FOCUS | ISSUE 1 | 2010
Calculating the ‘value’ of your membership Determining various assets of belonging means going beyond just dollars and cents
In our daily lives we have the tendency to place some sort of value on things. Tangible items often can be given an obvious monetary value. But other items receive value based on a self- calculated sense of importance. This system can be diffi cult, and values can be skewed from one person to another.
I perceive membership in Organized Dentistry as being one of those assets to which it is diffi cult to place a specifi c measur- able value on. Granted, one could simply state that the monetary value is read- ily established, in the form of an annual dues statement (and you might fi nd that many of our colleagues would concur). However, I believe there is also a self-cal- culated importance to my membership in the ADA and MDA.
As members of an association, we often at- tempt to ascertain the value in membership as if it were a fi nite answer, simply waiting for an algorithmic formula to provide an irrefut- able determination. In reality, we ultimately recognize that value in an organization such as the ADA is an amalgam (no pun intended) of both physical and perceived benefi ts that each individual member must determine for himself or herself.
Throughout my involvement in Organized Den- tistry, the perennial question that seemingly arises is: “What is the value in membership?” or more poignantly stated, “What am I really get- ting for my dues dollars?” Both questions offer an infi nite array of answers. In fact, I believe the answers would be so varied that it would be analogous to a snowfl ake: no two are alike.
When speaking with members about their reasons for being a member of this Associa- tion, it is remarkable how wide the spectrum of answers appears to be. This can most likely be attributed to vast array of services our
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able continuing education and the many other resources the ADA and MDA have to offer. Taking those benefi ts into account alone, the monetary savings have certainly exceeded my annual fi nancial investment. While it would be easy to assess my reasons for being a member on those merits alone, my real reasons for placing signifi cant value on membership lie elsewhere. In determining the real value of membership I simply couldn’t give a single, good answer, but rather, an endless list that continues to grow daily.
As healthcare provid- ers, it is relatively easy to get wrapped up in our day-to-day routines
of running our offi ces without
Association continues to provide. While many members will often target a specifi c benefi t as their motivation for membership, the major- ity usually attribute the long-standing success of the ADA, as the leading advocate for oral health, as their primary reason for membership. The ADA is unique from most other profession- al associations in that it continues to represent the vast majority of the profession through strong membership numbers. In addition to strong membership numbers, the ability of the ADA and MDA to generate non-dues revenue provides an excellent return on investment for your dues dollars.
Since joining the ADA, I too have often pon- dered what exactly I was getting in return for that somewhat sizable check I wrote every year. To be honest, as a fourth generation member dentist, it would be accurate to assume I had some biased, preconceived notions about the actual value in membership. (In fact, it would probably be safe to say that the alternative wasn’t even an option for someone in my particular situation.) But, based on my personal re-evaluations, I realized that over the years I have utilized the numerous benefi ts such as discounted life insurance, access to afford-
attributing certain successes we
enjoy to the profession as a whole. The ADA continues to be the ‘Leading Advocate for Oral Health’ in the U.S. Additionally, the ADA remains one of the top respected healthcare associations in the world and enjoys an 84 percent level of consumer awareness. None of these attributes of Organized Dentistry would be possible without strong membership numbers and a continued commitment to our members and to the public.
Contact Dr. Niewald at
drniewald@modental.org or call 816-478-1010.
tell us.
» How we’re doing » What’s important to you » How to meet your needs
Watch in February for your MDA Membership Survey
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