LDC CONFERENCE
Saturday 12 June 2021
I look forward to welcoming you to this year’s conference which will again be happening online. We have a number of innovations which I hope will make the experience a little more like conferences have been in the past. Importantly we will have the usual mix of debate, informative content and comment from the dental movers and shakers.
We are working towards offering informal networking sessions, including a post-conference bar…if you bring your own drinks! We also intend having the virtual venue open in the week before conference meaning that you will be able to familiarise yourself with the arrangements ahead of the event.
MOTIONS
The heart of conference is always the debate of motions, your opportunity to put your proposals before your colleagues so that these may (hopefully) be approved and carried forward to the GDPC. Please start discussions in your LDC now and submit as early as possible. Always remember that a motion carried by a strong majority gives our negotiators authority when they meet the other side.
The LDC Conference website provides lots of advice on composing motions and how to make an active contribution to this year’s conference. Don’t miss the opportunity to exercise your right to speak out!
We will be continuing with the format used in recent years for submitting motions with a narrative. The intention being to provide delegates with enough information to form a view and be prepared in advance if they wish to speak for or against on the day.
Because motions are intended to give direction for GDPC policy please find here a list of existing GDPC polices. This outlines how GDPC has acted on motions carried at previous conferences and how much they have achieved on our behalf.
Motions should be submitted using the online form by 12 noon on Monday 12 April.
SPECIAL OBSERVER PLACES – for newcomers to conference
Our achievements from conference benefit younger members of our profession more than anyone. We are therefore very keen to encourage more younger dentists to attend. To this end, in addition to the normal allocation of conference places each LDC is permitted to register one ‘Special LDC Observer’ place.
This is an opportunity for newcomers to immerse themselves in dental politics and hopefully launch a career-long interest. These special observer places are reserved for those who are new to dental representation, first time conference goers and in the first decades of their career.
If an LDC has someone who meets this criterion, Secretaries can register them online selecting ‘Special LDC Observer’ as delegate type. Please note their year of registration will be required when completing the booking.
The LDC Conference website provides lots more advice on how to contribute.
ELECTIONS OF MEMBERS DURING CONFERENCE
To help with the online format for this year, nominations for the positions outlined below must be submitted in advance (by 12 April) using the online nomination forms available on the website. It will not be possible to nominate ‘from the floor’.
Elections (where necessary) will take place for the following positions:
- Chair elect of conference (to chair conference in 2023)
- Honorary treasurer
- Two honorary auditors
- One representative to GDPC
- One representative to the board of managers of the British Dental Guild
- One member of Agenda Committee.
Information about what each of the roles entails can be found on the website here.
DO YOU HAVE AN UNSUNG HERO?
We all have members in our LDCs who have worked tirelessly during their professional lives, often in the background never seeking the limelight, giving up many evenings for LDC business, taking valuable time out of their practising careers.
If you have someone like this on your committee who you feel deserves recognition, please consider nominating them for this year’s Unsung Hero Award. Further details can be found online here and the closing date for nominations is Monday 12 April.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
As usual the Conference is open to nominated LDC representatives and members of the BDA General Dental Practice Committee.
All those wishing to attend must register in advance to ensure they receive their unique access links for the event.
Secretaries are requested to co-ordinate the registration of Officials who will represent their Committee.
Click here to register - closing date 12 noon on Monday 12 April.
Please be ready to enter individual email addresses and GDC numbers for all attendees.
How many people can my LDC send?
If you are unsure how many people your LDC can register for the Conference, you can check the list of permitted attendees for each LDC here.
Where an LDC is entitled to send a sole Representative, they are also permitted to send an accompanying Observer.
Plus, as highlighted earlier. in addition to the usual allocation of places we have some places reserved for Special LDC Observers – (this special ticket type must be booked via LDC Secretaries and is for those who are new to dental representation, first time conference goers and in the first decades of their career).
FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR QUESTIONS
If you have a question regarding your motion submission or nomination please contact Alexandra Cenic This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you require assistance regarding your registration for the Conference please contact Fiona Feltham (Events Manager) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I have look forward to ‘seeing’ you all again in June.
Best wishes
Stuart Allan
2021 LDC Conference Chair