With the right patient I could see myself attempting to save these implants. I would expect some sparks to fly close to that titanium..oughta be quite a show.

Bruce

Hi folks……..as a member of the ALD and also as a member of the LDF here I see the value in both. The ALD does serve to provide a basic level of education and safety regardless of brand of laser to the new user. It acts as a “watch dog” for all of laser dentistry.

With that in mind there has been an eruption of new wavelengths and newer products over the last 10 years and still some of the “good ol boys” still own NdYAG and CO2 and they are the ones running the ship.

The popularity of the WCLI for Biolase users is that it is primarily a forum for clinical cases with little emphasis on science, education, SAFETY, and other issues that are so prevalent at the ALD.

I for one think that there is a happy medium where science, education and laser physics can be intermixed with clinical cases.

I have mentioned in the past to some at the ALD (of which I have attended the last 5 I think) that I felt more input from clinicians was needed.

It may be time to have two tracks at future meetings. One that emphasizes research, laser physics, and laser science with safety, and one that emphasizes clinical cases . I know some that are Er,Cr:YSGG would maybe be interested in some of the science specific to that wavelength, or clinical cases specific to that wavelength.

In addition breakout sessions sponsored by the companies in the afternoon would allow users of that wavelength to concentrate at least 2/3 to 3/4 of their time on that wavelength and encourage speakers for the companies to come to the meeting and learn a bit about other wavelengths that are out there.

This gets rid of the my laser is better than yours phenomena that was so predominant especially in the erbium family just a few shorts years ago.

In closing, I want to compliment Steven Parker as president for coming online to take the time to address issues that members of the LDF have posted regarding the standard proficiency. It shows a caring attitude to trying to alleviate concerns over the direction that the ALD is heading and also shows how 1000 members + here on the board can influence, and educate the laser world to what is happening out there.

Steven , I encourage you to look at the past posts on LDF here to see what a great group of clinicians that there is here. So much information has passed on here since I joined over 3 years ago. I have learned so much from so many here and gained alot of friendships. This board has had very few negative battles unlike some other forums on the web dealing with lasers. There is an honest to goodness desire from the MANY committed clinicians here at LDF to learn as much about lasers as possible and I think that many here are leaders in their chosen wavelengths in the field.

It is wonderful that you have come here to help attenuate concerns and to listen. It speaks volumes about you as a president and the direction the ALD is going.

I for one will be in Tucson this year and encourage others to make a difference to what the ALD becomes. Its easy to criticize from the box seats, but harder to be part of the game………

Steven has come to play, now I hope others show similar intent and will show there.

Heck even if its to sample another Restaraunt that Ron Kaminer can pick out.

That was one of the highlights for me!!

All the best and thanks again to everyone for caring enough to post on this topic. In the end all the passionate clinicians here win!!

Cya

Glenn

OK OK Glen, here is the deal, if they include some clinical tracks…I will come to Tuscon, and pick out a restaurant and will invite Dr. Parker to join us. Dr. Parker my reputation precedes me and I make a real good reservation..
All the best..